_Obe._ Having once this juice, I’ll watch Titania when she is asleep, And drop the liquor of it in her eyes. The next thing then she waking looks upon, Be it on lion, bear, or wolf, or bull, 180 On meddling monkey, or on busy ape, She shall pursue it with the soul of love: And ere I take this charm from off her sight, As I can take it with another herb, I’ll make her render up her page to me. 185 But who comes here? I am invisible; And I will overhear their conference. _Enter_ DEMETRIUS, HELENA _following him_. _Dem._ I love thee not, therefore pursue me not. Where is Lysander and fair Hermia? The one I’ll slay, the other slayeth me. 190 Thou told’st me they were stolen unto this wood; And here am I, and wode within this wood, Because I cannot meet my Hermia. Hence, get thee gone, and follow me no more. _Hel._ You draw me, you hard-hearted adamant; 195 But yet you draw not iron, for my heart Is true as steel: leave you your power to draw, And I shall have no power to follow you. _Dem._ Do I entice you? do I speak you fair? Or, rather, do I not in plainest truth 200 Tell you, I do not nor I cannot love you? _Hel._ And even for that do I love you the more. I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius, The more you beat me, I will fawn on you: Use me but as your spaniel, spurn me, strike me, 205 Neglect me, lose me; only give me leave, Unworthy as I am, to follow you. What worser place can I beg in your love,— And yet a place of high respect with me,— Than to be used as you use your dog? 210 _Dem._ Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit; For I am sick when I do look on thee. _Hel._ And I am sick when I look not on you. _Dem._ You do impeach your modesty too much, To leave the city, and commit yourself 215 Into the hands of one that loves you not; To trust the opportunity of night And the ill counsel of a desert place With the rich worth of your virginity. _Hel._ Your virtue is my privilege: for that 220 It is not night when I do see your face, Therefore I think I am not in the night; Nor doth this wood lack worlds of company, For you in my respect are all the world: Then how can it be said I am alone, 225 When all the world is here to look on me? _Dem._ I’ll run from thee and hide me in the brakes, And leave thee to the mercy of wild beasts. _Hel._ The wildest hath not such a heart as you. Run when you will, the story shall be changed: 230 Apollo flies, and Daphne holds the chase; The dove pursues the griffin; the mild hind Makes speed to catch the tiger; bootless speed, When cowardice pursues, and valour flies.