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!- Lys. Ay, by my life; And never did desire to see thee more. Therefore, be out of hope, of question, doubt, That I do hate thee, and love Helena. Her. O me! you juggler! you canker-blossom!7 You thief of love! what, have you come by night, And stol'n 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 personage, her tall personage, Her height, forsooth, she hath prevail'd with him.- Because I am so dwarfish, and so low? 7 A worm that preys on buds of flowers. VOL. II. 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, Let her not hurt me: I was never curst; 8 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; I told him of your stealth unto this wood: You see how simple and how fond9 I am. Her. Why, get you gone: Who is't that hinders you? Hel. A foolish heart, that I leave here hehind. Hel. With Demetrius. Lys. Be not afraid she shall not harm thee, Helena. : Dem. No, sir; she shall not, though you take her part. Shrewish or mischievous. 9 Foolish. 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; Dem. You are to too officious, In her behalf that scorns your services. Let her alone; speak not of Helena; Take not her part: for if thou dost intend2 Thou shalt aby it. Lys. Now she holds me not; Now follow, if thou dar'st, to try whose right, Or thine or mine, is most in Helena. jole. Dem. Follow? nay, I'll go with thee, cheek by [Exeunt Lys. and DEM, 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. [Exit. Her. I am amaz'd, and know not what to say. [Exit, pursuing HELENA. Obe. This is thy negligence: still thou mistak'st, Or else commit'st thy knaveries wilfully. Puck. Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook. Antiently knot-grass was believed to prevent the growth of children. 2 Pretend, Did not you tell me, I should know the man As this their jangling I esteem a sport. Obe. Thou seest, these lovers seek a place to fight: Hie therefore, Robin, overcast the night; The starry welkin cover thou anon With league, whose date till death shall never end. I'll to my queen, and beg her Indian boy; From monster's view, and all things shall be peace. 3 Happen. 4 Medicinal efficacy. 5.Go. Puck. My fairy lord, this must be done with haste; For night's swift dragons cut the clouds full fast, And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger; At whose approach, ghosts, wandering here and there, For fear lest day should look their shames upon, I with the Morning's Love" have oft made sport; [Exit OBERON. Puck. 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. Puck. Here villain; drawn and ready. Where art thou? Cephalus, the paramour of Aurora. |