University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

The Wood.
Enter Oberon.
Ober.
I wonder if Titania be awak'd;
Then what it was that next came in her eye,
Which she must doat on in extremity.
Enter Puck.
Here comes my messenger! How now, mad sprite!
What night-rule now about this haunted grove?

Puck.
My mistress with a monster is in love.
Near to her close and consecrated bower,
While she was in her dull and sleeping hour,
A crew of patches rude, rehears'd a play
Intended for great Theseus' nuptial-day.
An ass's nole I fix'd upon one head,
And all the rest with fear distracted fled.
When, in that moment (so it came to pass)
Titania wak'd, and straitway lov'd an Ass.

Ober.
This falls out better than I could devise.
But hast thou yet latch'd the Athenian's eyes
With the love-juice, as I bid thee do?

Puck.
I took him sleeping; that is finish'd too.

Enter Demetrius and Hermia.
Ober.
Stand close—this is the same Athenian.

Puck.
This is the woman, but not this the man.

Dem.
O, why rebuke you him that loves you so?

Her.
Now I but chide; but I should use thee worse,
For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse thee.
Seek, seek fair Helena!

Dem.
Call you her fair? that fair, again unsay.
Oh! teach her how you look, and with what art
You sway the motions of Demetrius' heart!
SONG.—Demetrius.

Her.
If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep,
O, kill me too!
The sun was not so true unto the day,
As he to me. Would he have stol'n from hence,
From sleeping Helena?
It cannot be but thou hast murder'd him.

Dem.
Why, gentle Hermia, will you still persist,
To pierce me thro' the heart with your contempt?

Herm.
What's this to my Lysander? Where is he?
If thou hast slain him,
Henceforth be never number'd among men,
Thou serpent!

Dem.
I am not guilty of Lysander's blood,
Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell.

Herm.
Then from thy hated presence will I go,
In search of my Lysander, come what may.

Dem.
Nay—hear me, Hermia.

DUET—Demetrius and Hermia.—[Bishop.]
Demet.

Herm.

[Exit Herm.
Dem.
There is no following her in this fierce vein.—
And worn, o'ercome with anguish and despair
E'en here I'll seek repose.
Yes, sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow's eye,
Steal me awhile from my own company!—

[Lies down on a Bank, and sleeps.]
Oberon and Puck advance.
Ober.
What hast thou done? thou hast mistaken quite,
And laid thy love-juice on some true-love's sight:
About the wood, go swifter than the wind,
And Helena of Athens see thou find.—
By some illusion see thou bring her here;
And send an Elf with some of that same flow'r.

Puck.
I go, I go, look how I go,
Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow.

[Exit.
Ober.
I'll charm his eyes against she doth appear.

Enter Fairy, with a Flower.
1st Fairy.
Here is the flower.

Ober.
Now, now to sing the charm.
[Exit Fairy.
(Air.—During which he pours the Juice into Demetrius's Eyes.)
AIR—Oberon.—[Smith.]

Enter Puck.
Puck.
Captain of our fairy-band,
Helena is here at hand,
And the youth mistook by me,
Pleading for a lover's fee.
Shall we their fond pageant see?
Lord, what fools these mortals be!—

Ober.
Stand aside! the noise they make,
Will cause Demetrius to wake.

Puck.
Then will two at once woo one,—
That must needs be sport alone!
And these things do best please me,
That befall preposterously.

[Exeunt.