Shakespeare Portal

Act 3, Scene 2

Another part of the wood.

  1. [Enter OBERON.]
  2. Oberon
  3. 951 I wonder if Titania be awak'd;
  4. 952 Then, what it was that next came in her eye,
  5. 953 Which she must dote on in extremity.
  6. [Enter PUCK.]
  7. Oberon
  8. 954 Here comes my messenger.—How now, mad spirit?
  9. 955 What night-rule now about this haunted grove?
  10. Puck
  11. 956 My mistress with a monster is in love.
  12. 957 Near to her close and consecrated bower,
  13. 958 While she was in her dull and sleeping hour,
  14. 959 A crew of patches, rude mechanicals,
  15. 960 That work for bread upon Athenian stalls,
  16. 961 Were met together to rehearse a play
  17. 962 Intended for great Theseus' nuptial day.
  18. 963 The shallowest thickskin of that barren sort
  19. 964 Who Pyramus presented in their sport,
  20. 965 Forsook his scene and enter'd in a brake;
  21. 966 When I did him at this advantage take,
  22. 967 An ass's nowl I fixè d on his head;
  23. 968 Anon, his Thisbe must be answered,
  24. 969 And forth my mimic comes. When they him spy,
  25. 970 As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye,
  26. 971 Or russet-pated choughs, many in sort,
  27. 972 Rising and cawing at the gun's report,
  28. 973 Sever themselves and madly sweep the sky,
  29. 974 So at his sight away his fellows fly:
  30. 975 And at our stamp here, o'er and o'er one falls;
  31. 976 He murder cries, and help from Athens calls.
  32. 977 Their sense thus weak, lost with their fears, thus strong,
  33. 978 Made senseless things begin to do them wrong;
  34. 979 For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch;
  35. 980 Some sleeves, some hats: from yielders all things catch.
  36. 981 I led them on in this distracted fear,
  37. 982 And left sweet Pyramus translated there:
  38. 983 When in that moment,—so it came to pass,—
  39. 984 Titania wak'd, and straightway lov'd an ass.
  40. Oberon
  41. 985 This falls out better than I could devise.
  42. 986 But hast thou yet latch'd the Athenian's eyes
  43. 987 With the love-juice, as I did bid thee do?
  44. Puck
  45. 988 I took him sleeping,—that is finish'd too,—
  46. 989 And the Athenian woman by his side;
  47. 990 That, when he wak'd, of force she must be ey'd.
  48. [Enter DEMETRIUS and HERMIA.]
  49. Oberon
  50. 991 Stand close; this is the same Athenian.
  51. Puck
  52. 992 This is the woman, but not this the man.
  53. Demetrius
  54. 993 O, why rebuke you him that loves you so?
  55. 994 Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe.
  56. Hermia
  57. 995 Now I but chide, but I should use thee worse;
  58. 996 For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse.
  59. 997 If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep,
  60. 998 Being o'er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep,
  61. 999 And kill me too.
  62. 1000 The sun was not so true unto the day
  63. 1001 As he to me: would he have stol'n away
  64. 1002 From sleeping Hermia? I'll believe as soon
  65. 1003 This whole earth may be bor'd; and that the moon
  66. 1004 May through the centre creep and so displease
  67. 1005 Her brother's noontide with the antipodes.
  68. 1006 It cannot be but thou hast murder'd him;
  69. 1007 So should a murderer look; so dead, so grim.
  70. Demetrius
  71. 1008 So should the murder'd look; and so should I,
  72. 1009 Pierc'd through the heart with your stern cruelty:
  73. 1010 Yet you, the murderer, look as bright, as clear,
  74. 1011 As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere.
  75. Hermia
  76. 1012 What's this to my Lysander? where is he?
  77. 1013 Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give him me?
  78. Demetrius
  79. 1014 I had rather give his carcass to my hounds.
  80. Hermia
  81. 1015 Out, dog! out, cur! thou driv'st me past the bounds
  82. 1016 Of maiden's patience. Hast thou slain him, then?
  83. 1017 Henceforth be never number'd among men!
