Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter Oberon, King of Fairies. OBERON
I wonder if Titania be awaked;
Then what it was that next came in her eye,
Which she must dote on in extremity. Enter Robin Goodfellow. Here comes my messenger. How now, mad spirit?
What night-rule now about this haunted grove? 5 | In another part of the wood, Oberon wonders if Titania has awoken from her slumber. He's hoping that she laid her eyes on a vile beast. Enter Puck with the answer. |
ROBIN
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 mechanicals,
That work for bread upon Athenian stalls, 10
Were met together to rehearse a play
Intended for great Theseus’ nuptial day.
The shallowest thick-skin of that barren sort,
Who Pyramus presented in their sport,
Forsook his scene and entered in a brake. 15
When I did him at this advantage take,
An ass’s noll I fixèd on his head.
Anon his Thisbe must be answerèd,
And forth my mimic comes. When they him spy,
As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye, 20
Or russet-pated choughs, many in sort,
Rising and cawing at the gun’s report,
Sever themselves and madly sweep the sky,
So at his sight away his fellows fly,
And, at our stamp, here o’er and o’er one falls. 25
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, 30
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, 35
Titania waked and straightway loved an ass. | He tells Oberon that a crew of craftsmen entered the grove where Titania was sleeping to practice their play for Theseus's wedding. Puck found Bottom to be the most dim-witted, so he transformed his head into that of a donkey. Titania woke up and fell in love with the donkey-Bottom hybrid. |
OBERON
This falls out better than I could devise.
But hast thou yet latched the Athenian’s eyes
With the love juice, as I did bid thee do? | Oberon thinks this is hilarious—everything has worked out better than he could've imagined. He asks Puck if he put the love juice in the Athenian man's eyes, like Oberon told him to. |
ROBIN
I took him sleeping—that is finished, too— 40
And the Athenian woman by his side,
That, when he waked, of force she must be eyed. | Puck says, yep, he sure did. |
Enter Demetrius and Hermia. OBERON
Stand close. This is the same Athenian. ROBIN
This is the woman, but not this the man. They step aside. | When Demetrius and Hermia enter, Oberon learns that Puck put the love juice in the wrong Athenian man's eyes. |
DEMETRIUS
O, why rebuke you him that loves you so? 45
Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe! HERMIA
Now I but chide, but I should use thee worse,
For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse.
If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep,
Being o’er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep 50
And kill me too.
The sun was not so true unto the day
As he to me. Would he have stolen away
From sleeping Hermia? I’ll believe as soon
This whole Earth may be bored, and that the moon 55
May through the center creep and so displease
Her brother’s noontide with th’ Antipodes.
It cannot be but thou hast murdered him.
So should a murderer look, so dead, so grim. DEMETRIUS
So should the murdered look, and so should I, 60
Pierced through the heart with your stern cruelty.
Yet you, the murderer, look as bright, as clear,
As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere. HERMIA
What’s this to my Lysander? Where is he?
Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give him me? 65 DEMETRIUS
I had rather give his carcass to my hounds. HERMIA
Out, dog! Out, cur! Thou driv’st me past the bounds
Of maiden’s patience. Hast thou slain him, then?
Henceforth be never numbered among men.
O, once tell true! Tell true, even for my sake! 70
Durst thou have looked upon him, being awake?
And hast thou killed him sleeping? O brave touch!
Could not a worm, an adder, do so much?
An adder did it, for with doubler tongue
Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung. 75 | Hermia is livid that Lysander abandoned her while she was sleeping. Then she accuses Demetrius of killing her fiancé, which he doesn't exactly deny, even though we know he hasn't killed anyone. Hermia flips out and curses Demetrius. |
DEMETRIUS
You spend your passion on a misprised mood.
I am not guilty of Lysander’s blood,
Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell. | Demetrius says she's getting her bloomers in a knot for no reason—he hasn't killed Lysander, nor does he have any reason to believe Lysander is dead. |
HERMIA
I pray thee, tell me then that he is well. DEMETRIUS
An if I could, what should I get therefor? 80 | Hermia wants Demetrius's to promise her Lysander is okay. Demetrius ask her what she'll give him if he does. |
HERMIA
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. 85
So sorrow’s heaviness doth heavier grow
For debt that bankrout sleep doth sorrow owe,
Which now in some slight measure it will pay,
If for his tender here I make some stay. He lies down and falls asleep. | Sassy Hermia says that in exchange she'll promise to never see him again. She stalks off, and Demetrius, weary from all this pursuing, lies down for a nap. |
OBERON, to Robin
What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite 90
And laid the love juice on some true-love’s sight.
