Tit.
I pray thee, gentle mortal,14Q0245 sing again:
Mine ear is much enamour'd of thy note,
So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape;
And thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move me,
On the first view, to say, to swear, I love thee.

Bot.

Methinks, mistress, you should have little reason for that: And yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together now-a-days: The more the

pity, that some honest neighbours will not make them friends. Nay, I can gleek, upon occasion.

Tit.

Thou art as wise, as thou art beautiful.

Bot.

Not so, neither: but if I had wit enough to get out of this wood, I have enough to serve mine own turn.

Tit.
Out of this wood do not desire to go;
Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or no.
I am a spirit, of no common rate;
The summer still doth tend upon my state,
And I do love thee: therefore, go with me;
I'll give thee fairies to attend on thee;
And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep,
And sing, while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep:
And I will purge thy mortal grossness so,
That thou shalt like an airy spirit go.—
Pease-blossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustard-seed! Enter four Fairies.

1. F.
Ready.

2.
And I.

3.
and I.

4.
and I.

all.
Where shall we go?

Tit.
Be kind and courteous to this gentleman;
Hop in his walks, and gambol in his eyes;
Feed him with apricocks, and dewberries,
With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries;
The honey-bags steal from the humble-bees,
And, for night tapers, crop their waxen thighs,
And light them at the fiery glow-worm's eyes,
To have my love to bed, and to arise;
And pluck the wings from painted butter-flies,
To fan the moon-beams from his sleeping eyes:
Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies. 14Q0246

1. F.
Hail, mortal!

2.
hail!

3.
hail!

4.
hail!

Bot.

I cry your worships mercy, heartily.—I beseech, your worship's name?

Cob.

Cobweb.

Bot.

I shall desire you of more acquaintance, good master Cobweb: If I cut my finger, I shall make bold with you.—Your name, honest gentleman?

Pea.

Pease-blossom.

Bot.

I pray you, commend me to mistress Squash, your mother, and to master Peascod, your father. Good master Pease-blossom, I shall desire you of ^note more acquaintance too.—Your name, I beseech you, sir?

Mus.

Mustard-seed.

Bot.

Good master Mustard-seed, I know your patience well: ^note that same cowardly, giant-like, ox-beef hath devour'd many a gentleman of your house: I promise you, your kindred hath made ^note my eyes water ere now. I desire you, more ^note acquaintance, good master Mustard-seed.

Tit.
Come, wait upon him; lead him to my bower.
  The moon, methinks, looks with a watry eye;
And when she weeps, weeps every ^note little flower,
  Lamenting some enforced chastity.
  Tye up my love's ^note tongue, bring him silently. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Another Part of the Wood. Enter Oberon.

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.
Here comes my messenger.—How now, mad spirit?
What night-rule now about this haunted ^note grove?

Puc.
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, 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
Forsook his scene, and enter'd in a brake:
When I did him at this advantage take,
An ass's nole I fixed on his head;
Anon, his Thisbe must be answered,
And forth my mimick ^note comes: When they him spy,
As wild-geese, that the creeping fowler eye,
Or russet-pated choughs, many in sort,
Rising and cawing at the gun's report
Sever themselves, and madly sweep the sky;
So, at his sight, away his fellows fly:
And, at our stamp, here o'er and o'er one falls;
He murther cries, and help from Athens calls.
Their sense, thus weak, lost with their fears, thus strong,
Made senseless things begin to do them wrong:
For briars and thorns at their apparel snatch;
Some, sleeves; some, hats: from yielders all things catch.
I led them on in this distracted fear,
And left sweet Pyramus translated there:
When in that moment (so it came to pass)
Titania wak'd, and straitway lov'd an ass.

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

Puc.
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 ey'd. Enter Demetrius, and Hermia.

&clquo;Obe.
&clquo;Stand close; this is the same Athenian.&crquo;

&clquo;Puc.
&clquo;This is the woman, but not this the man.&crquo;

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,
Being o'er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep,
And kill me too.
The sun was not so true unto the day,
As he to me: Would he have stoln away
From sleeping Hermia? I'll believe as soon,
This whole earth may be bor'd; and that the moon
May through the center creep, and so displease14Q0247
Her brother's noontide with the antipodes. ^note
It cannot be, but thou hast murther'd him;
So should a murtherer look, so dead, so grim.

Dem.
So should the murther'd look; ^note and so should I,
Pierc'd through the heart with your stern cruelty:
Yet you, the murtherer, look as ^note bright, as clear,
As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere.

