Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/167

Rh with all her might his suit, and loved instead the young Lysander, tall and fair-haired. Alas for these two lovers! old Egeus did not like his daughter's choice, but favored the suit of Demetrius, and would not let Hermia marry where she wished.

In these happy days of fairies and Amazons, it faired ill with lovers whose fathers were not of their minds, for the maiden who loved so unwisely, had but three alternatives,either to wed a man of her father’s choice, or to be put to death, or to retire into the order of Diana’s priestesses, and forever adjure marriage. In her desperation, Hermia appealed to Theseus, who could do nothing but quote the law, and Egeus bore her home in triumph, swearing she should wed Demetrius;not till she had spoken a few secret words to Lysander, though, and in these brief words, Hermia agreed to run away that night to a wood near Athens, and there, meeting with Lysander, they were to fly to some happier clime for lovers.

Helena, the neglected love of Demetrius, was the dearest friend of Hermia, and to her did she confide her intended flight. And Helena, who was glad to gain a minute’s speech with her renegade lover, even though he unblushingly scorned her, and praised Hermia in her presence, went very perfidiously and told Demetrius of the plot