Of thy misprision must perforce ensue
Some true-love turned, and not a false turned true. ROBIN
Then fate o’errules, that, one man holding troth,
A million fail, confounding oath on oath. 95 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. 100
I’ll charm his eyes against she do appear. ROBIN I go, I go, look how I go,
Swifter than arrow from the Tartar’s bow. He exits. | Meanwhile, Oberon is busy pointing out that Puck got the wrong guy. (Oops.) Oberon tells Puck to go find Helena in the woods, and use some magic to bring her to Demetrius's sight. |
OBERON, applying the nectar to Demetrius’ eyes
Flower of this purple dye,
Hit with Cupid’s archery, 105
Sink in apple of his eye.
When his love he doth espy,
Let her shine as gloriously
As the Venus of the sky.—
When thou wak’st, if she be by, 110
Beg of her for remedy. | Oberon says a little verse over the sleeping Demetrius, intending to make the young man fall in love with Helena (with the help of some love juice) once Demetrius awakens. |
Enter Robin. ROBIN
Captain of our fairy band,
Helena is here at hand,
And the youth, mistook by me,
Pleading for a lover’s fee. 115
Shall we their fond pageant see?
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. 120
That must needs be sport alone.
And those things do best please me
That befall prepost’rously. They step aside. | Puck leads Helena to Demetrius, with Lysander begging at her heels. Oberon and Puck are going to watch what happens for a while, and they hope the ruckus will wake up Demetrius. |
Enter Lysander and Helena. LYSANDER
Why should you think that I should woo in scorn?
Scorn and derision never come in tears. 125
Look when I vow, I weep; and vows so born,
In their nativity all truth appears.
How can these things in me seem scorn to you,
Bearing the badge of faith to prove them true? | Meanwhile, Lysander tries to convince Helena that he loves her. |
HELENA
You do advance your cunning more and more. 130
When truth kills truth, O devilish holy fray!
These vows are Hermia’s. Will you give her o’er?
Weigh oath with oath and you will nothing
weigh.
Your vows to her and me, put in two scales, 135
Will even weigh, and both as light as tales. | Helena is ticked off because Lysander is supposed to be in love with her friend Hermia. |
LYSANDER
I had no judgment when to her I swore. HELENA
Nor none, in my mind, now you give her o’er. LYSANDER
Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you. | Lysander says he was foolish when he promised to love Hermia. Besides, Demetrius loves Hermia, and not Helena, so she should give Lysander a chance. |
DEMETRIUS, waking up
O Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! 140
To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?
Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show
Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!
That pure congealèd white, high Taurus’ snow,
Fanned with the eastern wind, turns to a crow 145
When thou hold’st up thy hand. O, let me kiss
This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss! | Just then, Demetrius wakes up, sees Helena, and declares that she's a goddess. |
HELENA
O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent
To set against me for your merriment.
If you were civil and knew courtesy, 150
You would not do me thus much injury.
Can you not hate me, as I know you do,
But you must join in souls to mock me too?
If you were men, as men you are in show,
You would not use a gentle lady so, 155
To vow and swear and superpraise my parts,
When, I am sure, you hate me with your hearts.
You both are rivals and love Hermia,
And now both rivals to mock Helena.
A trim exploit, a manly enterprise, 160
To conjure tears up in a poor maid’s eyes
With your derision! None of noble sort
Would so offend a virgin and extort
A poor soul’s patience, all to make you sport. | Now Helena really loses it, thinking that both men are mocking her for their amusement. |
LYSANDER
You are unkind, Demetrius. Be not so, 165
For you love Hermia; this you know I know.
And here with all goodwill, with all my heart,
In Hermia’s love I yield you up my part.
And yours of Helena to me bequeath,
Whom I do love and will do till my death. 170 HELENA
Never did mockers waste more idle breath. DEMETRIUS
Lysander, keep thy Hermia. I will none.
If e’er I loved her, all that love is gone.
My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourned,
And now to Helen is it home returned, 175
There to remain. LYSANDER Helen, it is not so. DEMETRIUS
Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,
Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear.
