A Midsummer Night's Dream

Scorn and derision never come in tears:

Look when124 I vow, I weep; and vows so born, In their nativity125 all truth appears.

How can these things in me seem scorn to you,

Bearing the badge127 of faith to prove them true?

HELENA You do advance128 your cunning more and more.

When truth kills truth, O devilish-holy fray129!

These vows are Hermia's. Will you give her o'er130?

Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh.

Your vows to her and me, put in two scales,

Will even weigh, and both as light as tales133.

LYSANDER I had no judgement when to her I swore.

HELENA Nor none, in my mind, now you give her o'er.

LYSANDER Demetrius loves her, and he you136.

DEMETRIUS O Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine!

Awakes

To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?

Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show139

Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!

That pure congealed white, high Taurus'141 snow, Fanned with the eastern wind, turns to a crow142

When th

ou hold'st up thy hand. O, let me kiss

This princess of pure white, this seal144 of bliss!

HELENA O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent145

To set against146 me for your merriment: If you were civil and knew courtesy,

You would not do me thus much injury148.

Can you not hate me, as I know you do,

But you must join in souls150 to mock me too?

If you were men, as men you are in show,

You would not use a gentle152 lady so; To vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts153, When I am sure you hate me with your hearts.

You both are rivals and love Hermia;