Page 2673 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

LY SANDER

Why should you think that I should woo in scorn?
Scorn and derision never come in tears.
Look when I vow, I weep; and vows so born,
In their nativity all truth appears. [125]
How can these things in me seem scorn to you,
Bearing the badge of faith to prove them true?

HELENA

You do advance your cunning more and more.
When truth kills truth, O devilish-holy fray!
These vows are Hermia’s: will you give her o’er? [130]
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 tales.

LY SANDER

I had no judgement when to her I swore.

HELENA

Nor none, in my mind, now you give her o’er. [135]

LY SANDER

Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you.

DEMET RIUS

(waking)
O Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine!
To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?
Crystal is muddy. O how ripe in show
Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow! [140]
That pure congealed white, high Taurus’ snow,
Fann’d with the eastern wind, turns to a crow
When thou hold’st up thy hand. O let me kiss
This princess of pure white, this seal of bliss!

HELENA

O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent [145]
To set against me for your merriment.
If you were civil, and knew courtesy,