Obe.
I wonder if Titania be awak'd;
Then, what it was that next came in her eye,
Which she must dote on in extremity. Enter Puck. Music.
Here comes my messenger.—How now, mad spirit?
What night-rule^{1 note} now about this haunted grove?

Puck.
My mistress with a monster is in love.
Near to her close and consecrated bower,
While she was in her dull and sleeping hour,
A crew of patches,^{2 note} rude mechanicals,
That work for bread upon Athenian stalls,
Were met together to rehearse a play,
Intended for great Theseus' nuptial day.
The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort,
Who Pyramus presented, in their sport,
An ass's nowl^{3 note} I fixed on his head;
So, at his sight, away his fellows fled:
When in that moment (so it came to pass)
Titania wak'd, and straightway lov'd an ass.

Obe.
This falls out better than I could devise.
But hast thou yet latch'd^{4 note} the Athenian's eyes
With the love-juice, as I did bid thee do?

Puck.
I took him sleeping,—that is finish'd too,—
And the Athenian woman by his side;
That, when he wak'd, of force she must be eye'd. Enter Demetrius and Hermia.

Obe.
Stand close; this is the same Athenian.

Puck.
This is the woman, but not this the man.

Dem.
O, why rebuke you him that loves you so?
Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe?

Her.
Now I but chide, but I should use thee worse;
For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse.
If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep,
Then kill me too.
The sun was not so true unto the day,
As he to me: Would he have stol'n away
From sleeping Hermia?
Hast thou slain him then?
Henceforth be never number'd among men!

Dem.
You spend your passion in a mispris'd flood:^{5 note}
I am not guilty of Lysander's blood;
Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell.

Her.
I pray thee, tell me then that he is well.

Dem.
An if I could, what should I get therefore?

Her.
A privilege, never to see me more.—
And from thy hated presence part I so:
See me no more, whether he be dead or no. [Exit.

Dem.
There is no following her in this fierce vein:
Here, therefore, for a while I will remain.
So sorrow's heaviness doth heavier grow,
For debt that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe. [Lies down.

Obe.
What hast thou done? thou hast mistaken quite,
And laid the love-juice on some true-love's sight:
About the wood go swifter than the wind,
And Helena of Athens look thou find:

By some illusion see thou bring her here;
I'll charm his eyes, against she do appear.

Puck.
I go, I go: look, how I go;
Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow. [Exit. Music.

INCANTATION. Obe.
  Flower of this purple die,
  Hit with Cupid's archery,
  Sink in apple of his eye!
  When his love he doth espy,
  Let her shine as gloriously
  As the Venus of the sky.—
  When thou wak'st, if she be by,
  Beg of her for remedy. Re-enter Puck. Puck.
  Captain of our fairy band,
  Helena is here at hand,
  And the youth, mistook by me,
  Pleading for a lover's fee;
  Shall we their fond pageant see?
  Lord, what fools these mortals be! Obe.
  Stand aside: the noise they make,
  Will cause Demetrius to awake. Enter Lysander and Helena.

Lys.
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.

Hel.
You do advance your cunning more and more.
These vows are Hermia's; Will you give her o'er?

Lys.
I had no judgment, when to her I swore.

Hel.
Nor none, in my mind, now you give her o'er.

Lys.
Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you.

Dem. [awaking.]

O Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?

Hel.
O spiteful fate! I see you all are bent
To set against me for your merriment.

If you were men, as men you are in show,
You would not use a gentle lady so.
You both are rivals, and love Hermia;
And now both rivals, to mock Helena:
A trim exploit, a manly enterprize,
To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes.

Lys.
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 to my death.

Hel.
Never did mockers waste more idle breath.

Dem.
Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none:
If e'er I lov'd her, all that love is gone.
My heart with her but, as guest-wise, sojourn'd;
And now to Helen is it home return'd,
There to remain.

Lys.
Helen, it is not so.

Dem.
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. Enter Hermia.

Her.
Oh! why unkindly didst thou leave me so?

Lys.
Why should he stay whom love doth press to go?

Her.
What love could press Lysander from my side?

Lys.
Lysander's love, that would not let him bide;
Fair Helena, who more engilds the night
Than all yon fiery oes^{6 note} and eyes of light.

Her.
You speak not as you think; it cannot be.

