TN6

Source
Arden 2 | R.A. Foakes. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing, 1962.

LUCIANA
And may it be that you have quite forgot
A husband’s office? shall, Antipholus,
Even in the spring of love, thy love-springs rot?
Shall love in building grow so ruinous?
If you did wed my sister for her wealth,                                                          5
Then for her wealth’s sake use her with more kindness;
Or if you like elsewhere, do it by stealth,
Muffle your false love with some show of blindness.
Let not my sister read it in your eye;
Be not thy tongue thy own shame’s orator;                                                10
Look sweet, speak fair, become disloyalty;
Apparel vice like virtue’s harbinger;
Bear a fair presence, though your heart be tainted;
Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint,
Be secret false; what need she be acquainted?                                        15
What simple thief brags of his own attaint?
‘Tis double wrong to truant with your bed,
And let her read it in thy looks at board;
Shame hath a bastard fame, well managed;
Ill deeds is doubled with an evil word.                                                          20
Alas, poor women, make us but believe
(Being compact of credit) that you love us;
Though others have the arm, show us the sleeve;
We in your motion turn, and you may move us.
Then, gentle brother, get you in again;                                                        25
Comfort my sister, cheer her, call her wife;
‘Tis holy sport to be a little vain
When the sweet breath of flattery conquers strife.

Thought Counts
Arden 2 | 1962

Thoughts |TBD

Short: 2
Medium: 5
Long: 1
Total: 8

End-stopped: 8
Mid-line: 0

Periods: 4
Exclamations: 0
Questions: 4
Unfinished: 0

Thoughts
Arden 2 | 1962

LUCIANA
1. And may it be that you have quite forgot
A husband’s office? shall, Antipholus,
Even in the spring of love, thy love-springs rot?
2. Shall love in building grow so ruinous?
3. If you did wed my sister for her wealth,                                                          5
Then for her wealth’s sake use her with more kindness;
Or if you like elsewhere, do it by stealth,
Muffle your false love with some show of blindness.
4. Let not my sister read it in your eye;
Be not thy tongue thy own shame’s orator;                                                10
Look sweet, speak fair, become disloyalty;
Apparel vice like virtue’s harbinger;
Bear a fair presence, though your heart be tainted;
Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint,
Be secret false; what need she be acquainted?                                        15
5. What simple thief brags of his own attaint?
6. ‘Tis double wrong to truant with your bed,
And let her read it in thy looks at board;
Shame hath a bastard fame, well managed;
Ill deeds is doubled with an evil word.                                                          20
7. Alas, poor women, make us but believe
(Being compact of credit) that you love us;
Though others have the arm, show us the sleeve;
We in your motion turn, and you may move us.
8. Then, gentle brother, get you in again;                                                        25
Comfort my sister, cheer her, call her wife;
‘Tis holy sport to be a little vain
When the sweet breath of flattery conquers strife.

Line Analysis
Arden 2 | 1962

LUCIANA
And may it be that you have quite forgot                                           10 R
A husband’s office? shall, Antipholus,                                                10 R
Even in the spring of love, thy love–springs rot?                         10 or 10 R or 11  (e’en)
Shall love in building grow so ruinous?                                                10 or 10 R
If you did wed my sister for her wealth,                                                10 or 10 R            5
Then for her wealth’s sake use her with more kindness;               11 W
Or if you like elsewhere, do it by stealth,                                            10
Muffle your false love with some show of blindness.                     11 W
Let not my sister read it in your eye;                                                     10 or 10 R
Be not thy tongue thy own shame’s orator;                                        10 R                     10
Look sweet, speak fair, become disloyalty;                                         10 or 10 R
Apparel vice like virtue’s harbinger;                                                       10 R
Bear a fair presence, though your heart be tainted;                         11 W
Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint,                                                    10 or 10 R
Be secret false; what need she be acquainted?                                  11 W                  15
What simple thief brags of his own attaint?                                         10 
‘Tis double wrong to truant with your bed,                                            10 R
And let her read it in thy looks at board;                                                  10 R
Shame hath a bastard fame, well managèd;                                        10
Ill deeds is doubled with an evil word.                                                    10 or 10 R       20
Alas, poor women, make us but believe                                                 10 or 10 R
(Being compact of credit) that you love us;                                          11 W
Though others have the arm, show us the sleeve;                             10 or 10 R
We in your motion turn, and you may move us.                                    11 W
Then, gentle brother, get you in again;                                                   10 R                  25
Comfort my sister, cheer her, call her wife;                                           10
‘Tis holy sport to be a little vain                                                                  10 R
When the sweet breath of flattery conquers strife.                             10 or 11   (flatt’ry)

