A Midsummer Night's Dream Page #5

as he to me.

Would he have stolen away

from sleeping Hermia?

Where is he?

Good Demetrius,

wilt thou give him me?

I had rather give

his carcass to my hounds.

Ohh. Out, dog.

Out, cur.

Thou drivest me past the bounds

of maiden's patience.

And hast thou killed him

while sleeping?

Oh, brave touch.

Could not a worm,

an adder, do so much?

You spend your passion

on a misprised mood.

I am not guilty

of Lysander's blood,

nor is he dead,

for all that I can tell.

I pray thee, tell me,

then, that he is well.

And if I could,

what should I get therefore?

A privilege

never to see me more.

There's no following her

in this fierce vein.

Here, therefore, for a while,

I will remain.

What hast thou done?

Thou hast mistaken quite

and laid the love-juice

on some true love's sight.

About the woods,

go swifter than the wind,

and Helena of Athens

look thou find.

By some illusion

look thou bring her here.

I'll charm his eyes

agains the do appear.

I go, I go! Look how I go!

Swifter than arrow

from the tartar's bow.

The moon methinks

looks with her watery eye,

and when she weeps,

weeps every little flower,

lamenting some

enforced chastity.

[ Laughter ]

[ Braying ]

Come, lead him to my bower.

Tie my love's tongue.

Bring him silently.

- [ Laughing ]

- [ Braying ]

[ Laughs ]

[ Braying ]

Flower of this purple dye,

hit with Cupid's archery,

sink in the apple of his eye.

When his love he doth espy,

let her shine as gloriously

as the Venus of the sky.

When thou wakest if she be by,

beg of her for remedy.

Captain of our fairy band,

Helena is here at hand,

and the youth, mistook by me,

pleading for a lover's fee.

Shall we their fond pageant see?

Lord, what fools these mortals be.

Why should you think

that I should woo in scorn?

Scorn and derision

never come in tears.

Look.

When I vow, I weep,

and vows so born,

in their nativity

all truth appears.

How can these things in me

seem scorn to you,

bearing the badge of faith

to prove them true?

You do advance your cunning

more and more.

When truth kills truth,

O devilish-holy fray.

These vows are Hermia's.

Will you give hero'er?

Weigh oath with oath,

and you will nothing weigh.

I had no judgment

when to her I swore.

Nor none, in my mind,

now you give her o'er.

Demetrius loves her,

and he loves not you.

Helen...

goddess...

nymph...

perfect...

divine.

To what, my love,

shall I compare thine eyne?

Crystal is muddy.

Oh, how ripe in show thy lips,

those kissing cherries,

tempting grow.

Oh.

Helen.

Oh, spite.

Oh, hell.

I see you all are bent

to set against me

for your merriment.

Can you not hate me,

as I know you do,

but you must join in souls

to mock me, too?

Demetrius:
Helen.

Helen, it's not so.

Helen!

[ Grunting ]

Oh, Lysander.

Lysander?

Love!

Oh, why unkindly

didst thou leave me so?

Why should he stay

whom love doth press to go?

What love could press

Lysander from my side?

Lysander's love,

that would not let him bide.

Why seekest thou me?

Could not this make thee know

the hate I bear thee

made me leave thee so.

You speak not as you think.

It cannot be.

Lo, she is one

of this confederacy.

Injurious Hermia.

Most ungrateful maid.

Have you conspired?

Have you, with--with these,

contrived to bait me

with this foul derision?

Is all the counsel

that we two have shared,

the sister's vows,

the hours that we have spent

when we have chid

the hasty-footed time

for parting us--

Oh, is all forgot?

And will you rent

our ancient love asunder

to join with men

in scorning your poor friend?

It is not friendly,

'tis not maidenly.

Our sex, as well as I,

may chide you for it,

though I alone do feel the injury.

I understand not

what you mean by this.

Aye, do.

Persever, counterfeit sad looks,

make mouths upon me

when I turn my back.

If you have any pity,

grace, or manners,

you would not make me

such an argument,

but fare you well.

'Tis partly my own fault,

which death or absence

soon shall remedy.

Helena, I love thee.

By my life, I do.

Oh, excellent.

I say I love thee

more than he can do.

Hermia:

Lysander, do you not jest?

Yes, sooth, and so do you.

Ow!

Am not I Hermia?

I am as fair now

as I was erewhile.

Why then you left me

in earnest, shall I say?

And never did desire

to see thee more.

Be certain, nothing truer,

'tis no jest that I hate thee

and love Helena.

Oh, me.

You juggler!

You canker blossom!

You thief of love.

What, have you come by night

and stolen my love's

heart from him?

Oh, fine, in faith.

Have you no modesty,

no maiden shame,

no touch of bashfulness?

What? Will you tear

impatient answers

from my gentle tongue? Fie!

Fie,you counterfeit,

you puppet you!

Puppet?

Why so?

Aye, that way goes the game.

Now I perceive that she hath

made compare

between our statures.

She hath urged her height,

and with her personage,

her tall personage,

her height, forsooth,

she hath prevailed with him.

And are you grown so...

high in his esteem

because I am so dwarfish

and so low?

Well, how low am I,

thou painted may pole?

Speak.

How low am I?

I'm not yet so low

but that my nails

can reach into thine eyes.

-Aah!

- Rrr!

[ Screaming ]

Oh, I pray you,though

you mock me, gentlemen,

do not let her hurt me.

You perhaps may think

because she is somewhat

lower than myself,

that I can match her!

Lower?! Hark again!

Good Hermia, do not be

so bitter with me.

And now, so you will

let me quiet go,

to Athens will

I bear my folly back

and follow you no further.

Let me go. You see how

simple and how fond I am.

Why, get you gone.

Who is't that hinders you?

Helena:
A foolish heart

that I do leave here behind.

What, with Lysander?

With Demetrius!

Be not afraid.

She shall not harm thee, Helena!

No, sir! She shall not,

though you take her part.

She was a vixen

when she went to school,

and though she be but little...

Little?

She is fierce.

Little? Little again?

Nothing but low and little?

Why will you suffer her

to flout me thus?

Let me come to her!

Get you home, you dwarf,

you minimus

of hindering knot-grass made,

you bead, you acorn.

Now she holds me not.

Now follow if thou darest,

to try whose right.

Of thine or mine,

is most in Helena.

Follow?

Nay, I'll go with thee,

cheek by jowl.

You, mistress...

all this coil is 'long of you.

Nay, go not back.

Oh...

I will not trust you, I,

norlonger stay

in your cursed company.

Your hands than mine

are quicker for a fray.

My legs are longer though,

to run away!

Ohh! Ohh!

I am amazed

and know not what to say.

Ohh!

This is thy negligence.

Still, still, still!

Thou mistakest. Or else...

committ'st thy knaveries

willfully, hmm?

Believe me, king of shadows,

I mistook.

Did not you tell me

I would know the man

by the Athenian garments

that he had on?

Thou see'st these lovers

seek a place to fight.

Hie therefore, Robin,

overcast the night,

the starry welkin cover thou anon

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes