Chapter XXI: Act III: SCENE I. The wood. Titania lying asleep

_Enter_ QUINCE, SNUG, BOTTOM, FLUTE, SNOUT, _and_ STARVELING.

_Bot._ Are we all met?

_Quin._ Pat, pat; and here’s a marvellous convenient place for our rehearsal. This green plot shall be our stage, this hawthorn-brake our tiring-house; and we will do it in action as we will do it before the duke. 5

_Bot._ Peter Quince,—

_Quin._ What sayest thou, bully Bottom?

_Bot._ There are things in this comedy of Pyramus and Thisby that will never please. First, Pyramus must draw a sword to kill himself; which the ladies cannot abide. 10 How answer you that?

_Snout._ By’r lakin, a parlous fear.

_Star._ I believe we must leave the killing out, when all is done.

_Bot._ Not a whit: I have a device to make all well. 15 Write me a prologue; and let the prologue seem to say, we will do no harm with our swords, and that Pyramus is not killed indeed; and, for the more better assurance, tell them that I Pyramus am not Pyramus, but Bottom the weaver: this will put them out of fear. 20

_Quin._ Well, we will have such a prologue; and it shall be written in eight and six.

_Bot._ No, make it two more; let it be written in eight and eight.

_Snout._ Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion? 25

_Star._ I fear it, I promise you.

_Bot._ Masters, you ought to consider with yourselves: to bring in,—God shield us!—a lion among ladies, is a most dreadful thing; for there is not a more fearful wild-fowl than your lion living; and we ought to look to ’t. 30

_Snout._ Therefore another prologue must tell he is not a lion.

_Bot._ Nay, you must name his name, and half his face must be seen through the lion’s neck; and he himself must speak through, saying thus, or to the same defect,—‘Ladies,’ 35 —or, ‘Fair ladies,—I would wish you,’—or, ‘I would request you,’—or, ‘I would entreat you,—not to fear, not to tremble: my life for yours. If you think I come hither as a lion, it were pity of my life: no, I am no such thing; I am a man as other men are:’ and there indeed let him 40 name his name, and tell them plainly, he is Snug the joiner.

_Quin._ Well, it shall be so. But there is two hard things; that is, to bring the moonlight into a chamber; for, you know, Pyramus and Thisby meet by moonlight.

_Snout._ Doth the moon shine that night we play our play? 45

_Bot._ A calendar, a calendar! look in the almanac; find out moonshine, find out moonshine.

_Quin._ Yes, it doth shine that night.

_Bot._ Why, then may you leave a casement of the great chamber window, where we play, open, and the moon may 50 shine in at the casement.

_Quin._ Ay; or else one must come in with a bush of thorns and a lantern, and say he comes to disfigure, or to present, the person of moonshine. Then, there is another thing: we must have a wall in the great chamber; for 55 Pyramus and Thisby, says the story, did talk through the chink of a wall.

_Snout._ You can never bring in a wall. What say you, Bottom?

_Bot._ Some man or other must present wall: and let him 60 have some plaster, or some loam, or some rough-cast about him, to signify wall; and let him hold his fingers thus, and through that cranny shall Pyramus and Thisby whisper.

_Quin._ If that may be, then all is well. Come, sit down, every mother’s son, and rehearse your parts. Pyramus, 65 you begin: when you have spoken your speech, enter into that brake: and so every one according to his cue.

_Enter_ PUCK _behind_.

_Puck._ What hempen home-spuns have we swaggering here, So near the cradle of the fairy queen? What, a play toward! I’ll be an auditor; 70 An actor too perhaps, if I see cause.

_Quin._ Speak, Pyramus. Thisby, stand forth.

_Bot._ Thisby, the flowers of odious savours sweet,—

_Quin._ Odours, odours.

_Bot._ —— odours savours sweet: 75 So hath thy breath, my dearest Thisby dear. But hark, a voice! stay thou but here awhile, And by and by I will to thee appear. [_Exit._

_Puck._ A stranger Pyramus than e’er play’d here. [_Exit._

_Flu._ Must I speak now? 80

_Quin._ Ay, marry, must you; for you must understand he goes but to see a noise that he heard, and is to come again.

_Flu._ Most radiant Pyramus, most lily-white of hue, Of colour like the red rose on triumphant brier, Most brisky juvenal, and eke most lovely Jew, 85 As true as truest horse, that yet would never tire, I’ll meet thee, Pyramus, at Ninny’s tomb.

_Quin._ ‘Ninus’ tomb,’ man: why, you must not speak that yet; that you answer to Pyramus: you speak all your part at once, cues and all. Pyramus enter: your cue is 90 past; it is, ‘never tire.’

_Flu._ O,—As true as truest horse, that yet would never tire.

_Re-enter_ PUCK, _and_ BOTTOM _with an ass’s head_.

_Bot._ If I were fair, Thisby, I were only thine.

_Quin._ O monstrous! O strange! we are haunted. Pray, masters! fly, masters! Help! 95

[_Exeunt Quince, Snug, Flute, Snout, and Starveling._

_Puck._ I’ll follow you, I’ll lead you about a round, Through bog, through bush, through brake, through brier: Sometime a horse I’ll be, sometime a hound, A hog, a headless bear, sometime a fire; And neigh, and bark, and grunt, and roar, and burn, 100 Like horse, hound, hog, bear, fire, at every turn. [_Exit._

_Bot._ Why do they run away? this is a knavery of them to make me afeard.

_Re-enter_ SNOUT.

_Snout._ O Bottom, thou art changed! what do I see on thee? 105

_Bot._ What do you see? you see an ass-head of your own, do you? [_Exit Snout._

_Re-enter_ QUINCE.

_Quin._ Bless thee, Bottom! bless thee! thou art translated. [_Exit._

_Bot._ I see their knavery: this is to make an ass of me; 110 to fright me, if they could. But I will not stir from this place, do what they can: I will walk up and down here, and I will sing, that they shall hear I am not afraid. [_Sings._

The ousel cock so black of hue,
With orange-tawny bill, 115
The throstle with his note so true,
The wren with little quill;

_Tita._ [_Awaking_] What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?

_Bot._ [_Sings_

The finch, the sparrow, and the lark,
The plain-song cuckoo gray, 120
Whose note full many a man doth mark,
And dares not answer nay;—

for, indeed, who would set his wit to so foolish a bird? who would give a bird the lie, though he cry ‘cuckoo’ never so?

_Tita._ I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again: 125 Mine ear is much enamour’d of thy note; So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape; And thy fair virtue’s force perforce doth move me On the first view to say, to swear, I love thee.

_Bot._ Methinks, mistress, you should have little reason 130 for that: and yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together now-a-days; the more the pity, that some honest neighbours will not make them friends. Nay, I can gleek upon occasion.

_Tita._ Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful. 135

_Bot._ Not so, neither: but if I had wit enough to get out of this wood, I have enough to serve mine own turn.

_Tita._ Out of this wood do not desire to go: Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or no. I am a spirit of no common rate: 140 The summer still doth tend upon my state; And I do love thee: therefore, go with me; I’ll give thee fairies to attend on thee; And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep, And sing, while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep: 145 And I will purge thy mortal grossness so, That thou shalt like an airy spirit go. Peaseblossom! Cobweb! Moth! and Mustardseed!

_Enter_ PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, _and_ MUSTARDSEED.

_First Fai._ Ready.

_Sec. Fai._ And I.

_Third Fai._ And I.

_Fourth Fai._ And I.

_All._ Where shall we go?

_Tita._ Be kind and courteous to this gentleman; 150 Hop in his walks, and gambol in his eyes; Feed him with apricocks and dewberries, With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries; The honey-bags steal from the humble-bees, And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighs, 155 And light them at the fiery glow-worm’s eyes, To have my love to bed and to arise; And pluck the wings from painted butterflies To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes: Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies. 160

_First Fai._ Hail, mortal!

_Sec. Fai._ Hail!

_Third Fai._ Hail!

_Fourth Fai._ Hail!

_Bot._ I cry your worships mercy, heartily: I beseech 165 your worship’s name.

_Cob._ Cobweb.

_Bot._ I shall desire you of more acquaintance, good Master Cobweb: if I cut my finger, I shall make bold with you. Your name, honest gentleman? 170

_Peas._ Peaseblossom.

_Bot._ I pray you, commend me to Mistress Squash, your mother, and to Master Peascod, your father. Good Master Peaseblossom, I shall desire you of more acquaintance too. Your name, I beseech you, sir? 175

_Mus._ Mustardseed.

_Bot._ Good Master Mustardseed, I know your patience well: that same cowardly, giant-like ox-beef hath devoured many a gentleman of your house: I promise you your kindred hath made my eyes water ere now. I desire 180 your more acquaintance, good Master Mustardseed.

