A Midsummer Night's Dream

Exit

Enter Demetrius and Helena, running

HELENA Stay, though thou kill me, sweet Demetrius.

DEMETRIUS I charge thee, hence, and do not haunt85 me thus.

HELENA O, wilt thou darkling86 leave me? Do not so.

DEMETRIUS Stay, on thy peril: I alone will go.

Exit

HELENA O, I am out of breath in this fond88 chase!

The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace89.

Happy is Hermia, wheresoe'er she lies90;

For she hath blessed 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 marvel96 though Demetrius

Do, as97 a monster, fly my presence thus.

What wicked and dissembling glass98 of mine

Made me compare with Hermia's sphery eyne99?

But who is here? Lysander, on the ground;

Sees Lysander

Dead, or asleep? I see no blood, no wound.

Lysander if you live, good sir, awake.

LYSANDER And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake.

Wakes

Transparent Helena, nature shows her art104

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.