It pays the hearing double recompense. Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense, Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found; 180 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? 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. Now I perceive they have conjoin'd all three 195 Have you conspired, have you with these contrived 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 ? Due but to one and crowned with one crest. 215 HER, I am amazed at your passionate words. 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? 220 And made your other love, Demetrius, Who even but now did spurn me with his foot, HER. I understand not what you mean by this. 225 230 235 240 245 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. HER. 255 Lysander, whereto tends all this? Seem to break loose; take on as you would follow, But yet come not: you are a tame man, go! Lys. Thy love! out, tawny Tartar, out! Out, loathed medicine! hated potion, hence! 260 HER. Do you not jest? HEL. Yes, sooth; and so do you. 265 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! I am as fair now as I was erewhile. Since night you loved me; yet since night you left me: 275 Ay, by my life; In earnest, shall I say? Lys. And never did desire to see thee more. Therefore be out of hope, of question, of doubt; HER. O me! you juggler! you canker-blossom! HEL. Have you no modesty, no maiden shame, 280 Fine, i' faith! 285 No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear 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, 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, 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 ; HER. Why, get you gone: who is't that hinders you? HEL. With Demetrius. 320 Lys. Be not afraid; she shall not harm thee, Helena. 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? Now follow, if thou darest, to try whose right, DEM. Follow! nay, I'll go with thee, cheek by jole. [Exeunt LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS. 330 335 HER. You, mistress, all this coil is 'long of you: I will not trust you, I, Nay, go not back. HER. I am amazed, and know not what to say. [Exit. [Exit. 340 OBE. This is thy negligence: still thou mistakest, 345 Or else committ'st thy knaveries wilfully. PUCK. Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook. 350 As this their jangling I esteem a sport. OBE. Thou see'st these lovers seek a place to fight: And from each other look thou lead them thus, 365 And make his eyeballs roll with wonted sight. 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. 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, 380 At whose approach, ghosts, wandering here and there, Troop home to churchyards: damnéd spirits all, That in crossways and floods have burial, For fear lest day should look their shames upon, 385 And must for aye consort with black-brow'd night. I with the morning's love have oft made sport, |