LYSANDER

You are unkind, Demetrius. Be not so,

For you love Hermia; this you know I know.
And here with all goodwill, with all my heart,
In Hermias love I yield you up my part.
And yours of Helena to me bequeath,
Whom I do love and will do till my death.
HELENA
Never did mockers waste more idle breath.
DEMETRIUS
Lysander, keep thy Hermia. I will none.
If eer I loved her, all that love is gone.
My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourned,
And now to Helen is it home returned,
There to remain.
LYSANDER Helen, it is not so.
DEMETRIUS
Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,
Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear.
Look where thy love comes. Yonder is thy
dear.

Lysander
You are too unfair, Demetrius. Dont do so to
your love, and you know I know this. With all
my heart, I am giving you Hermias heart, and
in return let me have Helena who I will love
until death.
Helena
Never did anyone waste so much of their time
to mock someone.
Demetrius
Lysander, keep Hermia. I want none of her. If
I loved her, the love is gone. My heart for her
was only temporary, and now i love Helen
forever.
Lysander
Helen it is not true.
Demetrius
Dont look down on love you do not
understand, or youll pay dearly for it. Look
here comes your love.

Enter Hermia.

HERMIA,
to Lysander
Dark night, that from the eye his function
takes,
The ear more quick of apprehension makes;
Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense,
It pays the hearing double recompense.
Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found;
Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound.
But why unkindly didst thou leave me so?
LYSANDER
Why should he stay whom love doth press to
go?
HERMIA
What love could press Lysander from my
side?
LYSANDER
Lysanders love, that would not let him bide,
Fair Helena, who more engilds the night
Than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light.
Why seekst thou me? Could not this make
thee
know
The hate I bear thee made me leave thee so?

Hermia (to Lysander)

The dark night that the eye has trouble
seeing. The ear more better than the seeing
sense. I couldnt find you with my eye, but I
found you with my hearing. Why did you
leave me like that?
Lysander
Why should he stay when the love tells you to
go?
Hermia
What love could push Lysander away from
my side?
Lysander
I had to hurry to my dear Helena who
brightens the night than all the fiery stars.
Why are you searching for me? Do you not
know how much I hate you to leave you so?

Hermia
You speak not what you believe, this is

HERMIA
You speak not as you think. It cannot be.
HELENA
Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
Now I perceive they have conjoined all three
To fashion this false sport in spite of me.
Injurious Hermia, most ungrateful maid,
Have you conspired, have you with these
contrived,
To bait me with this foul derision?
Is all the counsel that we two have shared,
The sisters vows, the hours that we have
spent
When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting usO, is all forgot?
All schooldays friendship, childhood
innocence?
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods,
Have with our needles created both one
flower,
Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
Both warbling of one song, both in one key,
As if our hands, our sides, voices, and minds
Had been incorporate. So we grew together
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,
But yet an union in partition,
Two lovely berries molded on one stem;
So with two seeming bodies but one heart,
Two of the first,
like
coats in
heraldry,
Due but to one, and crownd with one crest.
And will you rent our ancient love asunder,
To join with men in scorning your poor friend?
It is not friendly; tis not maidenly.
Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it,
Though I alone do feel the injury.
HERMIA
I am amazd at your words.
I scorn you not. It seems that you scorn me.
HELENA
Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn,
To follow me and praise my eyes and face,
And made your other love, Demetrius,
Who even but now did spurn me with his foot,
To call me goddess, nymph, divine and rare,
Precious, celestial? Wherefore speaks he this
To her he hates? And wherefore doth
Lysander

impossible.
Helena
She is apart of this too! Now I have figured
out that all three of you are in on this to play a
trick on me. Harmful Hermia, an ungrateful
girl. Were you plotting with these two to play a
foul trick on me? Have you forgotten all the
conversations we two have had, Our vows as
sisters, the time we spent together. Never
wanting to say goodbye. Did you forget? All
our childhood including school and
friendship? We are like fake gods, and with
our needles, we have created one flower.
Both on one cushion, singing one song on
one key. As if our hands, our sides, voices,
and minds were integrated. We grew together
like 2 cherries seeming separate, but yet
together. Two berries connected to one step
with two bodies, but one heart. And yet you
toss our love away, to join men in insulting
your poor friend? It is not nice, it is not
ladylike. All females, as well as myself may
not approve of it, Even though i'm not the only
one feeling the pain.

Hermia
I am astonished by what you're saying. I am
not rebuking you. But it seems you are
rebuking me
Helena
Haven't you set Lysander up, as to insult me
by following me, and admiring my face. As
well as making your other love, Demetrius
who kicked me with his foot, now calling me a
godess, nymph, divine, and rare.
Why would he speak like this to someone he
hates? And why does Lysander reject your
love so deeply? And offer me love instead
with your consent? I may not be as favored
as you, and not as lovable as you. And for

Deny your love (so rich within his soul)

And tender me, forsooth, affection,
But by your setting on, by your consent?
What though I be not so in grace as you,
So hung upon with love, so fortunate,
But miserable most, to love unloved?
This you should pity rather than despise.
HERMIA
I understand not what you mean by this.
HELENA
Ay, do. Persever, counterfeit sad looks,
Make mouths upon me when I turn my back,
Wink each at other, hold the sweet jest up.
This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled.
If you have any pity, grace, or manners,
You would not make me such an argument.
But fare you well. Tis partly my own fault,
Which death or absence soon shall remedy.
LYSANDER
Stay, gentle Helena. Hear my excuse,
My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena.
HELENA
O excellent!
HERMIA,
to Lysander
Sweet, do not scorn her so.
DEMETRIUS,
to Lysander
If she cannot entreat, I can compel.
LYSANDER
Thou canst compel no more than she entreat.
Thy threats have no more strength than her
weak
prayers.

