Fetch me that flower; the herb I show'd thee once; Puck. I'll put a girdle round about the earth In forty minutes. [Exit PUCK. Obe. Having once this juice, I'll watch Titania when she is asleep, And drop the liquor of it in her eyes: The next thing then she waking looks upon, And I will over-hear their conference. Enter DEMETRIUS, HELENA following him. Dem. I love thee not, therefore pursue me not. Where is Lysander, and fair Hermia? The one I'll slay, the other slayeth me. Thou told'st me, they were stol'n into this wood, Hence, get thee gone, and follow me no more. Dem. Do L entice you? Do I speak you fair? 9 and wood within this wood,] Wood, or mad, wild. Or, rather, do I not in plainest truth The more you beat me, I will fawn on you: you. What worser place can I beg in your love, (And yet a place of high respect with me,) Than to be used as you use your dog? Dem. Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit; For I am sick, when I do look on thee. Hel. And I am sick, when I look not on you. Hel. Your virtue is my privilege for that.2 Dem. I'll run from thee, and hide me in the brakes, And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts. Hel. The wildest hath not such a heart as you. Run when you will, the story shall be chang'd; Apollo flies, and Daphne holds the chase; The dove pursues the griffin; the mild hind 1 impeach your modesty-] i. e, bring it into question, -for that.] i. e. For leaving the city, &c. TYRWHITT. Makes speed to catch the tiger: Bootless speed! Dem. I will not stay thy questions; let me go: But I shall do thee mischief in the wood. Hel. Ay, in the temple, in the town, the field, [Exeunt DEM. and HEL. Obe. Fare thee well, nymph: ere he do leave this grove, Thou shalt fly him, and he shall seek thy love. Re-enter PUCK. Hast thou the flower there? Welcome, wanderer. Puck. Ay, there it is. 4 Obe. 3 To die upon the hand, &c.] To die upon, &c. in our author's language, perhaps, means" to die by the hand." 4 Where ox-lips-] The oxlip is the greater cowslip. 5 Quite over-canopied with lush woodbine,] All the old editions read-luscious woodbine; but both lush and luscious (says Mr. Henley) are words of the same origin. Take thou some of it, and seek through this grove: With a disdainful youth: anoint his eyes; SCENE III. Another part of the Wood. Enter TITANIA, with her train. Tita. 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 rear-mice' 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 let me rest. SONG. 1 Fai. You spotted snakes, with double tongue, Newts, and blind-worms, do no wrong; a roundel;] Rounds, or roundels, were like the present country dances. 7 with rear-mice-] A rere-mouse is a bat, a mouse that rears itself from the ground by the aid of wings. 8 with double tongue,] our author means-forked. 9 Newts, and blind-worms,] The newt is the eft, the blind worm is the Cacilia or slow-worm. CHORUS. Philomel, with melody, Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby: So, good night, with lullaby. II. 2 Fai. Weaving spiders, come not here; CHORUS. Philomel, with melody, &c. 2 Fai. Hence, away; now all is well: One, aloof, stand sentinel. [Exeunt Fairies. TITANIA sleeps. Enter OBERON. Obe. What thou seest, when thou dost wake, [Squeezes the flower on TITANIA's eye-lids. Do it for thy true-love take; Love, and languish for his sake: } [Exit. Be it ounce,] The ounce is a small tiger, or tiger-cat. 1 |