Act 3, Scene Two

OBERON

OBERON

I wonder if Titania be awaked;

I wonder if Titania is already awaked, and if

Then what it was that next came in her eye,

what Robin put in her eyes have worked

Which she must dote on in extremity.

already.

Enter Robin Goodfellow

Robin Goodfellow Enter

Here comes my messenger. How now, mad

Hello messenger, how is everything? What

spirit?

is currently happening in the forest?

What night-rule now about this haunted

grove?

ROBIN

ROBIN

Titania is in love with a monster. I came to

My mistress with a monster is in love.

and put the potion in her eyes while she

Near to her close and consecrated bower,

was sleeping. Near by were some poor

While she was in her dull and sleeping hour,

actors that worked for very little in the

A crew of patches, rude mechanicals,

Athens plaza. They meet up to rehearse a

That work for bread upon Athenian stalls,

play for Theseus wedding day. Pyramus,

Were met together to rehearse a play

one of the poor actors left rehearsal.

Intended for great Theseus nuptial day.

Nevertheless, I took advantage of Pyramus

The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort,

and I fixed an asss head on him. When the

Who Pyramus presented in their sport,

rest of the actors came to poor Pyramus,

Forsook his scene and entered in a brake.

they acted so afraid and frightened, they

didnt know what else what to do, but run

When I did him at this advantage take,

away from Pyramus ass head. Bad things

An asss noll I fixd on his head.

began to happen when nothing makes

Anon his Thisbe must be answerd,

sense. Pyramus was left to cry, but sweet

And forth my mimic comes. When they him

Titania was awaken and straight away loved

spy,

Pyramus.

As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye,

Or russet-pated choughs, many in sort,
Rising and cawing at the guns report,
Sever themselves and madly sweep the sky,
So at his sight away his fellows fly,
And, at our stamp, here oer and oer one
falls.
He Murder cries and help from Athens
calls.
Their sense thus weak, lost with their fears
thus strong,
Made senseless things begin to do them
wrong;
For briers and thorns at their apparel
snatch,
Some sleeves, some hats, from yielders all
things catch.
I led them on in this distracted fear
And left sweet Pyramus translated there.
When in that moment, so it came to pass,
Titania waked and straightway loved an ass.
OBERON

OBERON
This went better than I can ever imagine.
However, have you put the love juice in the
Athenians eyes?

This falls out better than I could devise.

But hast thou yet latched the Athenians
eyes
With the love juice, as I did bid thee do?
ROBIN

ROBIN
I put the love juice while he was sleeping;
therefore it is finished. When he wakes, the
woman next to him sleeping must be seen.

I took him sleepingthat is finished, too

Demetrius & Hermia Enter

And the Athenian woman by his side,

OBERON

That, when he waked, of force she must be

Stand close. This is the man.

eyed.

ROBIN

Enter Demetrius & Hermia

That is the woman, but not the man,

OBERON

They move away.

Stand close. This is the same Athenian.

DEMETRIUS

ROBIN

Why do you scold me, a man who loves

This is the women, but not this the man.

you? Why do speak so bitter to me?

They move away

HERMIA

DEMETRIUS

I dont scold you, but maybe I should. I fear

O, why rebuke you him that loves you so?

you have given me a reason too. If you have

Lay breathe so bitter on your bitter foe!

killed Lysander in his sleep, and then maybe

HERMIA

youll kill me too. He was loyal to me, like

Now I but chide, but I should use thee

how loyal the sun is in the day. Would

worse,

Lysander really have run away from me? Ill

For thou I fear, hast given me cause to

believe that as soon that the Earth will have

curse.

a hole in the middle and the moon will go

If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep,

right through it. The only thing possible is

Being oer shoes in blood, plunge in the

that you murdered him. You look so pale

deep

and grim, just how a murder would look.

And kill me too.

The sun was not so true until the day
As he to me. Would he have stolen away
from sleeping Hermia? Ill believe as soon
This whole Earth may be bored, and that
the

DEMETRIUS

Moon

A murder should look like that and but I

May through the center creep and so

should too because you accuse me.

displease

Although, you are the murder, look as

Her brothers noontide with th Antipodes.

bright, as clear, as Venus in the sky,

It cannot be but thou hast murdered him.

glimmering in the sky.

So should a murderer look, so dead, so

HERMIA

grim.

What are you saying? Where is Lysander?

DEMETRIUS

Where is he? Will you give him me?

So should the murdered look, and so should

DEMETRIUS

I,

Id rather give corpse to my dogs.

Pierced through the heart with your stern

HERMIA

cruelty.

