ARIEL

Ariel’s speeches and analyses.
The Tempest

Ariel | Act 1, Scene 1 | 199-260 (edited)

All hail, great master! Grave sir, hail…

Source
Arden | Harold F. Brooks. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1979

ARIEL
All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come
To answer thy best pleasure; be’t to fly,
To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride
On the curl’d clouds, to thy strong bidding task
Ariel and all his quality.

PROSPERO
Hast thou, spirit,
Perform’d to point the tempest that I bade thee?

ARIEL
To every article.
I boarded the king’s ship; now on the beak,
Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin,
I flamed amazement: sometime I’ld divide,
And burn in many places; on the topmast,
The yards and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly,
Then meet and join. Jove’s lightnings, the precursors
O’ the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary
And sight-outrunning were not; the fire and cracks
Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune
Seem to besiege and make his bold waves tremble,
Yea, his dread trident shake.

PROSPERO
My brave spirit!
Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil
Would not infect his reason?

ARIEL
Not a soul
But felt a fever of the mad and play’d
Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners
Plunged in the foaming brine and quit the vessel,
Then all afire with me: the king’s son, Ferdinand,
With hair up-staring,–then like reeds, not hair,–
Was the first man that leap’d; cried, ‘Hell is empty
And all the devils are here.’

PROSPERO
Why that’s my spirit!
But was not this nigh shore?

ARIEL
Close by, my master.

PROSPERO
But are they, Ariel, safe?

ARIEL
Not a hair perish’d;
On their sustaining garments not a blemish,
But fresher than before: and, as thou badest me,
In troops I have dispersed them ’bout the isle.
The king’s son have I landed by himself;
Whom I left cooling of the air with sighs
In an odd angle of the isle and sitting,
His arms in this sad knot.

Thought Counts
Arden | 1979

Thoughts |TBD

Short: 3
Medium: 4
Long: 2
Total: 9

End-stopped: 8
Mid-line: 1

Periods: 7
Exclamations: 1
Questions: 1
Unfinished: 0

Objective

 

Helena needs the audience to

Thoughts
Arden | 1979

HELENA
1. How happy some o’er other some can be!
2. Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.
3. But what of that? 4. Demetrius thinks not so;
He will not know what all but he do know;
And as he errs, doting on Hermia’s eyes,
So I, admiring of his qualities.
5. Things base and vile, holding no quantity,
Love can transpose to form and dignity:
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind;
Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgement taste:
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste.
6. And therefore is Love said to be a child,
Because in choice he is so oft beguil’d.
7. As waggish boys, in game, themselves forswear,
So the boy Love is perjur’d every where;
For, ere Demetrius look’d on Hermia’s eyne,
He hail’d down oaths that he was only mine;
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,
So he dissolv’d, and showers of oaths did melt.
8. I will go tell him of fair Hermia’s flight:
Then to the wood will he to-morrow night,
Pursue her; and for this intelligence
If I have thanks, it is a dear expense.
9. But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
To have his sight thither and back again.

Exit

Line Analysis
Arden | 1979

HELENA
How happy some o’er other some can be!          10R
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.        10R
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;       10R11
He will not know what all but he do know;                10R mono
And as he errs, doting on Hermia‘s eyes,                 10R11
So I, admiring of his qualities.                                     10R
Things base and vile, holding no quantity,                10
Love can transpose to form and dignity:                     10
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,       10 10R
And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind;           10R | 10
Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgement taste:          10R
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste.               10
And therefore is Love said to be a child,                  10R
Because in choice he is so oft beguil’d.                   10R
As waggish boys, in game, themselves forswear,    10R
So the boy Love is perjur’d every where;                     10
For, ere Demetrius look’d on Hermia’s eyne,            10R
He hail’d down oaths that he was only mine;             10R
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,         10R
So he dissolv’d, and showers of oaths did melt.       10R11
I will go tell him of fair Hermia’s flight:                       10R 10
Then to the wood will he to-morrow night,               10
Pursue her; and for this intelligence                           10R
If I have thanks, it is a dear expense.                   10R
But herein mean I to enrich my pain,                      10R
To have his sight thither and back again.            10

