A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 1, Scene 1, 128-179
“How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale?”
Arden 3 | Sukanta Chaudhuri, ed. | 2017 (129-133)
Source
Arden 3 | Sukanta Chaudhuri ed. | 2017
(Exeunt [all but] Lysander and Hermia.)
LYSANDER:
How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale?
How chance the roses there do fade so fast?
HERMIA:
Belike for want of rain, which I could well 130
Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes.
LYSANDER:
Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth;
But either it was different in blood – 135
HERMIA:
O cross, too high to be enthralled to low!
LYSANDER:
Or else misgrafted in respect of years –
HERMIA:
O spite, too old to be engaged to young!
LYSANDER:
Or else it stood upon the choice of friends –
HERMIA:
O hell, to choose love by another’s eyes! 140
LYSANDER:
Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,
War, death or sickness did lay siege to it,
Making it momentany as a sound,
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream,
Brief as the lightning in the collied night 145
That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth,
And ere a man hath power to say ‘Behold’,
The jaws of darkness do devour it up:
So quick bright things come to confusion.
HERMIA:
If then true lovers have been ever crossed, 150
It stands as an edict in destiny.
Then let us teach our trial patience
Because it is a customary cross,
As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs,
Wishes and tears, poor fancy’s followers. 155
LYSANDER:
A good persuasion; therefore hear me, Hermia.
I have a widow aunt, a dowager,
Of great revenue, and she hath no child.
From Athens is her house remote seven leagues,
And she respects me as her only son. 160
There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee,
And to that place the sharp Athenian law
Cannot pursue us. If thou lov’st me, then
Steal forth thy father’s house tomorrow night;
And in the wood a league without the town, 165
Where I did meet thee once with Helena
To do observance to a morn of May,
There will I stay for thee.
HERMIA:
————————-My good Lysander,
I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow,
By his best arrow with the golden head, 170
By the simplicity of Venus’ doves,
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,
And by that fire which burned the Carthage queen
When the false Trojan under sail was seen,
By all the vows that ever men have broke 175
(In number more than ever women spoke),
In that same place thou hast appointed me,
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee.
LYSANDER:
Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena.
Enter Helena.
HERMIA:
God speed, fair Helena. Whither away? 180
Words and Pronunciation
Arden 3 | 2017
Words
how chance: how does it happen, why is it (Chaudhuri)
belike: probably, presumably, perhaps, so it seems (SW)
beteem: allow, permit, let, grant (SW)
aught: anything [with negative word] nothing (SW)
ay me: alas (Chaudhuri)
blood: birth, family, rank (Chaudhuri); blood relationship, kinship (SW); nobility, breeding, gentility, good parentage (SW)
cross: pain, affliction (Chaudhuri); trial, affliction, trouble (SW)
misgrafted: wrongly grafted, like a plant; ill-matched (Chaudhuri); misgraffed: badly matched, ill-grafted, unsuited (SW)
in respect of: with respect to (Leung)
spite: annoyance, vexation, irritation (SW); malice, ill-will, hatred (SW)
friends: kinsfolk, relations ((OED n.3) Chaudhuri); friend: relative, relation, kinsman (SW)
sympathy: affinity (OED n. 1); here, mutual love (Chaudhuri):
momentany: a word then current, of slightly earlier origin than ‘momentary’. ‘Momentary’ was growing commoner by the early sixteenth century, hence the deliberate or inadvertent change in F. (Chaudhuri); momentary, transitory, fleeting (SW)
collied: coal-black (Chaudhuri); clouded, blackened, muddled (SW); blackened, darkened, murky (SW)
spleen: outburst, fit of passion (OED n. 7a) (Chaudhuri); impulse, caprice, whim (SW)
unfolds: lays open, reveals (Chaudhuri); displays, reveals, shows (SW)
confusion: destruction (Chaudhuri); destruction, overthrow, ruin (SW); calamity, disaster, catastrophe (SW)
ever: always (Chaudhuri)
crossed: thwarted (Chaudhuri)
edict in destiny: judgement of fate (Chaudhuri)
trial: trouble, misfortune (Chaudhuri)
customary: according to Chaudhuri, OED adj. in a non legal sense: “1. Law. Designating a system of landholding by manorial or other custom, typically requiring the tenant to render services (service n.1 10a) periodically to his or her lord; esp. in customary tenure. Also: designating land held by this system (esp. in customary land, customary estate); designating a feudal tenant holding land of this type (esp. in customary tenant, customary holder). Cf. copyhold n. 1a, base adj. 6a. Now historical.”
