Flying between the cold moon and the earth, And loos'd his love-shaft smartly from his bow, In maiden meditation, fancy-free. Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell: It fell upon a little western flower, Before, milk-white, now purple with love's wound,- Fetch me that flower: the herb I shew'd thee once; Will make or man or woman madly dote Fetch me this herb, and be thou here again, Puck. I'll put a girdle round about the earth In forty minutes. Obc. [Exit PUCK, through the air. Having once this juice, I'll watch Titania when she is asleep, And drop the liquor of it in her eyes; The next thing then she waking looks upon, And ere I take this charm from off her sight, [Retires up and reclines upon a bank of flowers. Enter DEMETRIUS, HELENA following him. The one I'll slay, the other slayeth me. Thou told'st me, they were stol'n unto this wood. Hel. You draw me, you hard-hearted adamant: Dem. Do I entice you? Do I speak you fair? Tell you-I do not, nor I cannot, love you? Hel. And even for that do I love you the more. I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius, The more you beat me, I will fawn on you: Use me but as your spaniel, spurn me, strike me, And to be used as you do use your dog. Dem. I'll run from thee, and hide me in the brakes, And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts. Hel. The wildest hath not such a heart as you. Run when you will; the story shall be chang'd; When cowardice pursues, and valor flies. [She clings to him. Dem. I will not stay thy questions; [Shakes her off.] let mc go: Or, if thou follow me, do not believe But I shall do thee mischief in the wood. Hel. Ay, in the temple, in the town, and field, You do me mischief. Fic, Demetrius ! Your wrongs do set a scandal on my sex : We cannot fight for love, as men may do ; We should be woo'd, and were not made to woo. [She attempts to clasp his arm-he avoids her. Exit DEHELENA sinks for a moment in grief, then METRIUS. starts up. I'll follow thee, and make a heaven of hell. To die upon the hand I love so well. [Exit HELENA. Obe. Fare thee well, nymph: ere he do leave this grove, Thou shalt fly him, and he shall seek thy love. Re-enter PUCK. Hast thou the flower there? Welcome, wanderer. Obe. I pray thee, give it me.; I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, Take thou some of it, and seek through this grove, Puck. Fear not, my lord, your servant shall do so. Enter, from side of PUCK's exit, LYSANDER and HERMIA, Lys. Fair love, you faint with wandering in the woods, And, to speak troth, I have forgot our way; We'll rest us, Hermia, if you think it good, And tarry for the comfort of the day. Her. Be it so, Lysander, find you out a bed, For I upon this bank will rest my head. .! Lys. One turf shall serve as pillow for us both; One heart, one bed, two bosoms and one troth. Her. Nay, good Lysander; for my sake, my dear, So far be distant, and good night, sweet friend; Lys. Amen, Amen, to that fair prayer say I, Here is my bed: Sleep give thee all his rest! Her. With half that wish the wisher's eyes be press'd. [They sleep. PUCK advances from his hiding place. Puck. Night and silence! who is here? Weeds of Athens he doth wear: This is he my master said And here the maiden, sleeping sound, Pretty soul, she durst not lic Near this lack-love, this kill-court'sy. Churl, upon thy eyes I throw [Exit PUCK. Enter DEMETRIUS and HELENA, running. Hel. Stay, though thou kill me, sweet Demetrius. Dem. Stay, on thy peril; I alone will go. [Exit DEMETRIUS. Hel. O, I am out of breath in this fond chase! But who is here ?-Lysander! on the ground! Lys. [Waking.] And run through fire I will, for thy sweet sake, Transparent Helena! Nature shows her art, That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart. Is that vile name to perish on my sword! Hel. Do not say so, Lysander; say not so: What though he love your Hermia? Yet, what though? Lys. Content with Hermia? No: I do repent The tedious minutes I with her have spent. Not Hermia, but Helena, I love: Reason becomes the marshal to my will, And leads me to your eyes; where I o'erlook Hel. Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born?. When, at your hands, did I deserve this scorn? But fare you well: perforce I must confess, I thought you lord of more true gentleness. Should of another therefore be abus'd! [Exit. Lys. She sees not Hermia ;-Hermia, sleep thou there; And never mayst thou come Lysander near! And, all my powers, address your love and might, To honour Helen, and to be her knight. [Exit. Her. [Starting.] Help me, Lysander, help me! do thy best, To pluck this crawling serpent from my breast! [She rises and looks around. Ah me, for pity !-what a dream was here! |