Scene 1
With Titania still asleep onstage , enter the Clowns ,
Bottom , Quince , Snout , Starveling , Snug , and Flute .
BOTTOM
Are we all met ?
QUINCE
Pat , pat . And here’s a marvels convenient
place for our rehearsal . This green plot shall be
our stage , this hawthorn brake our tiring-house ,
and we will do it in action as we will do it before
the Duke .
BOTTOM
Peter Quince ?
QUINCE
What sayest thou , bully Bottom ?
BOTTOM
There are things in this comedy of Pyramus
and Thisbe that will never please . First , Pyramus
must draw a sword to kill himself , which the ladies
cannot abide . How answer you that ?
SNOUT
By ’r lakin , a parlous fear .
STARVELING
I believe we must leave the killing out ,
when all is done .
BOTTOM
Not a whit ! I have a device to make all well .
Write me a prologue , and let the prologue seem to
say we will do no harm with our swords and that
Pyramus is not killed indeed . And , for the more
better assurance , tell them that I , Pyramus , am not
Pyramus , but Bottom the weaver . This will put them
out of fear .
[71]ACT 3. SC. 1
QUINCE
Well , we will have such a prologue , and it shall
be written in eight and six .
BOTTOM
No , make it two more . Let it be written in
eight and eight .
SNOUT
Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion ?
STARVELING
I fear it , I promise you .
BOTTOM
Masters , you ought to consider with yourself ,
to bring in ( God shield us ! ) a lion among ladies is a
most dreadful thing . For there is not a more fearful
wildfowl than your lion living , and we ought to look
to ’t .
SNOUT
Therefore another prologue must tell he is not
a lion .
BOTTOM
Nay , you must name his name , and half his
face must be seen through the lion’s neck , and he
himself must speak through , saying thus , or to the
same defect : ‘Ladies ,’ or ‘Fair ladies , I would
wish you ,’ or ‘I would request you ,’ or ‘I would
entreat you not to fear , not to tremble ! My life for
yours . If you think I come hither as a lion , it were
pity of my life . No , I am no such thing . I am a man as
other men are .’ And there indeed let him name his
name and tell them plainly he is Snug the joiner .
QUINCE
Well , it shall be so . But there is two hard
things : that is , to bring the moonlight into a chamber ,
for you know Pyramus and Thisbe meet by
moonlight .
SNOUT
Doth the moon shine that night we play our
play ?
BOTTOM
A calendar , a calendar ! Look in the almanac .
Find out moonshine , find out moonshine .
Quince takes out a book .
QUINCE
Yes , it doth shine that night .
BOTTOM
Why , then , may you leave a casement of the
great chamber window , where we play , open , and
the moon may shine in at the casement .
[73]ACT 3. SC. 1
QUINCE
Ay , or else one must come in with a bush of
thorns and a lantern and say he comes to disfigure
or to present the person of Moonshine . Then there
is another thing : we must have a wall in the great
chamber , for Pyramus and Thisbe , says the story ,
did talk through the chink of a wall .
SNOUT
You can never bring in a wall . What say you ,
Bottom ?
BOTTOM
Some man or other must present Wall . And
let him have some plaster , or some loam , or some
roughcast about him to signify wall , or let him
hold his fingers thus , and through that cranny shall
Pyramus and Thisbe whisper .
QUINCE
If that may be , then all is well . Come , sit down ,
every mother’s son , and rehearse your parts . Pyramus ,
you begin . When you have spoken your
speech , enter into that brake , and so everyone
according to his cue .
Enter Robin invisible to those onstage .
ROBIN
, aside
What hempen homespuns have we swagg’ring here
So near the cradle of the Fairy Queen ?
What , a play toward ? I’ll be an auditor —
An actor too perhaps , if I see cause .
QUINCE
Speak , Pyramus . — Thisbe , stand forth .
BOTTOM
, as Pyramus
Thisbe , the flowers of odious savors sweet —
QUINCE
Odors , odors !
BOTTOM
, as Pyramus
… odors savors sweet .
So hath thy breath , my dearest Thisbe dear . —
But hark , a voice ! Stay thou but here awhile ,
And by and by I will to thee appear .
He exits .
ROBIN
, aside
A stranger Pyramus than e’er played here .
