Spaces:
Runtime error
Runtime error
| <html> | |
| <head> | |
| <title>SCENE I. Athens. The palace of THESEUS. | |
| </title> | |
| <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> | |
| <LINK rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen" | |
| href="/shake.css"> | |
| </HEAD> | |
| <body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000"> | |
| <table width="100%" bgcolor="#CCF6F6"> | |
| <tr><td class="play" align="center">A Midsummer Night's Dream | |
| <tr><td class="nav" align="center"> | |
| <a href="/Shakespeare">Shakespeare homepage</A> | |
| | <A href="/Shakespeare/midsummer/">Midsummer Night's Dream</A> | |
| | Act 1, Scene 1 | |
| <br> | |
| <a href="midsummer.1.2.html">Next scene</A> | |
| </table> | |
| <h3>SCENE I. Athens. The palace of THESEUS.</H3> | |
| <p><blockquote> | |
| <i>Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and Attendants</i> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech1><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=1>Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=2>Draws on apace; four happy days bring in</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=3>Another moon: but, O, methinks, how slow</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=4>This old moon wanes! she lingers my desires,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=5>Like to a step-dame or a dowager</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=6>Long withering out a young man revenue.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech2><b>HIPPOLYTA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=7>Four days will quickly steep themselves in night;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=8>Four nights will quickly dream away the time;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=9>And then the moon, like to a silver bow</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=10>New-bent in heaven, shall behold the night</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=11>Of our solemnities.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech3><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=12>Go, Philostrate,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=13>Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=14>Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=15>Turn melancholy forth to funerals;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=16>The pale companion is not for our pomp.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit PHILOSTRATE</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=17>Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=18>And won thy love, doing thee injuries;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=19>But I will wed thee in another key,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=20>With pomp, with triumph and with revelling.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and DEMETRIUS</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech4><b>EGEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=21>Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech5><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=22>Thanks, good Egeus: what's the news with thee?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech6><b>EGEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=23>Full of vexation come I, with complaint</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=24>Against my child, my daughter Hermia.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=25>Stand forth, Demetrius. My noble lord,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=26>This man hath my consent to marry her.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=27>Stand forth, Lysander: and my gracious duke,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=28>This man hath bewitch'd the bosom of my child;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=29>Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=30>And interchanged love-tokens with my child:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=31>Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=32>With feigning voice verses of feigning love,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=33>And stolen the impression of her fantasy</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=34>With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conceits,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=35>Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats, messengers</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=36>Of strong prevailment in unharden'd youth:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=37>With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's heart,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=38>Turn'd her obedience, which is due to me,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=39>To stubborn harshness: and, my gracious duke,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=40>Be it so she; will not here before your grace</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=41>Consent to marry with Demetrius,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=42>I beg the ancient privilege of Athens,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=43>As she is mine, I may dispose of her:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=44>Which shall be either to this gentleman</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=45>Or to her death, according to our law</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=46>Immediately provided in that case.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech7><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=47>What say you, Hermia? be advised fair maid:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=48>To you your father should be as a god;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=49>One that composed your beauties, yea, and one</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=50>To whom you are but as a form in wax</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=51>By him imprinted and within his power</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=52>To leave the figure or disfigure it.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=53>Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech8><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=54>So is Lysander.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech9><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=55> In himself he is;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=56>But in this kind, wanting your father's voice,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=57>The other must be held the worthier.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech10><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=58>I would my father look'd but with my eyes.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech11><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=59>Rather your eyes must with his judgment look.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech12><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=60>I do entreat your grace to pardon me.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=61>I know not by what power I am made bold,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=62>Nor how it may concern my modesty,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=63>In such a presence here to plead my thoughts;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=64>But I beseech your grace that I may know</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=65>The worst that may befall me in this case,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=66>If I refuse to wed Demetrius.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech13><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=67>Either to die the death or to abjure</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=68>For ever the society of men.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=69>Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=70>Know of your youth, examine well your blood,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=71>Whether, if you yield not to your father's choice,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=72>You can endure the livery of a nun,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=73>For aye to be in shady cloister mew'd,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=74>To live a barren sister all your life,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=75>Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=76>Thrice-blessed they that master so their blood,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=77>To undergo such maiden pilgrimage;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=78>But earthlier happy is the rose distill'd,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=79>Than that which withering on the virgin thorn</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=80>Grows, lives and dies in single blessedness.