due to: (1) caused by; (2) owed to, as an offering or tribute (Chaudhuri)
fancy’s followers: accompaniments or consequences of love (Chaudhuri)
persuasion: argument, used jocularly. Hermia had advocated patience, while Lysander now proposes action. (Chaudhuri); argument, inducement, reason (SW); conviction, principle, opinion (SW); belief, impression, understanding (SW)
dowager: A woman whose husband is dead and who is in the enjoyment of some title or some property that has come to her from him. Often added to the title so enjoyed, as princess-dowager, queen-dowager, dowager-duchess, dowager-queen, dowager-lady, etc. (OED)
remote: distant, removed (Leung)
leagues: A league (commonly used in poetical contexts) is usually taken as three miles. (Chaudhuri)
respects: (1) regards, considers (OED v. 4b); (2) values (Chaudhuri)
sharp: harsh, severe (Chaudhuri)
forth: out of (Blake, 5.4.2) (Chaudhuri)
without: outside (Chaudhuri)
do observance to: observe the rites of (Chaudhuri)
golden head: induces love, and the leaden arrow flight from love (Met. 1.468–71; Golding, 1.567–8) (Chaudhuri)
simplicity: innocence. Doves were proverbially ‘simple’ as having no gall (Dent, D573, D574). (Chaudhuri)
Venus’ doves: Doves draw Venus’ chariot in Met. 14.597 (Golding, 14.680) and, alongside swans, in many other sources. They are said to be sacred to Venus in Aelian, De animalium natura 10.33. See VA 153, 1190; Luc 58; Chaudhuri, ‘Venus’. (Chaudhuri)
Trojan under sail: i.e. sailing away from Carthage, abandoning Dido. In Aen. 4.586–8 but not Chaucer’s Legend of Dido (LGW) or Marlowe’s Dido, it is the sight of Aeneas’ departing sails that leads Dido to immolate herself (Brooks). (Chaudhuri)
appointed me: arranged or agreed with me (Chaudhuri)
god speed: God grant you success; may you prosper. Perhaps also a play on speed: Helena attempts to withdraw swiftly on seeing Hermia with Lysander (hence Whither away?). (Chaudhuri)
Pronunciation
revenue: line 158 – revènue or rèvenue; either works according to Chaudhuri
Translation
No Fear Shakespeare
They all exit except LYSANDER and HERMIA.
LYSANDER
What’s going on, my love? Why are you so pale? Why have your rosy cheeks faded so quickly?
HERMIA
Probably because my cheeks’ roses needed rain, which I could easily give them with all the tears in my eyes.
LYSANDER
Oh, honey! Listen, in books they say that true love always faces obstacles. Either the lovers have different social standings—
HERMIA
Oh, what an obstacle that would be! Imagine being too high on the social ladder, and falling in love with someone beneath you.
LYSANDER
Or else they were very different ages—
HERMIA
How awful! Being too old to marry someone young.
LYSANDER
Or else their guardians and advisors said no—
HERMIA
What hell, to have your love life determined by someone else!
LYSANDER
Or, even if the lovers are a good match, their love might be ruined by war, death, or sickness, so that the affair only lasts an instant. Their time together might be as fleeting as a shadow or as short as a dream, lasting only as long as it takes a lightning bolt to flash across the sky. Before you can say “look,” it’s gone. That’s how intense things like love are quickly destroyed.
HERMIA
If true lovers are always thwarted, then it must be a rule of fate. So let’s try to be patient as we deal with our problem. It’s as normal a part of love as dreams, sighs, wishes, and tears.
LYSANDER
That’s the right attitude. So, listen, Hermia. I have an aunt who is a widow, who’s very rich and doesn’t have any children. She lives about twenty miles from Athens, and she thinks of me as a son. I could marry you there, gentle Hermia, where the strict laws of Athens can’t touch us. So here’s the plan. If you love me, sneak out of your father’s house tomorrow night and meet me in the forest a few miles outside of town.