He exits .
[75]ACT 3. SC. 1
FLUTE
Must I speak now ?
QUINCE
Ay , marry , must you , for you must understand
he goes but to see a noise that he heard and is to
come again .
FLUTE
, as Thisbe
Most radiant Pyramus , most lily-white of hue ,
Of color like the red rose on triumphant brier ,
Most brisky juvenal and eke most lovely Jew ,
As true as truest horse , that yet would never tire .
I’ll meet thee , Pyramus , at Ninny’s tomb .
QUINCE
‘Ninus’ tomb ,’ man ! Why , you must not
speak that yet . That you answer to Pyramus . You
speak all your part at once , cues and all . — Pyramus ,
enter . Your cue is past . It is ‘never tire .’
FLUTE
O !
As Thisbe .
As true as truest horse , that yet would never
tire .Enter Robin , and Bottom as Pyramus with the
ass-head .
BOTTOM
, as Pyramus
If I were fair , fair Thisbe , I were only thine .
QUINCE
O monstrous ! O strange ! We are haunted . Pray ,
masters , fly , masters ! Help !
Quince , Flute , Snout , Snug , and Starveling exit .
ROBIN
I’ll follow you . I’ll lead you about a round ,
Through bog , through bush , through brake ,
through brier .
Sometime a horse I’ll be , sometime a hound ,
A hog , a headless bear , sometime a fire ,
And neigh and bark and grunt and roar and burn ,
Like horse , hound , hog , bear , fire , at every turn .
He exits .
BOTTOM
Why do they run away ? This is a knavery of
them to make me afeard .
[77]ACT 3. SC. 1
Enter Snout .
SNOUT
O Bottom , thou art changed ! What do I see on
thee ?
BOTTOM
What do you see ? You see an ass-head of your
own , do you ?
Snout exits .
Enter Quince .
QUINCE
Bless thee , Bottom , bless thee ! Thou art
translated !
He exits .
BOTTOM
I see their knavery . This is to make an ass of
me , to fright me , if they could . But I will not stir
from this place , do what they can . I will walk up
and down here , and I will sing , that they shall hear
I am not afraid .
He sings .
The ouzel cock , so black of hue ,
With orange-tawny bill ,
The throstle with his note so true ,
The wren with little quill —TITANIA
, waking up
What angel wakes me from my flow’ry bed ?
BOTTOM
sings
The finch , the sparrow , and the lark ,
The plainsong cuckoo gray ,
Whose note full many a man doth mark
And dares not answer ‘nay’ —
for , indeed , who would set his wit to so foolish a
bird ? Who would give a bird the lie though he cry
‘cuckoo’ never so ?
TITANIA
I pray thee , gentle mortal , sing again .
Mine ear is much enamored of thy note ,
So is mine eye enthrallèd to thy shape ,
And thy fair virtue’s force perforce doth move me
On the first view to say , to swear , I love thee .
BOTTOM
Methinks , mistress , you should have little
[79] ACT 3. SC. 1 reason for that . And yet , to say the truth , reason
and love keep little company together nowadays .
The more the pity that some honest neighbors will
not make them friends . Nay , I can gleek upon
occasion .
TITANIA
Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful .
BOTTOM
Not so neither ; but if I had wit enough to get
out of this wood , I have enough to serve mine own
turn .
TITANIA
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 pressèd flowers dost sleep .
And I will purge thy mortal grossness so
That thou shalt like an airy spirit go . —
Peaseblossom , Cobweb , Mote , and Mustardseed !
Enter four Fairies : Peaseblossom , Cobweb ,
Mote , and Mustardseed .
PEASEBLOSSOM
Ready .
COBWEB
And I .
MOTE
And I .
MUSTARDSEED
And I .
ALL
Where shall we go ?
TITANIA
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 ,
[81] ACT 3. SC. 1 And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighs
And light them at the fiery glowworms’ eyes
To have my love to bed and to arise ;
And pluck the wings from painted butterflies
To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes .
Nod to him , elves , and do him courtesies .
PEASEBLOSSOM
Hail , mortal !
COBWEB
Hail !
MOTE
Hail !
MUSTARDSEED
Hail !
BOTTOM
I cry your Worships mercy , heartily . — I beseech
your Worship’s name .