_Tita._ Come, wait upon him; lead him to my bower.
The moon methinks looks with a watery eye;
And when she weeps, weeps every little flower,
Lamenting some enforced chastity. 185
Tie up my love’s tongue, bring him silently. [_Exeunt._

~~~~~ Linenotes: _A Midsummer-Night’s Dream_, III, 1.

SCENE I. Titania lying asleep.] om. Qq Ff.

Enter...] Enter the Clowns. Qq Ff.

2: _Pat, pat_] Qq F1. _Par, pat_ F2 F3 F4.

_marvellous_] _marvailes_ Q1. _marvels_ Capell. See note
(II).

12: _By’r lakin_] _Berlakin_ Q1. _Berlaken_ Q2 Ff.

15: _device_] _devise_ Q1.

18: _the more better_] _the better_ Rowe (ed. 2). _more better_ Pope.

23, 24: _eight and eight_] _eighty eight_ Anon. ap. Halliwell conj. MS.

25: _afeard_] _afraid_ Rowe (ed. 2).

27: _yourselves_] Ff. _your selfe_ Qq.

30: _to ’t_] _toote_ Q1. _to it_ Q2 Ff.

35: _defect_] _deffect_ Q2.

41: _them_] Qq. _him_ Ff.

45: Snout.] Sn. Qq F1. Snug. F2 F3 F4.

47: Enter Pucke. Ff.

49: Bot.] Cet. Q1.

49, 50: _great chamber window_] _great-chamber_ Anon. conj.

58: Snout.] Sno. Q1. Sn. Q2 F1. Snu. F2. Snug. F3 F4.

61: _loam_] _lime_ Collier MS.

62: _and_] Delius (Collier MS.). _or_ Qq Ff.

68: SCENE II. Pope.

Enter Puck behind.] Enter Robin. Qq Ff.

71: _too perhaps_] _to perhappes_ Q1.

73, 75, 93: Bot.] Pir. Qq Ff.

73: _flowers_] _flower_ Pope.

_of_] _have_ Collier (Collier MS.).

_savours_] _savour’s_ Rowe.

74: _Odours, odours_] Ff. _Odours, odorous_ Qq.

76: _hath_] _that_ Rowe (ed. 1). _doth_ Rowe (ed. 2).

Malone supposes two lines to be lost here.

77: _awhile_] _a whit_ Theobald.

79: Puck.] Ff. Quin. Qq.

[Exit.] Capell.

80, 83, 92: Flu.] This. Qq Ff.

81, 88, 94: Quin.] Pet. Qq Ff.

85: _juvenal_] _juvenile_ Rowe (ed. 2).

92: Re-enter...head.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

93: _were fair, Thisby_] _were, fair Thisby_ Collier (Malone conj.).

95: [Exeunt......] om. Qq. The Clownes all Exit. F1. The Clowns all Exeunt. F2 F3 F4.

96: _about_] _’bout_ S. Walker conj.

97: _Through bog,_] _Through bog, through mire_ Johnson conj. _Through bog, through burn_ Ritson conj.

99: _headless_] _heedless_ Delius conj.

101: Enter Piramus with the Asse head. Ff. om. Qq.

104, 105: _see on thee?_] _see on thee? an ass’s head?_ Johnson conj.

113: _I will_] _will_ F3 F4.

114: _ousel_] _woosel_ Qq Ff.

117: _with little_] Qq. _and little_ Ff.

127–129: As in Q1. In Q2 Ff line 129, _On the first view_, &c. precedes 127, _So is mine eye..._

130: _mistress_] _mistresse_ Qq F1. _maistresse_ F2 F3. _maistress_ F4.

145: _dost_] _doth_ F3 F4.

148: _Peaseblossom...Mustardseed!_] Qq. Enter Pease-blossom...Mustardseede and foure fairies. Ff (as a stage direction).

_Moth_] _Mote_ Grant White.

149: SCENE III. Pope.

Enter...] Enter foure Fairyes. Q1 (Fairies) Q2.

First Fai. _Ready..._ All. _Where shall we go?_] Capell.
Fairies. _Ready; and I, and I, and I. Where shall we go?_ Qq
Ff. 1. Fai. _Ready._ 2. Fai. _And I._ 3. Fai. _And I._ 4. Fai.
_Where shall we go?_ Steevens (Farmer conj.).

154: _The honey-bags_] _Their honey-bags_ Collier MS.

161–164: First Fai. _Hail, mortal..._ Fourth Fai. _Hail!_] Capell. 1. Fai. _Haile, mortall, haile._ 2. Fai. _Haile._ 3: Fai. _Haile_ Qq Ff.

168: _you of_] Qq Ff. _of you_ Rowe.

174: _you of_] Qq. _of you_ Ff.

176: After this line F1 inserts Peas. Pease-blossome (in italics): omitted in F2 F3 F4.

177: _your patience_] _your parentage_ Hanmer. _your passions_ Farmer conj. _you passing_ Mason conj.

180: _hath_] _have_ Capell conj.

181: _your more_] F3 F4. _you more_ Qq F1 F2. _more of your_ Rowe. _you, more_ Capell. _you of more_ Collier MS.

184: _weeps, weeps_] Q1. _weepes, weepe_ Q2 Ff.

186: _love’s_] Pope. _lovers_ Qq Ff.

_love’s tongue,_] _lover’s tongue and_ Collier MS.
~~~~~