Assonance
Arden 3 | 2017
(Exeunt [all but] Lysander and Hermia.)
LYSANDER:
How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale?
How chance the roses there do fade so fast?
HERMIA:
Belike for want of rain, which I could well 130
Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes.
LYSANDER:
Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth;
But either it was different in blood – 135
HERMIA:
O cross, too high to be enthralled to low!
LYSANDER:
Or else misgrafted in respect of years –
HERMIA:
O spite, too old to be engaged to young!
LYSANDER:
Or else it stood upon the choice of friends –
HERMIA:
O hell, to choose love by another’s eyes! 140
LYSANDER:
Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,
War, death or sickness did lay siege to it,
Making it momentany as a sound,
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream,
Brief as the lightning in the collied night 145
That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth,
And ere a man hath power to say ‘Behold’,
The jaws of darkness do devour it up:
So quick bright things come to confusion.
HERMIA:
If then true lovers have been ever crossed, 150
It stands as an edict in destiny.
Then let us teach our trial patience
Because it is a customary cross,
As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs,
Wishes and tears, poor fancy’s followers. 155
LYSANDER:
A good persuasion; therefore hear me, Hermia.
I have a widow aunt, a dowager,
Of great revenue, and she hath no child.
From Athens is her house remote seven leagues,
And she respects me as her only son. 160
There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee,
And to that place the sharp Athenian law
Cannot pursue us. If thou lov’st me, then
Steal forth thy father’s house tomorrow night;
And in the wood a league without the town, 165
Where I did meet thee once with Helena
To do observance to a morn of May,
There will I stay for thee.
HERMIA:
————————-My good Lysander,
I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow,
By his best arrow with the golden head, 170
By the simplicity of Venus’ doves,
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,
And by that fire which burned the Carthage queen
When the false Trojan under sail was seen,
By all the vows that ever men have broke 175
(In number more than ever women spoke),
In that same place thou hast appointed me,
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee.
LYSANDER:
Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena.
Enter Helena.
HERMIA:
God speed, fair Helena. Whither away? 180
Alliteration
Arden 3 | 2017
(Exeunt [all but] Lysander and Hermia.)
LYSANDER:
How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale?
How chance the roses there do fade so fast?
HERMIA:
Belike for want of rain, which I could well 130
Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes.
LYSANDER:
Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth;
But either it was different in blood – 135
HERMIA:
O cross, too high to be enthralled to low!
LYSANDER:
Or else misgrafted in respect of years –
HERMIA:
O spite, too old to be engaged to young!
LYSANDER:
Or else it stood upon the choice of friends –
HERMIA:
O hell, to choose love by another’s eyes! 140
LYSANDER:
Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,
War, death or sickness did lay siege to it,
Making it momentany as a sound,
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream,
Brief as the lightning in the collied night 145
That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth,
And ere a man hath power to say ‘Behold’,
The jaws of darkness do devour it up:
So quick bright things come to confusion.
HERMIA:
If then true lovers have been ever crossed, 150
It stands as an edict in destiny.
Then let us teach our trial patience
Because it is a customary cross,
As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs,
Wishes and tears, poor fancy’s followers. 155
LYSANDER:
A good persuasion; therefore hear me, Hermia.
I have a widow aunt, a dowager,
Of great revenue, and she hath no child.
From Athens is her house remote seven leagues,
And she respects me as her only son. 160
There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee,
And to that place the sharp Athenian law
Cannot pursue us. If thou lov’st me, then
Steal forth thy father’s house tomorrow night;
And in the wood a league without the town, 165
Where I did meet thee once with Helena
To do observance to a morn of May,
There will I stay for thee.
HERMIA:
————————-My good Lysander,
I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow,
By his best arrow with the golden head, 170
By the simplicity of Venus’ doves,
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,
And by that fire which burned the Carthage queen
When the false Trojan under sail was seen,
By all the vows that ever men have broke 175
(In number more than ever women spoke),
In that same place thou hast appointed me,
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee.
LYSANDER:
Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena.
Enter Helena.
