A Midsummer Night's Dream (Quarto 1, 1600)
Not Peer Reviewed
A Midsommer nightes dreame.
¶Although I hate her, Ile not harme her so.
¶Her. What? Can you do me greater harme, then hate?
¶Hate mee, wherefore? O me, what newes, my loue?
1305Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander?
¶I am as faire now, as I was ere while.
¶Since night, you lou'd mee; yet since night, you left mee.
¶Why then, you left mee (? the gods forbid)
1310Lys. I, by my life:
¶Thefore be out of hope, of question, of doubt:
¶Be certaine: nothing truer: tis no ieast,
¶That I doe hate thee, and loue Helena.
¶You theefe of loue: what, haue you come by night,
¶And stolne my loues heart, from him?
¶Hel. Fine, I faith.
¶Impatient answeres, from my gentle tongue?
¶Fy, fy, you counterfait, you puppet, you.
¶Now I perceiue that she hath made compare,
1330How lowe am I, thou painted May-pole? Speake:
¶How lowe am I? I am not yet so lowe,
¶But that my nailes can reach vnto thine eyes.
¶Hel. I pray you, though you mocke me, gentleman,
¶Let her not hurt me. I was neuer curst:
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