SCENE II. _Another part of the wood._

_Enter_ OBERON.

_Obe._ I wonder if Titania be awaked; Then, what it was that next came in her eye, Which she must dote on in extremity.

_Enter_ PUCK.

Here comes my messenger. How now, mad spirit! What night-rule now about this haunted grove? 5

_Puck._ My mistress with a monster is in love. Near to her close and consecrated bower, While she was in her dull and sleeping hour, A crew of patches, rude mechanicals, That work for bread upon Athenian stalls, 10 Were met together to rehearse a play, Intended for great Theseus’ nuptial-day. The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort, Who Pyramus presented, in their sport Forsook his scene, and enter’d in a brake: 15 When I did him at this advantage take, An ass’s nole I fixed on his head: Anon his Thisbe must be answered, And forth my mimic comes. When they him spy, As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye, 20 Or russet-pated choughs, many in sort, Rising and cawing at the gun’s report, Sever themselves and madly sweep the sky, So, at his sight, away his fellows fly; And, at our stamp, here o’er and o’er one falls; 25 He murder cries, and help from Athens calls. Their sense thus weak, lost with their fears thus strong, Made senseless things begin to do them wrong; For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch; Some sleeves, some hats, from yielders all things catch. 30 I led them on in this distracted fear, And left sweet Pyramus translated there: When in that moment, so it came to pass, Titania waked, and straightway loved an ass.

_Obe._ This falls out better than I could devise. 35 But hast thou yet latch’d the Athenian’s eyes With the love-juice, as I did bid thee do?

_Puck._ I took him sleeping,—that is finish’d too,— And the Athenian woman by his side; That, when he waked, of force she must be eyed. 40

_Enter_ HERMIA _and_ DEMETRIUS.

_Obe._ Stand close: this is the same Athenian.

_Puck._ This is the woman, but not this the man.

_Dem._ O, why rebuke you him that loves you so? Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe.

_Her._ Now I but chide; but I should use thee worse, 45 For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse. If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep, Being o’er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep, And kill me too. The sun was not so true unto the day 50 As he to me: would he have stolen away From sleeping Hermia? I’ll believe as soon This whole earth may be bored, and that the moon May through the centre creep, and so displease Her brother’s noontide with the Antipodes. 55 It cannot be but thou hast murder’d him; So should a murderer look, so dead, so grim.

_Dem._ So should the murder’d look; and so should I, Pierced through the heart with your stern cruelty: Yet you, the murderer, look as bright, as clear, 60 As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere.

_Her._ What’s this to my Lysander? where is he? Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give him me?

_Dem._ I had rather give his carcass to my hounds.

_Her._ Out, dog! out, cur! thou drivest me past the bounds 65 Of maiden’s patience. Hast thou slain him, then? Henceforth be never number’d among men! O, once tell true, tell true, even for my sake! Durst thou have look’d upon him being awake, And hast thou kill’d him sleeping? O brave touch! 70 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 misprised mood: I am not guilty of Lysander’s blood; 75 Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell.

_Her._ I pray thee, tell me then that he is well.

_Dem._ An if I could, what should I get therefore?

_Her._ A privilege, never to see me more. And from thy hated presence part I so: 80 See me no more, whether he be dead or no. [_Exit._

_Dem._ There is no following her in this fierce vein: Here therefore for a while I will remain. So sorrow’s heaviness doth heavier grow For debt that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe; 85 Which now in some slight measure it will pay, If for his tender here I make some stay.

[_Lies down and sleeps._

_Obe._ What hast thou done? thou hast mistaken quite, And laid the love-juice on some true-love’s sight: Of thy misprision must perforce ensue 90 Some true love turn’d, and not a false turn’d true.

