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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 3Scene 2
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“devilish holy fray”
Wordplay
Act 3,
Scene 2
Lines 122-133

An explanation of the phrase “devilish holy fray” in Act 3, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

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’s vow to Helena conflicts with his previous vow to Hermia. This conflict is “holy” since these are holy vows made before God, but it’s also “devilish” since it must have been the devil who has put him up to such an evil act.