Her. O me, you jugler; oh, you canker-bloffom, You thief of love; what, have you come by night, And ftoll'n my love's heart from him? Hel. Fine, i'faith! Have you no modefty, no maiden shame, game. Now, I perceive, that she hath made compare But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes. I have no gift at all in fhrewifhness; I am a right maid, for my cowardice: Let her not strike me. You, perhaps, may think, Her. Lower! hark! again. Hel. Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me; I evermore did love you, Hermia, Did ever keep your counfels, never wrong'd you; I told him of your ftealth unto this wood: You You fee, how fimple and how fond I am. Her. Why, get you gone, who is't, that hinders you? Hel. With Demetrius. Lyf. Be not afraid, fhe shall not harm thee, Helena, Dem. No, Sir, fhe fhall not, though you take her part. Hel. O, when she's angry, fhe is keen and fhrewd ; She was a vixen when fhe went to fchool; And though he be but little, fhe is fierce. Her. Little, again? nothing but low, and little? Why will you fuffer her to flout me thus ? Let me come to her. Lyf. Get you gone, you dwarf. You Minimus, of hind'ring knot-grafs made; Dem. You are too officious, In her behalf that fcorns your fervices. Let her alone, fpeak not of Helena, Take not her part: for if thou doft intend Never fo little fhew of love to her, Thou fhalt aby it. Lyf. Now fhe holds me not; Now follow, if thou dar'ft; to try whofe right, Dem. Follow ? nay, I'll go with thee cheek by jowl. [Exeunt Lyfander and Demetrius, Her. You, miftrefs, all this coyl is long of you: Nay, go not back. Hel. I will not truft you, I; Nor longer stay in your curft company. Your hands, than mine, are quicker for a fray; My legs are longer, though, to run away. [Exeunt: Hermia pursuing Helena. 9 You Minimus,-] ShakeSpear might have given it, You Minim, you, SCENE VIII. Enter Oberon and Puck. Ob. This is thy negligence: ftill thou mistak'st, Puck. Believe me, King of fhadows, I miftook, As this their jangling I efteem a fport. Ob. Thou feelt, thefe lovers feek a place to fight; Hie therefore, Robin, overcaft the night; The ftarry welkin cover thou anon With drooping fogs, as black as Acheron ; As one come not within another's way. And from each other, look, thou lead them thus ; With league, whofe date 'till death fhall never end. -NIGHT's DREAM. Whiles I in this affair do thee employ, I'll to my Queen, and beg her Indian boy; peace. At whofe approach, ghofts wandring here and there For fear leaft day fhould look their fhames upon, I with the morning light have oft made sport; Puck. Up and down, up and down, Goblin, lead them up and down. Enter Lyfander. (Exit Ob. Lyf. Where art thou proud Demetrius? fpeak thou now. Puck. Here, villain, drawn and ready. Where art thou? Lyf. I will be with thee ftraight. Puck. Follow me then To plainer ground." [Lyf goes out, as following Dem. Enter Demetrius. Dem. Lyfander, speak again; Thou run-away, thou coward, art thou fled? And wilt not come? come, recreant; come, thou child, That draws a fword on thee. Dem. Yea, art thou there? Puck. Follow my voice, we'll try no manhood here. Lys. He Lyfander comes back. [Exeunt. goes before me, and still dares me on; And here will reft me. Come, thou gentle day: [Lyes down. For if but once thou fhew me thy gray light, I'll find Demetrius, and revenge this fpight. Enter Puck and Demetrius. Puck. Ho, ho, ho, coward, why comeft thou not? Dem. Abide me, if thou dar'it: for well I wot. Thou runn'ft before me, fhifting every place; And dar'ft not stand, nor look me in the face. Where art thou? 3 Puck. Come thou hither, I am here. Dem. Nay, then thou mock'it me; thou shalt buy this dear,' buy this dear; that is, thou shalt pay dearly for this. Though this is fenfe, and may well enough stand, yet the poet perhaps wrote thou shalt by it dear. So in another place, thou halt abuy it. So Milton, How dearly I abide that boast fo vain. |