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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 2Scene 2
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“lying...lie”
Wordplay
Act 2,
Scene 2
Lines 50-59

An explanation of Lysander’s wordplay on “lie” in Act 2, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Hermia

Lie further off yet; do not lie so near.

Lysander

O, take the sense, sweet, of my innocence!
Love takes the meaning in love's conference.
I mean that my heart unto yours is knit,
So that but one heart we can make of it.
Two bosoms interchainèd with an oath —
So, then, two bosoms and a single troth.
Then by your side no bedroom me deny,
For lying so, Hermia, I do not lie.

Hermia

Lysander riddles very prettily.

Lysander is arguing that it's not inappropriate for them to "lie" together because he did not "lie" when he swore an oath to marry her.