_Ege._ With duty and desire we follow you. [_Exeunt all but Lysander and Hermia._ _Lys._ How now, my love! why is your cheek so pale? How chance the roses there do fade so fast? _Her._ Belike for want of rain, which I could well 130 Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes. _Lys._ Ay me! for aught that I could ever read, Could ever hear by tale or history, The course of true love never did run smooth; But, either it was different in blood,— 135 _Her._ O cross! too high to be enthrall’d to low. _Lys._ Or else misgraffed in respect of years,— _Her._ O spite! too old to be engaged to young. _Lys._ Or else it stood upon the choice of friends,— _Her._ O hell! to choose love by another’s eyes. 140 _Lys._ Or, if there were a sympathy in choice, War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it, Making it momentany as a sound, Swift as a shadow, short as any dream; Brief as the lightning in the collied night, 145 That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, And ere a man hath power to say ‘Behold!’ The jaws of darkness do devour it up: So quick bright things come to confusion. _Her._ If then true lovers have been ever cross’d, 150 It stands as an edict in destiny: Then let us teach our trial patience, Because it is a customary cross, As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs, Wishes and tears, poor fancy’s followers. 155 _Lys._ A good persuasion: therefore, hear me, Hermia. I have a widow aunt, a dowager Of great revenue, and she hath no child: From Athens is her house remote seven leagues; And she respects me as her only son. 160 There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee; And to that place the sharp Athenian law Cannot pursue us. If thou lovest me, then, Steal forth thy father’s house to-morrow night; And in the wood, a league without the town, 165 Where I did meet thee once with Helena, To do observance to a morn of May, There will I stay for thee. _Her._ My good Lysander! I swear to thee, by Cupid’s strongest bow, By his best arrow with the golden head, 170 By the simplicity of Venus’ doves, By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves, And by that fire which burn’d the Carthage queen, When the false Troyan under sail was seen, By all the vows that ever men have broke, 175 In number more than ever women spoke, 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