Act4

Oberon. Stand close: this is the same Athenian. Robin. This is the woman:

Robin. but not this the man.

Demetrius. O, Why rebuke you him, that loues you so? Lay breath so bitter, on your bitter foe. Hermia. Whats this to my Lysander? Where is hee? Ah good Demetrius, wilt thou giue him mee?

Demetrius. You spende your passion, on a mispris'd mood: I am not guilty of Lysanders bloode: Nor is he deade, for ought that I can tell. Hermia. I pray thee, tell mee then, that he is well. Demetrius. And if I could, what should I get therefore?

Hermia. A priuiledge, neuer to see mee more: And from thy hated presence part I: see me no more; Whether he be dead or no.

Oberon. What hast thou done? Robin. I goe, I goe, looke how I goe. Swifter then arrow, from the Tartars bowe.

Puck. Captaine of our Fairy band, Helena is heere at hande, And the youth, mistooke by mee, Pleading for a louers fee.

Puck. Shall wee their fond pageant see? Lord, what fooles these mortals bee!

Lysander. I had no iudgement, when to her I swore. Helena. Nor none, in my minde, now you giue her ore. Lysander. Demetrius loues her: and he loues not you.

Demetrius. O Helen, goddesse, nymph, perfect diuine, To what, my loue, shall I compare thine eyne! Christall is muddy. O, how ripe, in showe,

Demetrius. Thy lippes, those kissing cherries, tempting growe! That pure coniealed white, high Taurus snow, Fand with the Easterne winde, turnes to a crowe,

Demetrius. When thou holdst vp thy hand. O, let me kisse This Princesse of pure white, this seale of blisse.

Helena. O spight! O hell! I see, you all are bent To set against mee, for your merriment.

Lysander. You are vnkinde, Demetrius: be not so, For you loue Hermia: this you know I know. And heare, with all good will, with all my heart, In Hermias loue I yeelde you vp my part: And yours of Helena, to mee bequeath: Whom I doe loue, and will do till my death. Demetrius. Lysander, keepe thy Hermia: I will none. If ere I lou'd her, all that loue is gone.

Hermia. Darke night, that from the eye, his function takes, The eare more quicke of apprehension makes.

Helena. Lo: she is one of this confederacy. Now I perceiue, they haue conioynd all three, To fashion this false sport, in spight of mee. Hermia. I am amazed at your words: I scorne you not. It seemes that you scorne mee.

Helena. Haue you not set Lysander, as in scorne, To follow mee, and praise my eyes and face?

Helena. And made your other loue, Demetrius (Who euen but now did spurne mee with his foote) To call mee goddesse, nymph, diuine, and rare, Pretious, celestiall? VVherefore speakes he this, To her he hates?

Demetrius. I say, I loue thee more then he can do. Lysander. If thou say so, withdrawe, and prooue it to. Demetrius. Quick, come.

Hermia. Lysander, whereto tends all this? Lysander. Away, you Ethiop.

Hermia. Why are you growne so rude? What change is this, Sweete loue? Lysander. Thy loue? Out tawny Tartar, out: Out loathed medcine: hated potion hence.

Hermia. Hate mee, wherefore? O me, what newes, my loue? Lysander. Be certaine: nothing truer: tis no ieast, That I doe hate thee, and loue Helena.

Hermia. O mee, you iuggler, you canker blossome, You theefe of loue: what, haue you come by night, And stolne my loues heart, from him?

Helena. Fine, I faith. Haue you no modesty, no maiden shame, No touch of bashfulnesse? What, will you teare Impatient answeres, from my gentle tongue? Fy, fy, you counterfait, you puppet, you.

Hermia. Puppet? Why so? I, that way goes the game. Now I perceiue that she hath made compare, Betweene our statures, she hath vrg'd her height,

Hermia. And with her personage, her tall personage, Her height (forsooth) she hath preuaild with him. And are you growne so high in his esteeme, Because I am so dwarfish and so lowe? How lowe am I, thou painted May-pole? Speake: How lowe am I? I am not yet so lowe,

Hermia. But that my nailes can reach vnto thine eyes.

Helena. I pray you, though you mocke me, gentleman, Let her not hurt me, I was neuer curst: I haue no gift at all in shrewishnesse:

Lysander. Be not afraid: she shall not harme thee Helena. Demetrius. No sir: she shall not, though you take her part. Helena. O, when she is angry, she is keene and shrewd. She was a vixen, when she went to schoole: And though she be but little, she is fierce. Hermia. Little againe? Nothing hut low and little? Why will you suffer her to floute me thus? Let me come to her.

Lysander. Get you gon, you dwarfe: You minimus, of hindring knot grasse, made; You bead, you acorne.

Demetrius. You are too officious, In her behalfe, that scornes your seruices. Lysander. Now she holdes me not: Now follow, if thou dar'st, to try whose right, Of thine or mine, is most in Helena. Demetrius. Follow? Nay: Ile go with thee, cheeke by iowle.

Hermia. You, mistresse, all this coyle is long of you. Nay; goe not backe.

Helena. I will not trust you, I, Nor longer stay in your curst company. Your hands, than mine, are quicker for a fray: My legges are longer though, to runne away.

Hermia. I am amaz'd, and know not what to say.

Oberon. This is thy negligence: still thou mistak'st, Or else commit'st thy knaueries wilfully. Hy therefore Robin, ouercast the night, The starry welkin couer thou anon, With drooping fogge as blacke as Acheron, And lead these teasty Riuals so astray, As one come not within anothers way. Like to Lysander, sometime frame thy tongue:

Then stirre Demetrius vp, with bitter wrong: And sometime raile thou like Demetrius:

And from each other, looke thou lead them thus; Till ore their browes, death-counterfaiting, sleepe, With leaden legs, and Batty wings doth creepe:

Ile to my Queene and beg her Indian boy: And then I will her charmed eye release From monsters viewe, and all things shall be peace.

Puck. Vp & down, vp & down, I will lead them vp & dowe: I am feard in field & town. Goblin, lead them vp & downe.