Her.
What's this to my Lysander? where is he?
Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give him me?

Dem.
I had rather ^note give his carcass to my hounds.

Her.
Out, dog! out, cur! thou driv'st me past the bounds ^note
Of maiden's patience. Hast thou slain him then?
Henceforth be never number'd among men!

O, once tell true, tell true, even ^note for my sake;
Durst thou have look'd ^note upon him, being awake,
And hast thou kill'd him sleeping? O brave touch!
Could not a worm, an adder, do so much?
An adder ^note did it; for with doubler tongue
Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung.

Dem.
You spend your passion on a mispriz'd mood:
I am not guilty of Lysander's blood;
Nor is he dead, for ought 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 priviledge, 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 ^note sorrow owe;
Which now in some slight measure it will pay,
If for his tender here I make some stay. [lies down.

Obe.
What hast thou done? thou hast mistaken quite,
And lay'd the love-juice on some true-love's sight:
Of thy misprision must perforce ensue
Some true love turn'd, and not a false turn'd true.

Puc.
Then fate ^note o'er-rules; that, one man holding troth,
A million fail, confounding oath on oath.

Obe.
About ^note the wood go swifter than the wind,
And Helena of Athens look thou find:
All fancy-sick she is, and pale of cheer
With sighs of love, that costs the fresh blood dear:
By some illusion see thou bring her here;
I'll charm his eyes, against she do appear ^note.

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

Obe.
Flower of this purple dye,
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.

Puc.
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.

Puc.
Then will two, at once, woo one;
That must needs be sport alone:
And those things do best please me,
That befal preposterously. ^note Enter Lysander, and Helena.

Lys.
Why should you think, that I should woo in scorn?
  Scorn and derision never come ^note 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?

Hel.
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.

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.
O Helen, [starting up.] goddess, nymph, perfect, divine!
To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyen?
Christal is muddy. O, how ripe in show
Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!
That pure congealed white, high Taurus' snow,
Fan'd with the eastern wind, turns to a crow,
When thou hold'st up thy hand: o, let me kiss
This princess ^note of pure white, this seal of bliss!

Hel.
O spite! o hell! I see, you all are ^note bent
To set against me, for your merriment.
If you were civil, and knew courtesy,
You would not do me thus much injury.
Can you not hate me,14Q0248 as I know you do,
But you must join, in souls, to mock me too?
If you were men ^note, 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 enterprize,
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.

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 ^note 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 ^note but, as guest-wise, sojourn'd;
And now to Helen is it ^note home return'd,
There to remain.

Lys.
Helen, it is ^note not so.

Dem.
Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,
Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it ^note dear.—
Look, where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear. Enter Hermia.

Her.
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 recompence:—
Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found;
Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound. ^note
But 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 o's, and eyes of light.
Why seek'st thou me? could not this make thee know,
The hate I bare thee made me leave thee so?

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

Hel.
Lo, she is one of this confed'racy!
Now I perceive they have conjoin'd, all three,
To fashion this false sport in spite of me.—
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 sister ^note vows, the hours that we have spent,
When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us,—o, and is ^note all forgot?
All school-day ^note friendship, childhood innocence?
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods,
Have with our needles created both one flower,
Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
Both warbling of one song, both in one key;
As if our hands, and sides, voices, and minds,
Had been incorporate. So we grew together,
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted;
But yet a union ^note in partition,
Two lovely berries molded on one stem:
So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart;
Two of the first,14Q0249 like coats ^note in heraldry,
Due but to one, and crowned with one crest.
And will you rent our ^note ancient love asunder,
To join with men in scorning your poor friend?
It is not friendly, 'tis not maidenly:
Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it;
Though I alone do feel the injury.

Her.
I am amazed at your passionate words: ^note
I scorn you not; It seems, that you scorn me.

Hel.
Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn,
To follow me, and praise my eyes and face?

And made your other love, Demetrius,
(Who even but now did spurn me with his foot)
To call me goddess, nymph, divine, and rare,
Precious, celestial? Wherefore speaks he this
To her he hates? and wherefore doth Lysander
Deny your love, so rich within his soul,
And tender me, forsooth, affection;
But by your setting on, by your consent?
What though I be not so in grace as you,
So hung upon with loves, ^note so fortunate;
But miserable most, to love unlov'd?
This you should pity, rather than despise.

Her.
I understand not what you mean by this.

Hel.
Ay, do, persever, counterfeit sad looks,
Make mouths upon me when I turn my back,
Wink each at other, hold the sweet jest up:
This sport, well carry'd, shall be chronicl'd.
If you have any pity, grace, or manners,
You would not make me such an argument.
But, fare ye well: 'tis partly mine own ^note fault;
Which death, or absence, soon shall remedy.

