Tales from Shakespeare | Page 9

not
seen Newts and blind-worms do no wrong Come not near our Fairy
Queen. Philomel, with melody Sing in our sweet lullaby Lulla, lulla,
lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby; Never harm, nor spell, nor charm, Come
our lovely lady nigh; So good night with lullaby.'
When the fairies had sung their queen asleep with this pretty lullaby,
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 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, to avoid the death she was doomed to for refusing to marry
Demetrius. When she entered the 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, who was very careful of this dear lady, who had proved her
affection for him even by hazarding her life for his sake, 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; and he naturally enough conjectured that, as they were alone
together, she must be the first thing he would see when he awoke; 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; and strange to relate, so powerful was the love-charm,
all his love for Hermia vanished away, and Lysander fell in love with
Helena.
Had he first seen Hermia when he awoke, the blunder Puck committed
would have been of no consequence, for he could not love that faithful
lady too well; but for poor Lysander to be forced by a fairy love-charm
to forget his own true Hermia, and to run after another lady, and leave
Hermia asleep quite alone in a wood at midnight, was a sad chance
indeed.
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 could not continue this unequal race long, men being
always better runners in a long race than ladies. Helena soon lost sight
of Demetrius; and as she was wandering about, dejected and forlorn,
she arrived at the place where Lysander was sleeping. 'Ah!' said she,
'this is Lysander lying on the ground: is he dead or asleep?' Then,
gently touching him, she said: 'Good sir, if you are alive, awake.' Upon
this Lysander opened his eyes, and (the love-charm beginning to work)
immediately addressed her in terms of extravagant love and admiration;
telling her she as much excelled Hermia in beauty as a dove does a
raven, and that he would run through fire for her sweet sake; and many
more such lover-like speeches. Helena, knowing Lysander was her

friend Hermia's lover, and that he was solemnly engaged to marry her,
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. 'Oh!' said she, 'why was I born to be mocked and scorned by every
one? Is it not enough, is it not enough, young man, that I can never get
a sweet look or a kind word from Demetrius; but you, sir, must pretend
in this disdainful manner to court me? I thought, Lysander, you were a
lord of more true gentleness.' 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.
She wandered about the wood, not knowing what was become of
Lysander, or which way to go to seek for him. In the meantime
Demetrius, not being able to find Hermia and his rival Lysander, and
fatigued with 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