University of Virginia Library

ACT. IV.

Enter Oberon and Robin-Good-Fellow.
Ob.
I squese this Flower of Purple die,
Hit with Cupid's Archery,
On the Apple of his Eye;
When the mournful Helen's nigh,
She shall shine as gloriously,
As yonder Venus in the Sky.
Thou shalt wake when she is by,
And beg her pardon for thy Cruelty.

Rob.
Lord of all the Fairy-Land,
All is done at thy Command;
Helena is here at hand,
And the Youth mistook by me,
Pleading for a Lover's Fee.
Shall we their fond Pageants see?
Lord, what Fools these Mortals be!

Ob.
Be careful, or the noise they make
Will cause Demetrius to awake.

Rob.
Then will two one Damsel court,
That must needs be pleasant sport.
I am always pleas'd to see
Things fall out prepostrously.

Enter Lysander and Helena:
Ly.
Why should think you that I would woo in scorn?
Scorn and Derision never come in Tears.
How can these watry Eyes seem Scorn to you?
Wearing Love's Livery to prove 'em true.

Hel.
You but advance your cunning more and more,
When truth kills truth, 'tis the Devil's holy War.
These Vows are Hermia's, they belong to her.

Ly.
I had no Judgment when to her I swore.

Hel.
And now much less, if now you give her o'er.

Ly.
Demetrius loves her, and loves not you.

Demetrius wakes.
De.
Oh Helen! Goddess! Angel! all Divine!
To what shall I compare those charming Eyes?
The Stars are dim, Crystal is muddy too.
How ripe, how tempting ripe those Lips appear!
Those two Twin-Cherries kissing as they grow?
The purest Snow holds no comparison,
With that white lovely Breast. O let me kiss
That hand, that hoard of Sweets, that Seal of Bliss,
I am Love's Convert, Helena; I see,
And I repent my former Heresie.

Hel.
O! utmost spight! I see you all are bent,
All set against me for your merriment.
Can you not hate me? as I know you do;
Must you contrive, and joyn to mock me to?
If you are Men? as Men you are in show,
You wou'd not use a harmless Virgin so;
To vow, and swear, and over-praise each part,
When I am sure you hate me in your Heart.
You both are Rivals, both love Hermia,
And now both Rivals to mock Helena.

Enter Hermia.
Her.
Dark night that from the Eye distinction takes,
The Ear more quick of apprehension makes
'Twas my Ear guided me to find you out.
But why, Lisander, did you leave me so?

Ly.
Impertinent! Love summon'd me to go.

Her.
What Love could call Lysander from my side?

Ly.
The Love of Helena, whose brighter Eyes
Darken the Starry Jewels of the Night;
They take from her, not from the Sun their light.

Her.
You speak not as you think; it cannot be.

Hel.
Oh Heav'n! she's one of the Confederacy.
Injurious Hermia! ungrateful Maid!
Have you conspir'd to deride me too?
What though I am not beautiful as you,
Though I am most unhappy in my Love?
You ought to pity, not despise me for't.
But fare you well; I know the fault's my own;
And either Death, or Absence, soon shall end it.

Ly.
Stay, lovely Maid; by Heav'n I swear to thee,
Thou art my Eyes, my Life, my Soul, fair Helen.

De.
I love thee more, much more than he can do.

Ly.
Words, words: let us withdraw, and prove it too.

De.
Follow me then.

Her.
Hold, hold, Lysander; to what tends all this?

Ly.
Away, you Ethiop.

De.
Ay, ay, seem to break loose.
Struggle as if you meant to follow me,
But come not. You may let the tame Man go.

Ly.
What can I do? would'st have me beat her from me?
No; though I hate her, yet I cannot harm her.

Her.
How can you do me greater harm than this?
Hate me? wherefore? ah me! my dearest Love!
Am not I Hermia? are not you Lysander?
Or am I alter'd since you saw me last?
This night you lov'd me, and this night you fly me.
Have you forsaken me? (oh Heav'n forbid)
Come tell me truly; do you hate me now?

Ly.
Ay, by my Life,
And wish I never may behold thee more.
Let this remove all doubt, for nothing's truer,
Than I hate thee, and love fair Helena.

