Bot. Good master Mustard-seed, I know your patience well: that same cowardly, giant-like, ox-beef hath devoured many a gentleman of your house: I promise you your kindred hath made my eyes water ere now. I desire you, more acquain- 5 tance, good master Mustard-seed. Queen. Come, wait upon him; lead him to my The moon, methinks, looks with a watery eye; SCENE II. Enter Oberon. [Exeunt: Ob. I wonder if Titania be awaked; Then, what it was that next came in her eye, Which she must doat on in extremity. Enter Puck. Here comes my messenger,-How now,mad spirit? What night-rule now about this haunted grove? Puck. My mistress with a monster is in love. An ass's now I fixed on his head; And the Athenian woman by his side; Ob. Stand close; this is the same Athenian. The sun was not so true unto the day, As he to me: Would he have stol'n away 15 From sleeping Hermia? I'll believe as soon, This whole earth may be bor'd; and that the moon May through the centre creep, and so displease Her brother's noon-tide with the Antipodes. It cannot be, but thou hast murder'd him; 20 So should a murderer look, so dead, so grim. Dem. So should the murder'd look: and so should I, Pierc'd through the heart with your stern cruelty: Yet you, the murderer, look as bright, as clear, 25 As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere. 30 [spy, 35 And forth my minnock' comes: When they him And, at our stamp, here o'er and o'er one falls; strong, Made senseless things begin to do them wrong: I led them on in this distracted fear, Ob. This falls out better than I could devise. But hast thou yet latch'd' the Athenian's eyes With the love-juice, as I did bid thee do? Puck. I took him sleeping—that is finish'd too, 40 45 Her. What's this to my Lysander? where is he? Of maiden's patience. Hast thou slain him then? I am not guilty of Lysander's blood; Her. I pray thee, tell me then that he is well. 55 [Lies down. Ob. What hast thou done? thou hast mistaken quite, And laid the love-juice on some true-love's sight: By patience is meant, standing still in a mustard-pot to be eaten with the beef, on which it was a constant attendant. Meaning, what frolick of the night? 'i. e. low, paltry fellows. 4 i. e. a head. Minnekin, now minx, is a nice trifling girl. Minnock is apparently a word of contempt; it is more probable that Shakspeare wrote mimmick or player. i. e. company. To latch the door, in Staffordshire, and the adjoining counties, is, to shut the door. our author's time, was the same with our exploit, or rather stroke. i. e. mistaken. 6 'i. e. closed. * Touch, in Of Of thy misprision' must perforce ensue A million fail, confounding oath on oath. Ob. About the wood go swifter than the wind, And Helena of Athens look thou find: All fancy-sick she is, and pale of cheer With sighs of love, that cost the fresh blood dear: By some illusion see thou bring her here; I'll charm his eyes, against she do appear. Puck. I go, I go; look, how I go; Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow. Ob. Flower of this purple dye, Hit with Cupid's archery, Sink in apple of his eye! Re-enter Puck. [Exit. Ob. Stand aside: the noise they make, Will cause Demetrius to awake. Puck. Then will two, at once, woo one; That must needs be sport alone: And those things do best please me, Enter Lysander and Helena. Lys. Why should you think, that I should woo in scorn? Scorn and derision never come in tears: Look, when I vow, I weep; and vows so born, 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, Lys. I had no judgment, when to her I swore. To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne? 5 Hel. Ospight! O hell! I see you all are bent 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, 10 When, I am sure, you hate me with you hearts. You both are rivals, and love Hermia; And now both rivals to mock Helena: To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes, 15 With your derision! None of nobler 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: 20 And here, with all good-will, with all my heart, In Herinia's love I yield you up my part; And yours of Helena to me bequeath, Whom I do love, and will do to my death. 25 30 135 Hel. Never did mockers waste more idle breath. Dem. Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none: If e'er I lov'd her, all that love is gone. My heart with her but as guest-wise sojourn'd; And now to Helen it is home return'd, There to remain. Lys. Helen, it is not so. Dem. 