A Midsummer-Night's Dream Shakespeare,William,1564-1616 Act 1 Scene 1 [Enter EGEUS,HERMIA,LYSANDER,and DEMETRIUS] EGEUS Happy be Theseus,our renowned duke! THESEUS Thanks,good Egeus:what's the news with thee? EGEUS Full of vexation come I,with complaint Against my child,my daughter Hermia. Stand forth,Demetrius.My noble lord, This man hath my consent to marry her. Stand forth,Lysander:and my gracious duke, This man hath bewitch'd the bosom of my child: Thou,thou,Lysander,thou hast given her rhymes, And interchanged love-tokens with my child: Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung, With feigning voice verses of feigning love, And stolen the impression of her fantasy With bracelets of thy hair,rings,gawds,conceits, Knacks,trifles,nosegays,sweetmeats,messengers Of strong prevailment in unharden'd youth: With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's heart, Turn'd her obedience,which is due to me, To stubborn harshness:and,my gracious duke, Be it so she;will not here before your grace Consent to marry with Demetrius, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens, As she is mine,I may dispose of her: Which shall be either to this gentleman Or to her death,according to our law Immediately provided in that case. THESEUS What say you,Hermia?be advised fair maid: To you your father should be as a god; One that composed your beauties,yea,and one To whom you are but as a form in wax By him imprinted and within his power To leave the figure or disfigure it. Upon that day either prepare to die For disobedience to your father's will, Or else to wed Demetrius,as he would:
A Midsummer-Night's Dream Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 Act 1 Scene 1 [Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and DEMETRIUS] EGEUS Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke! THESEUS Thanks, good Egeus: what's the news with thee? EGEUS Full of vexation come I, with complaint Against my child, my daughter Hermia. Stand forth, Demetrius. My noble lord, This man hath my consent to marry her. Stand forth, Lysander: and my gracious duke, This man hath bewitch'd the bosom of my child; Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes, And interchanged love-tokens with my child: Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung, With feigning voice verses of feigning love, And stolen the impression of her fantasy With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conceits, Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats, messengers Of strong prevailment in unharden'd youth: With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's heart, Turn'd her obedience, which is due to me, To stubborn harshness: and, my gracious duke, Be it so she; will not here before your grace Consent to marry with Demetrius, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens, As she is mine, I may dispose of her: Which shall be either to this gentleman Or to her death, according to our law Immediately provided in that case. THESEUS What say you, Hermia? be advised fair maid: To you your father should be as a god; One that composed your beauties, yea, and one To whom you are but as a form in wax By him imprinted and within his power To leave the figure or disfigure it. …… Upon that day either prepare to die For disobedience to your father's will, Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would;
Or on Diana's altar to protest For aye austerity and single life DEMETRIUS Relent,sweet Hermia:and,Lysander,yield Thy crazed title to my certain right LYSANDER You have her father's love,Demetrius; Let me have Hermia's:do you marry him. EGEUS Scornful Lysander!true,he hath my love, And what is mine my love shall render him. And she is mine,and all my right of her I do estate unto Demetrius. [Exeunt all but LYSANDER and HERMIA] … HERMIA If then true lovers have been ever cross'd, It stands as an edict in destiny: Then let us teach our trial patience, Because it is a customary cross, As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs, Wishes and tears,poor fancy's followers. LYSANDER A good persuasion:therefore,hear me,Hermia I have a widow aunt,a dowager Of great revenue,and she hath no child: From Athens is her house remote seven leagues; And she respects me as her only son. There,gentle Hermia,may I marry thee; And to that place the sharp athenian law Cannot pursue us.If thou lovest me then, Steal forth thy father's house to-morrow night; And in the wood,a league without the town, Where I did meet thee once with Helena, To do observance to a morn of May, There will I stay for thee. HERMIA My good Lysander! I swear to thee,by Cupid's strongest bow. By his best arrow with the golden head, By the simplicity of Venus'doves, By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves, And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage queen, When the false Troyan under sail was seen
