Page 2634 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Ere I will yield my virgin patent up [80]
Unto his lordship whose unwished yoke
My soul consents not to give sovereignty.

T HESEUS

Take time to pause; and by the next new moon,
The sealing-day betwixt my love and me
For everlasting bond of fellowship, [85]
Upon that day either prepare to die
For disobedience to your father’s will,
Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would,
Or on Diana’s altar to protest,
For aye, austerity and single life. [90]

DEMET RIUS

Relent, sweet Hermia; and Lysander, yield
Thy crazed title to my certain right.

LY SANDER

You have her father’s love, Demetrius;
Let me have Hermia’s; do you marry him.

EGEUS

Scornful Lysander, true, he hath my love; [95]
And what is mine my love shall render him;
And she is mine, and all my right of her
I do estate unto Demetrius.

LY SANDER

I am, my lord, as well deriv’d as he,
As well possess’d; my love is more than his; [100]
My fortunes every way as fairly rank’d,
If not with vantage, as Demetrius’;
And, which is more than all these boasts can be,
I am belov’d of beauteous Hermia.
Why should not I then prosecute my right? [105]
Demetrius, I’ll avouch it to his head,
Made love to Nedar’s daughter, Helena,
And won her soul: and she, sweet lady, dotes,
Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry,