A Midsummer Night's Dream

HERMIA What's this to62 my Lysander? Where is he?

Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give him me?

DEMETRIUS I'd rather give his carcass to my hounds.

HERMIA Out, dog! Out, cur65! Thou driv'st me past the bounds Of maiden's patience. Hast thou slain him, then?

Henceforth be never numbered67 among men.

O, once68 tell true, tell true even for my sake!

Durst thou a69 looked upon him being awake?

And hast thou killed him sleeping? O brave touch70!

Could not a worm71, an adder, do so much?

An adder did it, for with doubler72 tongue Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung.

DEMETRIUS You spend your passion on a misprised mood74.

I am not guilty of Lysander's blood,

Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell.

HERMIA I pray thee tell me then that he is well.

DEMETRIUS An if I could, what should I get therefor78?

HERMIA A privilege never to see me more;

And from thy hated presence part I so:

See me no more, whether he be dead or no.

Exit

DEMETRIUS There is no following her in this fierce vein82: Here therefore for a while I will remain.

So sorrow's heaviness doth heavier84 grow For85 debt that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe, Which now in some slight measure it will pay,

If for his tender here I make some stay87.

[Demetrius] lies down [and sleeps]

OBERON What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite88

And laid the love juice on some true love's sight:

Of thy misprision90 must perforce ensue Some true love turned, and not a false turned true.

ROBIN Then fate o'errules, that, one man holding troth92, A million fail, confounding oath on93 oath.

OBERON About the wood go swifter than the wind,

And Helena of Athens look95 thou find.

All fancy-sick she is and pale of cheer96, With sighs of love, that costs the fresh blood dear97.