Exit

Pacing and Tempo
Arden | 1979

HELENA
How happy some o’er other some can be!   pause
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.   pause  carefully
But what of that? <c, quickly> Demetrius thinks not so;  slowly |
He will not know what all but he do know;  slowly
And as he errs, <c> doting on Hermia’s eyes,   slowly |
So I, <c> admiring of his qualities.     pause
Things base and vile, <c> holding no quantity,
Love can transpose <c> to form and dignity:
Love looks not with the eyes, <c> but with the mind,   slowly
And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind;
Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgement taste:
Wings <c> and no eyes <c> figure unheedy haste.  pause
And therefore is Love said to be a child,
Because in choice he is so oft beguil’d.    pause
As waggish boys, in game, themselves forswear,
So the boy Love is perjur’d every where;
For, <c> ere Demetrius look’d on Hermia’s eyne,
He hail’d down oaths that he was only mine;   slowly
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,    slowly?
So he dissolv’d, <c> and showers of oaths did melt.   pause
I will go tell him of fair Hermia’s flight:
Then to the wood will he to-morrow night,
Pursue her; <c> and for this intelligence
If I have thanks, <c> it is a dear expense.    pause
But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
To have his sight thither <c> and back again.   pause

Exit

Repeated Sounds
Arden | 1979

HELENA
How happy some o’er other some can be!
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;
He will not know what all but he do know;
And as he errs, doting on Hermia’s eyes,
So I, admiring of his qualities.
Things base and vile, holding no quantity,
Love can transpose to form and dignity:
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind;
Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgement taste:
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste.
And therefore is Love said to be a child,
Because in choice he is so oft beguil’d.
As waggish boys, in game, themselves forswear,
So the boy Love is perjur’d every where;
For, ere Demetrius look’d on Hermia’s eyne,
He hail’d down oaths that he was only mine;
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,
So he dissolv’d, and showers of oaths did melt.
I will go tell him of fair Hermia’s flight:
Then to the wood will he to-morrow night,
Pursue her; and for this intelligence
If I have thanks, it is a dear expense.
But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
To have his sight thither and back again.

Exit

Rhetoric
Arden | 1979

HELENA
How happy some o’er other some can be!    (comparison)
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.       (comparison)
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;       (formidable phraseology)
He will not know what all but he do know;              (antithesis)
And as he errs, doting on Hermia’s eyes,       (antithesis, imagery)
So I, admiring of his qualities.                  (imagery)
Things base and vile, holding no quantity,            (imagery, antithesis, this and that)
Love can transpose to form and dignity:       (this and that)
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,      (antithesis)
And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind;        (imagery) 
Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgement taste:
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste.           (imagery, comparison, this and that)
And therefore is Love said to be a child,
Because in choice he is so oft beguil’d.           (imagery, comparison)
As waggish boys, in game, themselves forswear,         (simile, comparison, imagery)
So the boy Love is perjur’d every where;
For, ere Demetrius look’d on Hermia’s eyne,
He hail’d down oaths that he was only mine;       (metaphor, imagery)
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,     (imagery)
So he dissolv’d, and showers of oaths did melt.      (imagery, antithesis)
I will go tell him of fair Hermia’s flight:
Then to the wood will he to-morrow night,         (imagery)
Pursue her; and for this intelligence
If I have thanks, it is a dear expense.
But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
To have his sight thither and back again.   (this and that)

Exit

Before and After
Arden | 1979

HERMIA
And in the wood, where often you and I
Upon faint primrose-beds were wont to lie,
Emptying our bosoms of their counsel sweet,
There my Lysander and myself shall meet;
And thence from Athens turn away our eyes,
To seek new friends and stranger companies.
Farewell, sweet playfellow: pray thou for us;
And good luck grant thee thy Demetrius!
Keep word, Lysander: we must starve our sight
From lovers’ food till morrow deep midnight.

LYSANDER
I will, my Hermia.

Exit HERMIA

Helena, adieu:
As you on him, Demetrius dote on you!

Exit

HELENA
How happy some o’er other some can be!
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;
He will not know what all but he do know;
And as he errs, doting on Hermia’s eyes,
So I, admiring of his qualities.
Things base and vile, holding no quantity,
Love can transpose to form and dignity:
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind;
Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgement taste:
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste.
And therefore is Love said to be a child,
Because in choice he is so oft beguil’d.
As waggish boys, in game, themselves forswear,
So the boy Love is perjur’d every where;
For, ere Demetrius look’d on Hermia’s eyne,
He hail’d down oaths that he was only mine;
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,
So he dissolv’d, and showers of oaths did melt.
I will go tell him of fair Hermia’s flight:
Then to the wood will he to-morrow night,
Pursue her; and for this intelligence
If I have thanks, it is a dear expense.
But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
To have his sight thither and back again.