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech14><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=81>So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=82>Ere I will my virgin patent up</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=83>Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=84>My soul consents not to give sovereignty.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech15><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=85>Take time to pause; and, by the next new moon--</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=86>The sealing-day betwixt my love and me,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=87>For everlasting bond of fellowship--</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=88>Upon that day either prepare to die</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=89>For disobedience to your father's will,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=90>Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=91>Or on Diana's altar to protest</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=92>For aye austerity and single life.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech16><b>DEMETRIUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=93>Relent, sweet Hermia: and, Lysander, yield</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=94>Thy crazed title to my certain right.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech17><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=95>You have her father's love, Demetrius;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=96>Let me have Hermia's: do you marry him.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech18><b>EGEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=97>Scornful Lysander! true, he hath my love,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=98>And what is mine my love shall render him.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=99>And she is mine, and all my right of her</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=100>I do estate unto Demetrius.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech19><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=101>I am, my lord, as well derived as he,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=102>As well possess'd; my love is more than his;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=103>My fortunes every way as fairly rank'd,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=104>If not with vantage, as Demetrius';</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=105>And, which is more than all these boasts can be,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=106>I am beloved of beauteous Hermia:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=107>Why should not I then prosecute my right?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=108>Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his head,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=109>Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=110>And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=111>Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=112>Upon this spotted and inconstant man.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech20><b>THESEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=113>I must confess that I have heard so much,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=114>And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=115>But, being over-full of self-affairs,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=116>My mind did lose it. But, Demetrius, come;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=117>And come, Egeus; you shall go with me,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=118>I have some private schooling for you both.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=119>For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=120>To fit your fancies to your father's will;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=121>Or else the law of Athens yields you up--</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=122>Which by no means we may extenuate--</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=123>To death, or to a vow of single life.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=124>Come, my Hippolyta: what cheer, my love?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=125>Demetrius and Egeus, go along:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=126>I must employ you in some business</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=127>Against our nuptial and confer with you</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=128>Of something nearly that concerns yourselves.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech21><b>EGEUS</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=129>With duty and desire we follow you.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exeunt all but LYSANDER and HERMIA</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech22><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=130>How now, my love! why is your cheek so pale?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=131>How chance the roses there do fade so fast?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech23><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=132>Belike for want of rain, which I could well</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=133>Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech24><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=134>Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=135>Could ever hear by tale or history,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=136>The course of true love never did run smooth;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=137>But, either it was different in blood,--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech25><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=138>O cross! too high to be enthrall'd to low.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech26><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=139>Or else misgraffed in respect of years,--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech27><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=140>O spite! too old to be engaged to young.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech28><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=141>Or else it stood upon the choice of friends,--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech29><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=142>O hell! to choose love by another's eyes.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech30><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=143>Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=144>War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=145>Making it momentany as a sound,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=146>Swift as a shadow, short as any dream;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=147>Brief as the lightning in the collied night,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=148>That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=149>And ere a man hath power to say 'Behold!'</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=150>The jaws of darkness do devour it up:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=151>So quick bright things come to confusion.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech31><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=152>If then true lovers have been ever cross'd,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=153>It stands as an edict in destiny:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=154>Then let us teach our trial patience,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=155>Because it is a customary cross,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=156>As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=157>Wishes and tears, poor fancy's followers.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech32><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=158>A good persuasion: therefore, hear me, Hermia.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=159>I have a widow aunt, a dowager</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=160>Of great revenue, and she hath no child:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=161>From Athens is her house remote seven leagues;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=162>And she respects me as her only son.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=163>There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=164>And to that place the sharp Athenian law</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=165>Cannot pursue us. If thou lovest me then,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=166>Steal forth thy father's house to-morrow night;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=167>And in the wood, a league without the town,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=168>Where I did meet thee once with Helena,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=169>To do observance to a morn of May,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=170>There will I stay for thee.