Or on Diana's altar to protest For aye austerity and single life. DEMETRIUS Relent, sweet Hermia: and, Lysander, yield Thy crazed title to my certain right. LYSANDER You have her father's love, Demetrius; Let me have Hermia's: do you marry him. EGEUS Scornful Lysander! true, he hath my love, And what is mine my love shall render him. And she is mine, and all my right of her I do estate unto Demetrius. [Exeunt all but LYSANDER and HERMIA] …… HERMIA If then true lovers have been ever cross'd, It stands as an edict in destiny: Then let us teach our trial patience, Because it is a customary cross, As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs, Wishes and tears, poor fancy's followers. LYSANDER A good persuasion: therefore, hear me, Hermia. I have a widow aunt, a dowager Of great revenue, and she hath no child: From Athens is her house remote seven leagues; And she respects me as her only son. There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee; And to that place the sharp Athenian law Cannot pursue us. If thou lovest me then, Steal forth thy father's house to-morrow night; And in the wood, a league without the town, Where I did meet thee once with Helena, To do observance to a morn of May, There will I stay for thee. HERMIA My good Lysander! I swear to thee, by Cupid's strongest bow, By his best arrow with the golden head, By the simplicity of Venus' doves, By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves, And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage queen, When the false Troyan under sail was seen
By all the vows that ever men have broke, In number more than ever women spoke, In that same place thou hast appointed me, To-morrow truly will I meet with thee. LYSANDER Keep promise,love.Look,here comes Helena [Enter HELENA] HERMIA God speed fair Helena!whither away? HELENA Call you me fair?that fair again unsay. Demetrius loves your fair:O happy fair! Your eyes are lode-stars;and your tongue's sweet air More tuneable than lark to shepherd's ear, When wheat is green,when hawthorn buds appear. Sickness is catching:O,were favour so, Yours would I catch,fair Hermia,ere I go; My ear should catch your voice,my eye your eye, My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody. Were the world mine,Demetrius being bated, The rest I'd give to be to you translated. O,teach me how you look,and with what art You sway the motion of Demetrius'heart. HERMIA I frown upon him,yet he loves me still. HELENA O that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill! HERMIA I give him curses,yet he gives me love. HELENA O that my prayers could such affection move! HERMIA The more I hate,the more he follows me. HELENA The more I love,the more he hateth me. HERMIA His folly,Helena,is no fault of mine. HELENA None,but your beauty:would that fault were mine! HERMIA Take comfort:he no more shall see my face; Lysander and myself will fly this place Before the time I did Lysander see, Seem'd Athens as a paradise to me:
By all the vows that ever men have broke, In number more than ever women spoke, In that same place thou hast appointed me, To-morrow truly will I meet with thee. LYSANDER Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena. [Enter HELENA] HERMIA God speed fair Helena! whither away? HELENA Call you me fair? that fair again unsay. Demetrius loves your fair: O happy fair! Your eyes are lode-stars; and your tongue's sweet air More tuneable than lark to shepherd's ear, When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear. Sickness is catching: O, were favour so, Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go; My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye, My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody. Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated, The rest I'd give to be to you translated. O, teach me how you look, and with what art You sway the motion of Demetrius' heart. HERMIA I frown upon him, yet he loves me still. HELENA O that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill! HERMIA I give him curses, yet he gives me love. HELENA O that my prayers could such affection move! HERMIA The more I hate, the more he follows me. HELENA The more I love, the more he hateth me. HERMIA His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine. HELENA None, but your beauty: would that fault were mine! HERMIA Take comfort: he no more shall see my face; Lysander and myself will fly this place. Before the time I did Lysander see, Seem'd Athens as a paradise to me:
O,then,what graces in my love do dwell, That he hath turn'd a heaven unto a hell! LYSANDER Helen,to you our minds we will unfold: To-morrow night,when Phoebe doth behold Her silver visage in the watery glass, Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass, A time that lovers'flights doth still conceal, Through Athens'gates have we devised to steal. HERMIA And in the wood,where often you and I Upon faint primrose-beds were wont to lie, Emptying our bosoms of their counsel sweet, There my Lysander and myself shall meet; And thence from Athens turn away our eyes, To seek new friends and stranger companies. Farewell,sweet playfellow:pray thou for us; And good luck grant thee thy Demetrius! Keep word,Lysander:we must starve our sight From lovers'food till morrow deep midnight. LYSANDER I will,my Hermia.[Exit HERMIA]Helena,adieu: As you on him,Demetrius dote on you! [Exit] HELENA How happy some o'er other some can be! Through Athens I am thought as fair as she. But what of that?Demetrius thinks not so; He will not know what all but he do know: And as he errs,doting on Hermia's eyes, So I,admiring of his qualities: Things base and vile,folding no quantity, Love can transpose to form and dignity: Love looks not with the eyes,but with the mind; And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind: Nor hath Love's mind of any judgement taste; Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste: And therefore is Love said to be a child. Because in choice he is so oft beguiled. As waggish boys in game themselves forswear, So the boy Love is perjured every where: For ere Demetrius look'd on Hermia's eyne, He hail'd down oaths that he was only mine; And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt
O, then, what graces in my love do dwell, That he hath turn'd a heaven unto a hell! LYSANDER Helen, to you our minds we will unfold: To-morrow night, when Phoebe doth behold Her silver visage in the watery glass, Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass, A time that lovers' flights doth still conceal, Through Athens' gates have we devised to steal. HERMIA And in the wood, where often you and I Upon faint primrose-beds were wont to lie, Emptying our bosoms of their counsel sweet, There my Lysander and myself shall meet; And thence from Athens turn away our eyes, To seek new friends and stranger companies. Farewell, sweet playfellow: pray thou for us; And good luck grant thee thy Demetrius! Keep word, Lysander: we must starve our sight From lovers' food till morrow deep midnight. LYSANDER I will, my Hermia. [Exit HERMIA] Helena, adieu: As you on him, Demetrius dote on you! [Exit] HELENA How happy some o'er other some can be! Through Athens I am thought as fair as she. But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so; He will not know what all but he do know: And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes, So I, admiring of his qualities: Things base and vile, folding no quantity, Love can transpose to form and dignity: Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind: Nor hath Love's mind of any judgement taste; Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste: And therefore is Love said to be a child, Because in choice he is so oft beguiled. As waggish boys in game themselves forswear, So the boy Love is perjured every where: For ere Demetrius look'd on Hermia's eyne, He hail'd down oaths that he was only mine; And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt
So he dissolved.and showers of oaths did melt. I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight: Then to the wood will he to-morrow night Pursue her;and for this intelligence If I have thanks,it is a dear expense: But herein mean I to enrich my pain, To have his sight thither and back again. [Exit] Act2 Scene 1 [Enter DEMETRIUS,HELENA,following him] DEMETRIUS I love thee not,therefore pursue me not. Where is Lysander and fair Hermia? The one I'll slay,the other slayeth me. Thou told'st me they were stolen unto this wood: And here am I.and wode within this wood. Because I cannot meet my Hermia. Hence,get thee gone,and follow me no more. HELENA You draw me,you hard-hearted adamant; But yet you draw not iron,for my heart Is true as steel:leave you your power to draw, And I shall have no power to follow you. DEMETRIUS Do I entice you?do I speak you fair? Or,rather,do I not in plainest truth Tell you,I do not,nor I cannot love you? HELENA And even for that do I love you the more. I am your spaniel;and,Demetrius, The more you beat me,I will fawn on you: Use me but as your spaniel,spurn me,strike me, Neglect me,lose me;only give me leave, Unworthy as I am,to follow you. What worser place can I beg in your love,-- And yet a place of high respect with me,-- Than to be used as you use your dog? DEMETRIUS Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit; For I am sick when I do look on thee. HELENA And I am sick when I look not on you. DEMETRIUS
So he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt. I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight: Then to the wood will he to-morrow night Pursue her; and for this intelligence If I have thanks, it is a dear expense: But herein mean I to enrich my pain, To have his sight thither and back again. [Exit] Act 2 Scene 1 [Enter DEMETRIUS, HELENA, following him] DEMETRIUS I love thee not, therefore pursue me not. Where is Lysander and fair Hermia? The one I'll slay, the other slayeth me. Thou told'st me they were stolen unto this wood; And here am I, and wode within this wood, Because I cannot meet my Hermia. Hence, get thee gone, and follow me no more. HELENA You draw me, you hard-hearted adamant; But yet you draw not iron, for my heart Is true as steel: leave you your power to draw, And I shall have no power to follow you. DEMETRIUS Do I entice you? do I speak you fair? Or, rather, do I not in plainest truth Tell you, I do not, nor I cannot love you? HELENA And even for that do I love you the more. I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius, The more you beat me, I will fawn on you: Use me but as your spaniel, spurn me, strike me, Neglect me, lose me; only give me leave, Unworthy as I am, to follow you. What worser place can I beg in your love, -- And yet a place of high respect with me, -- Than to be used as you use your dog? DEMETRIUS Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit; For I am sick when I do look on thee. HELENA And I am sick when I look not on you. DEMETRIUS