Exit

Definitions
Arden | 1979

HELENA
How happy some o’er other some can be!
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;
He will not know what all but he do know;
And as he errs, doting on Hermia’s eyes,
So I, admiring of his qualities.
Things base and vile, holding no quantity,
Love can transpose to form and dignity:
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind;
Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgement taste:
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste.
And therefore is Love said to be a child,
Because in choice he is so oft beguil’d.
As waggish boys, in game, themselves forswear,
So the boy Love is perjur’d every where;
For, ere Demetrius look’d on Hermia’s eyne,
He hail’d down oaths that he was only mine;
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,
So he dissolv’d, and showers of oaths did melt.
I will go tell him of fair Hermia’s flight:
Then to the wood will he to-morrow night,
Pursue her; and for this intelligence
If I have thanks, it is a dear expense.
But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
To have his sight thither and back again.

Exit

Translation
Arden | 1979

HELENA
How happy some o’er other some can be!
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;
He will not know what all but he do know;
And as he errs, doting on Hermia’s eyes,
So I, admiring of his qualities.
Things base and vile, holding no quantity,
Love can transpose to form and dignity:
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind;
Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgement taste:
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste.
And therefore is Love said to be a child,
Because in choice he is so oft beguil’d.
As waggish boys, in game, themselves forswear,
So the boy Love is perjur’d every where;
For, ere Demetrius look’d on Hermia’s eyne,
He hail’d down oaths that he was only mine;
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,
So he dissolv’d, and showers of oaths did melt.
I will go tell him of fair Hermia’s flight:
Then to the wood will he to-morrow night,
Pursue her; and for this intelligence
If I have thanks, it is a dear expense.
But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
To have his sight thither and back again.

Exit

Helena | Act 3, Scene 2 | 192-219

Lo, she is one of this confederacy!

Source
Oxford | Roma Gill. London: Oxford University Press, 2001

HELENA
Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
Now I perceive they have conjoin’d all three
To fashion this false sport in spite of me.
Injurious Hermia, most ungrateful maid,
Have you conspir’d, have you with these contriv’d
To bait me with this foul derision?
Is all the counsel that we two have shar’d,
The sister’s vows, the hours that we have spent
When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us–O, is all forgot?
All school-days’ friendship, childhood innocence?
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods
Have with our needles created both one flower,
Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
Both warbling of one song, both in one key,
As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds
Had been incorporate. So we grow together
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,
But yet an union in partitiön;
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;
So with two seeming bodies but one heart,
Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,
Due but to one and crownèd with one crest.
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.

Thought Counts
Oxford | 2001

Thoughts |TBD

Short: 4
Medium: 5
Long: 2
Total: 11

End-stopped: 9
Mid-line: 2

Periods: 5
Exclamations: 1
Questions: 4
Unfinished: 1

Objective

 

Helena needs the audience:
to show sympathy for her.

Helena needs Hermia:
to demonstrate satisfactory acknowledgement of her hurt

Thoughts
Oxford | 2001

HELENA
1. Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
2. Now I perceive they have conjoin’d all three
To fashion this false sport in spite of me.
3. Injurious Hermia, most ungrateful maid,
Have you conspir’d, have you with these contriv’d
To bait me with this foul derision?
4. Is all the counsel that we two have shar’d,
The sister’s vows, the hours that we have spent
When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us– 5. O, is all forgot?
6. All school-days’ friendship, childhood innocence?
7. We, Hermia, like two artificial gods
Have with our needles created both one flower,
Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
Both warbling of one song, both in one key,
As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds
Had been incorporate. 8. So we grow together
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,
But yet an union in partition;
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;
So with two seeming bodies but one heart,
Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,
Due but to one and crowned with one crest.
9. And will you rent our ancient love asunder,
To join with men in scorning your poor friend?
10. It is not friendly, ’tis not maidenly.
11. Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it,
Though I alone do feel the injury.

Line Analysis
Oxford | 2001

HELENA
Lo, she is one of this confederacy!                                   1011
Now I perceive they have conjoin’d all three                    10
To fashion this false sport in spite of me.                          10R
Injurious Hermia, most ungrateful maid,                            10R1112
Have you conspir’d, have you with these contriv’d           10R10
To bait me with this foul derisiön?                                       10R
Is all the counsel that we two have shar’d,                         10R
The sister’s vows, the hours that we have spent               10R
When we have chid the hasty-footed time                          10R
For parting us–O, is all forgot?                                                 9
All school-days’ friendship, childhood innocence?             10R | 10
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods                                      1011  stretch
Have with our needles created both one flower,                   11w | 12w
Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,                       11w
Both warbling of one song, both in one key,                        10R 10
As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds                      10
Had been incorporate. So we grew together                        11w12
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,                              11w
But yet an union in partitiön;                                                 10R10
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;                          10R10
So with two seeming bodies but one heart,                        10
Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,                                   10
Due but to one and crownèd with one crest.                      10R | 10
And will you rent our ancient love asunder,                         11w
To join with men in scorning your poor friend?                  10R10
It is not friendly, ’tis not maidenly.                                           10R
Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it,                         11w
Though I alone do feel the injury.                                         10R

