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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 3Scene 2
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“costs the fresh blood dear”
Folklore
Act 3,
Scene 2
Lines 94-99

An explanation of the phrase “love that costs the fresh blood dear” in Act 3, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Oberon

About the wood go swifter than the wind,
And Helena of Athens look thou find.
All fancy-sick she is, and pale of cheer
With sighs of love that costs the fresh blood dear.
By some illusion see thou bring her here.
I'll charm his eyes against she do appear.

It was believed that sighing — which a lovesick person would do a lot of — consumed the body's blood, turning the face pale.