Out dog! You make me so angry, its not

Yet you, the murderer, look as bright, as

ladylike. Have you killed him then? I dont

clear,

consider you to be human. But at least tell

As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere.

the truth. Tell the truth for my sake! Have

HERMIA

you seen him awake? And have you killed

Whats this to my Lysander? Where is he?

him in his sleep? Oh, so brave! Could not a

Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give me?

worm or snake do so much? A snake did it,

DEMETRIUS

for all the lies you have spoken.

I had rather give his carcass to my hounds.

HERMIA
Out, dog! Out, cur! Thou drivst me past the

DEMETRIUS

bounds

You misunderstand me. I am not guilty of

Of maidens patience. Hast thou slain him,

killing Lysander. Hes not dead.

then?
Henceforth be never numbered among
men.

HERMIA
Then tell me that he is well.

O, once tell true! Tell true, even for my

DEMETRIUS

sake!

And if I do, what do I get in return?

Durst thou have looked upon him, being

HERMIA

awake?

To never see me anymore. Since you hate

And hast thou killed him sleeping? O brave

me, I will leave. You will never see anymore,

touch!

whether Lysander is dead or not.

Could not a worm, an adder, do so much?

She exits.

An adder did it, for with doubler tongue

DEMETRIUS

Than thine, thou serpent, never adder

I will not follow her; following her wills only

stung.

her to curse at me more. Therefore, I will

DEMETRIUS

stay here. As my sorrow grows, I will sleep

You spend your passion on a misprised

here, for ground is comfortable here.

mood.
I am not guilty of Lysanders blood,
Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell.

He lies down and sleeps on the ground.

HERMIA

OBERON, to Robin

I pray thee, tell me then that he is well.

What have you done? You have mistaken

DEMETRIUS

the man and put the love juice on some

An if I could, what should I get therefor?

others true love. And now, some other man

HERMIA

will love the wrong girl.

A privilege never to see me more.

And from thy hated presence part I so.
See me no more, whether he be dead or no.
She exits.
DEMETRIUS
There is no following her in this fierce vein.
Here, therefore, for a while I will remain.

ROBIN
Then its fate. Its how the world works.
Millions of people go and chase the wrong
true love.
OBERON
Run to the forest as fast the wind and find

So sorrows heaviness doth heavier grow

Helena of Athens. She is pale of cheer with

For debt that bankrout sleep doth sorrow

signs of missing her love. Try to get her, by

owe,

any means, and Ill charm her eyes when

Which now in some slight measure it will

she appears.

pay,
If for his tender here I make some stay.
He lies down and falls asleep.

ROBIN

OBERON, to Robin

Ill go, Ill go right now.

What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken

quite
And laid the love juice on some true-loves
sight.
Of thy misprision must perforce ensue
Some true-love turned, and not a false
turned true.
ROBIN
Then fate oerrules, that, one man holding
troth,

Robin Exits
OBERON, applying the nectar to Demetrius
eyes
This purple flower, was enriched by Cupids
potion, will sink into the center of his eyes.
When his love will pass by, let her shine as
bright Venus in the moonlit sky. When you
see her, beg her to cure you from this lovesickness.

A million fail, confounding oath on oath.

OBERON
About the wood go swifter than the wind,
And Helena of Athens look thou find.
All fancy-sick she is and pale of cheer
With sighs of love that costs the fresh blood
dear.
By some illusion see thou bring her here.
Ill charm his eyes against she do appear.

Robin Enters
ROBIN
Leader of our fair land, Helena is here, with
the man that I mistaken the love potion,
pleading for her love. Should we watch
these fools called mortals?

ROBIN
I go, I go, look how I go,
Swifter than arrow from the Tartars bow.

OBERON

Exit Robin

Stand aside. The noise they make will cause

OBERON, applying the nectar to Demetrius

Demetrius to wake up.

eyes

ROBIN

Flower of this purple dye,

Then two men will love one girl. It will be

Hit with Cupids archery,

funny enough. And funny things always

Sink in apple of his eye.

amuse me.

When his love he doth espy,

Let her shine as gloriously
As the Venus of the sky.
When thou wakst, if she be by,
Beg of her for remedy.
Enter Robin.
ROBIN
Captain of our fairy band,
Helena is here at hand,
And the youth, mistook by me,
Pleading for a lovers fee.
Shall we their fond pageant see?

They step aside

Enter Lysander and Helena
LYSANDER
Why do you think I pursue in in scorn? When
one scorns and mocks another, tears are
never present. Therefore, look at me, look
how I weep when I vow to you. Im telling
the truth, so why do you think I scorn you, if
all evidence points to the contrary.

Lord, what fools these mortals be!