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. Enter Hermia. Her. Dark night, that from the eye his function The ear more quick of apprehension makes; [takes, Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense, It pays the hearing double recompense: Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found. 40 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? 45 Her. What love could press Lysander from my side? [bide? Lys. Lysander's love, that would not let him Fair Helena; who more engilds the night Than all yon fiery o's', and eyes of light, [know, Why seek'st thou me? could not this make thee 50 The hate I bear thee made me leave thee so? Her. 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 spight of me. 55 Injurious Hermia! most ungrateful maid! Have you conspir'd, have you with these contriv'd To bait me with this foul derision? Is all the counsel that we two have shar'd, The sisters' vows, the hours that we have spent, 60 When we have chid the hasty-footed time For parting us-O, and is all forgot? All school-day friendship, childhood innocence? › That is, join heartily. * Sort is here used for degree 'See note, p. 188. Shakspeare sometimes uses O We, 11 We, Hermia, like two artificial' gods, Two lovely berries moulded on one stem: Due but to one, and crowned with one crest. Her. I am amazed at your passionate words: 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 at each other; hold the sweet jest up: This sport, well carry'd, 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 mine own fault; Which death, or absence, soon shall remedy. Lys. Stay, gentle Helena; hear my excuse; My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena! Hel. O excellent! Her. Sweet, do not scorn her so. Dem. If she cannot retreat, I can compel. Or I will shake thee from me, like a serpent. Her. Why are you grown so rude? what change sweet love? [is this, Lys. Thy love? out, tawny Tartar, out! 5 Out, loathed medicine! hated potion, hence! Her. Do you not jest? Hel. Yes, 'sooth; and so do you. Lys. Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee. Dem. I would I had your bond, for, I perceive, 10A weak bond holds you; I'll not trust your word. Lys. What, should I hurt her, strike her, kill her Although I hate her, I'll not harm her so. [dead? Her. What, can you do me greater harm, than hate? 15 Hate me! wherefore? O me! what news, my love? Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander? I am as fair now, as I was erewhile. [me: Since night, you lov'd me; yet, since night, you left 20W hy, then you let me, the gods forbid! In earnest, shall I say? Lys. Ay, by my life; And never did desire to see thee more. Her.Ome! you juggler! oh, youcanker-blossom" 35 Have you no modesty, no maiden shame, No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear Impatient answers from my gentle tongue ? Fie, nie! you counterfeit, you puppet, you! Her. Puppet! why so? Ay, that way goes the game. Now I perceive that she hath made compare Between our statures; she hath urg'd her height; And with her personage, her tall personage, Her height,forsooth, she hath prevail'd with him.40 And are you grown so high in his esteem, Because I am so dwarfish and so low? 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. 45 Hel. I pray you, though you mock me,gentlemen, Let her not hurt me: I was never curst; [prayers. 50 I swear by that which I will lose for the, Her. Lysander, whereto tends all this? Seem to break loc se; take on, as you would follow; Lys. Hang off, thou cat, thou burr; vile thing, 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, Because she's something lower than myself, That I can match her. Her. Lower! hark, again. Hel. Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me. I evermore did love you, Hermia; 55 Did ever keep your counsels, never wrong'd you; Save that, in love unto Demetrius, I told him of your stealth unto this wood: He follow'd you; for love, I follow'd him. But he hath chid me hence; and threaten'd me 60 To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too: And now, so you will let me quiet go, To Athens will I bear my folly back, 'Meaning, ingenious, artful. 2 That is, needles. * Meaning, such a subject of light merriment. 4 Shakspeare here alludes to the worm that preys on the leaves or buds of flowers, always beginning in tl.e middle. And And follow you no further: Let me go: [lena. Lys. Be not afraid, she shall not harm thee, HeDem. No, sir; she shall not, though you take her part. Hel. O,when she's angry, she is keen and shrewd; She was a vixen, when she went to school; Aud, though she be but little, she is fierce. Her. Lattle again? nothing but low and little?