And now both rivals to mock Helena.
A trim157 exploit, a manly enterprise, To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes
With your derision; none of noble sort
Would so offend a virgin and extort160
A poor soul's patience, all to make you sport.
LYSANDER You are unkind, Demetrius; be not so,
For you love Hermia; this you know I know;
And here, with all good will, with all my heart,
In Hermia's 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 none169: If e'er I loved her, all that love is gone.
My heart to her but as guestwise sojourned171, 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 abide it dear176.
Look where thy love comes, yonder is thy dear.
Enter Hermia
HERMIA Dark night, that from the eye his178 function takes, The ear more quick of apprehension179 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 press186 Lysander from my side?
LYSANDER Lysander's love, that would not let him bide187 --
Fair Helena, who more engilds188 the night Than all yon fiery oes189 and eyes of light.--
Why seek'st thou me? Could not this make thee know,
To Hermia