Midnight

He was more faithful to me than the sun is to the daytime. Would he have snuck away from me while I was asleep? I’ll believe that when I believe that there’s a hole through the center of the earth, and the moon has passed all the way through to the other side. The only possibility is that you’ve murdered him. A murderer should look like you do, so pale and grim. |
DEMETRIUSThat’s how someonewho’s been murdered should look, and that’s how I look. You’ve pierced me through the heart with your cruelty, and yet you, the murderer, look as bright and clear as a star in the sky. |
HERMIAWhat does that have to do with my Lysander? Where is he? Oh, good Demetrius, will you find him for me? |
DEMETRIUSI would rather feed his corpse to my dogs. |
HERMIAGet out, dog! You’ve driven me to mywit’s end. Did you kill him, then? From now on I won’t even consider you a human being. Oh, just tell the truth for once. tell the truth, if only for my sake.—Would you have even dared to look at him when he was awake? And did you kill him while he was sleeping? Oh, how brave of you! A snake could do that as easily as you could. A snake did do it, because no snake ever had a more forked, lyingtongue than you have. |
DEMETRIUSYou’re getting all worked up over a misunderstanding. I didn’t kill Lysander. ?As far as I know, he’s not even dead. |
HERMIAThen please tell me he’s all right. |
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DEMETRIUS
If I told you that, what would I get out of it?
I couldn’t see you, Lysander, but I heard your voice, and that’s how I found you. Why did you leave me alone so unkindly? |
LYSANDERWhystay when love tells you to go? |
HERMIABut what love could make my Lysander leave me? |
LYSANDERI had to hurry to my love, beautiful Helena, who lights up the night better than all those fiery stars. Why are you looking for me? Didn’t you figure out that I left you because I hate you? |
HERMIAYou can’t mean what you’re saying. It’s impossible. |

195HELENASo, she’s in on this too! Now Isee that all three of them have gotten together to play this cruel trick on me. Hurtful Hermia, you ungrateful girl, have you conspired with these two to provoke me with this horrible teasing? Have you forgotten all the talks we’ve had together, the vows we made to be like sisters to one another, all the hours we spent together, wishing that we never had to say goodbye—have you forgotten? Ourfriendship in our schooldays, our childhood innocence? We used to sit together and sew one flower with our two needles, sewing it on one piece of cloth, sitting on the same cushion, singing one song in the same key, as if our hands, our sides, our voices and our minds were stuck together. We grew together like twin cherries—which seemed to be separate but were also together—two lovely cherries on onestem

We seemed to have two separate bodies, but we had one heart. Do you want to destroy our old friendship by joining these men to insult your poor friend? It’s not friendly, and it’s not ladylike. All women would be angry with you for doing it, even though I’m the only one who’s hurt by it. |
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HERMIAI’m completely dumbfounded by what you’re saying. I’m not insulting you. It soundsmore like you’re insulting me. |
HELENACome on, confess. Didn’t you send Lysander, as an insult, to follow me around praising my eyes and my face? Haven’t you made your other love, Demetrius—who kicked me with his foot not long ago—call me a goddess and a divine, rare, precious, heavenly creature? Why does he talk like that to a girl he can’t stand? And why does Lysander deny that he loves you,when he loves you so deeply? Why would he show me any affection, unless you told him to? Why does it matter that I’m not as lucky or lovable as you are and that the love I feel is unrequited? You should pity me for that reason, not hate me. |
HERMIAI don’t know what you’re talking about. |
HELENAOh, fine. All right, go ahead, keep up your little game, pretend to be sympathetic, but then nudge...