Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

Could not a worm, an adder, do so much? An adder did it; for with doubler tongue Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung. Dem. You spend your passion on a mispris'd mood:

I am not guilty of Lysander's blood; Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell. Her. I pray thee, tell me, then, that he is well. [therefore?

Dem. An if I could, what should I get Her. A privilege never to see me more:And from thy hated presence part I so: See me no more, whether he be dead or no.

[Exit.

Dem. There is no following her in this fierce

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

And laid the love-juice on some true-love's Of thy misprision must perforce ensue [true. Some true-love turn'd, and not a false turn'd Puck. Then fate o'er-rules; that, one man holding troth,

A million fail, confounding oath on oath.
Obe. About the wood go swifter than the
wind,

And Helena of Athens look thou find :
All fancy-sick she is, and pale of cheer [dear:
With sighs of love that cost the fresh blood
By some illusion see thou bring her here:
I'll charm his eyes against she do appear.
Puck. I go, go; look how I go;
Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow.

[blocks in formation]

Puck. Captain of our fairy band,
Helena is here at hand;
And the youth mistook by me,
Pleading for a lover's fee.

Shall we their fond pageant see?
Lord, what fools these mortals be!
Obe. Stand aside; the noise they make
Will cause Demetrius to awake.
Puck. Then will two at once woo one,

That must needs be sport alone;
And those things do best please me.
That befall preposterously.

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. How can these things in me seem scorn to you, Bearing the badge of faith, to prove them true? Hel. You do advance your cunning more and

[blocks in formation]

Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing Your vows to her and me, put in two scales, Will even weigh; and both as light as tales.

Lys. I had no judgment when to her I swore. Hel. Nor none, in my mind, now you give

her o'er.

[you.

Lys. Demetrius loves her, and he loves not 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!
This pure congealed white, high Taurus snow,
Fann'd with the eastern wind, turns to a crow
When thou hold'st up thy hand: O, let me
kiss

That princess of pure white, this seal of bliss!
Hel. O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent
To set against me, for your merriment :
If you were civil and knew courtesy,
You would not do me thus much injury.
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 :
[heart,
And here, with all good-will, with all my
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.
[none:
Dem. Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will
If e'er I lov'd her, all that love is gone.
My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourn'd,
And now to Helen it is home return'd,
There to remain.
Lys.
Dem. Disparage not the faith thou dost not
know,

Helen, it is not so.

Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear. [dear. Look, where thy love comes; yonder is thy Enter Hermia.

Her. 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?
Lys. Why should he stay, whom love doth
press to go?
[my side?
Her. What love could press Lysander from
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 bare thee made me leave thee so?

Hel. 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 con-
To bait me with this foul derision?
[triv'd
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 inno-
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods, [cence?
Have with our neelds 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 a union in partition,

Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;
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. [words.
Her. I am amazed at your passsionate
I scorn you not it seems that you scorn nie.
Hel. Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn,
To follow me, and praise my eyes and face?
And made your other love, Demetrius, [foot,)
(Who even but now did spurn me with his
To call me goddess, nymph, divine, and rare,
Precious, celestial? Wherefore speaks he this
To her he hates? and wherefore doth Ly-
sander

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 then 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 at each 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 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
[weak prayers.--

entreat:

Her. You speak not as you think it can-Thy threats have no more strength than her Helen, I love thee; by my life, I do:

not be.

[blocks in formation]

Seem to break loose; take on, as you would

follow;

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 :
Let her not strike me. You perhaps may think,
Because she is something lower than myself,
That I can match her.

Lower! hark, again.

[me.

[you;

Her. Hel. Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with But yet come not you are a tame man, go! | I evermore did love you, Hermia, Lys. [To Hermia.] Hang off, thou cat, thou Did ever keep your counsels, never wrong'd burr! vile thing, let loose, Save that, in love unto Demetrius I told him of your stealth unto this wood. He follow'd you; for love, I followed 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 farther: let me go : You see how simple and how fond I am.

Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent!
Her. Why are you grown so rude? what
Sweet love?
[change is this,
Lys. Thy love? out, tawny Tartar, out!
Out, loathed medicine! O hated potion, hence!
Her. Do you not jest?
Hel.