Phrasing and Tempo
Oxford | 2001

HELENA
Lo, <cshe is one of this confederacy!  pause
Now I perceive <c> they have conjoin’d<call three
To fashion this false sport in spite of me.  pause      slowly
Injurious Hermia,<cmost ungrateful maid,
Have you conspir’d,<chave you with these contriv’d  carefully
To bait me with this foul derision?  pause    carefully
Is all the counsel that we two have shar’d,
The sister’s vows,<cthe hours that we have spent  slowly?
When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us–<c> <pauseO, is all forgot?  pause
All school-days’ friendship,<cchildhood innocence?  pause
We,<cHermia, <c> like two artificial gods
Have with our needles <ccreated both one flower,
Both on one sampler, <c> sitting on one cushion,
Both warbling of one song,<cboth in one key,  slowly?
As if our hands,<cour sides,<cvoices,<cand minds   slowly?
Had been incorporate.<c><quickly>  So we grew together   carefully
Like to a double cherry,<cseeming parted,
But yet an union in partitiön;  slowly
Two lovely berries <cmoulded on one stem;
So with two seeming bodies <cbut one heart,
Two of the first,<clike coats in heraldry,  carefully
Due but to one <cand crownèd with one crest.  pause    carefully
And will you rent our ancient love asunder,
To join with men in scorning your poor friend?  pause
It is not friendly, <c’tis not maidenly.  pause
Our sex, <cas well as I,<cmay chide you for it,  slow
Though I alone do feel the injury.

Repeated Sounds
Oxford | 2001

HELENA
Lo, shee is one of this confederacee!
Now I perseeve they have conjoh-een’d all three
To fashion this false sport in spite of mee.
Injeree-us Hermee-ah, most ungreh-eeteful meh-eed,
Have you conspah-eer’d, have you with these contraheev’d
To beh-eet mee with this foul derision?
Is all the counsel that oow-ee two have shar’d,
The sister’s vows, the howrs that oow-ee have spent
When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us–O, is it all forgot?
All school-days’ friendship, childhood innocence?
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods
Have with our needles cree-eh-eeted both one flower,
Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
Both warbling of one song, both in one key,
As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds
Had been incorporate. So we grow together
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,
But yet an union in partition;
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;
So with two seeming bodies but one heart,
Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,
Due but to one and crowned with one crest.
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.

Rhetoric
Oxford | 2001

HELENA
Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
Now I perceive they have conjoin’d all three
To fashion this false sport in spite of me.
Injurious Hermia, most ungrateful maid,
Have you conspir’d, have you with these contriv’d
To bait me with this foul derision?      (imagery, implied metaphor)
Is all the counsel that we two have shar’d,
The sister’s vows, the hours that we have spent
When we have chid the hasty-footed time   (imagery, list)
For parting us–O, is all forgot?
All school-days’ friendship, childhood innocence?   (imagery)
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods       (simile, imagery)
Have with our needles created both one flower,  (paradox, antithesis)
Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,  (imagery)
Both warbling of one song, both in one key,  (imagery)
As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds  (simile, comparison, paradox, repetition)
Had been incorporate. So we grew together
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,   (simile, imagery)
But yet an union in partitiön;  (paradox)
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;   (metaphor, imagery, repetition)
So with two seeming bodies but one heart, (paradox)
Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,  (metaphor, simile, comparison, imagery)
Due but to one and crownèd with one crest.
And will you rent our ancient love asunder,     (imagery, anthesis)
To join with men in scorning your poor friend?   (antithesis)
It is not friendly, ’tis not maidenly.
Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it,  (hyperbole, imagery, personification, antithesis)
Though I alone do feel the injury.

Before and After
Oxford | 2001

LYSANDER
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?

HELENA
You do advance your cunning more and more.
When truth kills truth, O devilish-holy fray!
These vows are Hermia’s: will you give her o’er?
Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh:
Your vows to her and me, put in two scales,
Will even weigh, and both as light as tales.

LYSANDER
I had no judgment when to her I swore.

HELENA
Nor none, in my mind, now you give her o’er.

LYSANDER
Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you.

DEMETRIUS
[Awaking] O Helena, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine!
To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?
Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show
Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!
That pure congealed white, high Taurus snow,
Fann’d with the eastern wind, turns to a crow
When thou hold’st up thy hand: O, let me kiss
This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss!

