To do observance to a morn of May,
There will I stay for thee.
Her.My good Lysander!168
I swear to thee by Cupid's strongest bow,
By his best arrow with the golden head,
By the simplicity of Venus' doves,
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,
And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage queen,173
When the false Troyan under sail was seen,
By all the vows that ever men have broke,—
In number more than ever women spoke,—176
In that same place thou hast appointed me,
To-morrow truly will I meet with thee.
Lys. Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena.
Enter Helena.
Her. God speed fair Helena! Whither away?180
Hel. 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,184
When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear.
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.189
Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated,
The rest I'll give to be to you translated.
O! teach me how you look, and with what art
173 Carthage queen: Dido
174 Troyan: Æneas
182 fair: beauty
183 lode-stars: guiding-stars
184 tuneable: tuneful
186 favour: charm
190 bated: excepted
191 translated: transformed