HERMIA:
God speed, fair Helena. Whither away? 180
Consonance
Arden 3 | 2017
(Exeunt [all but] Lysander and Hermia.)
LYSANDER:
How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale?
How chance the roses there do fade so fast?
HERMIA:
Belike for want of rain, which I could well 130
Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes.
LYSANDER:
Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth;
But either it was different in blood – 135
HERMIA:
O cross, too high to be enthralled to low!
LYSANDER:
Or else misgrafted in respect of years –
HERMIA:
O spite, too old to be engaged to young!
LYSANDER:
Or else it stood upon the choice of friends –
HERMIA:
O hell, to choose love by another’s eyes! 140
LYSANDER:
Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,
War, death or sickness did lay siege to it,
Making it momentany as a sound,
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream,
Brief as the lightning in the collied night 145
That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth,
And ere a man hath power to say ‘Behold’,
The jaws of darkness do devour it up:
So quick bright things come to confusion.
HERMIA:
If then true lovers have been ever crossed, 150
It stands as an edict in destiny.
Then let us teach our trial patience
Because it is a customary cross,
As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs,
Wishes and tears, poor fancy’s followers. 155
LYSANDER:
A good persuasion; therefore hear me, Hermia.
I have a widow aunt, a dowager,
Of great revenue, and she hath no child.
From Athens is her house remote seven leagues,
And she respects me as her only son. 160
There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee,
And to that place the sharp Athenian law
Cannot pursue us. If thou lov’st me, then
Steal forth thy father’s house tomorrow night;
And in the wood a league without the town, 165
Where I did meet thee once with Helena
To do observance to a morn of May,
There will I stay for thee.
HERMIA:
————————-My good Lysander,
I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow,
By his best arrow with the golden head, 170
By the simplicity of Venus’ doves,
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,
And by that fire which burned the Carthage queen
When the false Trojan under sail was seen,
By all the vows that ever men have broke 175
(In number more than ever women spoke),
In that same place thou hast appointed me,
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee.
LYSANDER:
Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena.
Enter Helena.
HERMIA:
God speed, fair Helena. Whither away? 180
Thoughts
Arden 3 | 2017
(Exeunt [all but] Lysander and Hermia.)
LYSANDER:
1. How now, my love? 2. Why is your cheek so pale?
3. How chance the roses there do fade so fast?
HERMIA:
1. Belike for want of rain, which I could well 130
Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes.
LYSANDER:
1. Ay me! b. for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth;
c. But either it was different in blood – 135
HERMIA:
1. O cross, too high to be enthralled to low!
LYSANDER:
d. Or else misgrafted in respect of years –
HERMIA:
1. O spite, too old to be engaged to young!
LYSANDER:
e. Or else it stood upon the choice of friends –
HERMIA:
1. O hell, to choose love by another’s eyes! 140
LYSANDER:
f. Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,
War, death or sickness did lay siege to it,
Making it momentany as a sound,
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream,
Brief as the lightning in the collied night 145
That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth,
And ere a man hath power to say ‘Behold’,
The jaws of darkness do devour it up:
g. So quick bright things come to confusion.
HERMIA:
1. If then true lovers have been ever crossed, 150
It stands as an edict in destiny.
2. Then let us teach our trial patience
Because it is a customary cross,
As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs,
Wishes and tears, poor fancy’s followers. 155
LYSANDER:
1. A good persuasion; (b) therefore hear me, Hermia.
2. I have a widow aunt, a dowager,
Of great revenue, and she hath no child.
3. From Athens is her house remote seven leagues,
And she respects me as her only son. 160
4. There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee,
And to that place the sharp Athenian law
Cannot pursue us. 5. If thou lov’st me, then
Steal forth thy father’s house tomorrow night;
(b) And in the wood a league without the town, 165
Where I did meet thee once with Helena
To do observance to a morn of May,
There will I stay for thee.
HERMIA:
————————-1. My good Lysander,
I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow,
By his best arrow with the golden head, 170
By the simplicity of Venus’ doves,
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,
And by that fire which burned the Carthage queen
When the false Trojan under sail was seen,
By all the vows that ever men have broke 175
(In number more than ever women spoke),
In that same place thou hast appointed me,
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee.
