But he hath chid me hence, and threaten'd me To strike me, fpurn me, nay, to kill me too; You fee, how fimple and how fond I am. HER. Why, get you gone: who is't that hinders you? HEL. A foolish heart, that I leave here behind. HER. What, with Lyfander? HEL. With Demetrius. Lys. Be not afraid, fhe fhall not harm thee, Helena. DEM. No, Sir, she shall not, though you take her part. HEL. O, when she's angry, the is keen and shrewd; She was a vixen when she went to school; And though she be but little, she is fierce. HER. Little, again? nothing but low, and little? Lys. Get you gone, you dwarf, You Minimus, of hind'ring knot-grass-made ; You bead, you acorn. DEM. Your are too officious, In her behalf that scorns your fervices. Let her alone, fpeak not of Helena, Take not her part: for if thou dost intend, Never fo little fhew of love to her, Thou shalt aby it. Lys. Now she holds me not; Now follow, if thou dar'ft! to try whose right, Or thine, or mine, is most in Helena. DIM. Follow? nay, I'll go with thee cheek by jowl. [Exeunt Lyfander and Demetrius. HER. You, mistress, all this coil 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. SCENE VIII. Enter Oberon and Puck. OB. This is thy negligence: ftill thou mistak'ft, PUCK. Believe me, king of fhadows, I mistook. As this their jangling I esteem a sport. OB. Thou feeft, 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. Then crush this herb into Lyfander's eye, And back to Athens fhall the lovers wend And then I will her charmed eye release From monsters view, and all things shall be peace. At whofe approach, ghosts wand'ring here and there, For fear left day should look their shame upon, I with the morning light have oft made sport; Puck. Up and down, up and down, I will lead them up and down, [Ex. Ob. Enter Lyfander. Lys. Where art thou, proud Demetrius? speak thou now. 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. Lyfander comes back. Lys. He goes before me, and still dares me on; When I come where he calls me, then he's gone. The villain is much lighter-heel'd, than I: I follow'd fast, but fafter he did fly; That fall'n am I in dark uneven way, [Exeunt. 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 spight. Enter Puck and Demetrius. Puck. Ho, ho, ho, coward, why com'ft thou not? DEM. Abide me, if thou dar'ft: for well I wot, Thou runn'ft before me, fhifting every place; And dar'st not stand, nor look me in the face. Where art thou? PUCK. Come thou hither, I am here. DEM. Nay, then thou mock'st me; thou fhalt buy this dear, If ever I thy face by day light fee. Now, go thy way; faintness constraineth me To measure out my length on this cold bed. SCENE IX. Enter Helena. (Lyes down. HEL. O weary night, O long and tedious night, Abate thy hours: fhine, comfort's, from the Eaft: That I may back to Athens by day-light, From these, that my poor company deteft; And fleep, that sometimes fhuts up forrow's eye, PUCK. Yet but three? come one more, Two of both kinds make up four, Here fhe comes, curft and fad: Cupid is a knavish lad, Thus to make poor females mad. Enter Hermia. HER. Never fo weary, never fo in woe, [Sleeps. |