Pacing and Tempo
Arden 2 | 1962

LUCIANA
And may it be ^ that you have quite forgot →
A husband’s office? ^ shall, ^ Antipholus,
Even in the spring of love, ^ thy love-springs rot?      PAUSE?
Shall love in building ^ grow so ruinous?      PAUSE?
If you did wed my sister for her wealth,                                                          5
Then for her wealth’s sake ^ use her with more kindness;
Or ^ if you like elsewhere, ^ do it by stealth,
Muffle your false love ^ with some show of blindness.    PAUSE?
Let not my sister read it ^ in your eye;
Be not thy tongue ^ thy own shame’s orator;                                                10
Look sweet, ^ speak fair, ^ become disloyalty;
Apparel vice ^ like virtue‘s harbinger;
Bear a fair presence, ^ though your heart be tainted;
Teach sin ^ the carriage ^ of a holy saint,
Be secret false; ^ what need she be acquainted?       PAUSE?                 15
What simple thief ^ brags of his own attaint?      PAUSE?
‘Tis double wrong ^ to truant with your bed,
And let her read it ^ in thy looks ^ at board;
Shame hath a bastard fame, ^ well managed;
Ill deeds ^ is doubled with an evil word.      PAUSE?                                    20
Alas, ^ poor women, ^ make us but believe →
(Being compact of credit) ^ that you love us;
Though others have the arm, ^ show us the sleeve;
We in your motion turn, ^ and you may move us.      PAUSE?
Then, ^ gentle brother, ^ get you in again;                                                        25
Comfort my sister, ^ cheer her, ^ call her wife;
‘Tis holy sport ^ to be a little vain →*
When the sweet breath of flattery ^ conquers strife.

Repeated Sounds
Arden 2 | 1962

LUCIANA
And may it be that you have quite forgot
A husband’s office? shall, Antipholus,
Even in the spring of love, thy love-springs rot?
Shall love in building grow so ruinous?
If you did wed my sister for her wealth,                                                          5
Then for her wealth’s sake use her with more kindness;
Or if you like elsewhere, do it by stealth,
Muffle your false love with some show of blindness.
Let not my sister read it in your eye;
Be not thy tongue thy own shame’s orator;                                                10
Look sweet, speak fair, become disloyalty;
Apparel vice like virtue’s harbinger;
Bear a fair presence, though your heart be tainted;
Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint,
Be secret false; what need she be acquainted?                                        15
What simple thief brags of his own attaint?
‘Tis double wrong to truant with your bed,
And let her read it in thy looks at board;
Shame hath a bastard fame, well managed;
Ill deeds is doubled with an evil word.                                                          20
Alas, poor women, make us but believe
(Being compact of credit) that you love us;
Though others have the arm, show us the sleeve;
We in your motion turn, and you may move us.
Then, gentle brother, get you in again;                                                        25
Comfort my sister, cheer her, call her wife;
‘Tis holy sport to be a little vain
When the sweet breath of flattery conquers strife.

Rhetoric
Arden 2 | 1962

imagery

shall, Antipholus,
Even in the spring of love, thy love-springs rot?

Shall love in building grow so ruinous?

Or if you like elsewhere, do it by stealth,
Muffle your false love with some show of blindness.

Let not my sister read it in your eye;

Be not thy tongue thy own shame’s orator;

Look sweet, speak fair, become disloyalty;

Apparel vice like virtue’s harbinger;

Bear a fair presence, though your heart be tainted;

Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint,

What simple thief brags of his own attaint?