Lys.
Stay, gentle Helena; hear my excuse;
My love, my life, my soul, ^note fair Helena!

Hel.
O excellent!

Her.
Sweet, [to Lys.] do not scorn her so.

Dem.
If she cannot ^note entreat, I can compel.

Lys.
Thou canst compel no more than she entreat;
Thy threats have no more strength, than her weak prays. ^note—
Helen, I love thee; by my life, I do;
I swear by that which I will lose for thee,
To prove him false, that says I love thee not.

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

Lys.
If thou say so, withdraw, and prove it too.

Dem.
Quick, come,—

Her.
Lysander, whereto tends all this?

Lys.
Away, you Ethiop!

Dem.
No, no; he'll not come.—14Q0250
Seem to break loose; take on, as you would follow;
But yet, come not: You are a tame man, go!

Lys.
Hang off, thou cat, thou bur: ^note vile thing, let loose;
Or I will shake thee from me, like a serpent.

Her.
Why are you grown so rude? what change is this,
Sweet love?

Lys.
Thy love? out, tawny Tartar, out!
Out, loathed ^note med'cine! hated potion, hence! ^note

Her.
Do you not jest?

Hel.
Yes, 'sooth; and so do you.

Lys.
Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee.

Dem.
I would, I had your bond: for, I perceive,
A weak bond holds you; I'll not trust your word; ^note

Lys.
What, should I hurt her, strike her, kill her dead?
Although I hate her, I'll not harm her so.

Her.
What, can you do me greater harm, than hate?
Hate me! wherefore? O me! what news, my love?
Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander?
I am as fair now, as I was erewhile.
Since night, you lov'd me; yet, since night, you left me:
Why, then you left me,—O, the gods forbid!—
In earnest, shall I say?

Lys.
Ay, by my life;
And never did desire to see thee more.
Therefore, be out of hope, of question, doubt ^note,
Be certain, nothing truer, 'tis no jest,
That I do hate thee, and love Helena.

Her.
O me!—You jugler, you! you canker-blossom!
You thief of love! what, have you come by night,
And stoln my love's heart from him?

Hel.
Fine, i'faith!
Have you no modesty, no maiden shame,
No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear
Impatient answers from my gentle tongue?
Fie, fie! you counterfeit, you puppet, you!

Her.
Puppet! why so?—Ay, that way goes the game.
Now I perceive that she hath made compare
Between our statures, she hath urg'd her height;
And with her personage, her tall personage,
Her height, forsooth, she hath prevail'd with him.—
And are you grown so high in his esteem,
Because I am so dwarfish, and so low?
How low am I, thou painted may-pole? speak;
How low am I? I am not yet so low,
But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes.

Hel.
I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen, ^note
Let her not hurt me: I was never curst;
I have no gift at all in shrewishness;
I am a right maid for my cowardice;
Let her not strike me: You, perhaps, may think,
Because she's something lower than myself,
That I can match her.

Her.
Lower! hark, again.

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 follow'd you; for love, I follow'd him.

But he hath chid me hence;and threaten'd me
To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too:
And now, so you will let me quiet go,
To Athens will I bear my folly back,
And follow you no further: Let me go:
You see how simple and how fond I am.

Her.
Why, get you gone: Who is't that hinders you?

Hel.
A foolish heart, that I leave here behind.

Her.
What, with Lysander?

Hel.
With ^note Demetrius.

Lys.
Be not afraid; she shall not harm thee, Helena.

Dem.
No, sir; she shall not, though you take her part.

Hel.
O, when she's angry, she is keen and shrewd:
She was a vixen, when she went to school;
And, though she be but little, she is fierce.

Her.
Little again? nothing but low, and little?—
Why will you suffer her to flout me thus?
Let me come to her.

Lys.
Get you gone, you dwarf;
You minimus, of hind'ring knot-grass made;
You bead, you acorn.

Dem.
You are too officious,
In her behalf that scorns your services.
Let her alone; speak not of Helena;
Take not her part: for if thou dost intend
Never so little shew of love to her,
Thou shalt aby it. ^note

Lys.
Now she holds me not;
Now follow, if thou dar'st, to try whose right,
Of thine ^note or mine, is most in Helena.

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

Her.
You, mistress, all this coil is 'long of you:
Nay, go not back.

Hel.
I will not trust you, I;
Nor longer stay in your curst company.
Your hands, than mine, are quicker for a fray;
My legs are longer though, to run away. [Exit.