_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: 95 All fancy-sick she is and pale of cheer, With sighs of love, that costs the fresh blood dear: By some illusion see thou bring her here: I’ll charm his eyes against she do appear.

_Puck._ I go, I go; look how I go, 100 Swifter than arrow from the Tartar’s bow. [_Exit._

_Obe._ Flower of this purple dye, Hit with Cupid’s archery, Sink in apple of his eye. When his love he doth espy, 105 Let her shine as gloriously As the Venus of the sky. When thou wakest, if she be by, Beg of her for remedy.

_Re-enter_ PUCK.

_Puck._ Captain of our fairy band, 110 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! 115

_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 120 That befal 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. 125 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 more. When truth kills truth, O devilish-holy fray! These vows are Hermia’s: will you give her o’er? 130 Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh: Your vows to her and me, put in two scales, Will even weigh; and both as light as tales.

_Lys._ I had no judgement when to her I swore.

_Hel._ Nor none, in my mind, now you give her o’er. 135

_Lys._ 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! 140 That 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 This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss!

_Hel._ O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent 145 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? 150 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; 155 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 160 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; 165 And yours of Helena to me bequeath, Whom I do love, and will do till my death.

_Hel._ Never did mockers waste more idle breath.

_Dem._ Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none: If e’er I loved her, all that love is gone. 170 My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourn’d, And now to Helen is it home return’d, There to remain.

_Lys._ Helen, it is not so.

_Dem._ Disparage not the faith thou dost not know, Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear. 175 Look, where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear.

_Re-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. 180 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? 185

_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? 190

_Her._ You speak not as you think: it cannot be.

_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! 195 Have you conspired, have you with these contrived To bait me with this foul derision? Is all the counsel that we two have shared, The sisters’ vows, the hours that we have spent, When we have chid the hasty-footed time 200 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, 205 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, 210 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, 215 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.

_Her._ I am amazed at your passionate words. 220 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, 225 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, 230 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 unloved? This you should pity rather than despise. 235

_Her._ I understand not what you mean by this.

_Hel._ 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. 240 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.

_Lys._ Stay, gentle Helena; hear my excuse: 245 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. 250 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. 255

_Dem._ Quick, come!

_Her._ Lysander, whereto tends all this?

_Lys._ Away, you Ethiope!

_Dem._ No, no; he’ll ... Seem to break loose; take on as you would follow, But yet come not: you are a tame man, go!

_Lys._ Hang off, thou cat, thou burr! vile thing, let loose, 260 Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent!

_Her._ Why are you grown so rude? what change is this? Sweet love,—

_Lys._ Thy love! out, tawny Tartar, out! Out, loathed medicine! hated potion, hence!

_Her._ Do you not jest?

_Hel._ Yes, sooth; and so do you. 265

_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. 270

_Her._ 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 loved me; yet since night you left me: 275 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, of doubt; Be certain, nothing truer; ’tis no jest 280 That I do hate thee, and love Helena.

_Her._ O me! you juggler! you canker-blossom! You thief of love! what, have you come by night And stolen my love’s heart from him?

_Hel._ Fine, i’faith! Have you no modesty, no maiden shame, 285 No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear Impatient answers from my gentle tongue? Fie, fie! you counterfeit, you puppet, you!

_Her._ Puppet? why so? ay, that way goes the game. Now I perceive that she hath made compare 290 Between our statures; she hath urged 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? 295 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.

_Hel._ I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen, Let her not hurt me: I was never curst; 300 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.

_Her._ Lower! hark, again. 305

_Hel._ 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. 310 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, 315 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. 320

_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; And though she be but little, she is fierce. 325

_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; You minimus, of hindering knot-grass made; You bead, you acorn.

_Dem._ You are too officious 330 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.

_Lys._ Now she holds me not; 335 Now follow, if thou darest, to try whose right, Of thine or mine, is most in Helena.

_Dem._ Follow! nay, I’ll go with thee, cheek by jole.

[_Exeunt Lysander and Demetrius._

_Her._ You, mistress, all this coil is ’long of you: Nay, go not back.

_Hel._ I will not trust you, I, 340 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._

_Obe._ This is thy negligence: still thou mistakest, 345 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, 350 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.