OBERON
Stand aside. The noise they make
Will cause Demetrius to awake.
ROBIN
Then will two at once woo one.

HELENA
You do become more dishonest each time.
How can I believe you when you made the
same promises to Hermia? The promises
you are making to me are for Hermia. But

That must needs be sport alone.

each vow that you made her and me, they

And those things do best please me

weight exactly the same: nothing. They are

That befall prepostrously.

both lies.

They step aside.

Enter Lysander and Helena.
LYSANDER

LYSANDER

Why should you think that I should woo in

I wasnt thinking when I vowed to her.

scorn?

HELENA

Scorn and derision never come in tears.

Yet, I think you still arent thinking clearly.

Look when I vow, I weep; and vows so born,

LYSANDER

In their nativity all truth appears.

Demetrius loves her and he doesnt love

How can these things in me seem scorn to

you.

you,

Demetrius wakes up

Bearing the badge of faith to prove them

DEMETRIUS

true?

Oh Helen, what a goddess, so perfect! What

HELENA

can I compare your eyes to? Crsystal is

You do advance your cunning more and

muddy compared to your eyes. Your hand is

more.

so white; the white snows of mountaintops

When truth kills truth, O devilish holy fray!

turn to a black crow. Please hold your hand

These vows are Hermias. Will you give her

up, so I can please kiss them?

oer?
Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing
weigh.
Your vows to her and me, put in two scales,
Will even weigh, and both as light as tales.
LYSANDER
I had no judgment when to her I swore.

HELENA
Oh lord! Oh hell! I see you are all against
me just so you can have some fun. If you
had manners, you wouldnt do this to me.

HELENA

Can you not hate me, like I know you do?

Nor none, in my mind, now you give her

But why do you join together and mock me?

oer.

If you were real gentlemen, like you pretend

LYSANDER

to be, you wouldnt take advantage of a

Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you.

lady and call her beautiful, but I know you

Demetrius wakes up

all hate me. You both are rival and love

DEMETRIUS

Hermia, and both rivals to mock Helena. I

O Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine!

know this is all a manly game, to make a

To what, my love, shall I compare thine

poor girl cry. But no decent person would

eyne?

offend such an innocent girl, just for a game

Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show

and just for fun.

Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting

grow!
That pure congeald white, high Taurus
snow,
Fanned with the eastern wind, turns to a
crow
When thou holdst up thy hand. O, let me
kiss
This princess of pure white, this seal of
bliss!
HELENA
O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent
To set against me for your merriment.

LYSANDER
Dont be mean, Demetrius. You love Hermia,
I know this and you know. I will give you my
vows to Hermia to you and your vows to
Helena will be given to me. Whom I do love
and will do till my death.

If you were civil and knew courtesy,

You would not do me thus much injury.
Can you not hate me, as I know you do,

HELENA
Nobody has ever gone through so much

But you must join in souls to mock me too?

trouble to mock somebody before.

If you were men, as men you are in show,

DEMETRIUS

You would not use a gentle lady so,

Lysander, keep Hermia. I will not. If I have

To vow and swear and superpraise my parts,

ever loved her, all that love is gone. My

When, I am sure, you hate me with your

hearts love for Hermia was just temporary,

hearts.

but my love for Helen is forever.

You both are rivals and love Hermia,

And now both rivals to mock Helena.
A trim exploit, a manly enterprise,

LYSANDER

To conjure tears up in a poor maids eyes

Helen, its not true.

With your derision! None of noble sort

DEMETRIUS

Would so offend a virgin and extort

Dont leave your love from Hermia, from

A poor souls patience, all to make you

feelings you dont yet understand. Look

sport.

over there, your love is coming over.

LYSANDER

Enter Hermia

You are unkind, Demetrius. Be not so,

HERMIA, to Lysander

For you love Hermia; this you know I know.

When the night is dark, the eye cannot

And here with all goodwill, with all my heart,

fuction. The ear is better to use at night.

In Hermias love I yield you up my part.

While eyesight is impaired at night, hearing

And yours of Helena to me bequeath,

is double the times better. I didnt find

Whom I do love and will do till my death.

Lysander by my eye. I found him by hearing

HELENA

his voice. Although, why did you leave me?

Never did mockers waste more idle breath.

DEMETRIUS
Lysander, keep thy Hermia. I will none.
If eer I loved her, all that love is gone.

LYSANDER
Why should I stay when love presses me
elsewhere?

My heart to her but as guest-wise

HERMIA

sojourned,

What love could make you leave my side?

And now to Helen is it home returned,

LYSANDER

There to remain.

Lysanders love for Helena made him leave

LYSANDER

you. Fair Helena lights the sky. Why do you

Helen, it is not so.

look for me? Can you not tell my hatred for

DEMETRIUS

you, which is way I left you?

Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,

Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear.
Look where thy love comes. Yonder is thy

HERMIA

dear.

You dont speak as you think. This cant be

Enter Hermia.

happening.

HERMIA, to Lysander

HELENA

Dark night, that from the eye his function

Oh, so shes in on it too! I see that they

takes,

have come together, all three, to create this

The ear more quick of apprehension makes;

false game, just to mock me. Hurtful

Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense,

Hermia, you ungrateful person, have you

It pays the hearing double recompense.

schemed with these two to bait me for this

Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found;

disgusting insults? What about our

Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy

friendship? Were like sisters! We spent so

sound.

much time together. Or have you forgotten

But why unkindly didst thou leave me so?

about it? All the schooldays friendship and

LYSANDER

childhood innocence? We, Hermia, were

Why should he stay whom love doth press

always together. Nothing could ever part us.

to go?

We were like two cherries, sharing only one

HERMIA

stem, two bodies, seemingly separable, but

What love could press Lysander from my

only have one heart. Will you give away our

side?

love of long ago, just to join some men, who

LYSANDER

want to scorn your poor friend? Its not

Lysanders love, that would not let him bide,

friendly. Its not ladylike. I might scorn you

Fair Helena, who more engilds the night

for it, but then the only one who gets hurt is

Than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light.

I.

Why seekst thou me? Could not this make

thee know the hate I bear thee made me
leave thee so?
HERMIA
You speak not as you think. It cannot be.
HELENA
Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
Now I perceive they have conjoined all three
To fashion this false sport in spite of me.
Injurious Hermia, most ungrateful maid,
Have you conspired, have you with these
contrived,
To bait me with this foul derision?
Is all the counsel that we two have shared,
The sisters vows, the hours that we have

HERMIA

spent

I am amazed at your words. I dont scorn

When we have chid the hasty-footed time

you. It seems that you scorn me.

For parting usO, is all forgot?

HELENA

All schooldays friendship, childhood

Did you not send Lysander, to mock me, to

innocence?

follow me and praise my beauty, and made

We, Hermia, like two artificial gods,

your over love, Demetrius to call me

Have with our needles created both one

beautiful? Who didnt kick me in the foot

flower,

that long ago. Why does he talk to me like

Both on one sampler, sitting on one

that when I know he hates me? Therefore,

cushion,

Lysander denies his love for you and then

Both warbling of one song, both in one key,

shows affection for me. But this is all your

As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds

doing. I might not be as lucky as you, so in

Had been incorporate. So we grew together

love and fortunate. But because of that, you

Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,

should pity me, not hate me.

But yet an union in partition,

Two lovely berries molded on one stem;
So with two seeming bodies but one heart,
Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,
Due but to one, and crownd with one crest.
And will you rent our ancient love asunder,
To join with men in scorning your poor
friend?
It is not friendly; tis not maidenly.
Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it,
Though I alone do feel the injury.
HERMIA
I am amazd at your words.
I scorn you not. It seems that you scorn me.
HELENA

HERMIA
I dont understand what you are talking
about.
HELENA
Ah, yes you do. You fake your sad looks, yet
when I turn my back, you turn you frown
upside down and laugh at me. This game is
well carried, but if you had any pity for me,
you wouldnt argue with me. But its partly
my fault.

Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn,

To follow me and praise my eyes and face,
And made your other love, Demetrius,
Who even but now did spurn me with his
foot,

LYSANDER
Relax, Helena. My reasons are that I love

To call me goddess, nymph, divine and rare,

you, fair Helena, you are my life, my soul.

Precious, celestial? Wherefore speaks he

HELENA

this to her he hates? And wherefore doth

Oh, Great!

Lysander

HERMIA

Deny your love (so rich within his soul)

Sweet, dont mock her.

And tender me, forsooth, affection,

DEMETRIUS, to Lysander

But by your setting on, by your consent?

If Hermias begging cant stop you to insult

What though I be not so in grace as you,

Helena, I can make you.

So hung upon with love, so fortunate,

LYSANDER

But miserable most, to love unloved?

You cant make me anymore than Hermia

This you should pity rather than despise.

can. Your treats have no more strength than

HERMIA

her begging. Helen , I love you. I swear I do.

I understand not what you mean by this.

I will lose for you just to prove him what he

HELENA

says is false that say I love not you.

Ay, do. Persever, counterfeit sad looks,

Make mouths upon me when I turn my back,
Wink each at other, hold the sweet jest up.

DEMETRIUS

This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled.