LYSANDER:
1. Keep promise, love. 2. Look, here comes Helena.
Enter Helena.
HERMIA:
1. God speed, fair Helena. 2. Whither away? 180
LYSANDER
Long: 2
Medium: 3
Short: 6
Complex: 4 | 2, 7, 2, 2
End-stopped: 7
Mid-line: 4
Period: 8
Exclamation: 0
Question: 3
Dash: 0
TOTAL: 11
HERMIA
Long: 1
Medium: 3
Short: 5
Complex: 0
End-stopped: 8
Mid-line: 1
Period: 5
Exclamation: 3
Question: 1
Dash: 0
TOTAL: 9
Rhythm
Arden 3 | 2017
(Exeunt [all but] Lysander and Hermia.)
LYSANDER:
How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale? 10|10R
How chance the roses there do fade so fast? 10R
HERMIA:
Belike for want of rain, which I could well 10R 130
Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes. 10R
LYSANDER:
Ay me! for aught that I could ever read, 10R
Could ever hear by tale or history, 10R
The course of true love never did run smooth; 10R
But either it was different in blood – 10R 135
HERMIA:
O cross, too high to be enthralled to low! 10R
LYSANDER:
Or else misgrafted in respect of years – 10R
HERMIA:
O spite, too old to be engaged to young! 10R
LYSANDER:
Or else it stood upon the choice of friends – 10R
HERMIA:
O hell, to choose love by another’s eyes! 10 140
LYSANDER:
Or, if there were a sympathy in choice, 10R
War, death or sickness did lay siege to it, 10|10R
Making it momentany as a sound, 10
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream, 10
Brief as the lightning in the collied night 10 145
That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, 10R|11
And ere a man hath power to say ‘Behold’, 10R
The jaws of darkness do devour it up: 10R
So quick bright things come to confusion. 10
HERMIA:
If then true lovers have been ever crossed, 10R 150
It stands as an edict in destiny. 10
Then let us teach our trial patience 10|10R
Because it is a customary cross, 10R
As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs, 10R
Wishes and tears, poor fancy’s followers. 10 155
LYSANDER:
A good persuasion; therefore hear me, Hermia. 11W|12
I have a widow aunt, a dowager, 10R
Of great revenue, and she hath no child. 10R
From Athens is her house remote seven leagues, 10R|11
And she respects me as her only son. 10R 160
There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee, 10|11
And to that place the sharp Athenian law 10R
Cannot pursue us. If thou lov’st me, then 10R
Steal forth thy father’s house tomorrow night; 10R
And in the wood a league without the town, 10R 165
Where I did meet thee once with Helena 10R
To do observance to a morn of May, 10R
There will I stay for thee. 6
HERMIA:
————————-My good Lysander, 5W
I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow, 10R
By his best arrow with the golden head, 10 170
By the simplicity of Venus’ doves, 10|10R
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves, 10R
And by that fire which burned the Carthage queen 10R
When the false Trojan under sail was seen, 10
By all the vows that ever men have broke 10R 175
(In number more than ever women spoke), 10R
In that same place thou hast appointed me, 10
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee. 10R
LYSANDER:
Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena. 10R
Enter Helena.
HERMIA:
God speed, fair Helena. Whither away? 10 180
Pacing
Arden 3 | 2017
(Exeunt [all but] Lysander and Hermia.)
LYSANDER:
How now, my love? <c> Why is your cheek so pale? PAUSE?
How chance the roses there do fade so fast? PAUSE?
HERMIA:
Belike for want of rain, which I could well 130
Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes. PAUSE?
LYSANDER:
Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth; pause?
But either it was different in blood – 135
HERMIA:
O cross, too high to be enthralled to low! PAUSE?
LYSANDER:
Or else misgrafted in respect of years –
HERMIA:
O spite, too old to be engaged to young! PAUSE?
LYSANDER:
Or else it stood upon the choice of friends –
HERMIA:
O hell, to choose love by another’s eyes! PAUSE? 140
LYSANDER:
Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,
War, death or sickness did lay siege to it,
Making it momentany as a sound,
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream,
Brief as the lightning in the collied night 145
That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth,
And ere a man hath power to say ‘Behold’,
The jaws of darkness do devour it up: pause?