Look where thy love comes. Yonder is thy dear. 180 | Lysander and Demetrius bicker over who should get Helena until Demetrius announces that Hermia is approaching. |
Enter Hermia. HERMIA, to Lysander
Dark night, that from the eye his function takes,
The ear more quick of apprehension makes;
Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense,
It pays the hearing double recompense.
Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found; 185
Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound.
But why unkindly didst thou leave me so? | Hermia can't see anything in the dark woods, but she follows Lysander's voice. Once she arrives, she asks Lysander why he left her alone in the woods while she was sleeping. |
LYSANDER
Why should he stay whom love doth press to go? HERMIA
What love could press Lysander from my side? LYSANDER
Lysander’s love, that would not let him bide, 190
Fair Helena, who more engilds the night
Than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light.
Why seek’st thou me? Could not this make thee
know
The hate I bear thee made me leave thee so? 195 | Lysander declares that he no longer loves Hermia and that his heart belongs to Helena. He figured that leaving Hermia sleeping alone in the woods in the middle of the night would send a clear enough message that he hates her. |
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, 200
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 spent
When we have chid the hasty-footed time 205
For parting us—O, is all forgot?
All schooldays’ friendship, childhood innocence?
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods,
Have with our needles created both one flower,
Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion, 210
Both warbling of one song, both in one key,
As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds
Had been incorporate. So we grew together
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,
But yet an union in partition, 215
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 crownèd with one crest.
And will you rent our ancient love asunder, 220
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. | Helena thinks that Hermia is in on some big, elaborate joke designed to make her look silly. She accuses Hermia of betraying the girls' long friendship. They even used to embroider together! The nerve! |
HERMIA
I am amazèd at your words. 225
I scorn you not. It seems that you scorn me. | Hermia is shocked to hear that Helena thinks she's been betrayed—Hermia actually thinks Helena must be the one doing the teasing and betraying. |
HELENA
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, 230
To call me goddess, nymph, divine and rare,
Precious, celestial? Wherefore speaks he this
To her he hates? And wherefore doth Lysander
Deny your love (so rich within his soul)
And tender me, forsooth, affection, 235
But by your setting on, by your consent?
What though I be not so in grace as you,
So hung upon with love, so fortunate,
But miserable most, to love unloved?
This you should pity rather than despise. 240 HERMIA
I understand not what you mean by this. HELENA
Ay, do. Persever, counterfeit sad looks,
Make mouths upon me when I turn my back,
Wink each at other, hold the sweet jest up.
This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled. 245
If you have any pity, grace, or manners,
You would not make me such an argument.
But fare you well. ’Tis partly my own fault,
Which death or absence soon shall remedy. | The ex-friends continue to argue, and Helena throws up her hands and tells them they can go ahead and keep up the act. Helena assumes they mean to "chronicle" it, the Elizabethan equivalent of putting it up on Facebook, so that they can all laugh about it later. She doesn't want to stick around just to be teased—she'd rather die. |
LYSANDER
Stay, gentle Helena. Hear my excuse, 250
My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena. HELENA
O excellent! HERMIA, to Lysander
Sweet, do not scorn her so. | Hearing Helena's plan to take off, Lysander begs her to stay, which causes Hermia to scold him because she thinks he's teasing Helena. |
DEMETRIUS, to Lysander
If she cannot entreat, I can compel. LYSANDER
Thou canst compel no more than she entreat. 255
Thy threats have no more strength than her weak
prayers.—
Helen, I love thee. By my life, I do.
I swear by that which I will lose for thee,
To prove him false that says I love thee not. 260 DEMETRIUS
I say I love thee more than he can do. LYSANDER
If thou say so, withdraw and prove it too. DEMETRIUS
Quick, come. | Demetrius tells Lysander to listen to his girlfriend (Hermia). If he doesn't, Demetrius will make him. Then the two argue over which of them loves Helena more until Lysander challenges Demetrius to a fight. |
HERMIA Lysander, whereto tends all this? She takes hold of Lysander. LYSANDER
Away, you Ethiop! 265 | Hermia asks Lysander what this is all about, and he makes his feelings for her clear by hitting her with a racial slur. |
DEMETRIUS, to Hermia
No, no. He’ll
Seem to break loose. To Lysander. Take on as you
would follow,
But yet come not. You are a tame man, go! LYSANDER, to Hermia
Hang off, thou cat, thou burr! Vile thing, let loose, 270
Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent. HERMIA
Why are you grown so rude? What change is this,
Sweet love? LYSANDER Thy love? Out, tawny Tartar, out!