_Obe._ Thou see’st these lovers seek a place to fight: Hie therefore, Robin, overcast the night; 355 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, 360 Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong; And sometime rail thou like Demetrius; And from each other look thou lead them thus. Till o’er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep: 365 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 eyeballs roll with wonted sight. When they next wake, all this derision 370 Shall seem a dream and fruitless vision; And back to Athens shall the lovers wend, With league whose date till death shall never end. Whiles I in this affair do thee employ, I’ll to my queen and beg her Indian boy; 375 And then I will her charmed eye release From monster’s view, and all things shall be 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; 380 At whose approach, ghosts, wandering here and there, Troop home to churchyards: damned spirits all, That in crossways and floods have burial, Already to their wormy beds are gone; For fear lest day should look their shames upon, 385 They wilfully themselves exile from light, And must for aye consort with black-brow’d night.

_Obe._ But we are spirits of another sort: I with the morning’s love have oft made sport; And, like a forester, the groves may tread, 390 Even till the eastern gate, all fiery-red, Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams, Turns into yellow gold his salt green streams. But, notwithstanding, haste; make no delay: We may effect this business yet ere day. [_Exit._ 395

_Puck._ Up and down, up and down,
I will lead them up and down:
I am fear’d in field and town:
Goblin, lead them up and down.
Here comes one. 400

_Re-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 Lysander, as following the voice._

_Re-enter_ DEMETRIUS.

_Dem._ Lysander! speak again: Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled? 405 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 410 That draws a sword on thee.

_Dem._ Yea, art thou there?

_Puck._ Follow my voice: we’ll try no manhood here.

[_Exeunt._

_Re-enter_ LYSANDER.

_Lys._ He goes before me and still dares me on: When I come where he calls, then he is gone. The villain is much lighter-heel’d than I: 415 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. [_Sleeps._ 420

_Re-enter_ PUCK _and_ DEMETRIUS.

_Puck._ Ho, ho, ho! Coward, why comest thou not?

_Dem._ Abide me, if thou darest; for well I wot Thou runn’st before me, shifting every place, And darest not stand, nor look me in the face. Where art thou now?

_Puck._ Come hither: I am here. 425

_Dem._ Nay, then, thou mock’st me. Thou shalt buy this dear, If ever I thy face by daylight 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._ 430

_Re-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, 435 Steal me awhile from mine own company.

[_Lies down and 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, 440
Thus to make poor females mad.

_Re-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. 445 Here will I rest me till the break of day. Heavens shield Lysander, if they mean a fray!

[_Lies down and sleeps._

_Puck._ On the ground
Sleep sound:
I’ll apply 450
To your eye,
Gentle lover, remedy.
[_Squeezing the juice on Lysander’s eyes._
When thou wakest,
Thou takest
True delight 455
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: 460
Jack shall have Jill;
Nought shall go ill;
The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be well.