So quick bright things come to confusion. PAUSE?
HERMIA:
If then true lovers have been ever crossed, 150
It stands as an edict in destiny. PAUSE?
Then let us teach our trial patience
Because it is a customary cross,
As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs,
Wishes and tears, poor fancy’s followers. PAUSE? 155
LYSANDER:
A good persuasion; therefore hear me, Hermia. PAUSE?
I have a widow aunt, a dowager,
Of great revenue, and she hath no child. PAUSE?
From Athens is her house remote seven leagues,
And she respects me as her only son. PAUSE? 160
There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee,
And to that place the sharp Athenian law
Cannot pursue us. If thou lov’st me, then
Steal forth thy father’s house tomorrow night; pause?
And in the wood a league without the town, 165
Where I did meet thee once with Helena
To do observance to a morn of May,
There will I stay for thee.
HERMIA:
————————-My good Lysander,
I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow,
By his best arrow with the golden head, 170
By the simplicity of Venus’ doves,
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,
And by that fire which burned the Carthage queen
When the false Trojan under sail was seen,
By all the vows that ever men have broke 175
(In number more than ever women spoke),
In that same place thou hast appointed me,
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee. PAUSE?
LYSANDER:
Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena. PAUSE?
Enter Helena.
HERMIA:
God speed, fair Helena. Whither away? PAUSE? 180
Beats
Arden 3 | 2017
(Exeunt [all but] Lysander and Hermia.)
Beat 1: Lysander needs Hermia to? Hermia needs Lysander to
LYSANDER:
How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale?
How chance the roses there do fade so fast?
HERMIA:
Belike for want of rain, which I could well 130
Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes.
Beat 2:
LYSANDER:
Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth;
But either it was different in blood – 135
HERMIA:
O cross, too high to be enthralled to low!
LYSANDER:
Or else misgrafted in respect of years –
HERMIA:
O spite, too old to be engaged to young!
LYSANDER:
Or else it stood upon the choice of friends –
HERMIA:
O hell, to choose love by another’s eyes! 140
LYSANDER:
Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,
War, death or sickness did lay siege to it,
Making it momentany as a sound,
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream,
Brief as the lightning in the collied night 145
That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth,
And ere a man hath power to say ‘Behold’,
The jaws of darkness do devour it up:
So quick bright things come to confusion.
HERMIA:
If then true lovers have been ever crossed, 150
It stands as an edict in destiny.
Then let us teach our trial patience
Because it is a customary cross,
As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs,
Wishes and tears, poor fancy’s followers. 155
Beat 3:
LYSANDER:
A good persuasion; therefore hear me, Hermia.
I have a widow aunt, a dowager,
Of great revenue, and she hath no child.
From Athens is her house remote seven leagues,
And she respects me as her only son. 160
There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee,
And to that place the sharp Athenian law
Cannot pursue us. If thou lov’st me, then
Steal forth thy father’s house tomorrow night;
And in the wood a league without the town, 165
Where I did meet thee once with Helena
To do observance to a morn of May,
There will I stay for thee.
HERMIA:
————————-My good Lysander,
I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow,
By his best arrow with the golden head, 170
By the simplicity of Venus’ doves,
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,
And by that fire which burned the Carthage queen
When the false Trojan under sail was seen,
By all the vows that ever men have broke 175
(In number more than ever women spoke),
In that same place thou hast appointed me,
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee.
LYSANDER:
Keep promise, love. ————————–
Beat 4:
LYSANDER:
———————Look, here comes Helena.
Enter Helena.
HERMIA:
God speed, fair Helena. Whither away? 180
Scene
Arden 3 | 2017
[1.1]
Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, [Philostrate,] with others.
THESEUS
Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour
Draws on apace. Four happy days bring in
Another moon; but O, methinks, how slow
This old moon wanes! She lingers my desires,
5Like to a stepdame or a dowager
Long withering out a young man’s revenue.
HIPPOLYTA
Four days will quickly steep themselves in night,
Four nights will quickly dream away the time;
And then the moon, like to a silver bow
122
10Now bent in heaven, shall behold the night
Of our solemnities.
THESEUS
Go, Philostrate,
Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments;
Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth,
Turn melancholy forth to funerals.