COBWEB
Cobweb .
BOTTOM
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 ?
PEASEBLOSSOM
Peaseblossom .
BOTTOM
I pray you , commend me to Mistress Squash ,
your mother , and to Master Peascod , your father .
Good Master Peaseblossom , I shall desire you of
more acquaintance too . — Your name , I beseech
you , sir ?
MUSTARDSEED
Mustardseed .
BOTTOM
Good Master Mustardseed , I know your patience
well . That same cowardly , giantlike ox-beef
hath devoured many a gentleman of your house . I
promise you , your kindred hath made my eyes
water ere now . I desire you of more acquaintance ,
good Master Mustardseed .
TITANIA
Come , wait upon him . Lead him to my bower .
The moon , methinks , looks with a wat’ry eye ,
And when she weeps , weeps every little flower ,
Lamenting some enforcèd chastity .
Tie up my lover’s tongue . Bring him silently .
They exit .
ACT 3. SC. 2
Scene 2
Enter Oberon , King of Fairies .
OBERON
I wonder if Titania be awaked ;
Then what it was that next came in her eye ,
Which she must dote on in extremity .
Enter Robin Goodfellow .
Here comes my messenger . How now , mad spirit ?
What night-rule now about this haunted grove ?
ROBIN
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 entered in a brake .
When I did him at this advantage take ,
An ass’s noll I fixèd on his head .
Anon his Thisbe must be answerèd ,
And forth my mimic 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 ‘Murder’ cries and help from Athens calls .
Their sense thus weak , lost with their fears thus
strong ,
Made senseless things begin to do them wrong ;
[85] ACT 3. SC. 2 For briers 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 waked and straightway loved an ass .
OBERON
This falls out better than I could devise .
But hast thou yet latched the Athenian’s eyes
With the love juice , as I did bid thee do ?
ROBIN
I took him sleeping — that is finished , too —
And the Athenian woman by his side ,
That , when he waked , of force she must be eyed .
Enter Demetrius and Hermia .
OBERON
Stand close . This is the same Athenian .
ROBIN
This is the woman , but not this the man .
They step aside .
DEMETRIUS
O , why rebuke you him that loves you so ?
Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe !
HERMIA
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 stolen away
From sleeping Hermia ? I’ll believe as soon
This whole Earth may be bored , and that the moon
May through the center creep and so displease
[87] ACT 3. SC. 2 Her brother’s noontide with th’ Antipodes .
It cannot be but thou hast murdered him .
So should a murderer look , so dead , so grim .
DEMETRIUS
So should the murdered look , and so should I ,
Pierced through the heart with your stern cruelty .
Yet you , the murderer , look as bright , as clear ,
As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere .
HERMIA
What’s this to my Lysander ? Where is he ?
Ah , good Demetrius , wilt thou give him me ?
DEMETRIUS
I had rather give his carcass to my hounds .
HERMIA
Out , dog ! Out , cur ! Thou driv’st me past the bounds
Of maiden’s patience . Hast thou slain him , then ?
Henceforth be never numbered among men .
O , once tell true ! Tell true , even for my sake !
Durst thou have looked upon him , being awake ?
And hast thou killed him sleeping ? O brave touch !
Could not a worm , an adder , do so much ?
An adder did it , for with doubler tongue
Than thine , thou serpent , never adder stung .
DEMETRIUS
You spend your passion on a misprised mood .
I am not guilty of Lysander’s blood ,
Nor is he dead , for aught that I can tell .
HERMIA
I pray thee , tell me then that he is well .
DEMETRIUS
An if I could , what should I get therefor ?
HERMIA
A privilege never to see me more .
And from thy hated presence part I so .
See me no more , whether he be dead or no .
She exits .
[89]ACT 3. SC. 2
DEMETRIUS
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 bankrout sleep doth sorrow owe ,
Which now in some slight measure it will pay ,
If for his tender here I make some stay .
He lies down and falls asleep .
OBERON
, to Robin
What hast thou done ? Thou hast mistaken quite
And laid the love juice on some true-love’s sight .
Of thy misprision must perforce ensue
Some true-love turned , and not a false turned true .
ROBIN
Then fate o’errules , that , one man holding troth ,
A million fail , confounding oath on oath .
OBERON
About 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 .