[_Exit._

~~~~~ Linenotes: _A Midsummer-Night’s Dream_, III, 2.

SCENE II.] SCENE IV. Pope.

Enter Oberon.] Enter King of Fairies and Robin Goodfellow. Qq. Enter King of Fairies (Pharies F1), solus Ff.

3: Enter Puck.] Ff. om. Qq.

4: _spirit_] _sprite_ Pope.

5: _haunted_] _gaunted_ F1.

6, 7: _love. Near...bower,_] Rowe. _love, Neare...bower._ Q1 _love, Neere...bower,_ Q2 Ff.

13: _thick-skin_] _thick-skull_ Hanmer.

17: _nole_] _nowl_ Johnson.

19: _mimic_] _Mimmick_ F1 F2 F3. _Mimick_ F4. _Minnick_ Q1. _Minnock_ Q2. _mammock_ Ritson conj.

21: _russet-pated_] Q1 F4. _russed-pated_ Q2 F1 F2 F3.

25: _our stamp_] _a stump_ Johnson (Theobald conj.).

30: _yielders_] F3 F4. _yeelders_ Qq F1 F2.

36: _latch’d_] _latcht_ Q1 F3 F4. _lacht_ Q2 F1 F2. _lech’d_ Hanmer. _laced_ Anon. conj.

40: _waked_] _wak’t_ Qq Ff. _wakes_ Pope.

41: SCENE V. Pope.

48, 49: _Being...too_] Printed as one line in Qq Ff. Corrected by Rowe (ed. 2).

48: _the deep_] _knee deep_ Phelps (Coleridge conj.).

52: _From_] _Frow_ Q1.

54: _displease_] _disease_ Hanmer.

55: _with the_] _i’ th’_ Warburton.

57: _dead_] _dread_ Pope.

58: _murder’d_] _murthered_ Q1. _murdered_ Q2. _murderer_ Ff.

60: _look_] _looke_ Qq. _looks_ Ff.

64: _I had_] Q1. _Ide_ Q2. _I’de_ Ff. _I’d_ Rowe. _I’ad_ Pope.

65: _bounds_] _bonds_ Q2.

68: _tell true, tell true_] Q1. _tell true_ Q2 F1. _tell true, and_ F2 F3 F4.

69: _have_] Qq. _a_ Ff.

70: _touch_] _tutch_ Qq Ff.

72: _An_] _And_ F2.

74: _on_] _in_ Steevens conj.

_on a misprised mood_] _in a misprised flood_ Collier MS.

80, 81: _part I so: See me no more, whether_] Pope. _part I: see me no more; Whether_ Qq Ff.

85: _sleep_] Rowe. _slippe_ Q1. _slip_ Q2 Ff.

87: [Lies down and sleeps.] Collier. [Ly doune. Q1. [Lie downe. Q2 Ff.

88: SCENE VI. Pope.

94: Obe.] Ob. Qq F1 F3 F4. Rob. F2.

97: _costs_] Qq Ff. _cost_ Hanmer.

99: _do_] Qq. _doth_ Ff.

100: _look_] _look, master,_ Hanmer.

101: [Exit] Q2 Ff. om. Q1.

109: _her_] _her,_ Q1.

122: SCENE VII. Pope.

123: _come_] Qq. _comes_ Ff.

137: [Awaking.] om. Qq. Awa. Ff (at the end of line 136).

143, 144: _O...white, this_] _This...white—O_ Becket conj.

144: _princess_] _pureness_ Hanmer. _impress_ Collier MS.

145: _all are_] Qq. _are all_ Ff.

150: _you must join in souls_] _you must join in flouts_ Hanmer. _must join insolents_ Warburton. _you must join in soul_ Mason conj. _you must join, ill souls,_ Tyrwhitt conj.

151: _were_] Qq. _are_ Ff.

164: _here_] _heare_ Q1.

166: _of_] _in_ Collier (Collier MS.).

167: _will do_] _will love_ Edd. conj.

_till_] Q1. _to_ Q2 Ff.

171: _to her_] _with her_ Johnson.

172: _is it_] Q1. _it is_ Q2 Ff.

173: _There_] _There ever_ Pope.

_Helen,_] Q1. om. Q2 Ff.

175: _aby_] Q1. _abide_ Q2 Ff.

_dear_] _here_ S. Walker conj.

177: SCENE VIII. Pope.

182: _thy_] Qq. _that_ Ff.

188: _oes_] _orbs_ Grey conj.

190: _bear_] F4. _bare_ Qq F1 F2 F3.

199: _sisters’_] _sisters_ Qq Ff. _sister_ Capell.

201: _O, is all_] Qq F1. _O, and is all_ F2 F3 F4. _O, is all now_ Malone. _O, now is all_ Reed. _O, is it all_ Spedding conj.

202: _school-days’_] _school-day_ Capell.

_childhood_] _childhoods_ F3 F4.

204: _Have...created both_] _Created with our needles both_ Pope. See note (V).

_needles_] _neelds_ Steevens.

210: _yet_] om. F3 F4.

_an_] Qq F4. _a_ F1 F2 F3.

211: _lovely_] _loving_ Collier MS.

213: _first, like_] Theobald (Folkes conj.). _first life_ Qq Ff.

213, 214: Omitted in Collier MS.

215: _rent_] _rend_ Rowe.

218: _for it_] _for’t_ S. Walker conj.

220: _I am amazed at your passionate words_] Ff. _I am amazed at your words_ Qq. _Helen, I am amazed at your words_ Pope.

