Reading Help A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear. `
` Look where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear. `
` `
` Enter HERMIA `
` `
` HERMIA. 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 bare thee made me leave thee so? `
` HERMIA. You speak not as you think; it cannot be. `
` HELENA. Lo, she is one of this confederacy! `
` Now I perceive they have conjoin'd all three `
` To fashion this false sport in spite of me. `
` 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, is all forgot? `
` All school-days' 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 moulded on one stern; `
` So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart; `
` Two of the first, like coats in heraldry, `
` Due but to one, and crowned 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 amazed at your passionate 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, `
` 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. `
` 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 ye 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. Sweet, do not scorn her so. `
` DEMETRIUS. 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; `
` 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? `
` LYSANDER. Away, you Ethiope! `
` DEMETRIUS. No, no, he will `
` Seem to break loose- take on as you would follow, `
` But yet come not. You are a tame man; go! `
` LYSANDER. 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, loathed 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. `
` 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 lov'd 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. O me! 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 urg'd her height; `
` And with her personage, her tall personage, `
` Her height, forsooth, she hath prevail'd 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. `
` 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 wrong'd 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 threat'ned 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. `
` 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 knot-grass 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. `
` Exeunt LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS `
` HERMIA. You, mistress, all this coil is long of you. `
` 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. Exit `
` HERMIA. I am amaz'd, and know not what to say. Exit `
` OBERON. This is thy negligence. Still thou mistak'st, `
` Or else committ'st thy knaveries wilfully. `
` PUCK. Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook. `
` Did not you tell me I should know the man `
` By the Athenian garments he had on? `
` 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 `
`
` Look where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear. `
` `
` Enter HERMIA `
` `
` HERMIA. 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 bare thee made me leave thee so? `
` HERMIA. You speak not as you think; it cannot be. `
` HELENA. Lo, she is one of this confederacy! `
` Now I perceive they have conjoin'd all three `
` To fashion this false sport in spite of me. `
` 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, is all forgot? `
` All school-days' 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 moulded on one stern; `
` So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart; `
` Two of the first, like coats in heraldry, `
` Due but to one, and crowned 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 amazed at your passionate 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, `
` 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. `
` 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 ye 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. Sweet, do not scorn her so. `
` DEMETRIUS. 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; `
` 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? `
` LYSANDER. Away, you Ethiope! `
` DEMETRIUS. No, no, he will `
` Seem to break loose- take on as you would follow, `
` But yet come not. You are a tame man; go! `
` LYSANDER. 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, loathed 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. `
` 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 lov'd 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. O me! 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 urg'd her height; `
` And with her personage, her tall personage, `
` Her height, forsooth, she hath prevail'd 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. `
` 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 wrong'd 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 threat'ned 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. `
` 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 knot-grass 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. `
` Exeunt LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS `
` HERMIA. You, mistress, all this coil is long of you. `
` 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. Exit `
` HERMIA. I am amaz'd, and know not what to say. Exit `
` OBERON. This is thy negligence. Still thou mistak'st, `
` Or else committ'st thy knaveries wilfully. `
` PUCK. Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook. `
` Did not you tell me I should know the man `
` By the Athenian garments he had on? `
` 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 `
`