Out, loathèd med’cine! O, hated potion, hence! 275 HERMIA
Do you not jest? 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. I’ll not trust your word. 280 | Hermia hangs onto Lysander, all confused, as he calls her a string of nasty things, including a "Tartar" (which is a reference to the Mongolian people of Central Asia, not the gross stuff that builds up on your teeth). All the while Demetrius accuses Lysander of being a coward, pretending to be held back by Hermia instead of fighting. |
LYSANDER
What? Should I hurt her, strike her, kill her dead?
Although I hate her, I’ll not harm her so. 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? 285
I am as fair now as I was erewhile.
Since night you loved me; yet since night you left
me.
Why, then, you left me—O, the gods forbid!—
In earnest, shall I say? 290 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. 295 Hermia turns him loose. | Lysander asks what he has to do to prove he no longer loves Hermia, kill her? He backs off that quickly, though, saying that even though he hates her, he wouldn't hurt her. Hermia is dumbfounded, but when Lysander again tells her that he hates her and loves Helena, she finally gets it. |
HERMIA
O me! To Helena. You juggler, you cankerblossom,
You thief of love! What, have you come by night
And stol’n my love’s heart from him? | Instead of turning on the man who scorns her, Hermia turns on the woman he's chosen over her, the woman who has been her closest friend since childhood. Hermia accuses Helena of stealing Lysander. |
HELENA Fine, i’ faith.
Have you no modesty, no maiden shame, 300
No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear
Impatient answers from my gentle tongue?
Fie, fie, you counterfeit, you puppet, you! | Helena is also upset and thinking Hermia must still be joking. She calls Hermia a faker and a puppet. |
HERMIA
“Puppet”? Why so? Ay, that way goes the game.
Now I perceive that she hath made compare 305
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? 310
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. | Hermia is seriously miffed. Though Helena probably meant to call her a puppet as in a doll with no feelings, or maybe someone being controlled by others (playing her part in this scam to embarrass Helena), Hermia takes it as a jab at her height. She accuses Helena of flaunting her superior height to win over both guys and making Hermia look like a dwarf in comparison. She finishes by saying that while she may be short, she's still tall enough to scratch out Helena's eyes. |
HELENA
I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen,
Let her not hurt me. I was never curst; 315
I have no gift at all in shrewishness.
I am a right maid for my cowardice.
Let her not strike me. You perhaps may think,
Because she is something lower than myself,
That I can match her. 320 HERMIA “Lower”? Hark, again! | Scandalized, Helena pleads with the men to protect her from Hermia. Unfortunately, everything she says really does sound like a short joke now. She says the guys might think Helena can take Hermia since Hermia is "lower" (as in smaller) than Helena, and Hermia gets even angrier. |
HELENA
Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me.
I evermore did love you, Hermia,
Did ever keep your counsels, never wronged you—
Save that, in love unto Demetrius, 325
I told him of your stealth unto this wood.
He followed you; for love, I followed him.
But he hath chid me hence and threatened me
To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too.
And now, so you will let me quiet go, 330
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. | Helena tries to soothe Hermia (while the guys hold Hermia back to keep her from gouging out Helena's eyes). She says she still loves Hermia and never did her wrong. Well...except that one time when she told Demetrius about Hermia's secret plan to elope with Lysander. But Helena now accepts the wrong that she's done. She'd like to just get back to Athens and forget the whole thing. |
HERMIA
Why, get you gone. Who is ’t that hinders you? HELENA
A foolish heart that I leave here behind. 335 HERMIA
What, with Lysander? HELENA With Demetrius. | Hermia, still angry, tells Helena to hit the road already. Nothing is stopping her from going. But Helena says her love for Demetrius makes it hard to leave. |
LYSANDER
Be not afraid. She shall not harm thee, Helena. DEMETRIUS
No, sir, she shall not, though you take her part. | Lysander says he'll protect Helena from Hermia—who is still trying to get to her—and the whole mess starts up again. |
HELENA
O, when she is angry, she is keen and shrewd. 340
She was a vixen when she went to school,
And though she be but little, she is fierce. | Now Helena says that Hermia was always feisty when they were younger and, though she's little, she's fierce. |
HERMIA
“Little” again? Nothing but “low” and “little”?
