He goes before me, and still dares me on.
When I come where he calls, then he is gone.
The villain is much lighter-heel’d than I;
I followed fast, but faster he did fly,
That fallen am I in dark uneven way,
And here will rest me.
[Lie down]
Come, thou gentle day!
For if but once thou show me thy grey light,
I’ll find Demetrius and revenge this spite.
[Sleeps.]
[Enter] Robin [Puck] and Demetrius.
Puck.
Ho, ho, ho! Coward, why com’st thou not?
Dem.
Abide me, if thou dar’st; for well I wot
Thou run’st before me, shifting every place,
And dar’st not stand, nor look me in the face.
Where art thou now?
Puck.
Come hither; I am here.
Dem.
Nay then thou mock’st me. Thou shalt buy this dear,
If ever I thy face by daylight see.
Now, go thy way. Faintness constraineth me
To measure out my length on this cold bed.
By day’s approach look to be visited.
[Lies down and sleeps.]
Enter Helena.
Hel.
O weary night, O long and tedious night,
Abate thy hours! Shine, comforts, from the east,
That I may back to Athens by daylight,
From these that my poor company detest.
And sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow’s eye,
Steal me a while from mine own company.
Sleep.
Puck.
Yet but three? Come one more;
Two of both kinds makes up four.
[Enter Hermia.]
Here she comes, curst and sad.
Cupid is a knavish lad,
Thus to make poor females mad.
Her.
Never so weary, never so in woe,
Bedabbled with the dew and torn with briers,
I can no further crawl, no further go;
My legs can keep no pace with my desires.
Here will I rest me till the break of day.
Heavens shield Lysander, if they mean a fray!
[Lies down and sleeps.]
Puck.
On the ground,
Sleep sound;
I’ll apply,
[To] your eye,
Gentle lover, remedy.
[Squeezing the juice on Lysander’s eyes.]
When thou wak’st,
Thou tak’st
True delight
In the sight
Of thy former lady’s eye;
And the country proverb known,
That every man should take his own,
In your waking shall be shown.
Jack shall have Jill;
Nought shall go ill:
The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be well.
[Exit.]
¶
ACT IV
[Scene I]
Enter Queen of Fairies [Titania] and Clown [Bottom], and Fairies [Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed, and others, attending], and the King [Oberon] behind them [unseen].
Tita.
Come sit thee down upon this flow’ry bed,
While I thy amiable cheeks do coy,
And stick musk-roses in thy sleek smooth head,
And kiss thy fair large ears, my gentle joy.
Bot. Where’s Peaseblossom?
Peas. Ready.
Bot. Scratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where’s Mounsieur Cobweb?
Cob. Ready.
Bot. Mounsieur Cobweb, good mounsieur, get you your weapons in your hand, and kill me a red- hipp’d humble-bee on the top of a thistle; and, good mounsieur, bring me the honey-bag. Do not fret yourself too much in the action, mounsieur; and, good mounsieur, have a care the honey-bag break not, I would be loath to have you overflowen with a honey-bag, signior. Where’s Mounsieur Mustardseed?
Mus. Ready.
Bot. Give me your neaf, Mounsieur Mustardseed. Pray you, leave your curtsy, good mounsieur.
