1021Enter King of Fairies [Oberon] solus. I wonder if Titania be awaked;
3.2.21023Then what it was that next came in her eye,
3.2.31024Which she must dote on in extremity.
3.2.41026Here comes my messenger. How now, mad spirit?
3.2.51027What night rule now about this haunted grove?
My mistress with a monster is in love!
3.2.71029Near to her close and consecrated bower,
3.2.81030While she was in her dull and sleeping hour,
3.2.101032That work for bread upon Athenian stalls,
3.2.121034Intended for great Theseus' nuptial day.
3.2.131035The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort,
3.2.151037Forsook his scene, and entered in a brake.
3.2.191041And forth my mimic comes. When they him spy,
3.2.201042As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye,
3.2.231045Sever themselves, and madly sweep the sky,
3.2.251047And, at our stamp, here o'er and o'er one falls;
3.2.261048He "murder," cries, and help from Athens calls.
3.2.271049Their sense thus weak, lost with their fears thus strong,
3.2.281050Made senseless things begin to do them wrong.
3.2.291051For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch,
3.2.301052Some sleeves, some hats, from yielders all things catch.
3.2.321054And left sweet Pyramus translated there.
3.2.331055When, in that moment (so it came to pass),
3.2.341056Titania waked, and straightway loved an ass.
This falls out better then I could devise!
3.2.361058But hast thou yet latched the Athenian's eyes,
I took him sleeping. That is finished too.
3.2.401062That when he waked, of force she must be eyed.
Stand close. This is the same Athenian.
This is the woman, but not this the man.
O why rebuke you him that loves you so?
3.2.441067Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe.
Now I but chide, but I should use thee worse.
3.2.461069For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse.
3.2.471070If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep,
3.2.481071Being o'er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep and kill
1072me too.
3.2.521075From sleeping Hermia? I'll believe as soon
3.2.531076This whole earth may be bored, and that the moon
3.2.541077May through the center creep, and so displease
3.2.551078Her brother's noontide with the antipodes.
3.2.561079It cannot be but thou hast murdered him!
3.2.571080So should a murderer look -- so dead, so grim.
So should the murderer look, and so should I,
3.2.591082Pierced through the heart with your stern cruelty.
3.2.601083Yet you, the murderer, looks as bright, as clear,
3.2.611084As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere.
What's this to my Lysander? Where is he?
3.2.631086Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give him me?
I'd rather give his carcass to my hounds.
Out dog! Out cur! Thou drivest me past the bounds
3.2.661089Of maiden's patience. Hast thou slain him then?
3.2.691092Durst thou a look upon him, being awake?
3.2.701093And hast thou killed him sleeping? O brave touch!
3.2.721095An adder did it; for with doubler tongue
3.2.731096Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung.
You spend your passion on a misprised mood.
3.2.761099Nor is he dead, for ought that I can tell.
I pray thee, tell me then that he is well.
And if I could, what should I get therefore?
A privilege never to see me more;
3.2.801103And from thy hated presence part I: see me no more,
There is no following her in this fierce vein.
3.2.831106Here, therefore, for a while I will remain.
3.2.841107So sorrow's heaviness doth heavier grow,
3.2.851108For debt that bankrout sleep doth sorrow owe,
3.2.861109Which now in some slight measure it will pay,
3.2.871110If for his tender here I make some stay.
What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite
3.2.891112And laid the love juice on some true love's sight.
3.2.911114Some true love turned, and not a false turned true.
Then fate o'er rules, that one man holding troth,
3.2.931116A million fail, confounding oath on oath.
About the wood, go swifter then the wind,
3.2.961119All fancy sick she is and pale of cheer,
3.2.971120With sighs of love that costs the fresh blood dear.
3.2.981121By some illusion see thou bring her here.
3.2.991122I'll charm his eyes against she doth appear.
I go, I go, look how I go,
Flower of this purple dye,
Captain of our fairy band,
Stand aside. The noise they make
Then will two at once woo one;
Why should you think that I should woo in scorn?