ROBIN
I go , I go , look how I go ,
Swifter than arrow from the Tartar’s bow .
He exits .
OBERON
, applying the nectar to Demetrius’ eyes
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 .
Enter Robin .
[91]ACT 3. SC. 2
ROBIN
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 !
OBERON
Stand aside . The noise they make
Will cause Demetrius to awake .
ROBIN
Then will two at once woo one .
That must needs be sport alone .
And those things do best please me
That befall prepost’rously .
They step aside .
Enter Lysander and Helena .
LYSANDER
Why should you think that I should woo in scorn ?
Scorn and derision never come 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 ?
HELENA
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 .
LYSANDER
I had no judgment when to her I swore .
HELENA
Nor none , in my mind , now you give her o’er .
[93]ACT 3. SC. 2
LYSANDER
Demetrius loves her , and he loves not you .
DEMETRIUS
, waking up
O Helen , goddess , nymph , perfect , divine !
To what , my love , shall I compare thine eyne ?
Crystal is muddy . O , how ripe in show
Thy lips , those kissing cherries , tempting grow !
That pure congealèd white , high Taurus’ snow ,
Fanned with the eastern wind , turns to a crow
When thou hold’st up thy hand . O , let me kiss
This princess of pure white , this seal of bliss !
HELENA
O spite ! O hell ! I see you all are 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 , as I know you do ,
But you must join in souls to mock me too ?
If you were men , 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 enterprise ,
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 .
LYSANDER
You are unkind , Demetrius . Be not so ,
For you love Hermia ; this you know I know .
And here with all goodwill , 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 till my death .
[95]ACT 3. SC. 2
HELENA
Never did mockers waste more idle breath .
DEMETRIUS
Lysander , keep thy Hermia . I will none .
If e’er I loved her , all that love is gone .
My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourned ,
And now to Helen is it home returned ,
There to remain .
LYSANDER
Helen , it is not so .
DEMETRIUS
Disparage not the faith thou dost not know ,
Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear .
Look where thy love comes . Yonder is thy dear .
Enter Hermia .
HERMIA
, to Lysander
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 recompense .
Thou art not by mine eye , Lysander , found ;
Mine ear , I thank it , brought me to thy sound .
But why unkindly didst thou leave me so ?
LYSANDER
Why should he stay whom love doth press to go ?
HERMIA
What love could press Lysander from my side ?
LYSANDER
Lysander’s love , that would not let him bide ,
Fair Helena , who more engilds the night
Than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light .
Why seek’st thou me ? Could not this make thee
know
The hate I bear thee made me leave thee so ?
HERMIA
You speak not as you think . It cannot be .
[97]ACT 3. SC. 2
HELENA
Lo , she is one of this confederacy !
Now I perceive they have conjoined all three
To fashion this false sport in spite of me . —
Injurious Hermia , most ungrateful maid ,
Have you conspired , have you with these contrived ,
To bait me with this foul derision ?
Is all the counsel that we two have shared ,
The sisters’ vows , the hours that we have spent
When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us — O , is all forgot ?
All schooldays’ 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 , our sides , voices , and minds
Had been incorporate . So we grew together
Like to a double cherry , seeming parted ,
But yet an union in partition ,
Two lovely berries molded on one stem ;
So with two seeming bodies but one heart ,
Two of the first , like coats in heraldry ,
Due but to one , and crownèd with one crest .
And will you rent our 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 .
HERMIA
I am amazèd at your words .
I scorn you not . It seems that you scorn me .
HELENA
Have you not set Lysander , as in scorn ,
To follow me and praise my eyes and face ,
And made your other love , Demetrius ,
[99] ACT 3. SC. 2 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 love , so fortunate ,
But miserable most , to love unloved ?
This you should pity rather than despise .
HERMIA
I understand not what you mean by this .
HELENA
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 carried , shall be chronicled .
If you have any pity , grace , or manners ,
You would not make me such an argument .
But fare you well . ’Tis partly my own fault ,
Which death or absence soon shall remedy .
LYSANDER
Stay , gentle Helena . Hear my excuse ,
My love , my life , my soul , fair Helena .
HELENA
O excellent !
HERMIA
, to Lysander
Sweet , do not scorn her so .
