And this same progeny of evils comes Obe. Do you amend it then; it lies in you: I do but beg a little changeling boy, To be my henchman.9 : Tita. Would imitate; and sail upon the land, If you will patiently dance in our round, [Exeunt TITANIA, and her train. 9 Page. Obe. Well, go thy way: thou shalt not from this grove, Till I torment thee for this injury. My gentle Puck, come hither: Thou remember'st And heard a mermaid, on a dolphin's back, Puck. I remember. Obe. That very time I saw, (but thou could'st not,) Flying between the cold moon and the earth, And loos'd his love-shaft smartly from his bow, In maiden meditation, fancy-free.1 Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell: Before, milk-white; now purple with love's wound, And inaidens call it, love-in-idleness. Fetch me that flower: the herb I show'd thee once: The juice of it on sleeping eye-lids laid, Will make or man or woman madly dote 1 Exempt from love. [Exit Puck. upon, Puck. I'll put a girdle round about the earth In forty minutes. Obe. Having once this juice, I'll watch Titania when she is asleep, Aud drop the liquor of it in her eyes: The next thing then she waking looks (Be it on lion, bear, or wolf, or bull, On meddling monkey, or on busy ape,) She shall pursue it with the soul of love. And ere I take this charm off from her sight, (As I can take it with another herb,) I'll make her render up her page to me. But who comes here? I am invisible; And I will over-hear their conference. Enter DEMETRIUS, HELENA following him. Dem. I love thee not, therefore pursue me not. Where is Lysander, and fair Hermia ? The one I'll slay, the other slayeth me. Thou told'st me, they were stol'n into this wood, Hence, get thee gone, and follow me no more. Dem. Do I entice you? Do I speak you fair? Hel. And even for that do I love you the more. I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius, The more you beat me, I will fawn on you: 2 Mad, raving.. Use me but as your spaniel, spurn me, strike me, Neglect me, lose me; only give me leave, Unworthy as I am, to follow you. What worser place can I beg in your love, (And yet a place of high respect with me,) Than to be used as you use your dog? Dem. Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit; For I am sick, when I do look on thee. Hel. And I am sick, when I look not on you. Hel. Your virtue is my privilege for that. Dem. I'll run from thee, and hide me in the brakes, And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts.. Hel. The wildest hath not such a heart as you. Run when you will, the story shall be chang'd; Apollo flies, and Daphne holds the chase; The dove pursues the griffin; the mild hind Makes speed to catch the tiger: Bootless speed! When cowardice pursues, and valour flies. Dem. I will not stay thy questions; let me go: Or, if thou follow me, do not believe But I shall do thee mischief in the wood, 3 Bring in question. Hel. Ay, in the temple, in the town, the field, You do me mischief. Fie, Demetrius ! Your wrongs do set a scandal on my sex: We cannot fight for love, as men may do; We should be woo'd, and were not made to woo. I'll follow thee, and make a heaven of hell, To die upon the hand I love so well. [Exeunt DEM. and HEL. Obe. Fare thee well, nymph: ere he do leave this grove, Thou shalt fly him, and he shall seek thy love.— Re-enter PUCK, Hast thou the flower there? Welcome, wanderer. Puck. Ay, there it is. Obe. And with the juice of this I'll streak her eyes, Take thou some of it, and seek through this grove: With a disdainful youth: anoint his eyes; But do it, when the next thing he espies May be the lady: Thou shalt know the man 4 By. 5 The greater cowslip. 6 Vigorous. |