  84. 1018 Oh! once tell true; tell true, even for my sake;
  85. 1019 Durst thou have look'd upon him, being awake,
  86. 1020 And hast thou kill'd him sleeping? O brave touch!
  87. 1021 Could not a worm, an adder, do so much?
  88. 1022 An adder did it; for with doubler tongue
  89. 1023 Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung.
  90. Demetrius
  91. 1024 You spend your passion on a mispris'd mood:
  92. 1025 I am not guilty of Lysander's blood;
  93. 1026 Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell.
  94. Hermia
  95. 1027 I pray thee, tell me, then, that he is well.
  96. Demetrius
  97. 1028 An if I could, what should I get therefore?
  98. Hermia
  99. 1029 A privilege never to see me more.—
  100. 1030 And from thy hated presence part I so:
  101. 1031 See me no more whether he be dead or no.
  102. [Exit.]
  103. Demetrius
  104. 1032 There is no following her in this fierce vein:
  105. 1033 Here, therefore, for a while I will remain.
  106. 1034 So sorrow's heaviness doth heavier grow
  107. 1035 For debt that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe;
  108. 1036 Which now in some slight measure it will pay,
  109. 1037 If for his tender here I make some stay.
  110. [Lies down.]
  111. Oberon
  112. 1038 What hast thou done? thou hast mistaken quite,
  113. 1039 And laid the love-juice on some true-love's sight:
  114. 1040 Of thy misprision must perforce ensue
  115. 1041 Some true love turn'd, and not a false turn'd true.
  116. Puck
  117. 1042 Then fate o'er-rules, that, one man holding troth,
  118. 1043 A million fail, confounding oath on oath.
  119. Oberon
  120. 1044 About the wood go, swifter than the wind,
  121. 1045 And Helena of Athens look thou find:
  122. 1046 All fancy-sick she is, and pale of cheer,
  123. 1047 With sighs of love, that costs the fresh blood dear.
  124. 1048 By some illusion see thou bring her here;
  125. 1049 I'll charm his eyes against she do appear.
  126. Puck
  127. 1050 I go, I go; look how I go,—
  128. 1051 Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow.
  129. [Exit.]
  130. Oberon
  131. 1052 Flower of this purple dye,
  132. 1053 Hit with Cupid's archery,
  133. 1054 Sink in apple of his eye!
  134. 1055 When his love he doth espy,
  135. 1056 Let her shine as gloriously
  136. 1057 As the Venus of the sky.—
  137. 1058 When thou wak'st, if she be by,
  138. 1059 Beg of her for remedy.
  139. [Re-enter PUCK.]
  140. Puck
  141. 1060 Captain of our fairy band,
  142. 1061 Helena is here at hand,
  143. 1062 And the youth mistook by me
  144. 1063 Pleading for a lover's fee;
  145. 1064 Shall we their fond pageant see?
  146. 1065 Lord, what fools these mortals be!
  147. Oberon
  148. 1066 Stand aside: the noise they make
  149. 1067 Will cause Demetrius to awake.
  150. Puck
  151. 1068 Then will two at once woo one,—
  152. 1069 That must needs be sport alone;
  153. 1070 And those things do best please me
  154. 1071 That befall preposterously.
  155. [Enter LYSANDER and HELENA.]
  156. Lysander
  157. 1072 Why should you think that I should woo in scorn?
  158. 1073 Scorn and derision never come in tears.
  159. 1074 Look when I vow, I weep; and vows so born,
  160. 1075 In their nativity all truth appears.
  161. 1076 How can these things in me seem scorn to you,
  162. 1077 Bearing the badge of faith, to prove them true?
  163. Helena
  164. 1078 You do advance your cunning more and more.
  165. 1079 When truth kills truth, O devilish-holy fray!
  166. 1080 These vows are Hermia's: will you give her o'er?
  167. 1081 Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh:
  168. 1082 Your vows to her and me, put in two scales,
  169. 1083 Will even weigh; and both as light as tales.
  170. Lysander
  171. 1084 I had no judgment when to her I swore.
  172. Helena
  173. 1085 Nor none, in my mind, now you give her o'er.
