My lord, fair Helen told meof their stealth
Demetrius
My lord, fair Helen told me of their stealth,
Of this their purpose hither to this wood,
And I in fury hither followed them,
Fair Helena in fancy following me.
And I have found Demetrius like a jewel,
Mine own and not mine own.
But, my good lord, I wot not by what power
(But by some power it is) my love to Hermia,
Melted as the snow, seems to me now
As the remembrance of an idle gaud
Which in my childhood I did dote upon,
And all the faith, the virtue of my heart,
The object and the pleasure of mine eye,
Is only Helena. To her, my lord,
Was I betrothed ere I saw Hermia.
But like a sickness did I loathe this food.
But, as in health, come to my natural taste,
Now I do wish it, love it, long for it,
And will forevermore be true to it.
Theseus
Fair lovers, you are fortunately met.
Of this discourse we more will hear anon.—
Egeus, I will overbear your will,
For in the temple by and by, with us,
These couples shall eternally be knit.—
And, for the morning now is something worn,
Our purposed hunting shall be set aside.
Away with us to Athens. Three and three,
We’ll hold a feast in great solemnity.
Come, Hippolyta.
Theseus and his train, including Hippolyta and Egeus, exit.
Demetrius
These things seem small and undistinguishable,
Like far-off mountains turnèd into clouds.
Hermia
Methinks I see these things with parted eye,
When everything seems double.
Helena
So methinks.
And I have found Demetrius like a jewel,
Mine own and not mine own.
Demetrius
Are you sure
That we are awake? It seems to me
That yet we sleep, we dream. Do not you think
The Duke was here and bid us follow him?
Hermia
Yea, and my father.
Helena
And Hippolyta.
Lysander
And he did bid us follow to the temple.
Demetrius
Why, then, we are awake. Let’s follow him,
And by the way let usrecount our dreams.