Helen, I love thee. By my life, I do.

I swear by that which I will lose for thee,
To prove him false that says I love thee not.
DEMETRIUS
I say I love thee more than he can do.
LYSANDER
If thou say so, withdraw and prove it too.
DEMETRIUS
Quick, come.
HERMIA Lysander, whereto tends all this?
She takes hold of Lysander.
LYSANDER

this you should show sympathy rather than

hate.

Hermia
I do not understand what you are saying.
Helena
All right then, keep acting sad, but nudge
eachother, giggle, and wink when I turn
around. Keep playing your game, this trick
should be written down. If you had any
compassion, respect, or elegance, you would
not fight over this. But farewell, this is partly
my fault too, which leaving or death can fix.
Lysander
Stay attractive Helena, hear me out, my love,
life, and soul is yours Beautiful Helena.
Helena
Oh great!
Hermia
Do not insult her like that sweetie.
Demetrius
If Hermia cannot persuade you through her
pleading, then I can force you to.
Lysander
You cant force me no more than she can
beg. Your threats have no impact than her
complaining. Helen, I love you with my life. I
swear ill lose my life for you. To prove him
wrong when he says I don't love you.
Demetrius
I love you more than he can ever.
Lysander
If you say so, take out your sword and prove
it.
Demetrius
Come, lets do it.
Hermia
Lysander, what is this leading to?
Lysander
Away, you dark skinned African.
Demetrius
No, no. Hes trying to break away from you.
(To Lysander) Try to follow me, but you won't

Away, you Ethiop!

DEMETRIUS,
No, no. Hell

come. You are a coward, go away!

to Hermia

Seem to break loose.

To Lysander.
Take on as you
would follow,
But yet come not. You are a tame man, go!
LYSANDER,
to Hermia
Hang off, thou cat, thou burr! Vile thing, let
loose,
Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent.
HERMIA
Why are you grown so rude? What change is
this,
Sweet love?
LYSANDER
Thy love? Out, tawny Tartar, out!
Out, loathd medcine! O, hated potion,
hence!
HERMIA
Do you not jest?
HELENA
Yes, sooth, and so do you.
LYSANDER
Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee.
DEMETRIUS
I would I had your bond. For I perceive
A weak bond holds you. Ill not trust your
word.
LYSANDER
What? Should I hurt her, strike her, kill her
dead?
Although I hate her, Ill not harm her so.
HERMIA
What, can you do me greater harm than
hate?
Hate me? Wherefore? O me, what news, my
love?
Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander?
I am as fair now as I was erewhile.
Since night you loved me; yet since night you
left
me.
Why, then, you left meO, the gods forbid!
In earnest, shall I say?

Lysander (Hermia)
Back off you cat, you thorn! Vile creature, let
go, or I will have to shake you off.
Hermia
Why are you acting so rude? What's
happened my love?
Lysander
Your love? Get out of here you brown gypsy,
get out! Youre a hated poison!
Hermia
Are you kidding?
Helena
Yes, and so are you.
Lysander
Demetrius, I have kept my word with you.
Demetrius
I would like it if we had a legal agreement,
one that you cannot break. Because I see you
as someone who cant keep promises, and
someone I cannot trust.
Lysander
What? You want me to hurt Hermia, strike
her, kill her? Even though I hate her, I would
never hurt her
Hermia
What else can you do that hurts more than
your hate? Hate me? What does this my
love?
Am I not hermia? Are you not Lysander? I am
as trustworthy as I was awhile ago. You loved
me last night, but you left me after. Oh my
god! Are you serious?
Lysander
I am by my life, never did I ever want to see
you again. So stop questioning, and doubting
what I say. I am certain that I have clarified
everything for you. This is no joke. I hate you,
and love Helena.

