A sonnet from Lysander to Hermia in the A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Act I. Scene 1.
The place: The palace of Theseus, Athens.
<em>Lysander</em>. How now, my love! why is your cheek so pale? pale
How chance the roses there do fade so fast?
<em>Hermia.</em> Belike for want of rain, which I could well
Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes.
<em>Lysander</em>. Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth;
But, either it was different in blood,
<em>Hermia</em>. O cross! too high to be enthrall'd to low.
Lysander. Or else misgraffed in respect of years,
<em>Hermia</em>. O spite! too old to be engaged to young.
<em>Lysander</em>. Or else it stood upon the choice of friends,
<em>Hermia</em>. O hell! to choose love by another's eyes.
(Taken directly from Act 1, Scene 1, of A Midsummer Night's Dream).
The Love between Lysander and Hermia is sincere but difficult to understand, and finally, she decides to run away.