I say I love you more than him

If you have any pity, grace, or manners,

LYSANDER

You would not make me such an argument.

If thats true, then come and fight with me.

But fare you well. Tis partly my own fault,

DEMETRIUS

Which death or absence soon shall remedy.

Comeon, lets do.

LYSANDER

HERMIA

Stay, gentle Helena. Hear my excuse,

Lysander, where is this going?

My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena.

Hermia takes hold of Lysander

HELENA

LYSANDER

O excellent!

Away you fool!

HERMIA, to Lysander

DEMETRIUS, to Hermia

Sweet, do not scorn her so.

No, he will seem to break free.

DEMETRIUS, to Lysander

To Lysander

If she cannot entreat, I can compel.

Act like you are following me, but do not

come. You are a gentle man, go!

LYSANDER

LYSANDER, to Hermia

Thou canst compel no more than she

Hang off, you cat, you thorn! Let go of me

entreat.

or I will shake you off me like a snake.

Thy Threat have no more strength than her

HERMIA

weak prayers

Why have you become so rude? Why have

Helen, I love thee. By my life, I do.

you changed, sweet love?

I swear by that which I will lose for thee,

LYSANDER

To prove him false that say I love thee not.

Get of here, you hated potion!

DEMETRIUS

HERMIA

I say I love thee more than he can do.

Are you joking?

LYSANDER

HELENA

If thou say so, withdraw and prove it too.

Yes, the both of you are joking.

DEMETRIUS

LYSANDER

Quick, come.

Demetrius, I will keep my word with you.

HERMIA

DEMETRIUS

Lysander, whereto tends all this?

I would prefer a contract, because I assume

Hermia takes hold of Lysander

your word is weak, therefore I wont trust

LYSANDER

your word.

Away, you Ethiop!

LYSANDER

DEMETRIUS, to Hermia

Should I hurt her, hit her, or kill her dead?

No, no. Hell seem to break loose.

Although I hate her, I wont harm her.

To Lysander

Take on as you would follow.

HERMIA

But yet come not. You are a tame man, go!

What can you do me greater harm than

LYSANDER, to Hermia

hate? Why hate me? Am I not Hermia? Are

Hang off, thou cat, tho burr! Vile thing, let

you not Lysander. I am the same since the

loose,

last time you saw me. Since the night you

Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent.

loved me, yet since the night you left? But

HERMIA

why have you left me?

Why are you grown so rude? What change is

this
Sweet love?
LYSANDER
Out, loathd medcine! O, hated potion,
hence!
HERMIA
Do you not jest?

LYSANDER
I swear by my life and I never did desire to
see you more. Therefore, I am certain
nothing is truer. Its no joke that I hate you
and love Helena.

HELENA
Yes, sooth, and so do you
LYSANDER
Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee.
DEMETRIUS
I would I had your bond. For I perceive
A weak bond holds you. Ill not trust your
word.
LYSANDER
What? Should I hurt her, strike her, kill her
dead?
Although I hate her, Ill not harm her so.

Hermia turn him loose.

HERMIA
Oh my! To Helena You manipulator, you
snake! You are a thief of love! Have you
come by the nighttime and stolen my loves
heart from him?
HELENA
Do you have any modesty or shame? Cant
wait you wait for answers? You fake, you
puppet, you!

Thy love? Out, tawny Tartar, out!

HERMIA
What, can you do me greater harm than
hate?
Hate me? Wherefore? O me, what news, my
love?
Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander?
I am as fair now as I was erewhile.
Since night you loved me; yet since night
you left
me.
Why, then, you left meO, the gods forbid!

HERMIA
Puppet? Why so? Oh, I understand now. I
realized now that you made compare
between our height. She urged how much
taller she is. And with her height, she made
him fall in love with her. Since I am so low,
you are so high in his admiration. How low
am I, you maypole! Speak! How low am I? I
am not that low because my nail can reach
into your eyes.

In earnest, shall I say?

LYSANDER
Ay, by my life,
And never did desire to see thee more.
Therefore be out of hope, of question, of
doubt.
Be certain, nothing truer, tis no jest
That I do hate thee and love Helena.
Hermia turns him loose
HERMIA
O me! To Helena You juggler, you

HELENA
I beg you, though you me men, dont let her
hurt me. I was never ill-fated. I never liked
fighting. Im perfectably comfortable with
being a coward. You may think just because
I am taller and she is lower, that I can
match her.

cankerblossom,
You thief of love! What, have you come by
night

HERMIA
Lower? Speak again!

