Act2

Oberon. Ill met by moonelight, proud Tytania.

Titania. What, Iealous Oberon? Fairy skippe hence. I haue forsworne his bedde, and company.

Oberon. Tarry, rash wanton, Am not I thy Lord?

Titania. And neuer, since the middle Sommers spring, Met we on hill, in dale, forrest, or meade, By paued fountaine, or by rushie brooke, Or in the beached margent of the Sea, To daunce our ringlets to the whistling winde, But with thy brawles thou hast disturbd our sport.

Oberon. Doe you amend it then: it lyes in you. Why should Titania crosse her Oberon? I doe but begge a little Changeling boy, To be my Henchman.

Titania. Set your heart at rest. The Faiery Land buies not the childe of mee. His mother was a Votresse of my order: And in the spiced Indian ayer, by night, Full often hath she gossipt, by my side, And sat, with me on Neptunes yellow sands Marking th'embarked traders on the flood:

When we haue laught to see the sailes conceaue, And grow bigge bellied, with the wanton winde: Which she, with prettie, and with swimming gate, Following (her wombe then rich with my young squire) Would imitate, and saile vpon the land, To fetch me trifles, and returne againe, As from a voyage, rich with marchandise. But she, being mortall, of that boy did dye,

And, for her sake, doe I reare vp her boy: And, for her sake, I will not part with him.

Oberon. My gentle Pucke come hither

Puck. Ile put a girdle, roud about the earth, in forty minutes.

Oberon. But, who comes here? I am inuisible, And I will ouerheare their conference.

Demetrius. I loue thee not: therefore pursue me not,

Helena. And euen, for that, do I loue you, the more: I am your Spaniell: and, Demetrius, The more you beat mee, I will fawne on you. Vse me but as your Spaniell: spurne me, strike mee,

Neglect mee, loose me: onely giue me leaue (Vnworthie as I am) to follow you. What worser place can I begge, in your loue (And yet, a place of high respect with mee) Then to be vsed as you vse your dogge.

Demetrius. Tempt not, too much, the hatred of my spirit. For I am sick, when I do looke on thee. Helena. And I am sick, when I looke not on you.

Demetrius. Ile runne from thee, and hide me in the brakes, And leaue thee to the mercy of wilde beastes.

Helena. The wildest hath not such a heart as you. Runne when you will: The story shall be chaung'd: Apollo flies and Daphne holds the chase: The Doue pursues the Griffon: the milde Hinde Makes speede to catch the Tigre. Bootelesse speede, When cowardise pursues, and valour flies.

Oberon. Fare thee well Nymph. Ere he do leaue this groue, Thou shalt fly him, and he shall seeke thy loue.

Oberon. Hast thou the flower there? Welcome wanderer.

Puck. I, there it is. Oberon. There sleepes Tytania, sometime of the night, Luld in these flowers, with daunces and delight: And, with the iuyce of this, Ile streake her eyes, And make her full of hatefull phantasies. Take thou some of it, and seeke through this groue: A sweete Athenian Lady is in loue, With a disdainefull youth: annoint his eyes. But doe it, when the next thing he espies, May be the Ladie. Thou shalt know the man, By the Athenian garments he hath on.

Puck. Night and silence. Who is heere? Weedes of Athens he doth weare: This is hee (my master saide) Despised the Athenian maide:

Helena. O, I am out of breath, in this fond chase, The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace. But, who is here? Lysander, on the ground? Dead, or a sleepe? I see no blood, no wound. Lysander, if you liue, good sir awake.

Lysander. And runne through fire, I will for thy sweete sake. Transparent Helena, nature shewes arte, That through thy bosome, makes me see thy heart.

Lysander. Where is Demetrius? Oh how fit a word Is that vile name, to perish on my sworde!

Helena. Do not say so, Lysander, say not so. What though he loue your Hermia? Lord, what though? Yet Hermia still loues you: then be content. Lysander. Content with Hermia? No: I doe repent The tedious minutes, I with her haue spent. Not Hermia, but Helena I loue.

Helena. Wherefore was I to this keene mockery borne? O, that a Ladie, of one man refus'd, Should, of another, therefore be abus'd!