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech33><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=171>My good Lysander!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=172>I swear to thee, by Cupid's strongest bow,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=173>By his best arrow with the golden head,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=174>By the simplicity of Venus' doves,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=175>By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=176>And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage queen,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=177>When the false Troyan under sail was seen,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=178>By all the vows that ever men have broke,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=179>In number more than ever women spoke,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=180>In that same place thou hast appointed me,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=181>To-morrow truly will I meet with thee.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech34><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=182>Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter HELENA</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech35><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=183>God speed fair Helena! whither away?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech36><b>HELENA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=184>Call you me fair? that fair again unsay.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=185>Demetrius loves your fair: O happy fair!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=186>Your eyes are lode-stars; and your tongue's sweet air</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=187>More tuneable than lark to shepherd's ear,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=188>When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=189>Sickness is catching: O, were favour so,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=190>Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=191>My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=192>My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=193>Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=194>The rest I'd give to be to you translated.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=195>O, teach me how you look, and with what art</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=196>You sway the motion of Demetrius' heart.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech37><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=197>I frown upon him, yet he loves me still.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech38><b>HELENA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=198>O that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech39><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=199>I give him curses, yet he gives me love.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech40><b>HELENA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=200>O that my prayers could such affection move!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech41><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=201>The more I hate, the more he follows me.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech42><b>HELENA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=202>The more I love, the more he hateth me.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech43><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=203>His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech44><b>HELENA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=204>None, but your beauty: would that fault were mine!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech45><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=205>Take comfort: he no more shall see my face;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=206>Lysander and myself will fly this place.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=207>Before the time I did Lysander see,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=208>Seem'd Athens as a paradise to me:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=209>O, then, what graces in my love do dwell,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=210>That he hath turn'd a heaven unto a hell!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech46><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=211>Helen, to you our minds we will unfold:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=212>To-morrow night, when Phoebe doth behold</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=213>Her silver visage in the watery glass,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=214>Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=215>A time that lovers' flights doth still conceal,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=216>Through Athens' gates have we devised to steal.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech47><b>HERMIA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=217>And in the wood, where often you and I</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=218>Upon faint primrose-beds were wont to lie,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=219>Emptying our bosoms of their counsel sweet,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=220>There my Lysander and myself shall meet;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=221>And thence from Athens turn away our eyes,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=222>To seek new friends and stranger companies.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=223>Farewell, sweet playfellow: pray thou for us;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=224>And good luck grant thee thy Demetrius!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=225>Keep word, Lysander: we must starve our sight</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=226>From lovers' food till morrow deep midnight.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech48><b>LYSANDER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=227>I will, my Hermia.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit HERMIA</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=228>Helena, adieu:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=229>As you on him, Demetrius dote on you!</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech49><b>HELENA</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=230>How happy some o'er other some can be!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=231>Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=232>But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=233>He will not know what all but he do know:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=234>And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=235>So I, admiring of his qualities:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=236>Things base and vile, folding no quantity,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=237>Love can transpose to form and dignity:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=238>Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=239>And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=240>Nor hath Love's mind of any judgement taste;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=241>Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=242>And therefore is Love said to be a child,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=243>Because in choice he is so oft beguiled.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=244>As waggish boys in game themselves forswear,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=245>So the boy Love is perjured every where:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=246>For ere Demetrius look'd on Hermia's eyne,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=247>He hail'd down oaths that he was only mine;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=248>And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=249>So he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=250>I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=251>Then to the wood will he to-morrow night</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=252>Pursue her; and for this intelligence</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=253>If I have thanks, it is a dear expense:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=254>But herein mean I to enrich my pain,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=255>To have his sight thither and back again.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <table width="100%" bgcolor="#CCF6F6"> | |
| <tr><td class="nav" align="center"> | |
| <a href="/Shakespeare">Shakespeare homepage</A> | |
| | <A href="/Shakespeare/midsummer/">Midsummer Night's Dream</A> | |
| | Act 1, Scene 1 | |
| <br> | |
| <a href="midsummer.1.2.html">Next scene</A> | |
| </table> | |
| </body> | |
| </html> | |