And stoln my loves heart from him

HELENA

HELENA

Good Hermia, dont be mean to be. I did

Fine, ifaith

love, kept your secrets, and never did

Have you no modesty, no maiden shame,

anything wrong. Wait, only once. I told

No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear

Demetrius about you and Lysander going to

Impatient answers from my gentle tongue?

the woods and to elope. He followed you,

Fie, fie, you counterfeit, you puppet, you!

and I follower him because I loved him. But

HERMIA

he threatened me, hit me, and to kill me to.

Puppet? Why so? Ay, that way goes the

So, please let me go quietly. I will go to

game.

Athens and follow you no further. Let me go.

Now I perceive that she hath made compare

Now you see how simple and nice I am.

Between our statures; she hath urged her

height,
And with her personage, her tall personage,
Her height, forsooth, she hath prevailed
with him.
And are you grown so high in his esteem
Because I am so dwarfish and so low?
How low am I, thou painted maypole?
Speak!
How low am I? I am not yet so low
But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes.
HELENA
I pray you, though you mock me,
gentlemen,
Let her not hurt me. I was never curst;
I have no gift at all in shrewishness.

HERMIA
Then get gone! Whats keeping you here?
HELENA
A foolish love that I leave here behind.
HERMIA
With who? Lysander?
HELENA
With Demetrius.
LYSANDER
Dont be afraid. She shouldnt harm you,
Helena.
DEMETRIUS

I am a right maid for my cowardice.

No, sir, she wont harm you, even if you

Let her not strike me. You perhaps may

tried helping her.

think,

HELENA

Because she is something lower than

But you should see her when she is angry.

myself,

She is sharped-tongued and keen. She loved

That I can match her.

to fight when she went to school. Despite

HERMIA

she is little, she can fight.

Lower? Hark, again!

HERMIA

HELENA

Little again? Nothing but short and

Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me.

little? Why are you letting me suffer while

I evermore did love you, Hermia,

she is who is insulting? Let me hit her.

Did ever keep your counsels, never wronged

LYSANDER

you

Get away, you dwarf! You bead, you acorn!

Save that, in love unto Demetrius,

I told him of your stealth unto this wood.
He followed you; for love, I followed him.

DEMETRIUS

But he hath chid me hence and threatened

You are too unkind. Let her alone. Dont

me

speak of Helena; dont take her side.

To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too.

And now, so you will let me quiet go,
To Athens will I bear my folly back
And follow you no further. Let me go.
You see how simple and how fond I am.
HERMIA
Why, get you gon.E Who is that hinders
you?
HELENA

LYSANDER
She isnt holding me anymore. Now go and
follow me, if you are daring to fight to see
whose right, you or me, for Helena.

A foolish heart that I leave here behind.

DEMETRIUS

HERMIA

Follow? I dont follow you. Ill with you.

What, with Lysander?

Demetrius & Lysander Exit

HELENA

HERMIA

With Demetrius.

This is a bit much for you Helena.

LYSANDER

Helena retreats back.

Be not afraid. She shall not harm thee,

No, dont retreat from me.

Helena

HELENA

DEMETRIUS

I dont trust you and I can no longer stay in

No, sir, she shall not, though you take her

your cursed company. Your hands are

part.

quicker to strike, although my legs are

longer to run away.

HELENA
O, when she is angry, she is keen and

Helena exits

shrewd.

HERMIA

She was a vixen when she went to school,

I am shocked and I dont know what to say.

And though she be little, she is fierce.

Hermia exits

HERMIA

OBERON, to Robin

Little again? Nothing but low and

This is your negligence. You keep making

little?

mistakes or you commit them willfully.

Why will you suffer her to flout me thus?

ROBIN

Let me come to her.

Please believe me, I made a mistake. You

LYSANDER

did tell me that I should know the man who

Get you gone, you dwarf,

wore the Athenian garments. I have done

You minimus of hinderring knotgrass made,

what you have told me to do, to anointed

You bead, you acorn

an Athenians eyes. I have done that. I am

DEMETRIUS

please how things turned out. It amused me

You are too officious

very much.

In her behalf that scorn your services.

Let her alone. Speak not of Helena.
Take not her part. For if thou dost intend

OBERON

Never so little show of love to her,

Create a place where the lovers will have a

Thou shalt aby it.

place to fight. Therefore Robin, overcast the

LYSANDER

night and create the thickest fog. And the

Now she hold me not.

lovers will become so astray they wont

Now follow, if thou darst, to try whose right,

come into each others way. Pretend to be

Of thine or mine, is most in Helena.

Lysander and throw insults at Demetrius.

DEMETRIUS

Afterwards, fulminate and pretend to be

Follower? Nay, Ill go with thee, check by

Demetrius until both of the men are tired.

jowl.

