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SCENE II.

Another part of the Wood.—(Night.)
Enter Puck.
Puck.
Up and down, up and down,
I will lead them up and down,
I am fear'd in field and town,
I will lead them up and down.
Here comes one combatant, one Athenian lover:
I'm glad it did so sort,
As this same jangling is to me a sport.

Enter Lysander, hastily, his Sword drawn.
Lys.
Where art thou, proud Demetrius?
He goes before me, dares me to the fight!
When I come where he calls me, then he's gone!
I follow fast, but faster still he runs.—
Speak! where art thou, false, false Demetrius?

Puck.
(Imitating Demetrius)
Here, recreant, here!

[Exit, unseen by Lysander.
Lys.
Again! now, traitor!

[Rushes off.]

51

Enter Demetrius.
Dem.
Abide me, false Lysander, if thou dar'st.
Puck enters behind.
Thou runn'st before me, shifting every place,
And dar'st not stand! recreant, speak! Where art thou?

Puck.
Coward, here!

[Exit.
Dem.

I come, I follow.— (Going off—suddenly

stops.)
—Yet no—in vain—darkness, and the
wood's uneven paths, to-night must baffle me.
So, go thy way—by day's approach look to be
visited again. Meantime, this wood shall be my
resting-place, and still, my Hermia, yes, still
shall thy Demetrius hope! With fervour hope!

SONG—Demetrius.—[Bishop.]
Sweet cheering hope, whose magic art
Transforms our night to day!
Dispel the clouds that wrap my heart,
With thy enliv'ning ray!
Thus when the sky with baneful steams
Has been obscur'd awhile,
The sun darts forth his piercing beams,
And makes all Nature smile!

[Exit.