‘Tis double wrong to truant with your bed,
And let her read it in thy looks at board;

‘Tis holy sport to be a little vain
When the sweet breath of flattery conquers strife.

metaphor

shall, Antipholus,
Even in the spring of love, thy love-springs rot?

Shall love in building grow so ruinous?

‘Tis double wrong to truant with your bed, (metonymy)
And let her read it in thy looks at board; (metonymy)

Shame hath a bastard fame, well managed;

Though others have the arm, show us the sleeve;  (synechdoche, metonymy)

We in your motion turn, and you may move us.
(astrological metaphor)

When the sweet breath of flattery conquers strife.(synechdoche)

simile

Apparel vice like virtue’s harbinger;

plain comparison

juxtaposition

antithesis

shall, Antipholus,
Even in the spring of love, thy love-springs rot?

Shall love in building grow so ruinous?

If you did wed my sister for her wealth,
Then for her wealth’s sake use her with more kindness;

Muffle your false love with some show of blindness.

Apparel vice like virtue’s harbinger;

Bear a fair presence, though your heart be tainted;

‘Tis double wrong to truant with your bed,
And let her read it in thy looks at board;

Though others have the arm, show us the sleeve;

contradiction/paradox

personification

Muffle your false love with some show of blindness.

Be not thy tongue thy own shame’s orator;

Look sweet, speak fair, become disloyalty;

Apparel vice like virtue’s harbinger;

Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint,

Shame hath a bastard fame, well managed;

When the sweet breath of flattery conquers strife.

this and that

‘Tis double wrong to truant with your bed,
And let her read it in thy looks at board;

We in your motion turn, and you may move us.

this, that, and another thing

enumerations

1) Let not my sister read it in your eye;
2) Be not thy tongue thy own shame’s orator;
3) Look sweet, 4) speak fair, 5) become disloyalty;
5) Apparel vice like virtue’s harbinger;
6) Bear a fair presence, though your heart be tainted;
7) Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint,
8) Be secret false; what need she be acquainted?

repetitions of words or phrases

spring

love

wealth

show

sweet

fair

false

read

look/looks

holy

parenthesis

Alas, poor women, make us but believe
(Being compact of credit) that you love us;

irony

puns and other wordplay

shall, Antipholus,
Even in the spring of love, thy love-springs rot?

onomatopoeia

muffle

And may it be that you have quite forgot
A husband’s office? shall, Antipholus,
Even in the spring of love, thy love-springs rot?
Shall love in building grow so ruinous?
If you did wed my sister for her wealth,
Then for her wealth’s sake use her with more kindness;
Or if you like elsewhere, do it by stealth,
Muffle your false love with some show of blindness.
Let not my sister read it in your eye;
Be not thy tongue thy own shame’s orator;
Look sweet, speak fair, become disloyalty;
Apparel vice like virtue’s harbinger;
Bear a fair presence, though your heart be tainted;
Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint,
Be secret false; what need she be acquainted?
What simple thief brags of his own attaint?
‘Tis double wrong to truant with your bed,
And let her read it in thy looks at board;
Shame hath a bastard fame, well managed;
Ill deeds is doubled with an evil word.
Alas, poor women, make us but believe
(Being compact of credit) that you love us;
Though others have the arm, show us the sleeve;
We in your motion turn, and you may move us.
Then, gentle brother, get you in again;
Comfort my sister, cheer her, call her wife;
‘Tis holy sport to be a little vain
When the sweet breath of flattery conquers strife.