Then, crush this plant into Lysanders eyes.

Demetrius & Lysander exit

HERMIA
You, mistress, all this coil is long of you.
Helena retreats back.
Nay, go not back.
HELENA
I will not trust you, I,
Nor longer stay in your curst company.
Your hands than mine are quicker for a fray.
My legs are longer though, to run away.
Helena exits
HERMIA
I am amazed and know not what to say.

Gives flower to Robin

This plant has a special power, to undo all
the error and mistakes that you did. Once
the lovers are awake, all of this will seem to
be a vision and a dream. The lovers will go
back to Athens to get mend each other. Ill
to my queen and beg her for the little boy.
Then, I will cure her of her love from that
monster, and all should well.

Hermia exits
OBERON, to Robin
This is thy negligence. Still thou mistakst,
Or elese committst thy knaveries willfully.
ROBIN
Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook.
Did not you tell me I should know the man
By the Athenian garments he had on?
And so far blameless proves my enterprise
That I have anointed an Athenians eyes;
And so far am I glad it so did sort,
As this their jangling I esteem a sport.
OBERON
Thou seest these lovers seek a place to

ROBIN
My lord, this must be done quickly. For the
wind quickly blows the clouds out and night
is coming to an end. The ghosts wander
here and there and go back to their home,
the graveyards. The damned spirits flood
the streets and go back to their wormy beds
because they have been exiled from the
graveyards. For their deaths were shameful
suicides.

fight.
Hie, therefore, Robin, overcast the night;
The starry welkin cover thou anon
With drooping fog as black as Acheron,
And lead these testy rival so astray
As one come not within anothers way.
Like to Lysander sometime frame thy
tongue:
Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong.
And sometime rail thou like Demetrius.
And from each other look thou lead them
thus,
Tiller their brows death-counterfeiting sleep

OBERON
However, we are spirits of a different kind.
We dont have run away from the sun. We
wander around the Earth covered in the
fiery red of sunlight. Nonetheless, go quickly
Robin. Make no delay.

With leaden legs and batty wings doth

creep.
Then crush this herb into Lysanders eye.

OBERON

Gives flower to Robin

ROBIN

Whose liquor hath his virtuous property,

There comes one. I lead them up and down,

To take from thence all error with his might

up and down. I am feared all round town

And make his eyeballs rool with wonted

and in the country too. I will lead them up

sight.

and down. Here come ones.

When they next wake, all this derision

Shall seem a dream and fruitless vision.
And back to Athens shall the lovers wend,
With league whose date till death shall
never end
Whiles I in this affair do the employ,
Il to my queen and beg her Indian boy:
And then I will her charmed eye release
From monsters view, and all things shall be
peace.
ROBIN
My fairy lord, this must be done with haste,
For nights swift dragons cut the clouds full
fast,
And yonder shine Auroras harbinger,
At whose approach, ghosts wandring here
and there.
Troop home to churchyards.
Damnd spirits all,

Enter Lysander
LYSANDER
Where are you proud Demetrius? Speak
now.
ROBIN, in Demetriuss voice
Over here. Are you ready? Where are you?
LYSANDER
I will be right with you.
ROBIN, in Demetriuss voice
Follow me, where the ground is more flat.
Lysander exits
Enter Demetrius
DEMETRIUS
Lysander, speak again.
Did you runaway? Oh you coward, you
runaway. Speak! Are you in some bush?

That in crossways and floods have burial,

Hiding you head from me?

Already to their wormy beds are gone.

ROBIN, in Lysanders voice

For fear lest day should look their shames

upon,

You coward, bragging to the stars that you

They willfully themselves exile from light

And must for aye consort with black-browed
night.

want to fight, yet you will not come? Come,

kid! Come, you child! I will hit you with a
stick.

OBERON
But we are spirits of another sort.
I with the Mornings love have oft made
sport
And, like a forester, the groves may tread
Even till the eastern gate, all fiery red,
Opening on Neptune with fair blessd
beams,
Turns into yellow gold his salt-green
streams.
But notwithstanding, haste! Make no delay.
We may effect this business yet ere day.
He exits.
ROBIN
Here comes one.
Up and down, up and down,

DEMETRIUS
Yes, are you there?
ROBIN, in Lysanders voice
Follow the sound of my voice. We wont try
fighting here.
They exit.
Enter Lysander
LYSANDER
He goes before and still dares me on.
Whenever I go where he calls, he is gone.
That villain is much faster than I am. I follow
fast, but he runs fasters. But I am tired and I

I will lead them up and down.