DEMETRIUS
, to Lysander
If she cannot entreat , I can compel .
LYSANDER
Thou canst compel no more than she entreat .
Thy threats have no more strength than her weak
prayers . —
Helen , I love thee . By my life , I do .
[101] ACT 3. SC. 2 I swear by that which I will lose for thee ,
To prove him false that says I love thee not .
DEMETRIUS
I say I love thee more than he can do .
LYSANDER
If thou say so , withdraw and prove it too .
DEMETRIUS
Quick , come .
HERMIA
Lysander , whereto tends all this ?
She takes hold of Lysander .
LYSANDER
Away , you Ethiop !
DEMETRIUS
, to Hermia
No , no . He’ll
Seem to break loose .
To Lysander .
Take on as you
would follow ,
But yet come not . You are a tame man , go !
LYSANDER
, to Hermia
Hang off , thou cat , thou burr ! Vile thing , let loose ,
Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent .
HERMIA
Why are you grown so rude ? What change is this ,
Sweet love ?
LYSANDER
Thy love ? Out , tawny Tartar , out !
Out , loathèd med’cine ! O , hated potion , hence !
HERMIA
Do you not jest ?
HELENA
Yes , sooth , and so do you .
LYSANDER
Demetrius , I will keep my word with thee .
DEMETRIUS
I would I had your bond . For I perceive
A weak bond holds you . I’ll not trust your word .
LYSANDER
What ? Should I hurt her , strike her , kill her dead ?
Although I hate her , I’ll not harm her so .
[103]ACT 3. SC. 2
HERMIA
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 loved me ; yet since night you left
me .
Why , then , you left me — O , the gods forbid ! —
In earnest , shall I say ?
LYSANDER
Ay , by my life ,
And never did desire to see thee more .
Therefore be out of hope , of question , of doubt .
Be certain , nothing truer , ’tis no jest
That I do hate thee and love Helena .
Hermia turns him loose .
HERMIA
O me !
To Helena .
You juggler , you cankerblossom ,
You thief of love ! What , have you come by night
And stol’n my love’s heart from him ?
HELENA
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 !
HERMIA
‘Puppet’ ? Why so ? Ay , that way goes the game .
Now I perceive that she hath made compare
Between our statures ; she hath urged her height ,
And with her personage , her tall personage ,
Her height , forsooth , she hath prevailed 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 maypole ? Speak !
How low am I ? I am not yet so low
But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes .
[105]ACT 3. SC. 2
HELENA
I pray you , though you mock me , gentlemen ,
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 is something lower than myself ,
That I can match her .
HERMIA
‘Lower’ ? Hark , again !
HELENA
Good Hermia , do not be so bitter with me .
I evermore did love you , Hermia ,
Did ever keep your counsels , never wronged you —
Save that , in love unto Demetrius ,
I told him of your stealth unto this wood .
He followed you ; for love , I followed him .
But he hath chid me hence and threatened 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 .
HERMIA
Why , get you gone . Who is ’t that hinders you ?
HELENA
A foolish heart that I leave here behind .
HERMIA
What , with Lysander ?
HELENA
With Demetrius .
LYSANDER
Be not afraid . She shall not harm thee , Helena .
DEMETRIUS
No , sir , she shall not , though you take her part .
HELENA
O , when she is angry , she is keen and shrewd .
She was a vixen when she went to school ,
And though she be but little , she is fierce .
[107]ACT 3. SC. 2
HERMIA
‘Little’ again ? Nothing but ‘low’ and ‘little’ ?
Why will you suffer her to flout me thus ?
Let me come to her .
LYSANDER
Get you gone , you dwarf ,
You minimus of hind’ring knotgrass made ,
You bead , you acorn —
DEMETRIUS
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 show of love to her ,
Thou shalt aby it .
LYSANDER
Now she holds me not .
Now follow , if thou dar’st , to try whose right ,
Of thine or mine , is most in Helena .
DEMETRIUS
‘Follow’ ? Nay , I’ll go with thee , cheek by jowl .
Demetrius and Lysander exit .
HERMIA
You , mistress , all this coil is long of you .
Helena retreats .
Nay , go not back .
HELENA
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 .
She exits .
HERMIA
I am amazed and know not what to say .
She exits .
