Turn melancholy forth to funerals ; The pale companion is not for our pomp. [Exit Philostrate. Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword, And won thy love, doing thee injuries; But I will wed thee in another key, With pomp, with triumph and with revelling. Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and DEMETRIUS. Ege. Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke ! The. Thanks, good Egeus what's the news with thee? Stand forth, Lysander: and, my gracious duke, With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conceits, To stubborn harshness and, my gracious duke, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens, The. What say you, Hermia? be advised, fair maid : To you your father should be as a god; One that composed your beauties, yea, and one To whom you are but as a form in wax By him imprinted and within his power To leave the figure or disfigure it. Her. So is Lysander. The. In himself he is; But in this kind, 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 judgement look. 38 40 50 Her. I do entreat your grace to pardon me. In such a presence here to plead my thoughts; The. Either to die the death or to abjure Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires; For aye to be in shady cloister mew'd, 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 moonThe sealing-day betwixt my love and me, For everlasting bond of fellowship Upon that day either prepare to die For disobedience to your father's will, Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would; For aye austerity and single life. Dem. Relent, sweet Hermia: and, Lysander, yield Thy crazed title to my certain right. Lys. You have her father's love, Demetrius; Let me have Hermia's: do you marry him. Ege. Scornful Lysander! true, he hath my love, I do estate unto Demetrius. Lys. I am, my lord, as well derived as he, And, which is more than all these boasts can be, 90 100 Why should not I then prosecute my right? Upon this spotted and inconstant man. 110 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 120 [Exeunt all but Lysander and Hermia. Lys. How now, my love! why is your cheek so pale? How chance the roses there do fade so fast? Her. Belike for want of rain, which I could well Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes. Lys. Ay me! for aught that I could ever read, The course of true love never did run smooth; Her. O cross! too high to be enthrall'd to low. 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, The jaws of darkness do devour it up: So quick bright things come to confusion. Her. If then true lovers have been ever cross'd, 130 150 Because it is a customary cross, As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs, 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 remote seven league ; There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee; To do observance to a morn of May, There will I stay for thee. 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, And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage queen, By all the vows that ever men have broke, Lys. Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena Enter HELENA. Her. God speed fair Helena! whither away? Your eyes are lode-stars; and your tongue's sweet air When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear. Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go; My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye, My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody. Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated, The rest I'ld give to be to you translated. Her. I frown upon him, yet he loves me still. 160 170 190 Hel. O that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill! Her. I give him curses, yet he gives me lovė. Hel. O that my prayers could such affection move! Her. The more I hate, the more he follows me. Hel. The more I love, the more he hateth me. Her. His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine. Hel. None, but your beauty: would that fault were mine! Her. Take comfort: he no more shall see my face; Lysander and myself will fly this place. Before the time I did Lysander see, O, then, what graces in my love do dwell, Lys. Helen, to you our minds we will unfold Helena, adieu: Things base and vile, holding no quantity, Love can transpose to form and dignity: 210 220 [Exit Herm. Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; Nor hath Love's mind of any judgement taste; Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste: [Exit. 230 |