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Lysander and Hermia, Lines 128-155
Context and Language Videos
Act 1,
Scene 1
Lines 128-155

A performance of lines 128-155 by Lysander and Hermia in Act 1, Scene 1 of myShakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

myShakespeare | Midsummer Night's Dream 1.1 Performance: Lysander and Hermia Line 128-155

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
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 —

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 merit stood upon the choice of friends —

Hermia

O 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 momentary as a sound,
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream,
Brief as the lightning in the collied night
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,
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.