Her.
O then 'tis you, you Jugler, Canker-blossom,
You Thief of Love, you who have come by Night,
And stoln Lysander's Heart.

Hel.
Indeed 'tis fine.
Have you no Modesty? no touch of Shame?
No Bashfulness? let not this Pigmie tear
Impatient answers from my milder Tongue.

Her.
Pigmie! why so? Ay, that way goes the Game.
Now I perceive she has made Comparisons
Between our Statures; she has urg'd her height,
Her Manly Presence, and tall Personage.
And are you grown so high in his Esteem,
Because I am so Dwarfish, and so low?
How low am I? thou painted May-Pole, speak.
How low am I?

Ly.
Be not afraid, she shall not hurt thee, Sweet.

De.
No, Sir, she shall not, though you take her part.

Hel.
When she is angry, she's a very Shrew:
She was a Vixen when she went to School,
And though she is but little, she is fierce.

Her.
Little again? nothing but low and little?
'Tis you encourage her t'abuse me thus.
Let me come at her?

Ly.
Away, you Dwarf.

De.
You are too officious.

Ly.
Now she holds me not.
Now follow if thou dar'st; and let us try
Which of has most right to Helena.

De.
Follow? nay I'll go with you; yes, before you.

[Ex. Ly. & De.
Her.
You Mistress; all this stir is about you.
Nay, go not back.

Hel.
I dare not trust you, Hermia.
Your hands I know, are quicker for a Fray;
My Legs are longer tho', to run away.

[Ex. Hel. running, and Her. after her.
Ob.
This is thy negligence; still thou mistak'st,
Or else committ'st thy Knaveries willingly.

Rob.
Believe me, King of Shadows, I mistook.
Did you not tell me I should know the Man,
By the Embroider'd Garment he had on?
If he had made to the right Woman court,
We had had no Divertisement, no Sport.

Ob.
Thou see'st these Lovers seek a place to fight;
Haste, Robin, haste; and overcast the Night.
These furious Rivals you must lead astray,
Be sure they come not in each others way.
Now like Lysander, now Demetrius,
Call here and there; mis-lead and tire 'em thus.
Till o'er their Eyes, Death's Counterfeit, sound Sleep,
With Leaden Legs, and Batty Wings shall creep.
Then crush this Herb into Lysander's Eye:
The Liquor has this virtuous property,
It will remove the Errors of this night,
And bring his Eye-Balls to their own true sight.
When next they wake, all that has past shall seem
A meer Illusion, a Fairy Dream.
While I in this Affair do thee employ,
I'll to my Queen, and get her Indian Boy.
Then from the Charm I will her eye release,
Send home the Clown, and all shall be at peace.

Rob.
This must be done with speed, I must not stay,
For with her Dragons Wings Night flies away:
See yonder shines Aurora's Harbinger,
At whose approach, Ghosts wandring here and there;
Troop home to Churchyards, Damned Spirits all,
That in Cross-ways and Floods have Burial:
Already to their Wormy-Beds are gone,
For fear Bright Day their shames should look upon.
They wilfully Exile themselves from Light,
And must for ever wander in the Night.

Ob.
But we are Spirits of another sort;
Can any where, at any time resort.
I have more work for thee, make no delay,
We must effect this Business yet e're day.
[Ex. Ob.

Rob.

Up and down, up and down, I will lead 'em up and
down. I am fear'd in Field and Town; Goblin lead 'em up
and down, here comes one.

Enter Lysander.
Ly.
Where art thou, proud Demetrius? answer where?

Rob.
Here Villain; drawn, and ready, where art thou?

Ly.
I shall be with you straight.

Rob.
Follow me then to evener ground.

[Leads Lysander out, and returns.
Enter Lysander. He leads him in.
Ly.
He goes before me, and still dares me on,
When I come where he calls me, he is gone.
'Tis very dark, the way uneven too;
I'm tyr'd with running, here I'll lay me down,
And wait with patience the approach of day,
Then if I meet him, we will end our Fray.

[Sleeps.
Enter Robin, and Demetrius.
Rob.
Speak Coward, answer me; why com'st thou not?

De.
Stay Villain, if thou dar'st.
Thou run'st before me, shifting every place.
Stand, if thou art a Man, and meet me fairly.
Where art thou?