  174. Lysander
  175. 1086 Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you.
  176. [Awaking.]
  177. Demetrius
  178. 1087 O Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine!
  179. 1088 To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?
  180. 1089 Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show
  181. 1090 Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!
  182. 1091 That pure congealed white, high Taurus' snow,
  183. 1092 Fann'd with the eastern wind, turns to a crow
  184. 1093 When thou hold'st up thy hand: O, let me kiss
  185. 1094 This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss!
  186. Helena
  187. 1095 O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent
  188. 1096 To set against me for your merriment.
  189. 1097 If you were civil, and knew courtesy,
  190. 1098 You would not do me thus much injury.
  191. 1099 Can you not hate me, as I know you do,
  192. 1100 But you must join in souls to mock me too?
  193. 1101 If you were men, as men you are in show,
  194. 1102 You would not use a gentle lady so;
  195. 1103 To vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts,
  196. 1104 When I am sure you hate me with your hearts.
  197. 1105 You both are rivals, and love Hermia;
  198. 1106 And now both rivals, to mock Helena:
  199. 1107 A trim exploit, a manly enterprise,
  200. 1108 To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes
  201. 1109 With your derision! None of noble sort
  202. 1110 Would so offend a virgin, and extort
  203. 1111 A poor soul's patience, all to make you sport.
  204. Lysander
  205. 1112 You are unkind, Demetrius; be not so;
  206. 1113 For you love Hermia: this you know I know:
  207. 1114 And here, with all good will, with all my heart,
  208. 1115 In Hermia's love I yield you up my part;
  209. 1116 And yours of Helena to me bequeath,
  210. 1117 Whom I do love and will do till my death.
  211. Helena
  212. 1118 Never did mockers waste more idle breath.
  213. Demetrius
  214. 1119 Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none:
  215. 1120 If e'er I lov'd her, all that love is gone.
  216. 1121 My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourn'd;
  217. 1122 And now to Helen is it home return'd,
  218. 1123 There to remain.
  219. Lysander
  220. 1124 Helen, it is not so.
  221. Demetrius
  222. 1125 Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,
  223. 1126 Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear.—
  224. 1127 Look where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear.
  225. [Enter HERMIA.]
  226. Hermia
  227. 1128 Dark night, that from the eye his function takes,
  228. 1129 The ear more quick of apprehension makes;
  229. 1130 Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense,
  230. 1131 It pays the hearing double recompense:—
  231. 1132 Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found;
  232. 1133 Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound.
  233. 1134 But why unkindly didst thou leave me so?
  234. Lysander
  235. 1135 Why should he stay whom love doth press to go?
  236. Hermia
  237. 1136 What love could press Lysander from my side?
  238. Lysander
  239. 1137 Lysander's love, that would not let him bide,—
  240. 1138 Fair Helena,—who more engilds the night
  241. 1139 Than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light.
  242. 1140 Why seek'st thou me? could not this make thee know
  243. 1141 The hate I bare thee made me leave thee so?
  244. Hermia
  245. 1142 You speak not as you think; it cannot be.
  246. Helena
  247. 1143 Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
  248. 1144 Now I perceive they have conjoin'd all three
  249. 1145 To fashion this false sport in spite of me.
  250. 1146 Injurious Hermia! most ungrateful maid!
  251. 1147 Have you conspir'd, have you with these contriv'd,
  252. 1148 To bait me with this foul derision?
  253. 1149 Is all the counsel that we two have shar'd,
  254. 1150 The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent,
  255. 1151 When we have chid the hasty-footed time
  256. 1152 For parting us,—O, is all forgot?
  257. 1153 All school-days' friendship, childhood innocence?
  258. 1154 We, Hermia, like two artificial gods,
  259. 1155 Have with our needles created both one flower,
  260. 1156 Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
  261. 1157 Both warbling of one song, both in one key;
  262. 1158 As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds,
  263. 1159 Had been incorporate. So we grew together,
  264. 1160 Like to a double cherry, seeming parted;
  265. 1161 But yet a union in partition,
  266. 1162 Two lovely berries moulded on one stem:
  267. 1163 So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart;
  268. 1164 Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,
  269. 1165 Due but to one, and crowned with one crest.
