No Fear Shakespeare
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 3, Scene 2, Page 7
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To vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts,
When I am sure you hate me with your hearts.
You both are rivals, and love Hermia,
And now both rivals to mock Helena—
A trim exploit, a manly enterprise,
To conjure tears up in a poor maid’s eyes
With your derision! None of noble sort
Would so offend a virgin, and extort
A poor soul’s patience, all to make you sport.
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Hermia’s love, and now you’re competing to
see which one of you can make fun of me the most. That’s
a great idea, a really manly thing to do—making a poor
girl cry! No respectable person would offend an innocent girl just
to have some fun.
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LYSANDER
You are unkind, Demetrius. Be not so.
For you love Hermia. This you know I know.
And here, with all good will, with all my heart,
In Hermia’s love I yield you up my part.
And yours of Helena to me bequeath,
Whom I do love and will do till my death.
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LYSANDER
Don’t be cruel, Demetrius. I know you love Hermia, and
you know I know it. Right here, right now, I swear I’m
giving up all my claims on her and handing her to you. In exchange,
give up your claim to love Helena, since I love her and will love
her until I die.
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HELENA
Never did mockers waste more idle breath.
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HELENA
Nobody’s ever gone to so much trouble just to make fun
of someone.
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DEMETRIUS
Lysander, keep thy Hermia. I will none.
If e'er I loved her, all that love is gone.
My heart to her but as guest-wise sojourned,
And now to Helen is it home returned,
There to remain.
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DEMETRIUS
Lysander, keep your Hermia. I don’t want her. If I ever
loved her, all that love is gone now. My love for her was temporary.
Now I’ll love Helena forever.
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LYSANDER
Helen, it is not so.
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LYSANDER
Helena, it’s not true.
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DEMETRIUS
Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,
Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear.
Look, where thy love comes. Yonder is thy dear.
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DEMETRIUS
Don’t insult a deep love that you don’t
understand, or you’ll pay the price. Look, here comes the
woman you love.
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Enter HERMIA
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HERMIA enters. | |
180 |
HERMIA
Dark night, that from the eye his function takes,
The ear more quick of apprehension makes.
Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense,
It pays the hearing double recompense.
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HERMIA
It’s hard to see clearly in the dark of night, but
it’s easier to hear well.
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