Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth: Turn melancholy forth to funerals; The pale companion is not for our pomp. [Exit Philostrate. Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword, And won thy love, doing thee injuries; But I will wed thee in another key, With pomp, with triumph and with revelling. 20 Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and Demetrius. To stubborn harshness: and, my gracious duke, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens, The. What say you, Hermia? be advised, fair maid: To you your father should be as a god; One that composed your beauties, yea, and one 30 40 But in this kind, wanting your father's voice, Her. I would my father look'd but with my eyes. Her. I do entreat your grace to pardon me. I know not by what power I am made bold, In such a presence here to plead my thoughts; The. Either to die the death or to abjure Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires; Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. 50 60 70 Her. So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, Ere I will yield my virgin patent up Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke My soul consents not to give sovereignty. The. Take time to pause; and, by the next new moonThe sealing-day betwixt my love and me, For everlasting bond of fellowship- For aye austerity and single life. Dem. Relent, sweet Hermia: and, Lysander, yield Thy crazed title to my certain right. Lys. You have her father's love, Demetrius; Ege. Scornful Lysander! true, he hath my love, I do estate unto Demetrius. Lys. I am, my lord, as well derived as he, As well possess'd; my love is more than his; My fortunes every way as fairly rank'd, If not with vantage, as Demetrius'; And, which is more than all these boasts can be, Why should not I then prosecute my right? Upon this spotted and inconstant man. The. I must confess that I have heard so much, My mind did lose it. But, Demetrius, come; 90 100 110 120 Come, my Hippolyta: what cheer, my love? I must employ you in some business [Exeunt all but Lysander and Hermia. Lys. How now, my love! why is your cheek so pale? How chance the roses there do fade so fast? Her. Belike for want of rain, which I could well 130 Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes. Lys. Ay me! for aught that I could ever read, The course of true love never did run smooth; Her. O cross! too high to be enthrall'd to low. Swift as a shadow, short as any dream; Brief as the lightning in the collied night, That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, So quick bright things come to confusion. Her. If then true lovers have been ever cross'd, It stands as an edict in destiny: Then let us teach our trial patience, Because it is a customary cross, As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs, Lys. A good persuasion: therefore, hear me, Hermia. 140 150 I have a widow aunt, a dowager Of great revenue, and she hath no child: From Athens is her house remote seven leagues; There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee; Cannot pursue us. Her. 160 My good Lysander! 170 I swear to thee, by Cupid's strongest bow, By his best arrow with the golden head, By the simplicity of Venus' doves, By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves, And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage queen, Lys. Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena. Enter HELENA. Her. God speed fair Helena! whither away? Hel. Call you me fair? that fair again unsay. Demetrius loves your fair: O happy fair! Your eyes are lode-stars; and your tongue's sweet air When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear. 180 Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go; My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye, My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody. 190 |