Page 2637 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Steal forth thy father’s house tomorrow night;
And in the wood, a league without the town [165]
(Where I did meet thee once with Helena
To do observance to a morn of May),
There will I stay for thee.

HERMIA

My good Lysander,
I swear to thee by Cupid’s strongest bow,
By his best arrow with the golden head, [170]
By the simplicity of Venus’ doves,
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,
And by that fire which burn’d the Carthage queen
When the false Trojan under sail was seen;
By all the vows that ever men have broke [175]
(In number more than ever women spoke),
In that same place thou hast appointed me,
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee.

LY SANDER

Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena.

Enter Helena.

HERMIA

God speed fair Helena! Whither away? [180]

HELENA

Call you me fair? That fair again unsay!
Demetrius loves your fair: O happy fair!
Your eyes are lode-stars, and your tongue’s sweet air
More tuneable than lark to shepherd’s ear,
When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear. [185]
Sickness is catching; O were favour so,
Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go:
My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye,
My tongue should catch your tongue’s sweet melody.
Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated, [190]
The rest I’d give to be to you translated.
O, teach me how you look, and with what art
You sway the motion of Demetrius’ heart.