A Midsummer Night's Dream Read Free

mortals were Demetrius and Helena.
    As Oberon watched and listened, Demetrius turned on the miserable girl and snarled, ‘I don’t love you at all, Helena. In fact it makes me puke to look at you, so I don’t know why you bother following me.’ He peered all around. ‘Where
are
Lysander and Hermia? You said they’d be here. I’m going to kill
him
and drag
her
back to her father.’
    â€˜I can’t
help
following you,’ wailed Helena. ‘I’m under your spell.’
    Demetrius scoffed. ‘Do I speak tenderly to you? Lead you on? No, I don’t, so leave. It’s dangerous in the wood at night, and
I’m
not going to protect you.’
    â€˜If I could
fight
for your love, I would,’ cried Helena. ‘But girls can’t. We’re made to be wooed, not to woo.’
    â€˜Get
lost
, will you?’ Demetrius spun on his heel and plunged into the shadow under the trees.
    Helena stumbled after him as best she could.
    Oberon followed the pathetic girl with his eyes. ‘I’ll promise you this, sweetheart,’ he murmured. ‘Before that lad leaves the wood, it’ll be him following you, and you won’t want to know.’
    As the two mortals moved away, Puck appeared.
    Oberon looked at him. ‘Did you find the flower?’
    â€˜I did.’
    â€˜Let me have it.’
    The elf handed over a handful of purple blooms.
    Oberon grinned. ‘I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,’ he murmured. ‘Titania often sleeps there. I’ll find her, paint her eyelids with the juice from these.’ He divided the bunch, gave half back to Puck. ‘Take these, and go after the mortals who were here. The lady loves the youth, but he disdains her. Paint his eyes, and make sure the lady’s the first thing he’ll see when he wakes. Meet me here at dawn.’

    As Puck and Oberon were parting, in another part of the wood, Titania was preparing to sleep.
    â€˜Come, fairies,’ she commanded, ‘and sing me to sleep with a lullaby.’ She lay with her head on a cushion of thyme, and closed her eyes.
    The fairies sang so sweetly that their queen was soon asleep. Leaving one of their number to watch over her, they dispersed to carry out the various tasks she had set for them. Somewere to cure buds that might otherwise rot. Others must hunt down tiny bats, and take their leathery wings to be turned into coats for Titania’s elves. And some were commanded to drive away owls whose hooting might disturb their mistress’s sleep.
    The fairies had not been long gone when Oberon came creeping through the trees. He moved so stealthily that the sentry didn’t see him. He bent over the sleeping Titania and squeezed juice from the flowers onto her eyelids.
    â€˜What thou seest when thou dost wake,’ he whispered, ‘do it for thy true love take.’ He stood for a moment, gazing down at her, then left as silently as he’d come.
    A short time later, Lysander and Hermia reached that part of the wood. ‘I think we’re a bit lost,’ admitted Lysander. ‘Maybe we should get some sleep, eh? Wait for daylight.’
    â€˜Fine,’ murmured Hermia. ‘Find yourself a spot to lie on – this bank will do for me.’
    â€˜We can
both
lie on the bank,’ suggested Lysander. ‘Two heads, one pillow.’
    â€˜Uh-uh.’ Hermia shook her head. ‘I’m afraid that’s
not
a good idea, my love. I need my space.’
    So the lovers found their separate beds, said goodnight and were sound asleep when Puck came wandering in their direction, muttering to himself.
    â€˜I see no mortals. No ardent maid, no scornful youth. Wild goose chase if you ask … hey!’ He spotted the lovers. ‘
That’s
them – must be. See how they lie apart when they might lie entwined.’ He approached Lysander. ‘Misery guts,’ he hissed. ‘Ignorant wuss. I’ll