Before and After
Arden 2 | 1962

LUCIANA
And may it be that you have quite forgot
A husband’s office? shall, Antipholus,
Even in the spring of love, thy love-springs rot?
Shall love in building grow so ruinous?
If you did wed my sister for her wealth,                                                          5
Then for her wealth’s sake use her with more kindness;
Or if you like elsewhere, do it by stealth,
Muffle your false love with some show of blindness.
Let not my sister read it in your eye;
Be not thy tongue thy own shame’s orator;                                                10
Look sweet, speak fair, become disloyalty;
Apparel vice like virtue’s harbinger;
Bear a fair presence, though your heart be tainted;
Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint,
Be secret false; what need she be acquainted?                                        15
What simple thief brags of his own attaint?
‘Tis double wrong to truant with your bed,
And let her read it in thy looks at board;
Shame hath a bastard fame, well managed;
Ill deeds is doubled with an evil word.                                                          20
Alas, poor women, make us but believe
(Being compact of credit) that you love us;
Though others have the arm, show us the sleeve;
We in your motion turn, and you may move us.
Then, gentle brother, get you in again;                                                        25
Comfort my sister, cheer her, call her wife;
‘Tis holy sport to be a little vain
When the sweet breath of flattery conquers strife.

Definitions
Arden 2 | 1962

office

Antipholus

spring

love-springs

rot

building

ruinous

stealth

muffle

false

show

blindness

shame

orator

sweet

fair

become

disloyalty

apparel

vice

virtue

harbinger

bear

presence

tainted

sin

carriage

holy

saint

secret

false

acquainted

simple

attaint

double wrong

truant

bed

board

bastard

fame

well managed

ill deeds

compact

credit

arm

sleeve

motion

move

gentle

comfort

cheer

sport

vain

flattery

strife

Translation
Ian Leung

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
No Fear Shakespeare

LUCIANA
Have you completely forgotten your duty as a husband? Antipholus, your marriage is still fresh and new, like the springtime—have the young shoots of your love already started to wither? Is the building of your love already in ruins? If you married my sister for her wealth, then for her wealth’s sake, treat her with more kindness. Or if your affection has already strayed to another woman, at least be stealthy about it. Hide your false love, blindfold yourself so my sister cannot read your faithlessness in your eyes. Watch what you say, and don’t let your own words give away your shame. Look sweet and act kindly—be attractive in your disloyalty. Disguise your misbehavior as integrity, and behave properly even if your heart is tainted. Though you are sinful, carry yourself like a holy saint. Be false in secret: why does she need to know? What foolish thief brags about his crimes? It’s doubly wrong to cheat on your wife and then let her see the offense in your eyes. When you do something shameful, it’s possible to put a good spin on it, but bad deeds are made worse by speaking of them. Alas, poor women! We’re so gullible, we believe it when you say you love us. Even if you love someone else in your heart, make it appear as if you love us. We follow in your orbit, and you have the power to move us. So, my sweet brother-in-law, go inside. Comfort my sister, cheer her up, call her “wife.” It’s a holy thing to lie a little when sweet flattery can smooth over trouble.

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

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!                                   10 | 11
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,                            10R | 11 | 12
Have you conspir’d, have you with these contriv’d           10R | 10
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                                      10 | 11  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                        11w | 12
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,                              11w
But yet an union in partitiön;                                                 10R | 10
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;                          10R | 10
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?                  10R | 10
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, <c> she is one of this confederacy!  pause
Now I perceive <c> they have conjoin’d<c> all three
To fashion this false sport in spite of me.  pause      slowly
Injurious Hermia,<c> most ungrateful maid,
Have you conspir’d,<c> have 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,<c> the hours that we have spent  slowly?
When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us–<c> <pause> O, is all forgot?  pause
All school-days’ friendship,<c> childhood innocence?  pause
We,<c> Hermia, <c> like two artificial gods
Have with our needles <c> created both one flower,
Both on one sampler, <c> sitting on one cushion,
Both warbling of one song,<c> both in one key,  slowly?
As if our hands,<c> our sides,<c> voices,<c> and minds   slowly?
Had been incorporate.<c><quickly>  So we grew together   carefully
Like to a double cherry,<c> seeming parted,
But yet an union in partitiön;  slowly
Two lovely berries <c> moulded on one stem;
So with two seeming bodies <c> but one heart,
Two of the first,<c> like coats in heraldry,  carefully
Due but to one <c> and 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, <c> as well as I,<c> may 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 contrah–eev’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.