Her. Lysander, whereto tends all this? Lys. Away, you Ethiop! Dem. No, no, sir:-he will 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; 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! Hel. Yes, sooth; and so do you. 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. 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 lov'd me; yet, since night you left me: Lys. Ay, by my life; And never did desire to see thee more. 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 stol'n my love's heart from him? Hel. Fine, i'faith! Have you no modesty, no maiden shame, Her. 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. 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, Her. Lower! hark, again. 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; I told him of your stealth unto this wood : VOL. IX. But he hath chid me hence; and threaten'd me To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too: To Athens will I bear my folly back, Her. Why, get you gone: Who is't that hinders you? Hel. With Demetrius. 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 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; You minimus, of hind'ring knot-grass made; Dem. 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. 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. Her. I am amaz'd, and know not what to say. [Exit. [Exit, pursuing HELENA. Obe. This is thy negligence: still thou mistak'st, Or else commit'st thy knaveries wilfully. Puck. Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook. As this their jangling I esteem a sport. Obe. Thou seest, these lovers seek a place to fight: Hie therefore, Robin, overcast the night; The starry welkin cover thou anon Whose liquor hath this virtuous property, Shall seem a dream, and fruitless vision; I'll to my queen, and beg her Indian boy; From monster's view, and all things shall be peace. Puck. My fairy lord, this must be done with haste; At whose approach, ghosts, wandering here and there, For fear lest day should look their shames upon, I with the morning's love have oft made sport; Puck. Up and down, up and down; I will lead them up and down: |