A Midsummer Night's Dream

What though109 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 now I love;

Who will not change a raven for a dove?

The will115 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 ripe not118 to reason.

And touching now the point of human skill119,

Reason becomes the marshal120 to my will

And leads me to your eyes, where I o'erlook121

Love's stories122 written in love's richest book.

HELENA Wherefore123 was I to this keen mockery born?

When at your hands did I deserve this scorn?

Is't not enough, is't not enough, young man,

That I did never, no, nor never can,

Deserve a sweet look from Demetrius' eye,

But you must flout my insufficiency?

Good troth you do me wrong, good sooth129, you do,

In such disdainful manner me to woo.

But fare you well; perforce I must confess

I thought you lord of more true gentleness132.

O, that a lady of one man refused

Should of another therefore be abused134!

Exit

LYSANDER She sees not Hermia. Hermia, sleep thou there,

And never mayst thou come Lysander near;

For as a surfeit137 of the sweetest things