A Midsummer Night's Dream Group
Question:
kimli913
Student
High School - 9th Grade
Please paraphrase this part from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act IV, theme 1.
DEMETRUIS
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.
But, my good lord, I wot not by what power,--
But by some power it is,--my love to Hermia,
Melted as the snow, seems to me now
As the remembrance of an idle gaud
Which in my childhood I did dote upon;
And all the faith, the virtue of my heart,
The object and the pleasure of mine eye,
Is only Helena. To her, my lord,
Was I betroth'd ere I saw Hermia:
But, like in sickness, did I loathe this food;
But, as in health, come to my natural taste,
Now I do wish it, love it, long for it,
And will for evermore be true to it.
Answers:
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gedaly Student
College - JuniorPosted by gedaly on Saturday March 8, 2008 at 4:52 PMTo put it into words you're more familiar with...
Sir, Helena told me that Lysander and Hermia were going to run away to the woods and I angrily followed them, and Helena followed me since she has a huge crush on me. But somehow - I don't know how - my love for Hermia faded away, it seems like a distant childhood memory now, and now I only love Helena. I was engaged to her before I saw Hermia but now I am healed of that temporary sickness and only love Helena.
It's not an exact "translation," but that's the gist of it. I'd encourage you to look up words your unfamilar with and try to make sense of the whole speech by yourself. You'll understand the text much better if you spend some time figuring it out.