Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Suzanne Westfall
Not Peer Reviewed

A Midsummer Night's Dream (Quarto 1, 1600)

A Midsommer nightes dreame.
Her. With halfe that wish, the wishers eyes be prest.
Enter Pucke.
Puck. Through the forrest haue I gone:
720But Athenian found I none,
On whose eyes I might approue
This flowers force in stirring loue.
Night and silence. Who is heere?
Weedes of Athens he doth weare:
725This is hee (my master saide)
Despised the Athenian maide:
And here the maiden, sleeping sound,
On the danke and dirty ground.
Pretty sowle, she durst not lye,
730Neere this lack-loue, this kil-curtesie
Churle, vpon thy eyes I throwe
All the power this charme doth owe:
When thou wak'st, let loue forbidde
Sleepe, his seat, on thy eye lidde.
735So awake, when I am gon:
For I must now to Oberon. Exit.
Enter Demetrius and Helena running.
Hel. Stay; though thou kill mee, sweete Demetrius.
De. I charge thee hence, and doe not haunt mee thus.
740Hele. O, wilt thou darkling leaue me? doe not so.
De. Stay, on thy perill: I alone will goe.
Hel. O, I am out of breath, in this fond chase,
The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace.
745Happie is Hermia, wheresoere she lies:
For she hath blessed, and attractiue eyes.
How came her eyes so bright? Not with salt teares.
If so, my eyes are oftner washt then hers.
No, no: I am as vgly as a Beare:
750For beastes that meete mee, runne away, for feare.
Therefore, no maruaile, though Demetrius
Doe, as a monster, fly my presence, thus.
What