Yes, 'sooth; and so do you.
Lys. Demetrius, I will keep my word with
thee.
[ceive
Dem. I would I had your bond, for I per-
A weak bond holds you; I'll not trust your
word.
[kill her dead?
Lys. What, should I hurt her, strike her,
Although I hate her, I'll not harm her so.
Her. What, can you do me greater harm
than hate?
[my love?
Hate me wherefore? O me! what news,
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?

Lys.
Ay, by my life;
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. Why, get you gone: who is 't that
hinders you?

[behind.
Hel. A foolish heart, that I leave here
Her. What, with Lysander?
Hel.

With Demetrius.
Lys. Be not afraid; she shall not harm
thee, Helena.
[her part.
Dem. No, sir, she shall not, though you take
Hel. 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.
Her. Little again! nothing but low and

little?

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

Lys.

Get you gone, you dwarf! of You minimus, of hindering knot-grass made; You bead, you acorn!

Dem.

You are too officious

In her behalf that scorns your services.

Her. O me!-you juggler! you canker-Let her alone: speak not of Helena;

[blocks in formation]

Take not her part; for, if thou dost intend
Never so little show of love to her,
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
Nay, go not back.
[you:

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 amaz'd, and know not what to [Exit.

say.

Obe. This is thy negligence: still thou

mistak'st,

Or else commit'st thy knaveries wilfully. [took.
Puck. Believe me, king of shadows, I mis-

Did not you tell me I should know the man
By the Athenian garments he had on?
And so far blameless proves my enterprize,
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. [fight:
Obe. Thou seest, these lovers seek a place to
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,
As one come not within another's way.
Like to Lysander sometime frame thy tongue,
Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong;
And sometime rail thou like Demetrius; [thus,
And from each other look thou lead them
Till o'er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep
With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep:
Then crush this herb into Lysander's eye;
Whose liquor hath this virtuous property,
To take from thence all error with his might,
And make his eye-balls roll with wonted sight.
When they next wake, all this derision
Shall seem a dream, and fruitless vision;
And back to Athens shall the lovers wend,
With league, whose date till death shall never
Whiles I in this affair do thee employ, [end.
I'll to my queen, and beg her Indian boy;
And then I will her charmèd eye release
From monster's view, and all things shall be
peace.
[with haste,

Puck. My fairy lord, this must be done For night's swift dragons cut the clouds full And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger; [fast, At whose approach, ghosts, wandering here and there, [all, Troop home to churchyards: damned spirits That in cross-ways and floods have burial, Already to their wormy beds are gone, For fear lest day should look their shames upon,

They wilfully themselves exile from light, And must for aye consort with black-brow'd

[blocks in formation]

Lys. I will be with thee straight.
Puck.

To plainer ground.

Follow me, then,

[Exit Lys. as following the voice. Re-enter Demetrius.

Dem. Lysander! speak again. Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled? Speak! In some bush? Where dost thou hide thy head? [the stars,

Puck. Thou coward! art thou bragging to 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 defil'd
That draws a sword on thee.
Dem.
Yea, art thou there?
Puck. Follow my voice: we'll try no man-
hood here.

Re-enter Lysander.

[Exeunt. [on:

Lys. He goes before me, and still dares me When I come where he calls, then he is gone. The villain is much lighter-heel'd than I : I follow'd fast, but faster he did fly; That fallen am I in dark uneven way, And here will rest me. [Lies down.] Come, thou gentle day!

For if but once thou show me thy grey light, I'll find Demetrius, and revenge this spite. Re-enter Puck and Demetrius.

Puck. Ho! ho! ho! Coward, why com'st thou not?

[wot

Dem. Abide me, if thou dar'st; for well I 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 'by this dear,

If ever I thy face by day-light see:
Now, go thy way. Faintness constraineth me
To measure out my length on this cold bed.
By day's approach look to be visited.

[Lies down and sleeps. Re-enter Helena. Hel. O weary night! O long and tedious night! [east, Abate thy hours: shine, comforts, from the That I may back to Athens, by day-light,

From these that my poor company detest: And sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow's

eye,

Steal me a while from mine own company.
[Sleeps.
Puck. Yet but three? Come one more;
Two of both kinds make up four.
Here she comes, curst and sad :
Cupid is a knavish lad,

Thus to make poor females mad.
Re-enter Hermia.

