The. What say you, Hermia? be advis'd, fair maid. To you your father should be as a god; One that compos'd your beauties; yea, and one Demetrius is a worthy gentleman. Hermia. So is Lysander. The. But, in this kind In himself he is; wanting your father's voice The other must be held the worthier. Her. I would, my father look'd but with my eyes! The. Rather, your eyes must with his judgment look. Her. I do entreat your Grace to pardon me. In such a presence here, to plead my thoughts; If I refuse to wed Demetrius. The. Either to die the death, or to abjure Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires; Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. Than that which, withering on the virgin thorn, Her. So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, Ere I will yield my virgin patent up Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke My soul consents not to give sovereignty. The. Take time to pause: and by the next new moon, (The sealing-day betwixt my love and me For everlasting bond of fellowship,) Thy crazed title to my certain right. and, Lysan Lysander. You have her father's love, Demetrius; Let me have Hermia's: do you marry him. Ege. Scornful Lysander! true, he hath my love, And what is mine my love shall render him ; And she is mine; and all my right of her I do estate unto Demetrius. Lys. I am, my lord, as well deriv'd as he, As well possess'd; my love is more than his; My fortunes every way as fairly rank'd, (If not with vantage,) as Demetrius'; And, which is more than all these boasts can be, I am belov'd of beauteous Hermia. Why should not I then prosecute my right? Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena, And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes, Upon this spotted and inconstant man. The. I must confess, that I have heard so much, And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof; My mind did lose it. But, Demetrius, come; I must employ you in some business Lys. How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale? How chance the roses there do fade so fast? Lys. [Hermia,] for aught that ever I could read, Could ever hear by tale or history, The course of true love never did run smooth; Lys. Her. O cross! too high to be enthrall'd to low! Lys. · Or else misgraffed, in respect of years; Her. O spite! too old to be engaged to young! Or else it stood upon the choice of merit : Her. O Hell! to choose love by another's eyes! Lys. Or, if there were a sympathy in choice, War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it, Making it momentary as a sound, B 2 Swift as a shadow, short as any dream, Brief as the lightning in the collied night, That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, And ere a man hath power to say, • Behold!' The jaws of darkness do devour it up: So quick bright things come to confusion. Her. If, then, true lovers have been ever crossed, It stands as an edict in destiny: Then, let us teach our trial patience, Because it is a customary cross, As due to love as thoughts, and dreams, and sighs, Wishes, and tears, poor fancy's followers. Lys. A good persuasion: therefore, hear me, Hermia. I have a widow aunt, a dowager Of great revenue; and she hath no child : From Athens is her house remov'd seven leagues; Her. (My good Lysander! I swear to thee by Cupid's strongest bow, By his best arrow with the golden head, By the simplicity of Venus' doves, By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves, In that same place thou hast appointed me, Lys. Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena. Enter HELEna. Her. God speed fair Helena ! Whither away? Hel. Call you me fair? that fair again unsay. Demetrius loves you, fair: O happy fair! Your eyes are lode-stars, and your tongue's sweet air My ear should catch your voice; my eye your eye; Her. I frown upon him, yet he loves me still. Hel. O, that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill! Her. I give him curses, yet he gives me love. Hel. O, that my prayers could such affection move! Her. The more I hate, the more he follows me. Her. Take comfort: he no more shall see my face; Lysander and myself will fly this place. - Seem'd Athens like a paradise to me: |