237: _Ay, do, persever_] _I do, persever_ Q2 Ff. _I doe. Persever_ Q1. _Ay, do, persevere_ Rowe.

238: _Make mouths_] _Make mows_ Steevens.

241: _have_] _had_ Collier (Collier MS.).

243: _my_] Q1. _mine_ Q2 Ff.

246: _my life_] Qq F1. omitted in F2 F3 F4.

250: _prayers_] Theobald. _praise_ Qq Ff. _prays_ Capell (Theobald conj.).

257: _Ethiope_] _Ethiope you_ Heath conj.

257, 258: _No, no; He’ll...Seem to break loose_] Edd. _No, no; heele Seeme to breake loose_ Q1. _No, no, hee’l seeme to breake loose_ (as one line) Q2. _No, no, sir, seem to break loose_ (as one line) Ff. _No, no he’ll seem To break away_ Pope. _No, no; he’ll not come.—Seem to break loose_ Capell. _No, no; he’ll—sir, Seem to break loose_ Malone. _No, no; sir:—he will Seem to break loose_ Steevens. _No, no, he’ll not stir: Seem to break loose_ Jackson conj. See note (III).

258: _you_] _he_ Pope.

260: _burr_] _bur_ Qq F1. _but_ F2 F3 F4.

264: _hated_] Pope. _O hated_ Qq Ff.

_potion_] Q1. _poison_ Q2 Ff.

271: _hate_] _harm_ F4.

272: _news_] _means_ Singer (Collier MS.)

279: _of doubt_] _doubt_ Pope. om. Anon conj.

282: _juggler! you_] _jugler, you! you_ Capell.

289: _why so?_] Qq Ff. _why, so:_ Theobald.

_way goes_] _ways go_ Rowe.

292: _tall personage_] _tall parsonage_ Q2.

299: _gentlemen_] _gentleman_ Q1.

304: _she is_] Qq F1 F2 F3. _she’s_ F4.

320: Hel.] Her. F1 F2.

321: _shall_] _will_ F4.

_Helena_] _Helen_ Anon. conj.

323: _she’s_] Q2 Ff. _she is_ Q1.

329: _You minimus_] _You minim, you_ Theobald conj.

335: _aby_] Q1. _abie_ Q2. _abide_ Ff.

337: _Of_] _Or_ Theobald. See note (IV).

_Of...mine_] _Of mine or thine_ Malone conj.

340: _you, I_] _you_ Rowe (ed. 1).

344: _I...say_] omitted in Ff.

[Exit.] Exit pursuing Helena. Malone.

345: SCENE IX. Pope.

Enter Oberon and Puck. Ff.

346: _wilfully_] Qq. _willingly_ Ff.

349: _had_] Q1. _hath_ Q2 Ff.

351: _’nointed_] _nointed_ Qq Ff.

352: _so did_] _did so_ Rowe.

357: _fog_] _fogs_ Warburton.

368: _his_] _its_ Rowe.

374: _employ_] _imploy_ Q1 F4. _apply_ Q2. _imply_ F1 F2 F3.

379: _night’s swift_] Q1. _night swift_ Q2. _night-swift_ F1. _nights-swift_ F2 F3 F4.

386: _exile_] _exil’d_ Theobald conj., making Oberon’s speech begin with this line.

389: _morning’s love_] Qq F1. _morning love_ F2 F3 F4. _morning-love_ Rowe (ed. 1). _morning-light_ Id. (ed. 2).

392: _fair blessed_] _far-blessing_ Hanmer (Warburton).

393: _salt green_] _sea-green_ Grey conj.

394: _notwithstanding,_] Q1. _not-withstanding_ Q2 Ff.

396, 437, 448: Puck.] Puck [sings]. Anon. conj.

406: _Speak! In some bush?_] Capell. _Speak in some bush._ Qq. _Speak in some bush:_ Ff.

413: Re-enter...] om. Qq Ff.

414: _calls, then he is_] Q1. _call’s then he’s_ Q2 F1. _calls me, then he’s_ F2 F3 F4.

416: [Shifting places. Ff.

418: [Lies down.] Lie down. Ff. om. Qq.

420: [Sleeps.] Capell.

421: _Ho, ho, ho!_] _Ho, ho; ho, ho!_ Capell.

425: _now_] Q1. om. Q2 Ff.

426: _buy_] Qq Ff. _’by_ Collier (Johnson conj.).

430: [Lies...] Capell.

431: SCENE X. Pope.

432: _Shine comforts_] Q2 Ff. _Shine comforts,_ Q1. _Shine, comforts,_ Theobald.

435: _sometimes_] Qq F3 F4. _sometime_ F1 F2.

436: [Lies...] Sleep. Qq Ff.

437: _three?_] _three here?_ Hanmer.

438: _makes_] Qq F1 F2 F4. _make_ F3.

439: _comes_] _cometh_ Hanmer.

442: Re-enter...] Enter H. after line 440. F1 F2.

447: _Heavens_] _Heaven_ Anon. conj.

[Lies...] om. Qq Ff.

449: _Sleep_] _Sleep thou_ Capell. _Sleep you_ Seymour conj.

451: _To your eye_] Rowe. _your eye_ Qq Ff.

452: [Squeezing...] Rowe.

454: _Thou_] _Then thou_ Seymour conj. _See thou_ Tyrwhitt conj.

_takest_] Qq F1 F4. _rak’st_ F2 F3.

463: _well_] _still_ Steevens conj.

[They sleep all the Act. Ff.
~~~~~