Hermia
O really! (To Helena) You deceiver, you worm,
you love thief! Did you sneak during the night

LYSANDER Ay, by my life,

And never did desire to see thee more.
Therefore be out of hope, of question, of
doubt.
Be certain, nothing truer, tis no jest
That I do hate thee and love Helena.
Hermia turns him loose.
HERMIA
O me!
To Helena.
You juggler, you
cankerblossom,
You thief of love! What, have you come by
night
And stoln my loves heart from him?
HELENA Fine, i faith.
Have you no modesty, no maiden shame,
No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear
Impatient answers from my gentle tongue?
Fie, fie, you counterfeit, you puppet, you!
HERMIA
Puppet? Why so? Ay, that way goes the
game.
Now I perceive that she hath made compare
Between our statures; she hath urged her
height,
And with her personage, her tall personage,
Her height, forsooth, she hath prevailed with
him.
And are you grown so high in his esteem
Because I am so dwarfish and so low?
How low am I, thou painted maypole? Speak!
How low am I? I am not yet so low
But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes.
HELENA
I pray you, though you mock me,
gentlemen,
Let her not hurt me. I was never curst;
I have no gift at all in shrewishness.
I am a right maid for my cowardice.
Let her not strike me. You perhaps may think,
Because she is something lower than myself,
That I can match her.
HERMIA Lower? Hark, again!
HELENA
Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me.

to steal my loves heart from him?

Helena
Fine, indeed. You should be ashamed of
yourself. Are you trying to anger a gentle
person? This is outraging you phony, you
puppet!
Hermia
A puppet? How? I see what's going on. Now I
know youre comparing our height. And with
your height, you may seem more attractive to
Lysander Does he prefer you over me
because of Im so short? How short do you
think I am, you painted pole? Tell me! How
short do you think I am? I am not that short
for my nails to scrape your eyes out.
Helena
I ask for you, although you insult me.
(gentlemen)
Do not let her even touch me. I was never
talkative. I dont talk much, and I have no
good comebacks when it comes to insults. Im
a shy girl. Dont let her hurt me. You might
think that since she's smaller than myself, I
can take her.
Hermia Shorter? Again?!
Helena
Fair Hermia, dont act like that with me. I
loved you Hermia, and helped guide you with
your troubles. Never hurt you, except for that
time, I told Demetrius you had sneaked into
these woods. He followed you, and I followed
him for the same reason, love. But he told me
to stop, and threatened me. As well as hurt
me, and kill me too. Now let me go peacefully
to Athens, and follow you no more. Let me go,
you have already seen how dumb, and foolish
I am.

Hermia
Why are you still here, Go away. Whats
keeping you?

I evermore did love you, Hermia,

Did ever keep your counsels, never wronged
you
Save that, in love unto Demetrius,
I told him of your stealth unto this wood.
He followed you; for love, I followed him.
But he hath chid me hence and threatened
me
To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too.
And now, so you will let me quiet go,
To Athens will I bear my folly back
And follow you no further. Let me go.
You see how simple and how fond I am.
HERMIA
Why, get you gone. Who is t that hinders
you?
HELENA
A foolish heart that I leave here behind.
HERMIA
What, with Lysander?
HELENA With Demetrius.
LYSANDER
Be not afraid. She shall not harm thee,
Helena.
DEMETRIUS
No, sir, she shall not, though you take her
part.
HELENA
O, when she is angry, she is keen and
shrewd.
She was a vixen when she went to school,
And though she be but little, she is fierce.
HERMIA
Little again? Nothing
but
low and
little?
Why will you suffer her to flout me thus?
Let me come to her.
LYSANDER Get you gone, you dwarf,
You minimus of hindring knotgrass made,
You bead, you acorn
DEMETRIUS You are too officious
In her behalf that scorns your services.
Let her alone. Speak not of Helena.
Take not her part. For if thou dost intend
Never so little show of love to her,
Thou shalt aby it.
LYSANDER Now she holds me not.
Now follow, if thou darst, to try whose right,

Helena
A thoughtless heart I leave behind.
Hermia
Who, with Lysander?
Helena
With Demetrius.
Lysander
Dont be afraid. She wont harm you Helena.
Demetrius
No, not at all. Even if you help her Lysander.
Helena
Oh, when shes angry. She is cruel, and
fearless. She was spiteful when she went to
school. For someone who is little, she is
fierce.
Hermia
Little again? Nothing else but short, and
little? Why do you allow her to mock me like
this? Let me get at her.
Lysander
Go away, you midget, You mini piece of
weed, you shorty, you acorn!
Demetrius
You are interfering with someone who
obviously dislikes you. Leave her alone. Dont
talk to her. If you intend to show disrespect to
her then you will surely pay for it.
Lysander
Shes not holding onto me. Follow me if
youre willing to fight for Helenas love.
Demetrius
Follow you? No, Ill stand beside you.
(Demetrius and Lysander exit.)
Hermia
You, Helena, all this quarrel is for you.
(Helena retreats.) No, dont you go anywhere.
Helena I dont trust you. I no longer want to
stay with you. Your hands are swifter for a
fight over mine. My legs however, are longer
to flee. (she exits.)
Hermia
I am so astonished, I dont know what to say.
(She exits.)

Of thine or mine, is most in Helena.

DEMETRIUS
Follow? Nay, Ill go with thee, cheek by jowl.
Demetrius and Lysander exit.
HERMIA
You, mistress, all this coil is long of you.
Helena retreats.
Nay, go not back.
HELENA I will not trust you, I,
Nor longer stay in your curst company.
Your hands than mine are quicker for a fray.
My legs are longer though, to run away.
She exits.
HERMIA
I am amazed and know not what to say.(She
exits)