A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Helena has just discovered that her friends Hermia and Lysander are
going to elope. She reflects on the state of her love towards
Demetrius, who shuns her.
Helena:
How happy some o'er other some can be!
Through Athens, I am thought as fair as she.
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so.
He will not know what all but he do know.
And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes,
So I, admiring of his qualities.
Things base and vile, holding no quantity,
Love can transpose to form and dignity.
Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.
Nor hath Love's mind of any judgement taste.
Wings, and no eyes, figure unheedy haste.
And therefore is Love said to be a child,
Because in choice he is so oft beguiled.
As waggish boys in game themselves forswear,
So the boy, Love, is perjured everywhere.
For ere Demetrius looked on Hermia's eyne
He hailed down oaths that he was only mine.
And when that hail some heat from Hermia felt
So he dissolved, and show'rs of oaths did melt.
I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight,
Then to the wood will he tomorrow night
Pursue her. And for this intelligence, if I have thanks,
It is a dear expense. But herein mean I to enrich my pain
To have his sight thither and back again.
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