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. Read more about Act 3, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: “costs the fresh blood dear”
Demetrius There is no following her in this fierce vein. Here therefore for a while I will remain. So sorrow's heaviness doth heavier grow For debt that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe, Which now in some slight measure it will pay If, for his tender, here I make some stay. Read more about Act 3, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "his tender"
Demetrius O, why rebuke you him that loves you so? Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe. Hermia Now I but chide, but I should use thee worse, For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse. If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep, Being o'er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep And kill me too. The sun was not so true unto the day As he to me. Would he have stolen away From sleeping Hermia? I'll believe as soon This whole earth may be bored, and that the moon May through the center creep, and so displease Her brother's noon-tide with th' Antipodes. It cannot be but thou hast murdered him. So should a murderer look: so dead, so grim. Read more about Act 3, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: “This whole earth may be bored”
Demetrius O, why rebuke you him that loves you so? Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe. Hermia Now I but chide, but I should use thee worse, For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse. If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep, Being o'er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep And kill me too. Read more about Act 3, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: “Being o’er shoes in blood”
Helena Yet Hermia still loves you; then be content. Lysander Content with Hermia? No, I do repent The tedious minutes I with her have spent. Not Hermia but Helena I love. Who will not change a raven for a dove? The will of man is by his reason swayed, And reason says you are the worthier maid. Things growing are not ripe until their season; So I, being young, till now not ripe to reason. And touching now the point of human skill, Reason becomes the marshal to my will, And leads me to your eyes, where I o'erlook Love's stories written in love's richest book. Read more about Act 2, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "ripe to reason"
Lysander Transparent Helena, nature shows art, That through thy bosom makes me see thy heart. Where is Demetrius? O, how fit a word Is that vile name to perish on my sword! Helena Do not say so, Lysander; say not so. What though he love your Hermia? Lord, what though? Yet Hermia still loves you; then be content. Lysander Content with Hermia? No, I do repent The tedious minutes I with her have spent. Not Hermia but Helena I love. Who will not change a raven for a dove? The will of man is by his reason swayed, And reason says you are the worthier maid. Read more about Act 2, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "will of man"
Helena O, I am out of breath in this fond chase. The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace. Happy is Hermia wheresoe'er she lies, For she hath blessèd and attractive eyes. How came her eyes so bright? Not with salt tears — If so, my eyes are oftener washed than hers. No, no, I am as ugly as a bear, For beasts that meet me run away for fear. Therefore no marvel though Demetrius Do as a monster fly my presence thus. What wicked and dissembling glass of mine Made me compare with Hermia's sphery eyne? [Helena sees Lysander asleep, but not Hermia] But who is here? Lysander, on the ground? Dead or asleep? I see no blood, no wound. Lysander if you live, good sir, awake. Read more about Act 2, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "wheresoever she lies"
[Enter Titania, Queen of the fairies, with her attendants] Titania Come, now a roundel and a fairy song, Then for the third part of a minute hence: Some to kill cankers in the musk-rose buds, Some war with reremice for their leathern wings To make my small elves coats, and some keep back The clamorous owl that nightly hoots and wonders At our quaint spirits. Sing me now asleep. Then to your offices and let me rest. [She lies down. Fairies sing and dance] First Fairy You spotted snakes with double tongue, Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen. Newts and blindworms, do no wrong, Come not near our Fairy Queen. Read more about Act 2, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "spotted snakes" etc.
Quince and then you will play barefaced. – But masters, here are your parts, and I am to entreat you, request you, and desire you to con them by tomorrow night, and meet me in the palace wood a mile without the town. By moonlight There will we rehearse, for if we meet in the city we shall be dogged with company and our devices known. In the meantime I will draw a bill of properties such as our play wants. I pray you fail me not. Bottom We will meet, and there we may rehearse most obscenely and courageously. Take pains; be perfect. Adieu. Read more about Act 1, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "Obscenely"
Bottom Well, I will undertake it. What beard were I best to play it in? Quince Why, what you will. Bottom I will discharge it in either your straw-color beard, your orange-tawny beard, your purple-in-grain beard, or your French-crown-color beard, your perfect yellow. Read more about Act 1, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "French-crown"