OBERON
, to Robin
This is thy negligence . Still thou mistak’st ,
Or else committ’st thy knaveries willfully .
ROBIN
Believe me , king of shadows , I mistook .
Did not you tell me I should know the man
By the Athenian garments he had on ?
[109] ACT 3. SC. 2 And so far blameless proves my enterprise
That I have ’nointed an Athenian’s eyes ;
And so far am I glad it so did sort ,
As this their jangling I esteem a sport .
OBERON
Thou seest these lovers seek a place to fight .
Hie , 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 herb into Lysander’s eye ,
He gives a flower to Robin .
Whose liquor hath this virtuous property ,
To take from thence all error with his might
And make his eyeballs roll 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 ,
I’ll to my queen and beg her Indian boy ;
And then I will her charmèd eye release
From monster’s view , and all things shall be peace .
ROBIN
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 wand’ring here and
there
[111] ACT 3. SC. 2 Troop home to churchyards . Damnèd spirits all ,
That in crossways and floods have burial ,
Already to their wormy beds are gone .
For fear lest day should look their shames upon ,
They willfully themselves exile from light
And must for aye consort with black-browed night .
OBERON
But we are spirits of another sort .
I with the Morning’s love 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 blessèd beams ,
Turns into yellow gold his salt-green streams .
But notwithstanding , haste ! Make no delay .
We may effect this business yet ere day .
He exits .
ROBIN
Up and down , up and down ,
I will lead them up and down .
I am feared in field and town .
Goblin , lead them up and down .
Here comes one .
Enter Lysander .
LYSANDER
Where art thou , proud Demetrius ? Speak thou now .
ROBIN
, in Demetrius’ voice
Here , villain , drawn and ready . Where art thou ?
LYSANDER
I will be with thee straight .
ROBIN
, in Demetrius’ voice
Follow me , then , to
plainer ground .
Lysander exits .
Enter Demetrius .
DEMETRIUS
Lysander , speak again .
Thou runaway , thou coward , art thou fled ?
Speak ! In some bush ? Where dost thou hide thy
head ?
[113]ACT 3. SC. 2
ROBIN
, in Lysander’s voice
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 defiled
That draws a sword on thee .
DEMETRIUS
Yea , art thou there ?
ROBIN
, in Lysander’s voice
Follow my voice . We’ll try no manhood here .
They exit .
Enter Lysander .
LYSANDER
He goes before me and still dares me on .
When I come where he calls , then he is gone .
The villain is much lighter-heeled than I .
I followed fast , but faster he did fly ,
That fallen am I in dark uneven way ,
And here will rest me . Come , thou gentle day ,
For if but once thou show me thy gray light ,
I’ll find Demetrius and revenge this spite .
He lies down and sleeps .
Enter Robin and Demetrius .
ROBIN
, in Lysander’s voice
Ho , ho , ho ! Coward , why com’st thou not ?
DEMETRIUS
Abide me , if thou dar’st , for well I wot
Thou runn’st before me , shifting every place ,
And dar’st not stand nor look me in the face .
Where art thou now ?
ROBIN
, in Lysander’s voice
Come hither . I am here .
DEMETRIUS
Nay , then , thou mock’st me . Thou shalt buy this
dear
[115] ACT 3. SC. 2 If ever I thy face by daylight see .
Now go thy way . Faintness constraineth me
To measure out my length on this cold bed .
By day’s approach look to be visited .
He lies down and sleeps .
Enter Helena .
HELENA
O weary night , O long and tedious night ,
Abate thy hours ! Shine , comforts , from the east ,
That I may back to Athens by daylight
From these that my poor company detest .
And sleep , that sometimes shuts up sorrow’s eye ,
Steal me awhile from mine own company .
She lies down and sleeps .
ROBIN
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 .
HERMIA
Never so weary , never so in woe ,
Bedabbled 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 till the break of day .
Heavens shield Lysander if they mean a fray !
She lies down and sleeps .
ROBIN
On the ground
Sleep sound .
I’ll apply
To your eye ,
Gentle lover , remedy .
[117] ACT 3. SC. 2 Robin applies the nectar
to Lysander’s eyes .
When thou wak’st ,
Thou tak’st
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 ;
Naught shall go ill ;
The man shall have his mare again , and all shall be
well .
He exits .