University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

Another Part of the Wood.
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.

Hel.
You do advance your cunning more and more,
These vows are Hermia's—give 'em not to me.

Lys.
I had no judgment when to her I swore.

Hel.
Nor none, in my mind, now you swear to me.

Lys.
Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you.
Behold! he's here!
(Seeing Demetrius, who awakes and rises.)
Confess— (To Demet.)
Love you not Hermia?

Dem.
No, Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine!
To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyes?

Hel.
O, spite! to use a simple woman thus!

(Demetrius takes her hand.)
Lys.
Villain, forbear!— (Drawing his sword)
—this hand is mine;
And here, with all good will, with all my heart,
In Hermia's love I yield you my pretensions;
And yours to Helena, to me bequeath,
Whom I, do love to death, Demetrius.

Dem.
Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,
Lest to thy peril thou repent, Lysander:
My heart to Helena is home return'd!—
And here's thy love!—

Enter Hermia.
Herm.
Found, found, Lysander!—
Oh! why unkindly didst thou leave me, love?

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

Herm.
What love could press Lysander from my side?

Lys.
Lysander's love, his love for Helena.
Fair Helena, who more engilds the night
Than all yon fiery stars;— (Crosses to Helena)

I swear by that which I will lose for thee,
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, traitor!
Now follow, if thou dar'st, to try whose right,
Or thine, or mine, is most in Helena.

Dem.
Lead on!

Lys.
Away!—and the word—“Helena and Love!”

[Exeunt Lysander and Demetrius.
Herm.
Is this illusion? Oh! false, canker-blossom;
You thief of love!—What, have you come by night,
And stol'n my love's heart from him?

Hel.
Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me;
I evermore did love you, Hermia,—
And all I can explain, I will.—But, come away!—
Let's fly, and struggle to prevent this fray.

[Exeunt Hermia and Helena.
Enter Oberon and Puck.
Ober.
Yonder they fly, and still entangl'd—crost!—
This is thy negligence; still thou mistak'st,
Or else commit'st thy knaveries willingly.

Puck.
Believe me, King of Shadows, I mistook,—
But so far blameless proves my enterprise,
That you did tell me I should know the man
By the Athenian garments he hath on.

Ober.
Thou see'st these lovers seek a place to fight;
Hie, therefore, Robin, overcast the night!—
The starry welkin cover thou anon
With drooping fogs, as black as Acheron!—
And lead these testy rivals so astray,
As one shall come not in the other's way.
Like to Lysander sometimes 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,—
(Producing Herb, and giving it to Puck.)
Whose liquor has this virtuous property!—
To take from thence all error with its might,
And make his eye-balls roll with wonted sight.—
When they next wake, all this derision
Shall seem a dream, and fruitless vision!—
Away, away! make no delay—
We may effect this business yet e'er day!
[Exit Puck.
I'll to my Queen, and beg her Indian boy!—
Not, not so much from love of him, as her,
I court this contest,—I'd put her to the trial—
If she refuse, I know her love is on the wane,—
But, if she yield! Ah! that she may! and still—

[Music.]
(Clouds descend and open.—A Fairy is discovered, who chaunts the following lines.)
FINALE.
Fairy.
Oberon!

Oberon.
Appear!

Fairy.
Oberon! no more despair!
Titania wafts him to your care!
Borne by each propitious gale,
From India's shores her gallies sail.
Nor storms, nor quicksands can they meet,
For Zephyrs fan the Fairy fleet!
And silv'ry seas the treasure bear,—
The Boy!—the Indian Boy is near!

(Clouds begin to ascend again.)
Ober.
Her vessels waft him to my care,
The joy I own, to all be known;
And join with me, in dance and revelry!
Then—then Titania's charmed eye release
From monster's view—and all things shall be peace.

[Music.]
(Clouds having ascended, the Sea is discovered. A Fairy Palace in the distance.—Titania's galley and other gallies in full sail.— Dance—During which, Indian Boy is brought forward.)
CHORUS.
Pierce the air with sounds of joy!
Hail Titania's treasur'd Boy!