_Her._ Puppet? why so? ay, that way goes the game. Now I perceive that she hath made compare 290 Between our statures; she hath urged her height; And with her personage, her tall personage, Her height, forsooth, she hath prevail’d with him. And are you grown so high in his esteem, Because I am so dwarfish and so low? 295 How low am I, thou painted maypole? speak; How low am I? I am not yet so low But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes. _Hel._ I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen, Let her not hurt me: I was never curst; 300 I have no gift at all in shrewishness; I am a right maid for my cowardice: Let her not strike me. You perhaps may think, Because she is something lower than myself, That I can match her. _Her._ Lower! hark, again. 305 _Hel._ Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me I evermore did love you, Hermia, Did ever keep your counsels, never wrong’d you; Save that, in love unto Demetrius, I told him of your stealth unto this wood. 310 He follow’d you; for love I follow’d him; But he hath chid me hence, and threaten’d me To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me too: And now, so you will let me quiet go, To Athens will I bear my folly back, 315 And follow you no further: let me go: You see how simple and how fond I am. _Her._ Why, get you gone: who is’t that hinders you? _Hel._ A foolish heart, that I leave here behind. _Her._ What, with Lysander? _Hel._ With Demetrius. 320 _Lys._ Be not afraid; she shall not harm thee, Helena. _Dem._ No, sir, she shall not, though you take her part. _Hel._ O, when she’s angry, she is keen and shrewd! She was a vixen when she went to school; And though she be but little, she is fierce. 325 _Her._ Little again! nothing but low and little! Why will you suffer her to flout me thus? Let me come to her. _Lys._ Get you gone, you dwarf; You minimus, of hindering knot-grass made; You bead, you acorn. _Dem._ You are too officious 330 In her behalf that scorns your services. Let her alone: speak not of Helena; Take not her part; for, if thou dost intend Never so little show of love to her, Thou shalt aby it. _Lys._ Now she holds me not; 335 Now follow, if thou darest, to try whose right, Of thine or mine, is most in Helena. _Dem._ Follow! nay, I’ll go with thee, cheek by jole. [_Exeunt Lysander and Demetrius._ _Her._ You, mistress, all this coil is ’long of you: Nay, go not back. _Hel._ I will not trust you, I, 340 Nor longer stay in your curst company. Your hands than mine are quicker for a fray, My legs are longer though, to run away. [_Exit._ _Her._ I am amazed, and know not what to say. [_Exit._