The World's Greatest Books [Volumes 1-15, 17-20]

He found Titania giving orders to her fairies, how they were to employ themselves while she slept. When the fairies had sung their queen asleep they left her to perform the important services she had enjoined them. Oberon then softly drew near his Titania, and dropped some of the love-juice on her eyelids, saying

" What thou seest, when thou dost wake, Do it for thy true-love take."

But to return to Hermia, who made her escape out of her father's house that night. When she entered the

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wood, she found her dear Lysander waiting for her, to conduct her to his aunt's house; but before they had passed half through the wood, Hermia was so much fatigued, that Lysander persuaded her to rest till morning on a bank of soft moss, and lying down himself on the ground at some little distance, they soon fell fast asleep. Here they were found by Puck, who, seeing a handsome young man asleep, and perceiving that his clothes were made in the Athenian fashion, and that a pretty lady was sleeping near him, concluded that this must be the Athenian maid and her disdainful lover whom Oberon had sent him to seek; so, without more ado, he proceeded to pour some of the juice of the little purple flower into his eyes. But it so fell out, that Helena came that way, and, instead of Hermia, was the first object Lysander beheld when he opened his eyes.

Thus this misfortune happened. Helena, as has been before related, endeavoured to keep pace with Demetrius when he ran away so rudely from her; but she soon lost sight of him and as she was wandering about, dejected and forlorn, she arrived at the place where Lysander was sleeping. Gently touching him, she said, " Good sir, if you are alive, awake." Upon this Lysander opened his eyes, and immediately addressed her in terms of extravagant love and admiration. Helena, knowing Lysander was her friend Hermia's lover was in the utmost rage when she heard herself addressed in this manner; for she thought (as well she might) that Lysander was making a jest of her. " Is it not enough," said she, " that I can never get a sweet look or a kind word from Demetrius; but you, sire, must pretend in this disdainful manner to court me? " Saying these words in great anger, she ran away; and Lysander followed her, quite forgetful of his own Hermia, who was still asleep.

When Hermia awoke, she was in a sad fright at finding herself alone. In the meantime Demetrius not being able to find Hermia and his rival Lysander, and fatigued with

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his fruitless search, was observed by Oberon fast asleep. Oberon had learnt by some questions he had asked of Puck, that he had applied the love-charm to the wrong person's eyes; and now having found the person first intended, he touched the eyelids of the sleeping Demetrius with the love-juice, and he instantly awoke; and the first thing he saw being Helena, he, as Lysander had done before, began to address love-speeches to her; and just at that moment Lysander, followed by Hermia, made his appearance; and then Lysander and Demetrius, both speaking together, made love to Helena.

The astonished Helena thought that Demetrius, Lysander, and her once dear friend Hermia, were all in a plot together to make a jest of her, but Hermia was as much surprised as Helena.

" Unkind Hermia," said Helena, " it is you have set Lysander on to vex me with mock praises; and your other lover Demetrius, who used almost to spurn me with his foot, have you not bid him call me Goddess, Nymph, rare, precious, and celestial ? "

" I am amazed at your passionate words," said Hermia: " I scorn you not; it seems you scorn me." " Ay, do " returned Helena, " persevere, counterfeit serious looks, and make mouths at me when I turn my back; then wink at each other, and hold the sweet jest up."

While Helena and Hermia were speaking these angry words to each other, Demetrius and Lysander left them, to fight together in the wood for the love of Helena.

When they found the gentlemen had left them, they departed, and once more wandered weary in the wood in search of their lovers.

As soon as they were gone, the fair}' king, who with little Puck had been listening to their quarrels, said to him, " This is your negligence, Puck; or did you do this wilfully?" "Believe me, king of shadows," answered Puck, " it was a mistake; did not you tell me I should know the man by his Athenian garments? However, I

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am not sorry this has happened, for I think their jangling makes excellent sport." " You heard," said Oberon to Puck, " that Demetrius and Lysander are gone to seek a convenient place to fight in. I command you to overhang the night with a thick fog, and lead these quarrelsome lovers so astray in the dark, that they shall not be able to find each other. See you do this, till they are so weary they can go no further; and when you find they are asleep, drop the juice of this other flower into LySander's eyes, and when he awakes he will forget his new love for Helena, and return to his old passion for Hermia. 'About this quickly, Puck, and I will go and see what sweet love my Titania has found."

Titania was still sleeping, and Oberon seeing a clown near her, who had lost his way in the wood, and was likewise asleep: " This fellow," said he, " shall be my Titania's true love "; and clapping an ass's head over the clown's, it seemed to fit him as well as if it had grown upon his own shoulders. Rising up, unconscious of what Oberon had done to him, he went towards the bower where the fairy queen slept.