Scorn and derision never come in tears: Look, when I Vow, I weep; and vows so born,

125

In their nativity all truth appears. How can these things in me seem scorn to you, Bearing the badge of faith, to prove them true? Hel. You do advance your cunning more and

more.

When truth kills truth, O devilish-holy fray! These vows are Hermia's: will you give her o'er? Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing

weigh:

Your vows to her and me, put in two scales,

Will even weigh; and both as light as tales.

131

Lys. I had no judgement when to her I swore. Hel. Nor none, in my mind, now you give her

o'er.

13

Lys. Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you. Dem. [Awaking] O Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine!

To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?
Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show

Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow! 140
That pure congealed white, high Taurus' snow,
Fann'd with the eastern wind, turns to a crow
When thou hold'st up thy hand. O, let me kiss
This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss!

Hel. O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent 145 To set against me for your merriment:

If you were civil and knew courtesy,
You would not do me thus much injury.

Can

you

not hate me, as I know you do,

But you must join in souls to mock me too?

If you were men, as men you are in show,
You would not use a gentle lady so,-

To vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts,
When I am sure you hate me with your hearts.
You both are rivals, and love Hermia;

And now both rivals, to mock Helena.
A trim exploit, a manly enterprise,

To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes
With your derision! none of noble sort
Would so offend a virgin, and extort
A poor soul's patience, all to make you sport.

Lys. You are unkind, Demetrius; be not so;
For you love Hermia; this you know I know:
And here, with all good will, with all my heart,
In Hermia's love I yield you up my part;
And yours of Helena to me bequeath,
Whom I do love, and will do till my death.

Hel.

150

155

160

165

Never did mockers waste more idle breath.

Dem. Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none: If e'er I loved her, all that love is gone.

My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourn'd,
And now to Helen is it home return'd,

There to remain.

Lys.

Dem.

Helen, it is not so.

170

Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,

Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear.

Look, where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear.

175

Re-enter HERMIA.

Her. Dark night, that from the eye his function

takes,

The ear more quick of apprehension makes;
Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense,
It pays the hearing double recompence.
Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found;
Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound.
But why unkindly didst thou leave me so?

Lys.

Her.

180

Why should he stay, whom love doth press to go?

What love could press Lysander from my

side?

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

Her.

know,

The hate I bare thee made me leave thee so? 190
You speak not as you think: it cannot be.
Hel. Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
Now I perceive they have conjoin'd all three
To fashion this false sport, in spite of me. -
Injurious Hermia! most ungrateful maid!
Have you conspired, have you with these contrived
To bait me with this foul derision?

Is all the counsel that we two have shared,

The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent,

195

When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us, -O, is all forgot?

All school-days' friendship, childhood innocence?
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods,

Have with our needles created both one flower,
Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
Both warbling of one song, both in one key,
As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds,
Had been incorporate. So we grew together,
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,
But yet an union in partition, —
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem:
So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart;
Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,

200

205

210

Due but to one, and crowned with one crest.
And will you rent our ancient love asunder,

215

To join with men in scorning your poor friend?
It is not friendly, 'tis not maidenly :

Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it,

Though I alone do feel the injury.

Her. I am amazed at your passionate words. 220 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?
And made your other love, Demetrius,

Who even but now did spurn me with his foot, 225
To call me goddess, nymph, divine and rare,

Precious, celestial ?

Wherefore speaks he this

To her he hates? and wherefore doth Lysander
Deny your love, so rich within his soul,

230

And tender me, forsooth, affection,

But by your setting on, by your consent?
What though I be not so in grace as you,
So hung upon with love, so fortunate,
But miserable most, to love unloved?
This you should pity rather than despise.

Her. I understand not what you mean by this.
Hel. Ay, do, persever, counterfeit sad looks,
Make mouths upon me when I turn my back;
Wink each at other; hold the sweet jest up:
This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled.
If you have any pity, grace, or manners,
You would not make me such an argument.
But fare ye well: 'tis partly my own fault,
Which death or absence soon shall remedy.

Lys. Stay, gentle Helena; hear my excuse: My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena!

Her.

Dem.

Sweet, do not scorn her so.
If she cannot entreat, I can compel.

235

240

245

Helen, I love thee; by my life, I do:

I swear by that which I will lose for thee,

250

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.
Dem. Quick, come!