  270. 1166 And will you rent our ancient love asunder,
  271. 1167 To join with men in scorning your poor friend?
  272. 1168 It is not friendly, 'tis not maidenly:
  273. 1169 Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it,
  274. 1170 Though I alone do feel the injury.
  275. Hermia
  276. 1171 I am amazed at your passionate words:
  277. 1172 I scorn you not; it seems that you scorn me.
  278. Helena
  279. 1173 Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn,
  280. 1174 To follow me, and praise my eyes and face?
  281. 1175 And made your other love, Demetrius,—
  282. 1176 Who even but now did spurn me with his foot,—
  283. 1177 To call me goddess, nymph, divine, and rare,
  284. 1178 Precious, celestial? Wherefore speaks he this
  285. 1179 To her he hates? and wherefore doth Lysander
  286. 1180 Deny your love, so rich within his soul,
  287. 1181 And tender me, forsooth, affection,
  288. 1182 But by your setting on, by your consent?
  289. 1183 What though I be not so in grace as you,
  290. 1184 So hung upon with love, so fortunate;
  291. 1185 But miserable most, to love unlov'd?
  292. 1186 This you should pity rather than despise.
  293. Hermia
  294. 1187 I understand not what you mean by this.
  295. Helena
  296. 1188 Ay, do persever, counterfeit sad looks,
  297. 1189 Make mows upon me when I turn my back;
  298. 1190 Wink each at other; hold the sweet jest up:
  299. 1191 This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled.
  300. 1192 If you have any pity, grace, or manners,
  301. 1193 You would not make me such an argument.
  302. 1194 But fare ye well: 'tis partly my own fault;
  303. 1195 Which death, or absence, soon shall remedy.
  304. Lysander
  305. 1196 Stay, gentle Helena; hear my excuse;
  306. 1197 My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena!
  307. Helena
  308. 1198 O excellent!
  309. Hermia
  310. 1199 Sweet, do not scorn her so.
  311. Demetrius
  312. 1200 If she cannot entreat, I can compel.
  313. Lysander
  314. 1201 Thou canst compel no more than she entreat;
  315. 1202 Thy threats have no more strength than her weak prayers.—
  316. 1203 Helen, I love thee; by my life I do;
  317. 1204 I swear by that which I will lose for thee
  318. 1205 To prove him false that says I love thee not.
  319. Demetrius
  320. 1206 I say I love thee more than he can do.
  321. Lysander
  322. 1207 If thou say so, withdraw, and prove it too.
  323. Demetrius
  324. 1208 Quick, come,—
  325. Hermia
  326. 1209 Lysander, whereto tends all this?
  327. Lysander
  328. 1210 Away, you Ethiope!
  329. Demetrius
  330. 1211 No, no, sir:—he will
  331. 1212 Seem to break loose; take on as you would follow:
  332. 1213 But yet come not. You are a tame man; go!
  333. Lysander
  334. 1214 Hang off, thou cat, thou burr: vile thing, let loose,
  335. 1215 Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent.
  336. Hermia
  337. 1216 Why are you grown so rude? what change is this,
  338. 1217 Sweet love?
  339. Lysander
  340. 1218 Thy love! out, tawny Tartar, out!
  341. 1219 Out, loathed medicine! hated potion, hence!
  342. Hermia
  343. 1220 Do you not jest?
  344. Helena
  345. 1221 Yes, sooth; and so do you.
  346. Lysander
  347. 1222 Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee.
  348. Demetrius
  349. 1223 I would I had your bond; for I perceive
  350. 1224 A weak bond holds you; I'll not trust your word.
  351. Lysander
  352. 1225 What! should I hurt her, strike her, kill her dead?
  353. 1226 Although I hate her, I'll not harm her so.
  354. Hermia
  355. 1227 What! can you do me greater harm than hate?
  356. 1228 Hate me! wherefore? O me! what news, my love?
  357. 1229 Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander?
  358. 1230 I am as fair now as I was erewhile.