3.2.1261151How can these things in me seem scorn to you?
3.2.1271152Bearing the badge of faith to prove them true?
You do advance your cunning more and more.
3.2.1291154When truth kills truth, Oh devilish holy fray!
3.2.1301155These vows are Hermia's. Will you give her o'er?
3.2.1311156Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh.
3.2.1331158Will even weigh, and both as light as tales.
I had no judgment when to her I swore.
Nor none in my mind, now you give her o'er.
Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you.
O Helen! Goddess, nymph, perfect, divine!
3.2.1381163To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?
3.2.1401165Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!
3.2.1411166That pure congealed white, high Taurus' snow,
3.2.1421167Fanned with the eastern wind, turns to a crow
3.2.1431168When thou hold'st up thy hand. O, let me kiss
3.2.1441169This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss.
O spite! O hell! I see you are all bent
3.2.1531178To vow, and swear, and super-praise my parts,
3.2.1541179When I am sure you hate me with your hearts.
3.2.1611186A poor soul's patience, all to make you sport.
You are unkind Demetrius. Be not so!
3.2.1641189And here, with all good will, with all my heart,
Never did mockers waste more idle breath.
Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none.
3.2.1711196My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourned,
It is not so.
Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,
3.2.1771202Look where thy love comes. Yonder is thy dear.
Dark night, that from the eye his function takes,
3.2.1831209Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to that sound.
Why should he stay whom love doth press to go?
What love could press Lysander from my side?
Lysander's love, that would not let him bide.
3.2.1901216Why seek'st thou me? Could not this make thee know,
You speak not as you think; it cannot be.
Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
3.2.1941220Now I perceive they have conjoined all three
3.2.1971223Have you conspired, have you with these contrived
3.2.2001226The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent,
3.2.2031229All schooldays friendship, childhood innocence?
3.2.2051231Have with our needles created both one flower,
3.2.2061232Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
3.2.2081234As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds
3.2.2171243To join with men in scorning your poor friend?
3.2.2191245Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it,
I am amazed at your passionate words!
3.2.2221248I scorn you not. It seems that you scorn me.
Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn,
3.2.2261252(Who even but now did spurn me with his foot),
3.2.2271253To call me goddess, nymph, divine, and rare,
3.2.2281254Precious, celestial? Wherefore speaks he this
3.2.2291255To her he hates? And wherefore doth Lysander
I understand not what you mean by this.
Ay, do. Persevere, counterfeit sad looks,
3.2.2411267This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled.
3.2.2441270But, fare ye well. 'Tis partly mine own fault,
Stay, gentle Helena, hear my excuse,
O excellent!
Sweet, do not scorn her so.
If she cannot entreat, I can compel.
Thou canst compel no more than she entreat.
3.2.2521278Thy threats have no more strength then her weak praise.
3.2.2541280I swear, by that which I will lose for thee,
3.2.2551281To prove him false, that says I love thee not.
I say I love thee more then he can do.
If thou say so, withdraw and prove it too.
Quick, come!
Lysander, whereto tends all this?
Away, you Ethiope!
No, no, sir, seem to break loose,
Hang off, thou cat, thou burr! Vile thing, let loose
3.2.2651291Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent.
Why are you grown so rude?
Thy love? Out, tawny Tartar, out!
3.2.2691295Out, loathèd medicine! O hated poison, hence!
Do you not jest?
Yes, sooth, and so do you!
Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee.
I would I had your bond, for I perceive
3.2.2741300A weak bond holds you. I'll not trust your word.
What, should I hurt her, strike her, kill her dead?
What, can you do me greater harm then hate?
3.2.2781304Hate me? Wherefore? O me, what news my Love?
3.2.2811307Since night you loved me, yet since night you left me.
3.2.2821308Why, then, you left me -- O the gods forbid --
Ay, by my life!
