Shall we their fond pageant sec ?

Lord, what fools these mortals be!

[They retire aside.

Enter LYSANDER and HELENA.

Lys. 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.

Hel. You do advance your cunning more and more. These vows are Hermia's; will you give her o'er?

Lys. I had no judgment, when to her I swore.

Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you.

Dem. [Awaking.] 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!
Hel. O, spite! O, fury! I see you're all bent
To set against me, for your merriment.
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.

Lys. You are unkind, Demetrius: be not so:
For you love Hermia; this, you know, I know;
And here, with all good will, 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 to my death.

Hel. Never did mockers waste more idle breath.

Dem. Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will nonę:
If c'er I lov'd her, all that love is gone.

My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourn'd;
And now to Helen is it home return'd,

Dem. 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.

Her. Dark night, that from the eye his function takes, The car more quick of apprehension makes;

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?

Lys. Why should he stay whom love doth press to go? Her. What love could press Lysander from my side? Lys, 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?

Her. You speak not as you think, it cannot be.
Hel. Injurious Hermia! most ungrateful maid!
Have you conspir'd, have you with these contriv'd
To bait me with this foul derision?

Is all the counsel that we two have shar'd,

The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent,
When we have chid the hasty-footed time

For parting us,-O, and is all forgot?

All school-days' friendship, childhood innocence?
So we grew together,

Like to a double cherry, seeming parted;
But yet a union in partition,

Two lovely berries moulded on one stem:
And will you rent our ancient love asunder,
To join with men in scorning your poor friend?
Her. I am amazed at your passionate words:
I scorn
you not; it seems that you scorn me.
Hel. Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn,
To follow me, and praise my eyes and face?
And made your other love, Demetrius,
(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 unlov'd!
This you should pity, rather than despise.

Her. I understand not what you mean by this!
Hel. Ay, do, persèver, counterfeit sad looks,
Make mouths upon me when I turn my back,
Wink cach 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 mine own fault,
Which death, or absence, soon shall remedy.

Lys. Stay, gentle Helena, hear my excuse;
My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena !
Hel.. O, excellent!

Her.

Sweet, do not scorn her so.

Dem. If she cannot entreat, I can compel.

Lys. 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;

I swear by that which I will lose for thee,
To prove him false that says I love thee not.

Dem. I say I love thee more than he can do. ·
Lys. If thou say so, withdraw, and prove it too.
Dem. Quick, come,-
Her.

Lysander, whereto tends all this?
[Clings to him.

Lys. Hang off, thou cat, thou burr! vile thing, let loose; Or I will shake thee from me, like a serpent!

Her. Why are you grown so rude? what change is this, Sweet love?

Ly's.

Thy love? out, tawny Tartar, out! Out, loathed medicine! O, hated potion, hence! Her. Do you not jest?

[Again clinging to him. Yes, 'sooth; and so do you.

Hel.
Lys. Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee.
Dem. I would I had your bond, for I perceive
A weak bond holds you; I'll not trust your word.

Lys. What, should I hurt her, strike her, kill her dead? Although I hate her, I'll not harm her so.

Her. What, can you do me greater harm than hate?

Hate me! wherefore? O me!

Since night, you lov'd me; yet, since night, you left me:
Why then you left me,-O, the gods forbid !-

And never did desire to see thee more.

Therefore, be out of hope, of question, doubt,
Be certain, nothing truer, 'tis no jest,

That I do hate thee, and love Helena.

Her. O me! [to HEL.] you juggler! you canker-blossom!' You thief of love! what, have you come by night,

And stolen my love's heart from him? [Advancing on her. Hel. 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;

[Retreats behind the men.

[HERMIA advances.

Let her not strike me.

Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me.

I evermore did love you, Hermia,

Did ever keep your counsels, never wrong'd you ;
Save that, in love unto Demetrius,

I told him of your stealth unto this wood:
He follow'd you; for love, I follow'd him.
But he hath chid me hence; and threaten'd 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.

Her. Why, get you gone: who is 't that hinders you?
Hel. A foolish heart that I leave here behind.

Her. What, with Lysander?

Hel.

With Demetrius.

Lys. Be not afraid she shall not harm thee, Helena. Dem. No, sir, she shall not, though you take her part. Hel. O when she's angry, she is keen and shrewd ; She was a vixen, when she went to school.

Her. Why will you suffer her to flout me thus ? Let me come to her.

[LYSANDER interposes.

Dem. [To him.] You are too officious. Take not her part: for if thou dost intend Never so little show of love to her,

Thou shalt aby it.

Ly's.

Now she holds me not;

Now follow, if thou dar'st, to try whose right,

Or thine or mine, is most in Helena.

Dem. Follow? nay, I'll go with thee, cheek by jole.

[Exeunt LYSANDER and DEMETRIES.

Her. You, mistress, all this coil is 'long of you:

Nor longer stay in your curst company.

[HERMIA pursues and nearly overtakes her, and HELENA

finally escapes and exits.