  359. 1231 Since night you lov'd me; yet since night you left me:
  360. 1232 Why then, you left me,—O, the gods forbid!—
  361. 1233 In earnest, shall I say?
  362. Lysander
  363. 1234 Ay, by my life;
  364. 1235 And never did desire to see thee more.
  365. 1236 Therefore be out of hope, of question, doubt,
  366. 1237 Be certain, nothing truer; 'tis no jest
  367. 1238 That I do hate thee and love Helena.
  368. Hermia
  369. 1239 O me! you juggler! you cankerblossom!
  370. 1240 You thief of love! What! have you come by night,
  371. 1241 And stol'n my love's heart from him?
  372. Helena
  373. 1242 Fine, i' faith!
  374. 1243 Have you no modesty, no maiden shame,
  375. 1244 No touch of bashfulness? What! will you tear
  376. 1245 Impatient answers from my gentle tongue?
  377. 1246 Fie, fie! you counterfeit, you puppet, you!
  378. Hermia
  379. 1247 Puppet! why so? Ay, that way goes the game.
  380. 1248 Now I perceive that she hath made compare
  381. 1249 Between our statures; she hath urg'd her height;
  382. 1250 And with her personage, her tall personage,
  383. 1251 Her height, forsooth, she hath prevail'd with him.—
  384. 1252 And are you grown so high in his esteem
  385. 1253 Because I am so dwarfish and so low?
  386. 1254 How low am I, thou painted maypole? speak;
  387. 1255 How low am I? I am not yet so low
  388. 1256 But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes.
  389. Helena
  390. 1257 I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen,
  391. 1258 Let her not hurt me. I was never curst;
  392. 1259 I have no gift at all in shrewishness;
  393. 1260 I am a right maid for my cowardice;
  394. 1261 Let her not strike me. You perhaps may think,
  395. 1262 Because she is something lower than myself,
  396. 1263 That I can match her.
  397. Hermia
  398. 1264 Lower! hark, again.
  399. Helena
  400. 1265 Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me.
  401. 1266 I evermore did love you, Hermia;
  402. 1267 Did ever keep your counsels; never wrong'd you;
  403. 1268 Save that, in love unto Demetrius,
  404. 1269 I told him of your stealth unto this wood:
  405. 1270 He follow'd you; for love I follow'd him;
  406. 1271 But he hath chid me hence, and threaten'd me
  407. 1272 To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too:
  408. 1273 And now, so you will let me quiet go,
  409. 1274 To Athens will I bear my folly back,
  410. 1275 And follow you no farther. Let me go:
  411. 1276 You see how simple and how fond I am.
  412. Hermia
  413. 1277 Why, get you gone: who is't that hinders you?
  414. Helena
  415. 1278 A foolish heart that I leave here behind.
  416. Hermia
  417. 1279 What! with Lysander?
  418. Helena
  419. 1280 With Demetrius.
  420. Lysander
  421. 1281 Be not afraid; she shall not harm thee, Helena.
  422. Demetrius
  423. 1282 No, sir, she shall not, though you take her part.
  424. Helena
  425. 1283 O, when she's angry, she is keen and shrewd:
  426. 1284 She was a vixen when she went to school;
  427. 1285 And, though she be but little, she is fierce.
  428. Hermia
  429. 1286 Little again! nothing but low and little!—
  430. 1287 Why will you suffer her to flout me thus?
  431. 1288 Let me come to her.
  432. Lysander
  433. 1289 Get you gone, you dwarf;
  434. 1290 You minimus, of hind'ring knot-grass made;
  435. 1291 You bead, you acorn.
  436. Demetrius
  437. 1292 You are too officious
  438. 1293 In her behalf that scorns your services.
  439. 1294 Let her alone: speak not of Helena;
  440. 1295 Take not her part; for if thou dost intend
  441. 1296 Never so little show of love to her,
  442. 1297 Thou shalt aby it.
  443. Lysander
  444. 1298 Now she holds me not;
  445. 1299 Now follow, if thou dar'st, to try whose right,
  446. 1300 Of thine or mine, is most in Helena.