Hel.
Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
Injurious Hermia! most ungrateful maid!
Have you conspir'd, have you with these contriv'd
To bait me with this foul derision?
Is all the counsel that we two have shar'd,

The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent,
When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us,—O, and is all forgot?
All school-days' friendship, childhood innocence?
Did we not Hermia grow together,
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted;
But yet a union in partition,
Two loving berries moulded on one stem?
And will you rent our ancient love asunder,
To join with men in scorning your poor friend?
But, fare ye well: 'tis partly mine own fault;
Which death, or absence, soon shall remedy.

Lys.
Stay, gentle Helena; hear my excuse;
My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena;
Helen, I love thee; by my life, I do.

Dem.
I say, I love thee more than he can do.

Lys.
If thou say so, withdraw, and prove it too.
Now follow, if thou dar'st, to try whose right,
Or thine or mine, is most in Helena.

Dem.
Follow? nay, I'll go with thee. [Exeunt Lysander and Demetrius.

Her.
I am amaz'd, and know not what to say;
You canker blossom, have you come by night,
And stol'n my love's heart from him? Fine, i'faith!

Hel.
Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me:
I evermore did love you, Hermia;
Did ever keep your counsels; never wrong'd you:
Save that, in love unto Demetrius,
I told him of your stealth unto this wood:
He followed you; for love I followed him;
But he hath chid me hence, and threatened me,
And now, so you will let me quiet go,
To Athens will I bear my folly back,
And follow you no further. [Exit Helena.

Her.
Get you gone:
Here will I rest me till the break of day:—
Heavens shield Lysander, if they mean a fray! [Lies down on bank.—Music.

Obe.
This is thy negligence: still thou mistak'st,
Or else commit'st thy knaveries wilfully.

Puck.
Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook.
Did not you tell me, I should know the man
By the Athenian garments he had on?
And so far blameless proves my enterprize,
That I have 'nointed an Athenian's eyes.

Obe.
Thou seest, these lovers seek a place to fight;
Hie, therefore, Robin, overcast the night:
The starry welkin cover thou anon
With drooping fog, as black as Acheron;
And lead these testy rivals so astray,
As one come not within another's way;
Till o'er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep,
With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep:
Then crush this herb into Lysander's eye;
Whose liquor hath such virtuous property,^{7 note}
When they next wake, all this derision
Shall seem a dream, and fruitless vision;
About it, Spirit, haste, make no delay,
We may effect this business yet ere day.

SONG. Obe.
  Up and down, up and down;
  Spirit lead them up and down:
  Thou art fear'd in field and town;
  Goblin, lead them up and down. [Exit Oberon.—Music. [Puck waves his hand, and a thick fog pervades the scene. Enter Lysander.

Lys.

Where art thou, proud Demetrius? speak thou now.

Puck.
Here, villain; drawn and ready. Where art thou?

Lys.
I will be with thee straight.

Puck.
Follow me, then,
To plainer ground. [Exit Lysander, as following the voice.

Enter Demetrius.

Dem.
Lysander, speak again.
Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled?
Speak. In some bush? Where dost thou hide thy head?

Puck.
Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars,
And wilt not come?

Dem.
Yea, art thou there?

Puck.
Follow my voice; we'll try no manhood here. [Exeunt. Re-enter Lysander.

Lys.
He goes before me, and still dares me on:
When I come where he calls, then he is gone.
The villain is much lighter heel'd than I:
I follow'd fast, but faster he did fly;
Once let gentle day show me her grey light,
I'll find Demetrius, and revenge this spite. [Exit. Re-enter Puck and Demetrius.

Puck.
Ho, ho! ho, ho!—Coward, why com'st thou not?

Dem.
Abide me, if thou dar'st; for well I wot,
Thou runn'st before me, shifting every place;
And dar'st not stand, nor look me in the face.
Where art thou now?

Puck.
Come hither; I am here.

Dem.
Nay, then thou mock'st me. Thou shalt buy this dear,
If ever I thy face by daylight see:
Now, go thy way. Faintness constraineth me
To measure out my length on this cold bed;
By day's approach look to be visited. [Lies down and sleeps.—Music. [The mist clears off, and discovers the Forest. Demetrius, Lysander, Helena, and Hermia asleep on separate banks. Puck advances, and touches the eyes of each with the magic herb.

CHORUS OF FAIRIES.
    On the ground
    Sleep sound:
    We'll apply
    To your eye,
  Gentle lover, remedy. [Puck squeezing the juice on Lysander's eye.
    When thou wak'st,
    Thou tak'st
    True delight
    In the sight
  Of thy former lady's eye:
  And the country proverb known,
  That every man should take his own,
  In your waking shall be shown:
    Jack shall have Jill;
    Nought shall go ill;
The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be well. DANCE OF FAIRIES. END OF ACT THIRD.