Faculty of English

HELENA         But who is here? Lysander, on the ground? Dead, or asleep? I see no blood, no wound. Lysander, if you live, good sir, awake. LYSANDER     [Wakes.] And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake. Transparent Helena, nature shows art, That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart. Where is Demetrius? O, how fit a word Is […]

HELENA         O, I am out of breath in this fond chase. The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace. Happy is Hermia, wheresoe’er she lies, For she hath blessed and attractive eyes. How came her eyes so bright? Not with salt tears; If so, my eyes are oftener washed than hers. No, no: I am as ugly as a bear, For beasts […]

PUCK  Churl, upon thy eyes I throw All the power this charm doth owe. [Squeezes the flower on Lysander’s eyelids.] When thou wak’st, let love forbid Sleep his seat on thy eyelid. So awake, when I am gone; For I must now to Oberon. (Exit.) Enter DEMETRIUS and HELENA running. HELENA         Stay, though thou kill me, sweet Demetrius. DEMETRIUS   I charge thee, hence, and […]

Enter PUCK. 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 doth wear. This is he, my master said, Despised the Athenian maid; And here the maiden, sleeping sound On the dank and dirty ground. […]

HERMIA         Lysander riddles very prettily. Now much beshrew my manners and my pride If Hermia meant to say Lysander lied. But gentle friend, for love and courtesy, Lie further off, in human modesty: Such separation as may well be said Becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid, So far be distant, and good night, sweet friend. Thy love ne’er alter till thy sweet […]

LYSANDER     O take the sense, sweet, of my innocence: Love takes the meaning in love’s conference. I mean that my heart unto yours it knit, So that but one heart we can make of it: Two bosoms interchained with an oath, So then two bosoms, and a single troth. Then by your side no bed-room me deny; For lying so, Hermia, I […]

Enter LYSANDER and HERMIA. LYSANDER     Fair love, you faint with wandering in the wood, And to speak troth, I have forgot our way. We’ll rest us, Hermia, if you think it good, And tarry for the comfort of the day. HERMIA         Be it so, Lysander. Find you out a bed, For I upon this bank will rest my head. LYSANDER     One turf shall serve as pillow […]

[OBERON advances.] OBERON         [Squeezes the flower on Titania’s eyelids.] What thou seest when thou dost wake, Do it for thy true love take; Love and languish for his sake. Be it ounce or cat or bear, Pard, or boar with bristled hair In thy eye that shall appear When thou wak’st, it is thy dear. Wake when some vile thing is […]

1 FAIRY           You spotted snakes with double tongue, Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen. Newts and blindworms, do no wrong, Come not near our Fairy Queen. CHORUS         Philomel, with melody, Sing in our sweet lullaby, Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby. Never harm, nor spell, nor charm, Come our lovely lady nigh. So good night, with lullaby. 2 FAIRY           Weaving spiders, come not […]

Enter TITANIA with her train. TITANIA         Come, now a roundel and a fairy song; Then for the third part of a minute, hence: Some to kill cankers in the musk-rose buds; Some war with rearmice for their leathern wings To make my small elves coats; and some keep back The clamorous owl, that nightly hoots and wonders At our quaint spirits. Sing me now asleep; Then to your offices, and […]