I am feared in field and town.
Goblin, lead them up and down.
Here comes one.
Enter Lysander
LYSANDER

will rest. Once the daylight appears, at the

first light, Ill find Demetrius and get my
revenge.

Where art thou, proud Demetrius? Speak

thou now.
ROBIN, in Demetrius voice

Lysander lies down and sleeps on the

ground
Enter Robin and Demetrius

Here, villain, drawn and ready. Where art

thou?

ROBIN, in Lysanders voice

LYSANDER

Ha, ha, ha! Coward, why arent you coming?

I will be with thee straight.

DEMETRIUS

ROBIN, in Demetrius voice

I stand by, if you dare to come. You run

Follow me, then, to Plainer ground.

before me, moving and shifting and never

Lysander exits.

staying in the same place. You dont dare to

Enter Demetrius

stand or look at me in the face. Where are

DEMETRIUS

you now?

Lysander, speak again.

Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled?

ROBIN, in Lysanders voice

Speak! In some bush? Where dost thou hid

thy head?

Come over here.

DEMETRIUS
No, you mock me. You will pay for this

ROBIN, in Lysanders voice

Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars,
Telling the bushes that thou lookst for wars,

whenever I see you in the daylight. Now go

on your way. I am tried, and I will sleep on
this cold bed.

And wilt not come? Come, recreant! Come,

thou
child!
Ill whip thee with a rod. He is defiled

He lies down and sleeps.

That draws a sword on thee.

Enter Helena.

DEMETRIUS

HELENA

Yea, art thou there?

What tiring and long night. The sun rises

ROBIN

from the east and I will be able to see

, in Lysanders voice

Athens in the daylight. And maybe sleep will

Follow my voice. Well try no manhood here.

cure me.

They exit.
Enter Lysander.
LYSANDER

She lies down and sleeps

He goes before me and still dares me on.

ROBIN

When I come where he calls, then he is

gone.

Only but three? Come one more. Two of

The villain is much lighter-heeled than I.

I followed fast, but faster he did fly,
That fallen am I in dark uneven way,

each kinds equals four. Here she comes,

cursed and sad. Cupid is a clever boy,
always to make poor females mad.

And here will rest me. Come, thou gentle

day,
For if but once thou show me thy gray light,

Enter Hermia

Ill find Demetrius and revenge this spite.

He lies down and sleeps.
Enter Robin and Demetrius.

HERMIA
I have never been so tried or upset in my

ROBIN, in Lysanders voice

life. Im wet with dew and have scratches

Ho, ho, ho! Coward, why comst thou not?

because of thorns. I can longer walk or

DEMETRIUS

move. My legs cant keep pace with what I

Abide me, if thou darst, for well I wot

want. I will rest here, till the break of day.

Thou runnst before me, shifting every

place,

Heavens please protect Lysander if there is

a fight.

And darst not stand nor look me in the

face.
Where art thou now?

She lies down and sleeps on the ground

ROBIN, in Lysanders voice

ROBIN

Come hither. I am here.

On the ground, sleeping soundly, I will apply

a remedy to you eyes.

DEMETRIUS
Nay, then, thou mockst me. Thou shalt buy
this dear
If ever I thy face by daylight see.
Now go thy way. Faintness constraineth me
To measure out my length on this cold bed.
By days approach look to be visited.
He lies down and sleeps.
Enter Helena.
HELENA

Robin applies the nectar to Lysanders eyes

When you will awake, you will love your
former lady.
And the countrys proverb should be known,
that every man should have his love, and
nothing will ever go wrong.

O weary night, O long and tedious night,

Abate thy hours! Shine, comforts, from the
east,
That I may back to Athens by daylight
From these that my poor company detest.
And sleep, that sometimes shuts up
sorrows eye,
Steal me awhile from mine own company.

She lies down and sleeps.

ROBIN
Yet but three? Come one more.
Two of both kinds makes up four.
Here she comes, curst and sad.
Cupid is a knavish lad
Thus to make poor females mad.
Enter Hermia.

HERMIA

Robin exits

Never so weary, never so in woe,

Bedabbled with the dew and torn with
briers,
I can no further crawl; no further go.
My legs can keep no pace with my desires.
Here will I rest me till the break of day.
Heavens shield Lysander if they mean a
fray!
She lies down and sleeps
ROBIN
On the ground
Sleep sound.
Ill apply
To you eye,
Gentle lover, remedy.
Robin applies the nectar to Lysanders eyes.
When thou wakst,
Thou talst
True delight
In the sight
Of thy former ladys eye.
And the country proverb known,
That every man should take his,
In your walking shall be shown.
Jakc shall have Jill;
Naught shall go ill;
The man shall have his mare again, and all
shall be well.

Robin exits