— Why will you suffer her to flout me thus? Let me come to her. Lys. Get you gone, you dwarf; You minimus, of hind'ring knot-grass made'; Dem. You are too officious, In her behalf that scorns your services. 4 Lus. Now she holds me not; Now follow, if thou dar'st, to try whose right, Or thine or mine, is most in Helena. To take from thence all error, with his might, 5 And back to Athens shall the lovers wend, Pil to my queen, and beg her Indian boy; 10 From monster's view, and all things shall be peace. Puck. My fairy lord, this must be done with haste; 15 For night's swift dragons cut the clouds full fast, And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger; [there, At whose approach, ghosts, wandering here and Troop home to church-yards: damned spirits all, That in cross-ways and Hoods have burial, Already to their wormy beds are gone; For fear lest day should look their shames upon, 20 They wilfully themselves exile from light, And must for aye consort with black-brow'd night, Ob. But we are spirits of another sort: I with the morning's love have oft made sport; And, like a forester, the groves may tread, 25 Even till the eastern-gate, all fiery red, Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams, Turns into yellow gold his salt-green streams. But, notwithstanding, haste; make no delay: We may effect this business yet ere day. [Exit Ob, Puck. Up and down, up and down; I will lead them up and down: I am fear'd in field and town; Goblin, lead them up and down, Here comes one. Dem. Follow? nay, I'll go with thee, cheek by jowi. [Ex. Lysander and Demetrius. Her. You, mistress, all this coyl is 'long of you: 30 Nay, go not back. Hel. I will not trust you, I; Nor longer stay in you curst company. 35 Puck. Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook. 40 45 [fight: Ob. Thou seest, these lovers seek a place to Hie therefore, Robin, overcast the night; The starry welkin cover thou anon With drooping fog, as black as Acheron; And lead these testy rivals so astray, As one come not within another's way. Like to Lysander sometime frame thy tongue, Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong; And sometimes rail thou like Demetrius; And from each other look thou lead them thus, "Till o er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep: Then crush this herb into Lysander's eye: Whose liquor hath this virtuous property, 6 Enter Lysander. Lys. Where art thou, proud Demetrius? speak thou now. Puck. Here, villain, drawn and ready. Where That is, foolish. 2i. e. you diminutive of the creation, you reptile. Knot-grass was anciently supposed to prevent the growth of any animal or child. to happen. i. e. salutiferous. Toaby is to pay dear for, to suffer. i. e. The The villain is much lighter heel'd than I: Re-enter Puck and Demetrius. Here she comes, curst, and sad:- Thus to make poor females mad. Her. Never so weary, never so in woe, Puck. Ho,ho,ho! coward, why comest thou not? Thou runn'st before me, shifting every place; Puck. Come hither; I am here. Dem. Nay, then thou mock'st me. Thou shalt 15 buy this dear. If ever I thy face by day-light see: Now, go thy way. Faintness constraineth me By day's approach look to be visited. [Lies down. 20 Enter Helena. Heavens shield Lysander, if they mean a fray! Puck. On the ground Sleep sound: To your eye, Gentle lover, remedy. [Lies down. [Squeezing the juice on Lysander's eye. When thou wak'st, Thou tak'st True delight In the sight Of thy former lady's eye: And the country proverb known, Nought shall go ill; The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be well. [Exit Puck. They sleep. Bot. Give me your neif, monsieur Mustard-seed. Pray you, leave your courtesy, good monsieur. Must. What's your will? Queen. COME, sit thee down upon this flowery 45 Bot. Nothing, good monsieur, but to help ca bed, valero Cobweb to scratch. I must to the barber's, monsieur; for, methinks, I am marvellous hairy about the face: and I am such a tender ass, if my hair do but tickle me, I must scratch. Queen. What, wilt thou hear some musick, my sweet love? Bot. I have a reasonable good ear in musick: let us have the tongs and the bones'. Queen. Or, say, sweet love, what thou desir'st to eat. Bot. Truly, a peck of provender; I could munch your good dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle of hay: good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow. Queen. I have a venturous fairy that shall seek The squirrel's hoard, and fetch thee new nuts. Meaning, the old rural musick of the tongs and Bot. |