Hel. O, when she's angry, she is keen and shrew'd: She was a vixen when she went to school; Lys. Get you gone, you dwarf; You minimus, of hindering knot-grass made; You bead, you acorn. Dem. You are too officious In her behalf that scorns your services. Thou shalt aby it. Lys. 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 Lys. and DEM. Her. You, mistress, all this coil is 'long of you: Nay, go not back. Hel. 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. Her. I am amazed, and know not what to say. [Exit, pursuing HELENA. Obe. 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 : As this their jangling I esteem a sport. Obe. Thou see'st, these lovers seek a place to fight: Hie therefore, Robin, overcast the night; Whiles I in this affair do thee employ, I'll to my queen, and beg her Indian boy; peace. Puck. 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, wandering here and there, Troop home to churchyards: damned spirits all, Obe. But we are spirits of another sort : [Exit OBERON. Here comes one. Enter LYSANDER. Lys. Where art thou, proud Demetrius? speak thou now. Puck. Here, villain; drawn and ready. Where art thou? Lys. I will be with thee straight. Puck. Follow me then to plainer ground. [Exit Lys. as following the voice. Enter DEMETRIUS. Dem. Lysander! speak again.. Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled? Speak. In some bush? Where dost thou hide thy head? Puck. 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 Dem. Yea; art thou there? Puck. Follow my voice: we'll try no manhood here. Re-enter LYSANDER. [Exeunt. Lys. He goes before me, and still dares me on; When I come where he calls, then he is gone. [Lies down. For if but once thou show me thy gray light, I'll find Demetrius, and revenge this spite. Re-enter PUCK and DEMETRIUS. [Sleeps. Puck. Ho, ho, ho! Coward, why com'st thou not? Dem. 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? Puck. Come hither; I am here. Dem. Nay, then, thou mock'st me. Thou shalt aby this dear, Now, go thy way. If ever I thy face by daylight see: Faintness constraineth me To measure out my length on this cold bed. [Lies down and sleeps. Enter HELENA. Hel. 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. [Sleeps. Puck. 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. Her. 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! [Lies down. I'll apply Sleep sound: To your eye, Gentle lover, remedy. [Squeezing the juice on LYSANDER's eyes. When thou wak'st, Thou tak'st True delight In the sight Of thy former lady's eye : |