PUCK  Up and down, up and down,

I will lead them up and down.

I am feared in field and town.

Goblin, lead them up and down.

Here comes one.

Enter LYSANDER.

LYSANDER     Where art thou, proud Demetrius? Speak thou now.

PUCK  Here, villain, drawn and ready. Where art thou?

LYSANDER     I will be with thee straight.

PUCK                          Follow me then

To plainer ground.

[Exit Lysander, as though following Demetrius.]

Enter DEMETRIUS.

DEMETRIUS               Lysander, speak again.

Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled?

Speak: in some bush? Where dost thou hide thy head?     (3.2.396-406)

Puck immediately raises the energy levels—after that lyrical little interlude with Oberon—with a pounding march, which is also an incantation: up and down, up and down, I will lead them up and down—they being Lysander and Demetrius, and up and down a merry dance. I am feared in field and down, goblin, lead them up and down; he’s energising himself as much as stating his intent. And, right on cue, here comes one. Lysander, looking for Demetrius: where art thou, proud Demetrius? Speak thou now. You were the one who wanted to fight even more than me: where are you? So Puck imitates Demetrius’s voice: here, villain, drawn and ready. I’m ready to fight, you coward, my blade is out! Where art thou?Where have YOU got to? Coming! I will be with thee straight, retorts Lysander, and so Puck must lure him away, still in Demetrius’s voice: follow me then to plainer ground. We need to find a clearing, somewhere flatter; get out of this thicket. And then it’s (the real) Demetrius, who has heard Lysander, it seems, but not been close enough to understand what he’s saying: Lysander, speak again. (Although it could possibly also be, come here and say that to my face.) Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled? Where are you? I’m here, I’m ready to fight—have you bottled it? Hiding, are we? Speak: in some bush? cowering in a shrub? Where dost thou hide thy head? Come on, show yourself! It is, of course, DARK.