Rob.
I am here.

De.
I see thee not, answer me where?

Rob.
Here, here.

De.
Now thou derid'st me, thou shalt buy this dear,
When I thy Coward face by day-light see.
My faintness forces me to rest a while,
To measure out my length on this cold ground,
Thou wilt not with the breaking Day be found.

[Sleeps.
Enter Helena.
Hel.
Oh weary, tedious Night abate thy Hours;
Shine from the East that I may fly to Town,
From those who my poor Company detest.
And sleep that sometimes shuts up Sorrows Eye,
Steal me a while from my own Company.

[Sleeps.
Rob.
There's yet but three, come one more;
Two of both kinds make up four.
Here she comes pevish and sad.
Cupid is a Knavish Lad,
Thus to make poor Maidens mad.

Enter Hermia.
Her.
Never was Maid so weary, and so wrong'd,
Wet with cold Dew, and torn with cruel Briars.
I can scarce crawl, I can no farther go;
My Legs can keep no pace with my desires.
Here I will rest the remnant of the Night.
Heav'n guard Lysander, if they meet and fight.

[Sleeps.
Enter Oberon.
Thou hast perform'd exactly each Command.
Titania too has given me the sweet Boy.
And now I have him, I will straight undo
The hated imperfection of her Eyes.
And gentle Puck, take thou the Asses Head,
From the transform'd Clown she doated on.
That he awaking when the others do,
May with his Fellows to their Homes repair.
And think no more of this Night's Accidents,
Than of the fierce vexation of a Dream,
But first, I will release the Fairy Queen.
Now my Titania, wake.

[She rises.
Tit.
My Oberon! What Visions have I seen?
Methought I was enamour'd of an Ass.

Ob.
There lies your Love.

Tit.
How came these things to pass?
How I detest that hateful Visage now!

Ob.
Robin, take from the Fool the Ass's head.

Rob.
Hark, thou King of Shadows, hark!
Sure I hear the morning Lark.

Ob.
Let him warble on, I'll stay,
And bless these Lover's Nuptial Day.
Sleep, happy Lovers, for some Moments, sleep.

Rob.
So, when thou wak'st with thy own Fools Eyes, peep:

[He takes off the Ass's Head.
Ob.
Titania, call for Musick.

Tit.
Let us have all Variety of Musick,
All that should welcome up the rising Sun.

The Scene changes to a Garden of Fountains. A Sonata plays while the Sun rises, it appears red through the Mist, as it ascends it dissipates the Vapours, and is seen in its full Lustre; then the Scene is perfectly discovered, the Fountains enrich'd with gilding, and adorn'd with Statues: The view is terminated by a Walk of Cypress Trees which lead to a delightful Bower. Before the Trees stand rows of Marble Columns, which support many Walks which rise by Stairs to the top of the House; the Stairs are adorn'd with Figures on Pedestals, and Rails and Balasters on each side of 'em. Near the top, vast Quantities of Water break out of the Hills, and fall in mighty Cascade's to the bottom of the Scene, to feed the Fountains which are on each side. In the middle of the Stage is a very large Fountain, where the Water rises about twelve Foot.
Then the 4 Seasons enter, with their several Attendants.
One of the Attendants
begin.

Two others
sing in Parts.

A Machine appears, the Clouds break from before it, and Phœbus appears in a Chariot drawn by four Horses; and Sings.

Chorus.

Spring.

Summer.

Autumn.

Winter.

Chorus.

A DANCE of the Four Seasons.
Ob.
Now my Puck this Herb apply
To the Mistaken Lover's Eye;
The powerful Juice will clear his Sight,
Make 'em Friends, and set all right.

Tit.
Come, my Lord, and tell me how?
How I sleeping here was found,
With these Mortals, on the Ground.

[Ex. All but Puck.
Rob.
On the Ground, sleeping sound,
I apply to your eye, gentle Lover, Remedy.
When thou wak'st, then thou tak'st
True Delight in thy former Lady's sight;
And the Country Proverb known,
That every Man should take his own,
In your waking shall be shown.
Jack shall have Gill, nought shall go ill,
The Man shall have his Mare again, and all shall be well.

[Exit.