HELENA
O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent
To set against me for your merriment:
If you we re civil and knew courtesy,
You would not do me thus much injury.
Can you not hate me, as I know you do,
But you must join in souls to mock me too?
If you were men, as men you are in show,
You would not use a gentle lady so;
To vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts,
When I am sure you hate me with your hearts.
You both are rivals, and love Hermia;
And now both rivals, to mock Helena:
A trim exploit, a manly enterprise,
To conjure tears up in a poor maid’s eyes
With your derision! none of noble sort
Would so offend a virgin, and extort
A poor soul’s patience, all to make you sport.

LYSANDER
You are unkind, Demetrius; be not so;
For you love Hermia; this you know I know:
And here, with all good will, with all my heart,
In Hermia’s love I yield you up my part;
And yours of Helena to me bequeath,
Whom I do love and will do till my death.

HELENA
Never did mockers waste more idle breath.

DEMETRIUS
Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none:
If e’er I loved her, all that love is gone.
My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourn’d,
And now to Helen is it home return’d,
There to remain.

LYSANDER
Helen, it is not so.

DEMETRIUS
Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,
Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear.
Look, where thy love comes; yonder is thy dear.

Re-enter HERMIA

HERMIA
Dark night, that from the eye his function takes,
The ear more quick of apprehension makes;
Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense,
It pays the hearing double recompense.
Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found;
Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound
But why unkindly didst thou leave me so?

LYSANDER
Why should he stay, whom love doth press to go?

HERMIA
What love could press Lysander from my side?

LYSANDER
Lysander’s love, that would not let him bide,
Fair Helena, who more engilds the night
Than all you fiery oes and eyes of light.
Why seek’st thou me? could not this make thee know,
The hate I bear thee made me leave thee so?

HERMIA
You speak not as you think: it cannot be.

HELENA
Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
Now I perceive they have conjoin’d all three
To fashion this false sport in spite of me.
Injurious Hermia, most ungrateful maid,
Have you conspir’d, have you with these contriv’d
To bait me with this foul derision?
Is all the counsel that we two have shar’d,
The sister’s vows, the hours that we have spent
When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us–O, is it all forgot?
All school-days’ friendship, childhood innocence?
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods
Have with our needles created both one flower,
Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
Both warbling of one song, both in one key,
As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds
Had been incorporate. So we grow together
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,
But yet an union in partition;
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;
So with two seeming bodies but one heart,
Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,
Due but to one and crowned with one crest.
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.

HERMIA
I am amazed at your passionate words.
I scorn you not: it seems that you scorn me.

HELENA
Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn,
To follow me and praise my eyes and face?
And made your other love, Demetrius,
Who even but now did spurn me with his foot,
To call me goddess, nymph, divine and rare,
Precious, celestial? Wherefore speaks he this
To her he hates? and wherefore doth Lysander
Deny your love, so rich within his soul,
And tender me, forsooth, affection,
But by your setting on, by your consent?
What thought I be not so in grace as you,
So hung upon with love, so fortunate,
But miserable most, to love unloved?
This you should pity rather than despise.

HERMIA
I understand not what you mean by this.

Definition
Oxford | 2001

HELENA
Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
Now I perceive they have conjoin’d all three
To fashion this false sport in spite of me.
Injurious Hermia, most ungrateful maid,
Have you conspir’d, have you with these contriv’d
To bait me with this foul derision?
Is all the counsel that we two have shar’d,
The sister’s vows, the hours that we have spent
When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us–O, is all forgot?
All school-days’ friendship, childhood innocence?
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods
Have with our needles created both one flower,
Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
Both warbling of one song, both in one key,
As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds
Had been incorporate. So we grow together
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,
But yet an union in partitiön;
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;
So with two seeming bodies but one heart,
Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,
Due but to one and crownèd with one crest.
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.

Translation
Oxford | 2001

HELENA
Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
Now I perceive they have conjoin’d all three
To fashion this false sport in spite of me.
Injurious Hermia, most ungrateful maid,
Have you conspir’d, have you with these contriv’d
To bait me with this foul derision?
Is all the counsel that we two have shar’d,
The sister’s vows, the hours that we have spent
When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us–O, is all forgot?
All school-days’ friendship, childhood innocence?
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods
Have with our needles created both one flower,
Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
Both warbling of one song, both in one key,
As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds
Had been incorporate. So we grow together
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,
But yet an union in partitiön;
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;
So with two seeming bodies but one heart,
Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,
Due but to one and crownèd with one crest.
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.

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