Disclaimer: I own none of the characters and parts of the text. They belong
to the late Mr. Shakespeare.
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Puck: Through the forest have I gone;
But Athenian found I none
On whose eyes I might approve
This flower's force in stirring love.
Night and silence - who is here?
Weeds of Athens he does wear:
This is he my master said
Despised the Athenian maid;
And here the maiden, sleeping sound,
On the dank and dirty ground.
Pretty soul, she durst not lie
Near this lack-love, this kill-courtesy.
Churl, upon thy eyes I throw
All the power this charm doth owe.
When thou wak'st, let love forbid
Sleep his seat on thy eyelid.
(Puts flower juice on Lysander)
So awake when I am gone;
For I must now to Oberon. Exit.
Enter Demetrius and Helena, running.
Helena: Let me stay, though thou kill me, sweet Demetrius!
Demetrius: I charge thee, hence, and do not haunt me thus.
Helena: O wilt thou darkling send me away? Do not so.
Demetrius: If thou wish'st me to tell thy father that thee is in love with Lysander, thou will stay. Otherwise, thou will leave.
Helena: O spite! Men art cruel! Exit.
Demetrius: That wench is now gone, I may continue to search for Fair Hermia and Wicked Lysander in peace. Trips over Lysander What is this that I catch my foot in? Tis' to soft to be a log.
Lysander: Yet to hard to be any woman fair.
Demetrius: Mine tripper speaks! Tis' the voice of Lysander!
Lysander: Aye, Lysander am I. Sweet, sweet Demetrius, long have you been the devotion of my love! Mine love for Hermia was to make you jealous, and lo! How clever I am.
Demetrius: Nay, clever you are not. Cunning, yes, but not clever. You jest in an unfitting way, stop you must. Sleep, for methinks you need it direly.
Lysander: Sleep alone I will not! Lie with me, dear Demetrius.
Demetrius: And act like a woman weak? Never; a man acting as yourself must be crazy. Ah! There sweet Hermia lies. I will go wake her and save her from this madness. (Lysander gets up before Demetrius can move and kisses him) Control yourself man! If thou indeed dost love me, thou will spare it from my loves tender eyes. Here, if you will leave me alone, thou mayst have the fair lady, for Hermia still loves you. Be content with that.
Lysander: Content with Hermia? No, I do repent the tedious moments I with her have spent. Not Hermia, but Demetrius I love. Who would not exchange a raven for a dove? The will of man is by his reason sway'd. And reason says that you are the worthier maid.
Demetrius: Me? A maid? Pull yourself together! What evil spirit haunts thee? What did Hermia and I do to deserve this scorn? I leave thee now, in hopes that you know what you have said. Exit.
Lysander: I know what I have said, yet Demetrius will soon see, that in truth, he does belong to me. Exit.
Hermia wakes up.
Hermia: Help me Lysander, help me! Do thy best To pluck this crawling serpent from my breast! Ay me, for pity! What a dream was here! Lysander, look how I do quake with fear. Methought a serpent ate my heart away, And you sat smiling at his cruel prey. Lysander! What, remov'd? Lysander! lord! What, out of hearing? Gone? No sound, no word? Alack, where are you? Speak, and if you hear; Speak, of all loves I swoon almost with fear. No? Then I perceive that you are not nigh. Either death or you I'll find immediately.
Enter Demetrius and Helena, running.
Helena: Let me stay, though thou kill me, sweet Demetrius!
Demetrius: I charge thee, hence, and do not haunt me thus.
Helena: O wilt thou darkling send me away? Do not so.
Demetrius: If thou wish'st me to tell thy father that thee is in love with Lysander, thou will stay. Otherwise, thou will leave.
Helena: O spite! Men art cruel! Exit.
Demetrius: That wench is now gone, I may continue to search for Fair Hermia and Wicked Lysander in peace. Trips over Lysander What is this that I catch my foot in? Tis' to soft to be a log.
Lysander: Yet to hard to be any woman fair.
Demetrius: Mine tripper speaks! Tis' the voice of Lysander!
Lysander: Aye, Lysander am I. Sweet, sweet Demetrius, long have you been the devotion of my love! Mine love for Hermia was to make you jealous, and lo! How clever I am.
Demetrius: Nay, clever you are not. Cunning, yes, but not clever. You jest in an unfitting way, stop you must. Sleep, for methinks you need it direly.
Lysander: Sleep alone I will not! Lie with me, dear Demetrius.
Demetrius: And act like a woman weak? Never; a man acting as yourself must be crazy. Ah! There sweet Hermia lies. I will go wake her and save her from this madness. (Lysander gets up before Demetrius can move and kisses him) Control yourself man! If thou indeed dost love me, thou will spare it from my loves tender eyes. Here, if you will leave me alone, thou mayst have the fair lady, for Hermia still loves you. Be content with that.
Lysander: Content with Hermia? No, I do repent the tedious moments I with her have spent. Not Hermia, but Demetrius I love. Who would not exchange a raven for a dove? The will of man is by his reason sway'd. And reason says that you are the worthier maid.
Demetrius: Me? A maid? Pull yourself together! What evil spirit haunts thee? What did Hermia and I do to deserve this scorn? I leave thee now, in hopes that you know what you have said. Exit.
Lysander: I know what I have said, yet Demetrius will soon see, that in truth, he does belong to me. Exit.
Hermia wakes up.
Hermia: Help me Lysander, help me! Do thy best To pluck this crawling serpent from my breast! Ay me, for pity! What a dream was here! Lysander, look how I do quake with fear. Methought a serpent ate my heart away, And you sat smiling at his cruel prey. Lysander! What, remov'd? Lysander! lord! What, out of hearing? Gone? No sound, no word? Alack, where are you? Speak, and if you hear; Speak, of all loves I swoon almost with fear. No? Then I perceive that you are not nigh. Either death or you I'll find immediately.