 | The fairies |  |
28
SCENE VI.
Enter Demetrius, and Helena following.HELENA.
Stay, tho' thou kill me, sweet Demetrius!
DEMETRIUS.
I charge thee hence, and do not haunt me thus.
HELENA.
O wilt thou, darling, leave me? do not so.
DEMETRIUS.
Stay, on thy peril, I alone will go.
[Exit Demetrius.
HELENA.
Happy is Hermia, wheresoe'er she lies;
For she hath blessed and attractive eyes.
How came her eyes so bright? not with salt tears,
If so, my eyes are oftener wash'd than hers.
But who is here? Lysander, on the ground:
Dead or asleep, I see no blood, no wound:
Lysander if you live, good Sir, awake.
29
LYSANDER.
Say, lovely dream, where couldst thou find
Shades to counterfeit that face;
Colours of this glorious kind,
Come not from any mortal place;
In heaven itself thou sure wert drest,
With that angel-like disguise,
Thus deluded am I blest,
And see my joy with closed eyes.
Transparent Helen, nature here shews art,
That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart:
Where is Demetrius? Oh, how fit a word
Is that vile name, to perish on my sword?
HELENA.
Do not say so, Lysander, say not so?
What tho' he loves your Hermia, yet you know,
That Hermia still loves you; then be content.
LYSANDER.
Content with Hermia? no, I do repent
The tedious minutes I with her have spent;
Not Hermia, but Helena now I love:
Who will not change a raven for a dove?
30
Wherefore was I to this keen mock'ry born?
When at your hands did I deserve this scorn?
But fare you well. Perforce I must confess,
I thought you lord of more true gentleness.
[Exit Helena.
LYSANDER.
She sees not Hermia, Hermia sleep thou there,
Helen is now Lysander's only Care.
[Exit Lysander.
| The fairies | |