Her. Never so weary, never so in woe; Bedabbled with the dew, and torn with I can no farther crawl, no farther go; [briers; 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.
Puck. On the ground sleep sound :

I'll apply to your eye,
Gentle lover, remedy.
[Squeezing the herb on Lysander's eyelids.
When thou wak'st, thou tak'st
True delight in the sight
Of thy former lady's eye:

And the country proverb known,

That every man should take his own,
In your waking shall be shown:
Jack shall have Jill;
Nought shall go ill;

The man shall have his mare again,
And all shall be well.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-The Wood.

[Exit.

Enter Titania and Bottom, Fairies attending;
Oberon behind unseen.

Tita. Come, sit thee down upon this flowery
While I thy amiable cheeks do coy, [bed,
And stick musk-roses in thy sleek smooth
head,

And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.
Bot. Where's Peas-blossom?
Peas. Ready.

Bot. Scratch my head, Peas-blossom.
Where's monsieur Cobweb?

Cob. Ready.

Bot. Monsieur Cobweb, good monsieur, get your weapons in your hand, and kill me a red-hipped humble-bee on the top of a thistle; and, good monsieur, bring me the honey-bag. Do not fret yourself too much in the action, monsieur; and, good monsieur, have a care the honey-bag break not; I would be loth to have you overflown with a honey-bag, signior. -Where's monsieur Mustard-seed?

Must. Ready.

Bot. Give me your neif, monsieur Mustardseed. Pray you, leave your courtesy, good monsieur. Must. What's your will?

Bot. Nothing, good monsieur, but to help cavalero Cobweb to scratch. I must to the barber's, monsieur; for methinks I am marvellous hairy about the face; and I am such a tender ass, if my hair do but tickle me, I must scratch.

Bot. I had rather have a handful or two of dried peas. But, I pray you, let none of your people stir me: I have an exposition of sleep come upon me. [arms. Tita. Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my Fairies, be gone, and be all ways away. [Exeunt Fairies. So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle Gently entwist: the female ivy so Enrings the barky fingers of the elm.

O, how I love thee, how I dote on thee!

[blocks in formation]

Obe. [Advancing.] Welcome, good Robin.
Seest thou this sweet sight?
Her dotage now I do begin to pity:
For, meeting her of late behind the wood,
Seeking sweet savours for this hateful fool,
I did upbraid her, and fall out with her;
For she his hairy temples then had rounded
With coronet of fresh and fragrant flowers;
And that same dew, which sometime on the
buds

Waswont to swell, like round and orient pearls,
Stood now within the pretty flow'rets' eyes,
Like tears, that did their own disgrace bewail.
When I had at my pleasure taunted her,
And she in mild terms begg'd my patience,
I then did ask of her her changeling child;
Which straight she gave me; and her fairies
To bear him to my bower in fairy land. [sent
And now I have the boy, I will undo
This hateful imperfection of her eyes:
And, gentle Puck, take this transformed scalp
From off the head of this Athenian swain ;
That he, awaking when the other do,
May all to Athens back again repair,
And think no more of this night's accidents,
But as the fierce vexation of a dream.
But first I will release the fairy queen.

[Touching her eyes with an herb.
Be, as thou wast wont to be;
See, as thou wast wont to see:

Dian's bud o'er Cupid's flower

Hath such force and blessed power.
Now, my Titania; wake you, my sweet queen.
Tita. My Oberon! what visions have I seen!
Methought I was enamour'd of an ass.
Obe. There lies your love.
Tita.

How came these things to pass?
O, how mine eyes do loath his visage now!
Obe. Silence, awhile.-Robin, take off this
head.-

Tita. What, wilt thou hear some music, Titania, music call; and strike more dead my sweet love? Than common sleep, of all these five the sense. Tita. Music, ho! music! such as charmeth sleep. [fool's eyes peep. Puck. When thou wakest, with thine own Obe. Sound, music! [Still music.] Come, my queen, take hands with me, And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be. Now thou and I are new in amity, And will to-morrow midnight solemnly Dance in Duke Theseus' house triumphantly,

Bot. I have a reasonable good ear in music: let us have the tongs and the bones. [to eat. Tita. Or say, sweet love, what thou desir'st Bot. Truly, a peck of provender : could munch your good dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle of hay: good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow.

Tita. I have a venturous fairy that shall seek The squirrel's hoard, and fetch thee new nuts.

« AnteriorContinuar »