  447. Demetrius
  448. 1301 Follow! nay, I'll go with thee, cheek by jole.
  449. [Exeunt LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS.]
  450. Hermia
  451. 1302 You, mistress, all this coil is 'long of you:
  452. 1303 Nay, go not back.
  453. Helena
  454. 1304 I will not trust you, I;
  455. 1305 Nor longer stay in your curst company.
  456. 1306 Your hands than mine are quicker for a fray;
  457. 1307 My legs are longer though, to run away.
  458. [Exit.]
  459. Hermia
  460. 1308 I am amaz'd, and know not what to say.
  461. [Exit, pursuing HELENA.]
  462. Oberon
  463. 1309 This is thy negligence: still thou mistak'st,
  464. 1310 Or else commit'st thy knaveries willfully.
  465. Puck
  466. 1311 Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook.
  467. 1312 Did not you tell me I should know the man
  468. 1313 By the Athenian garments he had on?
  469. 1314 And so far blameless proves my enterprise
  470. 1315 That I have 'nointed an Athenian's eyes:
  471. 1316 And so far am I glad it so did sort,
  472. 1317 As this their jangling I esteem a sport.
  473. Oberon
  474. 1318 Thou seest these lovers seek a place to fight;
  475. 1319 Hie therefore, Robin, overcast the night;
  476. 1320 The starry welkin cover thou anon
  477. 1321 With drooping fog, as black as Acheron,
  478. 1322 And lead these testy rivals so astray
  479. 1323 As one come not within another's way.
  480. 1324 Like to Lysander sometime frame thy tongue,
  481. 1325 Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong;
  482. 1326 And sometime rail thou like Demetrius;
  483. 1327 And from each other look thou lead them thus,
  484. 1328 Till o'er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep
  485. 1329 With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep:
  486. 1330 Then crush this herb into Lysander's eye;
  487. 1331 Whose liquor hath this virtuous property,
  488. 1332 To take from thence all error with his might
  489. 1333 And make his eyeballs roll with wonted sight.
  490. 1334 When they next wake, all this derision
  491. 1335 Shall seem a dream and fruitless vision;
  492. 1336 And back to Athens shall the lovers wend
  493. 1337 With league whose date till death shall never end.
  494. 1338 Whiles I in this affair do thee employ,
  495. 1339 I'll to my queen, and beg her Indian boy;
  496. 1340 And then I will her charmed eye release
  497. 1341 From monster's view, and all things shall be peace.
  498. Puck
  499. 1342 My fairy lord, this must be done with haste,
  500. 1343 For night's swift dragons cut the clouds full fast;
  501. 1344 And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger,
  502. 1345 At whose approach ghosts, wandering here and there,
  503. 1346 Troop home to churchyards: damned spirits all,
  504. 1347 That in cross-ways and floods have burial,
  505. 1348 Already to their wormy beds are gone;
  506. 1349 For fear lest day should look their shames upon
  507. 1350 They wilfully exile themselves from light,
  508. 1351 And must for aye consort with black-brow'd night.
  509. Oberon
  510. 1352 But we are spirits of another sort:
  511. 1353 I with the morning's love have oft made sport;
  512. 1354 And, like a forester, the groves may tread
  513. 1355 Even till the eastern gate, all fiery-red,
  514. 1356 Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams,
  515. 1357 Turns into yellow gold his salt-green streams.
  516. 1358 But, notwithstanding, haste; make no delay:
  517. 1359 We may effect this business yet ere day.
  518. [Exit OBERON.]
  519. Puck
  520. 1360 Up and down, up and down;
  521. 1361 I will lead them up and down:
  522. 1362 I am fear'd in field and town.
  523. 1363 Goblin, lead them up and down.
  524. 1364 Here comes one.
  525. [Enter LYSANDER.]
  526. Lysander
  527. 1365 Where art thou, proud Demetrius? speak thou now.
  528. Puck
  529. 1366 Here, villain; drawn and ready. Where art thou?
  530. Lysander
  531. 1367 I will be with thee straight.
  532. Puck
  533. 1368 Follow me, then,
  534. 1369 To plainer ground.