You do impeach your modesty too much, To leave the city and commit yourself Into the hands of one that loves you not: To trust the opportunity of night And the ill counsel of a desert place With the rich worth of your virginity HELENA Your virtue is my privilege:for that It is not night when I do see your face, Therefore I think I am not in the night; Nor doth this wood lack worlds of company, For you in my respect are all the world: Then how can it be said I am alone, When all the world is here to look on me? DEMETRIUS I'll run from thee and hide me in the brakes, And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts. HELENA The wildest hath not such a heart as you. Run when you will,the story shall be changed: Apollo flies,and Daphne holds the chase: The dove pursues the griffin;the mild hind Makes speed to catch the tiger,bootless speed, When cowardice pursues and valour flies. DEMETRIUS I will not stay thy questions;let me go: Or,if thou follow me,do not believe But I shall do thee mischief in the wood. HELENA Ay,in the temple,in the town,the field, You do me mischief.Fie,Demetrius! Your wrongs do set a scandal on my sex: We cannot fight for love,as men may do; We should be wood and were not made to woo. [Exit DEMETRIUS] I'll follow thee and make a heaven of hell, To die upon the hand I love so well. [Exit] Scene2 [Enter DEMETRIUS and HELENA,running] HELENA Stay,though thou kill me,sweet Demetrius. DEMETRIUS I charge thee,hence,and do not haunt me thus
You do impeach your modesty too much, To leave the city and commit yourself Into the hands of one that loves you not; To trust the opportunity of night And the ill counsel of a desert place With the rich worth of your virginity. HELENA Your virtue is my privilege: for that It is not night when I do see your face, Therefore I think I am not in the night; Nor doth this wood lack worlds of company, For you in my respect are all the world: Then how can it be said I am alone, When all the world is here to look on me? DEMETRIUS I'll run from thee and hide me in the brakes, And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts. HELENA The wildest hath not such a heart as you. Run when you will, the story shall be changed: Apollo flies, and Daphne holds the chase; The dove pursues the griffin; the mild hind Makes speed to catch the tiger; bootless speed, When cowardice pursues and valour flies. DEMETRIUS I will not stay thy questions; let me go: Or, if thou follow me, do not believe But I shall do thee mischief in the wood. HELENA Ay, in the temple, in the town, the field, You do me mischief. Fie, Demetrius! Your wrongs do set a scandal on my sex: We cannot fight for love, as men may do; We should be wood and were not made to woo. [Exit DEMETRIUS] I'll follow thee and make a heaven of hell, To die upon the hand I love so well. [Exit] Scene 2 [Enter DEMETRIUS and HELENA, running] HELENA Stay, though thou kill me, sweet Demetrius. DEMETRIUS I charge thee, hence, and do not haunt me thus
HELENA O,wilt thou darkling leave me?do not so. DEMETRIUS Stay,on thy peril:I alone will go. [Exi训 HELENA O,I am out of breath in this fond chase! The more my prayer,the lesser is my grace. Happy is Hermia,wheresoe'er she lies; For she hath blessed and attractive eyes. How came her eyes so bright?Not with salt tears: If so,my eyes are oftener wash'd than hers. No,no,I am as ugly as a bear; For beasts that meet me run away for fear: Therefore no marvel though Demetrius Do,as a monster fly my presence thus. What wicked and dissembling glass of mine Made me compare with Hermia's sphery eyne? But who is here?Lysander!on the ground! Dead?or asleep?I see no blood,no wound. Lysander if you live,good sir,awake. LYSANDER [Awaking] And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake. Transparent Helena!Nature shows art, That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart. Where is Demetrius?O,how fit a word Is that vile name to perish on my sword! HELENA Do not say so,Lysander,say not so What though he love your Hermia?Lord,what though? Yet Hermia still loves you:then be content. LYSANDER Content with Hermia!No;I do repent The tedious minutes I with her have spent. Not Hermia but Helena I love: Who will not change a raven for a dove? The will of man is by his reason sway'd; And reason says you are the worthier maid. Things growing are not ripe until their season So I,being young,till now ripe not to reason; And touching now the point of human skill, Reason becomes the marshal to my will And leads me to your eyes,where I o'erlook Love's stories written in love's richest book