3.2.2861312Therefore be out of hope, of question, of doubt;
O me! You juggler, you canker blossom,
3.2.2901316You thief of love! What, have you come by night
Fine, i'faith.
3.2.2941320No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear
Puppet? Why so? Ay, that way goes the game.
3.2.2991325Between our statures; she hath urged her height,
3.2.3011327Her height, forsooth, she hath prevailed with him.
3.2.3061332But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes!
I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen,
3.2.3111337Let her not strike me. You perhaps may think
Lower? Harke again!
Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me.
3.2.3171343Did ever keep your counsels, never wronged you,
3.2.3211347But he hath chid me hence, and threatened me
3.2.3221348To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too!
Why, get you gone! Who is't that hinders you?
A foolish heart that I leave here behind.
What, with Lysander?
With Demetrius.
Be not afraid. She shall not harm thee, Helena.
No, sir, she shall not, though you take her part.
O, when she's angry, she is keen and shrewd.
3.2.3351361And though she be but little, she is fierce.
"Little" again? Nothing but "low" and "little?"
Get you gone, you dwarf,
You are too officious,
Now she holds me not.
3.2.3491375Now follow if thou dar'st, to try whose right,
Follow? Nay, I'll go with thee, cheek by
1378jowl.
You, mistress, all this coil is long of you.
I will not trust you, I,
3.2.3561383Your hands than mine are quicker for a fray;
3.2.357.11385 Enter Oberon and Puck [from the background. Exit Helena and Hermia]. This is thy negligence. Still thou mistak'st,
Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook.
Thou seest these lovers seek a place to fight.
3.2.3761404And from each other look thou lead them thus,
3.2.3771405Till o're their brows, death-counterfeiting, sleep
3.2.3781406With leaden legs, and batty wings doth creep.
3.2.3811409To take from thence all error with his might,
3.2.3821410And make his eyeballs roll with wonted sight.
3.2.3861414With league whose date till death shall never end.
3.2.3901418From monster's view, and all things shall be peace.
My fairy lord, this must be done with haste,
3.2.3921420For night-swift dragons cut the clouds full fast,
3.2.3941422At whose approach ghosts wandering here and there
3.2.3951423Troop home to churchyards. Damnèd spirits all,
3.2.3981426For fear least day should look their shames upon;
3.2.4001428And must for aye consort with black-browed night.
But we are spirits of another sort.
3.2.4021430I with the Morning's love have oft made sport,
3.2.4061434Turns into yellow gold his salt-green streams.
Where art thou, proud Demetrius? Speak thou now.
Here villain, drawn and ready. Where art thou?
I will be with thee straight.
Follow me then to plainer ground.
Lysander, speak again!
3.2.4211449Speak! In some bush? Where dost thou hide thy head?
Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars,
3.2.4231451Telling the bushes that thou look'st for wars,
3.2.4241452And wilt not come? Come recreant, come thou child!
Yea, art thou there?
Follow my voice, we'll try no manhood here.
He goes before me, and still dares me on.
3.2.4341462And here will rest me. Come thou gentle day.
3.2.4351463For if but once thou show me thy gray light,
3.2.4361464I'll find Demetrius, and revenge this spite.
1465Enter [Puck] and Demetrius. Ho, ho, ho! Coward, why com'st thou not?
Abide me, if thou dar'st. For well I wot,
3.2.4391468Thou runn'st before me, shifting every place,
3.2.4401469And dar'st not stand nor look me in the face.
Come hither! I am here.
Nay then, thou mock'st me. Thou shalt buy this
O weary night, O long and tedious night,
3.2.4501480Abate thy hours, shine comforts from the east,
3.2.4531483And sleep, that sometime shuts up sorrow's eye,
Yet but three? Come one more.
Never so weary, never so in woe,
3.2.4611492Bedabbled with the dew, and torn with briars,
3.2.4651496Heavens shield Lysander if they mean a fray.
On the ground sleep sound,
3.2.4671498I'll apply to your eye, gentle lover, remedy.