1 Out of this wood do not desire to go.
2 Fair love, you faint with wand'ring in the wood.
3 About the wood go swifter than the wind, And Helena of Athens look thou find.
4 Let me go, Or if thou follow me, do not believe But I shall do thee mischief in the wood.
5 Not so, neither; but if I had wit enough to get out of this wood, I have enough to serve mine own turn.
6 I was with Hercules and Cadmus once, When in a wood of Crete they bay'd the bear With hounds of Sparta.
7 Then to the wood will he tomorrow night Pursue her; and for this intelligence If I have thanks, it is a dear expense.
8 Thou told'st me they were stol'n into this wood, And here am I, and wode within this wood Because I cannot meet with Hermia.
9 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.
10 My lord, fair Helen told me of their stealth, Of this their purpose hither to this wood; And I in fury hither follow'd them, Fair Helena in fancy following me.
11 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.
12 And in the wood where often you and I Upon faint primrose beds were wont to lie, Emptying our bosoms of their counsel sweet, There my Lysander and myself shall meet, And thence from Athens turn away our eyes, To seek new friends and stranger companies.
13 But, masters, here are your parts, and I am to entreat you, request you, and desire you, to con them by tomorrow night; and meet me in the palace wood, a mile without the town, by moonlight; there will we rehearse, for if we meet in the city, we shall be dogg'd with company, and our devices known.