Why will you suffer her to flout me thus?
Let me come to her. 345 LYSANDER Get you gone, you dwarf,
You minimus of hind’ring knotgrass made,
You bead, you acorn— DEMETRIUS You are too officious
In her behalf that scorns your services. 350
Let her alone. Speak not of Helena.
Take not her part. For if thou dost intend
Never so little show of love to her,
Thou shalt aby it. | Hermia flares up again at being called "little" and tries to get at Helena. Again. Lysander calls Hermia a dwarf and tells her to get lost. Demetrius thinks Lysander should lay off trying to protect Helena because she doesn't like him. |
LYSANDER Now she holds me not. 355
Now follow, if thou dar’st, to try whose right,
Of thine or mine, is most in Helena. DEMETRIUS
“Follow”? Nay, I’ll go with thee, cheek by jowl. Demetrius and Lysander exit. | Lysander points out that Hermia isn't holding him back now. He suggests to Demetrius that they "step outside" and settle this thing once and for all, and they exit to fight. |
HERMIA
You, mistress, all this coil is long of you.
Helena retreats.
Nay, go not back. 360 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. She exits. HERMIA
I am amazed and know not what to say. She exits. 365 | Now Helena and Hermia can catfight alone. Helena decides she's a faster runner than Hermia and flees rather than face Hermia's fists (and eye-scratching fingernails). Hermia chases after her. |
OBERON, to Robin
This is thy negligence. Still thou mistak’st,
Or else committ’st thy knaveries willfully. | Oberon (remember, he and Robin have been watching this whole scene) tells Robin this is all his fault and asks if he intentionally put the love potion on the wrong guy. Just for kicks. |
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? 370
And so far blameless proves my enterprise
That I have ’nointed an Athenian’s eyes;
And so far am I glad it so did sort,
As this their jangling I esteem a sport. | Robin assures Oberon it was a mistake. All Oberon told him to do was find a guy dressed like an Athenian, which he did. Still, he's glad it happened this way, because this is much more entertaining. |
OBERON
Thou seest these lovers seek a place to fight. 375
Hie, therefore, Robin, overcast the night;
The starry welkin cover thou anon
With drooping fog as black as Acheron,
And lead these testy rivals so astray
As one come not within another’s way. 380
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,
Till o’er their brows death-counterfeiting sleep 385
With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep.
Then crush this herb into Lysander’s eye,
He gives a flower to Robin.
Whose liquor hath this virtuous property,
To take from thence all error with his might
And make his eyeballs roll with wonted sight. 390
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 thee employ, 395
I’ll to my queen and beg her Indian boy;
And then I will her charmèd eye release
From monster’s view, and all things shall be peace. | Oberon, knowing the competitive males are looking for some place to fight, tells Robin to make the night overcast, so the angry men can't see each other. He tells Robin to lure each man in a different direction by imitating his enemy's voice. Next, Oberon then gives him another herb, an antidote to the love juice, and tells him that the boys will tire eventually and go to sleep. When they do, Robin should drop the remedy herb onto Lysander's eyes, so he'll be cured of his love for Helena. When everybody wakes up, these quarrels will seem like a silly dream. Lysander will love Hermia again, and Demetrius will still love Helena. After this, the lovers can go home to Athens and live happily ever after. While Puck is doing all this, Oberon will go beg the still-bewitched Titania for the changeling boy. Once she's given up the boy, he'll release Titania from her enchanted love of Bottom, and the entire mess will be fixed. Easy peasy. |
ROBIN
My fairy lord, this must be done with haste,
For night’s swift dragons cut the clouds full fast, 400
And yonder shines Aurora’s harbinger,
At whose approach, ghosts wand’ring here and
there
Troop home to churchyards. Damnèd spirits all,
That in crossways and floods have burial, 405
Already to their wormy beds are gone.
For fear lest day should look their shames upon,
They willfully themselves exile from light
And must for aye consort with black-browed night. | Puck agrees this plan must be accomplished quickly, because night will be over soon. Ghosts are returning to their graves, and all the wicked things that night allows are coming to a close. |
OBERON
But we are spirits of another sort. 410
I with the Morning’s 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 blessèd beams,
Turns into yellow gold his salt-green streams. 415
But notwithstanding, haste! Make no delay.