HELENA O, wilt thou darkling leave me? do not so. DEMETRIUS Stay, on thy peril: I alone will go. [Exit] HELENA O, I am out of breath in this fond chase! The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace. Happy is Hermia, wheresoe'er she lies; For she hath blessed and attractive eyes. How came her eyes so bright? Not with salt tears: If so, my eyes are oftener wash'd than hers. No, no, I am as ugly as a bear; For beasts that meet me run away for fear: Therefore no marvel though Demetrius Do, as a monster fly my presence thus. What wicked and dissembling glass of mine Made me compare with Hermia's sphery eyne? But who is here? Lysander! on the ground! Dead? or asleep? I see no blood, no wound. Lysander if you live, good sir, awake. LYSANDER [Awaking] And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake. Transparent Helena! Nature shows art, That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart. Where is Demetrius? O, how fit a word Is that vile name to perish on my sword! HELENA Do not say so, Lysander; say not so What though he love your Hermia? Lord, what though? Yet Hermia still loves you: then be content. LYSANDER Content with Hermia! No; I do repent The tedious minutes I with her have spent. Not Hermia but Helena I love: Who will not change a raven for a dove? The will of man is by his reason sway'd; And reason says you are the worthier maid. Things growing are not ripe until their season So I, being young, till now ripe not to reason; And touching now the point of human skill, Reason becomes the marshal to my will And leads me to your eyes, where I o'erlook Love's stories written in love's richest book
HELENA Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born? When at your hands did I deserve this scorn? Is't not enough,is't not enough,young man, That I did never,no,nor never can, Deserve a sweet look from Demetrius'eye, But you must flout my insufficiency? Good troth,you do me wrong,good sooth,you do, In such disdainful manner me to woo But fare you well:perforce I must confess I thought you lord of more true gentleness. O,that a lady,of one man refused. Should of another therefore be abused! [Exi训 LYSANDER She sees not Hermia.Hermia,sleep thou there: And never mayst thou come Lysander near! For as a surfeit of the sweetest things The deepest loathing to the stomach brings, Or as tie heresies that men do leave Are hated most of those they did deceive, So thou,my surfeit and my heresy, Of all be hated,but the most of me! And,all my powers,address your love and might To honour Helen and to be her knight! [Exit] HERMIA [Awaking] Help me,Lysander,help me!do thy best To pluck this crawling serpent from my breast! Ay me,for pity!what a dream was here! Lysander,look how I do quake with fear: Methought a serpent eat my heart away, And you sat smiling at his cruel pray. Lysander!what,removed?Lysander!lord! What,out of hearing?gone?no sound,no word? Alack,where are you speak,an if you hear, Speak,of all loves!I swoon almost with fear. No?then I well perceive you all not nigh Either death or you I'll find immediately. [Exit] Act 3 Scene 2 [Enter LYSANDER and HELENA LYSANDER
HELENA Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born? When at your hands did I deserve this scorn? Is't not enough, is't not enough, young man, That I did never, no, nor never can, Deserve a sweet look from Demetrius' eye, But you must flout my insufficiency? Good troth, you do me wrong, good sooth, you do, In such disdainful manner me to woo. But fare you well: perforce I must confess I thought you lord of more true gentleness. O, that a lady, of one man refused. Should of another therefore be abused! [Exit] LYSANDER She sees not Hermia. Hermia, sleep thou there: And never mayst thou come Lysander near! For as a surfeit of the sweetest things The deepest loathing to the stomach brings, Or as tie heresies that men do leave Are hated most of those they did deceive, So thou, my surfeit and my heresy, Of all be hated, but the most of me! And, all my powers, address your love and might To honour Helen and to be her knight! [Exit] HERMIA [Awaking] Help me, Lysander, help me! do thy best To pluck this crawling serpent from my breast! Ay me, for pity! what a dream was here! Lysander, look how I do quake with fear: Methought a serpent eat my heart away, And you sat smiling at his cruel pray. Lysander! what, removed? Lysander! lord! What, out of hearing? gone? no sound, no word? Alack, where are you speak, an if you hear; Speak, of all loves! I swoon almost with fear. No? then I well perceive you all not nigh Either death or you I'll find immediately. [Exit] Act 3 Scene 2 [Enter LYSANDER and HELENA] LYSANDER
Why should you think that I should woo in scorn? Scorn and derision never come in tears: Look,when I vow,I weep;and vows so born, In their nativity all truth appears. How can these things in me seem scorn to you, Bearing the badge of faith,to prove them true? HELENA You do advance your cunning more and more. When truth kills truth,O devilish-holy fray! These vows are Hermia's:will you give her o'er? Weigh oath with oath,and you will nothing weigh: Your vows to her and me,put in two scales, Will even weigh,and both as light as tales. LYSANDER I had no judgment when to her I swore. HELENA Nor none,in my mind,now you give her o'er. LYSANDER Demetrius loves her,and he loves not you. DEMETRIUS [Awaking] O Helena,goddess,nymph,perfect,divine! To what,my love,shall I compare thine eyne? Crystal is muddy.O,how ripe in show Thy lips,those kissing cherries,tempting grow! That pure congealed white,high Taurus snow, Fann'd with the eastern wind.turns to a crow When thou hold'st up thy hand:O,let me kiss This princess of pure white,this seal of bliss! HELENA O spite!O hell!I see you all are bent To set against me for your merriment: If you we re civil and knew courtesy, You would not do me thus much injury. Can you not hate me,as I know you do, But you must join in souls to mock me too? If you were men,as men you are in show, You would not use a gentle lady so; To vow,and swear,and superpraise my parts, When I am sure you hate me with your hearts. You both are rivals,and love Hermia; And now both rivals,to mock Helena: A trim exploit,a manly enterprise, To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes With your derision!none of noble sort