15The pale companion is not for our pomp.[Exit Philostrate.]
Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword,
And won thy love doing thee injuries;
But I will wed thee in another key,
With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling.
Enter Egeus, Hermia, Lysander and Demetrius.
EGEUS
20Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke.
THESEUS
Thanks, good Egeus. What’s the news with thee?
EGEUS
Full of vexation come I, with complaint
Against my child, my daughter Hermia.
123Stand forth, Demetrius. My noble lord,
25This man hath my consent to marry her.
Stand forth, Lysander. And my gracious duke,
This man hath bewitched the bosom of my child.
Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes
And interchanged love-tokens with my child;
30Thou hast, by moonlight, at her window sung,
With faining voice, verses of feigning love,
And stolen the impression of her fantasy;
With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gauds, conceits,
Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats (messengers
35Of strong prevailment in unhardened youth),
With cunning hast thou filched my daughter’s heart,
Turned her obedience, which is due to me,
To stubborn harshness. And, my gracious duke,
Be it so she will not here before your grace
40124Consent to marry with Demetrius,
I beg the ancient privilege of Athens:
As she is mine, I may dispose of her,
Which shall be either to this gentleman,
Or to her death, according to our law
45Immediately provided in that case.
THESEUS
What say you, Hermia? Be advised, fair maid.
To you your father should be as a god,
One that composed your beauties; yea, and one
To whom you are but as a form in wax,
50By him imprinted, and within his power
To leave the figure, or disfigure it.
Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.
HERMIA
So is Lysander.
THESEUS
In himself he is;
But in this kind, wanting your father’s voice,
55125The other must be held the worthier.
HERMIA
I would my father looked but with my eyes.
THESEUS
Rather your eyes must with his judgement look.
HERMIA
I do entreat your grace to pardon me.
I know not by what power I am made bold,
60Nor how it may concern my modesty
In such a presence here to plead my thoughts,
But I beseech your grace that I may know
The worst that may befall me in this case
If I refuse to wed Demetrius.
THESEUS
65Either to die the death, or to abjure
For ever the society of men.
Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires,
Know of your youth, examine well your blood
Whether, if you yield not to your father’s choice,
70You can endure the livery of a nun,
126For aye to be in shady cloister mewed
To live a barren sister all your life,
Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon.
Thrice blessed they that master so their blood
75To undergo such maiden pilgrimage;
But earthlier happy is the rose distilled
Than that which, withering on the virgin thorn,
Grows, lives and dies in single blessedness.
HERMIA
So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord,
80Ere I will yield my virgin patent up
Unto his lordship whose unwished yoke
My soul consents not to give sovereignty.
127
THESEUS
Take time to pause, and by the next new moon,
The sealing day betwixt my love and me
85For everlasting bond of fellowship,
Upon that day either prepare to die
For disobedience to your father’s will,
Or else to wed Demetrius as he would,
Or on Diana’s altar to protest,
90For aye, austerity and single life.
DEMETRIUS
Relent, sweet Hermia; and Lysander, yield
Thy crazed title to my certain right.
LYSANDER
You have her father’s love, Demetrius.
Let me have Hermia’s: do you marry him.
EGEUS
95Scornful Lysander, true, he hath my love,
And what is mine, my love shall render him;
And she is mine, and all my right of her
I do estate unto Demetrius.
LYSANDER
I am, my lord, as well derived as he,
100As well possessed; my love is more than his,
My fortunes every way as fairly ranked
(If not with vantage) as Demetrius’;
128And (which is more than all these boasts can be)
I am belov’d of beauteous Hermia.
105Why should not I then prosecute my right?
Demetrius, I’ll avouch it to his head,
Made love to Nedar’s daughter Helena
And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes,
Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry
110Upon this spotted and inconstant man.
THESEUS
I must confess that I have heard so much,
And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof;
But being over-full of self-affairs,
My mind did lose it. But Demetrius, come,
115And come, Egeus; you shall go with me.
I have some private schooling for you both.
For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself
To fit your fancies to your father’s will;
Or else, the law of Athens yields you up
120(Which by no means we may extenuate)
To death, or to a vow of single life.
Come, my Hippolyta. What cheer, my love?
129Demetrius and Egeus, go along.