We may effect this business yet ere day. He exits. | Oberon points out that, although some spirits and ghosts can only come out at night, he and Puck can go about their business during day or night. Still, Oberon wants the job done already—no delays. |
ROBIN
Up and down, up and down,
I will lead them up and down.
I am feared in field and town. 420
Goblin, lead them up and down.
Here comes one. | Robin is left alone to tend to his business, promising to lead the young men up and down and every which way. |
Enter Lysander. LYSANDER
Where art thou, proud Demetrius? Speak thou now. ROBIN, in Demetrius’ voice
Here, villain, drawn and ready. Where art thou? LYSANDER I will be with thee straight. 425 ROBIN, in Demetrius’ voice Follow me, then, to
plainer ground. Lysander exits. | Lysander then enters. Robin, in Demetrius's voice, challenges Lysander to find more steady ground on which to fight. Lysander exits, following the voice he thinks belongs to Demetrius. |
Enter Demetrius. DEMETRIUS Lysander, speak again.
Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled?
Speak! In some bush? Where dost thou hide thy 430
head? ROBIN, in Lysander’s voice
Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars,
Telling the bushes that thou look’st for wars,
And wilt not come? Come, recreant! Come, thou
child! 435
I’ll whip thee with a rod. He is defiled
That draws a sword on thee. DEMETRIUS Yea, art thou there? ROBIN, in Lysander’s voice
Follow my voice. We’ll try no manhood here.
They exit. | Now Demetrius enters, asking where Lysander is hiding. Robin, putting on Lysander's voice, eggs on Demetrius, promising to whip him. Demetrius follows the false voice off stage. |
Enter Lysander. LYSANDER
He goes before me and still dares me on. 440
When I come where he calls, then he is gone.
The villain is much lighter-heeled than I.
I followed fast, but faster he did fly,
That fallen am I in dark uneven way,
And here will rest me. Come, thou gentle day, 445
For if but once thou show me thy gray light,
I’ll find Demetrius and revenge this spite.
He lies down and sleeps. | Lysander, back on stage, wonders where on earth Demetrius has gone. Still, Lysander is now exhausted and lies on the ground to get some rest. As he's falling asleep, he promises to hunt Demetrius down in the light of day. |
Enter Robin and Demetrius. ROBIN, in Lysander’s voice
Ho, ho, ho! Coward, why com’st thou not? DEMETRIUS
Abide me, if thou dar’st, for well I wot
Thou runn’st before me, shifting every place, 450
And dar’st not stand nor look me in the face.
Where art thou now? ROBIN, in Lysander’s voice
Come hither. I am here. DEMETRIUS
Nay, then, thou mock’st me. Thou shalt buy this
dear 455
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 day’s approach look to be visited.
He lies down and sleeps. | Demetrius and Robin come back onto the stage, with Robin leading Demetrius around using Lysander's voice. Demetrius still seeks Lysander, but can't see him. Demetrius is tired too, so he tells Lysander (Robin's voice) to get lost, with the promise that they'll fight in the daylight. |
Enter Helena. HELENA
O weary night, O long and tedious night, 460
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 sorrow’s eye,
Steal me awhile from mine own company. 465
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. 470 | Helena then enters, pleading with night to end quickly. In daylight, she'll go back to Athens and escape the other three Athenians who hate her so much. When she lies down to sleep, Robin says, "Three down, one to go." |
Enter Hermia. HERMIA
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. 475
Heavens shield Lysander if they mean a fray!
She lies down and sleeps. | Finally, Hermia comes back on stage, claiming she has never been so tired or so sad. She can't go on, and will rest here, though she prays the heavens will protect Lysander if Demetrius means to fight him. She too goes to sleep. |
ROBIN
On the ground
Sleep sound.
I’ll apply
To your eye, 480
Gentle lover, remedy. Robin applies the nectar
to Lysander’s eyes.
When thou wak’st,
Thou tak’st
True delight
In the sight 485
Of thy former lady’s eye.
And the country proverb known,
That every man should take his own,
In your waking shall be shown.
Jack shall have Jill; 490
Naught shall go ill;
The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be
well.
He exits. | Robin, with all four youngsters asleep, can now begin his work. He says a little rhyme, and squeezes the remedy onto Lysander's eyes. Now Lysander will love Hermia again when he wakes, and each man will take the woman that is right for him. |