Why should you think that I should woo in scorn? Scorn and derision never come in tears: Look, when I vow, I weep; and vows so born, In their nativity all truth appears. How can these things in me seem scorn to you, Bearing the badge of faith, to prove them true? HELENA You do advance your cunning more and more. When truth kills truth, O devilish-holy fray! These vows are Hermia's: will you give her o'er? Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh: Your vows to her and me, put in two scales, Will even weigh, and both as light as tales. LYSANDER I had no judgment when to her I swore. HELENA Nor none, in my mind, now you give her o'er. LYSANDER Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you. DEMETRIUS [Awaking] O Helena, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne? Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow! That pure congealed white, high Taurus snow, Fann'd with the eastern wind, turns to a crow When thou hold'st up thy hand: O, let me kiss This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss! HELENA O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent To set against me for your merriment: If you we re civil and knew courtesy, You would not do me thus much injury. Can you not hate me, as I know you do, But you must join in souls to mock me too? If you were men, as men you are in show, You would not use a gentle lady so; To vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts, When I am sure you hate me with your hearts. You both are rivals, and love Hermia; And now both rivals, to mock Helena: A trim exploit, a manly enterprise, To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes With your derision! none of noble sort
Would so offend a virgin,and extort A poor soul's patience,all to make you sport. LYSANDER You are unkind,Demetrius;be not so; For you love Hermia;this you know I know: And here,with all good will,with all my heart, In Hermia's love I yield you up my part; And yours of Helena to me bequeath, Whom I do love and will do till my death. HELENA Never did mockers waste more idle breath. DEMETRIUS Lysander,keep thy Hermia;I will none: If e'er I loved her,all that love is gone. My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourn'd, And now to Helen is it home return'd. There to remain. LYSANDER Helen.it is not so. DEMETRIUS Disparage not the faith thou dost not know, Lest,to thy peril,thou aby it dear. Look,where thy love comes;yonder is thy dear. [Re-enter HERMIA] HERMIA Dark night,that from the eye his function takes, The ear more quick of apprehension makes; Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense, It pays the hearing double recompense. Thou art not by mine eye,Lysander,found; Mine ear,I thank it,brought me to thy sound But why unkindly didst thou leave me so? LYSANDER Why should he stay,whom love doth press to go? HERMIA What love could press Lysander from my side? LYSANDER Lysander's love,that would not let him bide, Fair Helena,who more engilds the night Than all you fiery oes and eyes of light. Why seek'st thou me?could not this make thee know, The hate I bear thee made me leave thee so? HERMIA You speak not as you think:it cannot be
Would so offend a virgin, and extort A poor soul's patience, all to make you sport. LYSANDER You are unkind, Demetrius; be not so; For you love Hermia; this you know I know: And here, with all good will, with all my heart, In Hermia's love I yield you up my part; And yours of Helena to me bequeath, Whom I do love and will do till my death. HELENA Never did mockers waste more idle breath. DEMETRIUS Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none: If e'er I loved her, all that love is gone. My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourn'd, And now to Helen is it home return'd, There to remain. LYSANDER Helen, it is not so. DEMETRIUS Disparage not the faith thou dost not know, Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear. Look, where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear. [Re-enter HERMIA] HERMIA Dark night, that from the eye his function takes, The ear more quick of apprehension makes; Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense, It pays the hearing double recompense. Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found; Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound But why unkindly didst thou leave me so? LYSANDER Why should he stay, whom love doth press to go? HERMIA What love could press Lysander from my side? LYSANDER Lysander's love, that would not let him bide, Fair Helena, who more engilds the night Than all you fiery oes and eyes of light. Why seek'st thou me? could not this make thee know, The hate I bear thee made me leave thee so? HERMIA You speak not as you think: it cannot be