Her.
I am amaz'd, and know not what to say. ^note [Exit.

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

Puc.
Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook.
Did not you tell me, I should know the man
By the Athenian garments he had on? ^note
And so far blameless proves my enterprize,
That I have 'nointed an Athenian's eyes:
And so far am I glad it so did ^note sort,
As this their jangling I esteem a sport.

Obe.
Thou see'st, these lovers seek a place to fight:
Hye 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.
Like to Lysander sometime frame thy tongue,
Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong;
And sometime rail thou like Demetrius;
And from each other look thou lead them thus,
'Till o'er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep
With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep:
Then crush this &dagger2; herb into Lysander's eye;
Whose liquor hath this virtuous property,
To take from thence all error, with his might, ^note
And make his eye-balls rowl with wonted sight.

When they next wake, all this derision
Shall seem a dream, and fruitless vision;
And back to Athens shall the lovers wend,
With league, whose date 'till death shall never end.
Whiles I in this affair do thee employ, ^note
I'll to my queen, and beg her Indian boy;
And then I will her charmed eye release
From monster's view, and all things shall be peace.

Puc.
My fairy lord, this must be done with haste;
For night's swift ^note dragons cut the clouds full fast,
And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger;
At whose approach, ghosts, wand'ring here and there,
Troop home to church-yards: damned spirits all,
That in cross-ways and floods have burial,
Already to their wormy beds are gone;
For fear lest day should look their shames upon,
They wilfully themselves exile from light,
And must for aye consort with black-brow'd night.

Obe.
But we are spirits of another sort:
I with the morning's love ^note14Q0251 have oft made sport;
And, like a forester, the groves may tread,
Even 'till the eastern gate, all fiery red,
Opening on Neptune with fair blessed ^note beams,
Turns into yellow gold his salt-green streams.
But, notwithstanding, haste; make no delay:
We may effect this business yet ere day. [Exit.

Puc.

Up and down, up and down,
I will lead them up and down:
I am fear'd in field, and town;
Goblin, lead them up and down.
Here comes one. Enter Lysander.

Lys.
Where art thou, proud Demetrius? speak thou now.

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

Lys.
I will be with thee straight.

Puc.
Follow me then
To plainer ground. [Exit Lys. as following the Voice, which seems to go off. Enter Demetrius.

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

Puc.
Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars,
Telling the bushes that thou look'st for wars,
And wilt not come? Come, recreant; come, thou child;
I'll whip thee with a rod: He is defil'd,
That draws a sword on thee.

Dem.
Yea; art thou there?

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

Lys.
He goes before me, and still dares me on;
When I come where he calls, then he is ^note gone.
The villain is much lighter heel'd, than I:
I follow'd fast, but faster he did fly;
That fall'n am I in dark uneven way,
And here will rest me. [lies down] Come, thou gentle day!
For if but once thou shew me thy grey light,
I'll find Demetrius, and revenge this spight. [sleeps. Re-enter Puck, and Demetrius.

Puc.
Ho, ho; ho, ho! coward, why com'st thou not?

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

Where art thou now ^note?

Puc.
Come hither; I am here.

Dem.
Nay, then thou mock'st me. Thou shalt buy this dear,
If ever I thy face by day-light see:
Now, go thy way.—Faintness constraineth me
To measure out my length on this cold bed. [lies down.
By day's approach look to be visited. [sleeps. Enter Helena, and throws herself down.

Hel.
O weary night, o long and tedious night,
  Abate thy hours; shine, comforts, from the east;
That I may back to Athens, by day-light,
  From these that my poor company detest:—
And, sleep, that sometime ^note shuts up sorrow's eye,
Steal me a while from mine own company. [sleeps.

Puc.
Yet but three? come one more;
Two of both kinds makes up four.
Here she comes, curst, and sad:—
Cupid is a knavish lad,
Thus to make poor females mad. Enter Hermia.

Her.
Never so weary, never so in woe,
  Bedabbl'd with the dew, and torn with briers;
I can no further crawl, no further go;
  My legs can keep no pace with my desires.
Here will I rest me, [lies down] 'till the break of day.
Heavens shield Lysander, if they mean a fray! [sleeps.

Puc.

  On the ground [to Lysander, whose Eyes he anoints.
  Sleep thou sound:
  I'll apply
  To your eye,
Gentle lover, remedy.

  When thou wak'st
  Next, thou tak'st ^note
  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. [Exit. Scene closes upon the Sleepers.

Previous section

Next section