  535. [Exit LYSANDER as following the voice.]
  536. [Enter DEMETRIUS.]
  537. Demetrius
  538. 1370 Lysander! speak again.
  539. 1371 Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled?
  540. 1372 Speak. In some bush? where dost thou hide thy head?
  541. Puck
  542. 1373 Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars,
  543. 1374 Telling the bushes that thou look'st for wars,
  544. 1375 And wilt not come? Come, recreant; come, thou child;
  545. 1376 I'll whip thee with a rod: he is defiled
  546. 1377 That draws a sword on thee.
  547. Demetrius
  548. 1378 Yea, art thou there?
  549. Puck
  550. 1379 Follow my voice; we'll try no manhood here.
  551. [Exeunt.]
  552. [Re-enter LYSANDER.]
  553. Lysander
  554. 1380 He goes before me, and still dares me on;
  555. 1381 When I come where he calls, then he is gone.
  556. 1382 The villain is much lighter heeled than I:
  557. 1383 I follow'd fast, but faster he did fly;
  558. 1384 That fallen am I in dark uneven way,
  559. 1385 And here will rest me. Come, thou gentle day!
  560. [Lies down.]
  561. Lysander
  562. 1386 For if but once thou show me thy grey light,
  563. 1387 I'll find Demetrius, and revenge this spite.
  564. [Sleeps.]
  565. [Re-enter PUCK and DEMETRIUS.]
  566. Puck
  567. 1388 Ho, ho, ho, ho! Coward, why com'st thou not?
  568. Demetrius
  569. 1389 Abide me, if thou dar'st; for well I wot
  570. 1390 Thou runn'st before me, shifting every place;
  571. 1391 And dar'st not stand, nor look me in the face.
  572. 1392 Where art thou?
  573. Puck
  574. 1393 Come hither; I am here.
  575. Demetrius
  576. 1394 Nay, then, thou mock'st me.
  577. 1395 Thou shalt buy this dear,
  578. 1396 If ever I thy face by daylight see:
  579. 1397 Now, go thy way. Faintness constraineth me
  580. 1398 To measure out my length on this cold bed.—
  581. 1399 By day's approach look to be visited.
  582. [Lies down and sleeps.]
  583. [Enter HELENA.]
  584. Helena
  585. 1400 O weary night, O long and tedious night,
  586. 1401 Abate thy hours! Shine comforts from the east,
  587. 1402 That I may back to Athens by daylight,
  588. 1403 From these that my poor company detest:—
  589. 1404 And sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow's eye,
  590. 1405 Steal me awhile from mine own company.
  591. [Sleeps.]
  592. Puck
  593. 1406 Yet but three? Come one more;
  594. 1407 Two of both kinds makes up four.
  595. 1408 Here she comes, curst and sad:—
  596. 1409 Cupid is a knavish lad,
  597. 1410 Thus to make poor females mad.
  598. [Enter HERMIA.]
  599. Hermia
  600. 1411 Never so weary, never so in woe,
  601. 1412 Bedabbled with the dew, and torn with briers;
  602. 1413 I can no further crawl, no further go;
  603. 1414 My legs can keep no pace with my desires.
  604. 1415 Here will I rest me till the break of day.
  605. 1416 Heavens shield Lysander, if they mean a fray!
  606. [Lies down.]
  607. Puck
  608. 1417 On the ground
  609. 1418 Sleep sound:
  610. 1419 I'll apply
  611. 1420 To your eye,
  612. 1421 Gentle lover, remedy.
  613. [Squeezing the juice on LYSANDER'S eye.]
  614. Puck
  615. 1422 When thou wak'st,
  616. 1423 Thou tak'st
  617. 1424 True delight
  618. 1425 In the sight
  619. 1426 Of thy former lady's eye:
  620. 1427 And the country proverb known,
  621. 1428 That every man should take his own,
  622. 1429 In your waking shall be shown:
  623. 1430 Jack shall have Jill;
  624. 1431 Nought shall go ill;
  625. 1432 The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be well.
  626. [Exit PUCK.--DEMETRIUS, HELENA &c, sleep.]