I must employ you in some business
125Against our nuptial, and confer with you
Of something nearly that concerns yourselves.
EGEUS
With duty and desire we follow you.
(Exeunt [all but] Lysander and Hermia.)
LYSANDER
How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale?
How chance the roses there do fade so fast?
HERMIA
130Belike for want of rain, which I could well
Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes.
LYSANDER
Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth;
135But either it was different in blood –
130
HERMIA
O cross, too high to be enthralled to low!
LYSANDER
Or else misgrafted in respect of years –
HERMIA
O spite, too old to be engaged to young!
LYSANDER
Or else it stood upon the choice of friends –
HERMIA
140O hell, to choose love by another’s eyes!
LYSANDER
Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,
War, death or sickness did lay siege to it,
Making it momentany as a sound,
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream,
145Brief as the lightning in the collied night
131That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth,
And ere a man hath power to say ‘Behold’,
The jaws of darkness do devour it up:
So quick bright things come to confusion.
HERMIA
150If then true lovers have been ever crossed,
It stands as an edict in destiny.
Then let us teach our trial patience
Because it is a customary cross,
As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs,
155Wishes and tears, poor fancy’s followers.
LYSANDER
A good persuasion; therefore hear me, Hermia.
I have a widow aunt, a dowager,
Of great revenue, and she hath no child.
From Athens is her house remote seven leagues,
160And she respects me as her only son.
132There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee,
And to that place the sharp Athenian law
Cannot pursue us. If thou lov’st me, then
Steal forth thy father’s house tomorrow night;
165And in the wood a league without the town,
Where I did meet thee once with Helena
To do observance to a morn of May,
There will I stay for thee.
HERMIA
My good Lysander,
I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow,
170By his best arrow with the golden head,
By the simplicity of Venus’ doves,
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,
133And by that fire which burned the Carthage queen
When the false Trojan under sail was seen,
175By all the vows that ever men have broke
(In number more than ever women spoke),
In that same place thou hast appointed me,
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee.
LYSANDER
Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena.
Enter Helena.
HERMIA
180God speed, fair Helena. Whither away?
HELENA
Call you me fair? That fair again unsay.
Demetrius loves your fair: O happy fair!
134Your eyes are lodestars, and your tongue’s sweet air
More tunable than lark to shepherd’s ear
185When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear.
Sickness is catching; O, were favour so!
Your words I catch, fair Hermia; ere I go,
My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye,
My tongue should catch your tongue’s sweet melody.
190Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated,
The rest I’ll give to be to you translated.
O teach me how you look, and with what art
You sway the motion of Demetrius’ heart.
HERMIA
I frown upon him, yet he loves me still.
HELENA
195O that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill!
135
HERMIA
I give him curses, yet he gives me love.
HELENA
O that my prayers could such affection move!
HERMIA
The more I hate, the more he follows me.
HELENA
The more I love, the more he hateth me.
HERMIA
200His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine.
HELENA
None but your beauty. Would that fault were mine!
HERMIA
Take comfort: he no more shall see my face.
Lysander and myself will fly this place.
Before the time I did Lysander see,
205Seemed Athens as a paradise to me.
O then, what graces in my love do dwell,
That he hath turned a heaven unto a hell!
LYSANDER
Helen, to you our minds we will unfold.
Tomorrow night, when Phoebe doth behold
210Her silver visage in the watery glass,
Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass
136(A time that lovers’ flights doth still conceal),
Through Athens’ gates have we devised to steal.
HERMIA
And in the wood, where often you and I
215Upon 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 strange companies.
220Farewell, 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.(Exit.)
LYSANDER
I will, my Hermia. Helena, adieu.
225As 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;
137He will not know what all but he do know.
230And 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,
235And therefore is winged 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 beguiled.
240As waggish boys in game themselves forswear,
So the boy Love is perjured everywhere.
For ere Demetrius looked on Hermia’s eyne,
He hailed down oaths that he was only mine;
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,
245So he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt.
138I will go tell him of fair Hermia’s flight.
Then to the wood will he tomorrow night
Pursue her; and for this intelligence
If I have thanks, it is a dear expense.
250But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
To have his sight thither and back again.(Exit.)