O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent
To set against me for your merriment:
If you were civil and knew courtesy,
You would not do me thus much injury.
Can you not hate me, as I know you do,
But you must join in souls to mock me too?
If you were men, as men you are in show,
You would not use a gentle lady so;
To vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts,
When I am sure you hate me with your hearts.
You both are rivals, and love Hermia;
And now both rivals, to mock Helena:
A trim exploit, a manly enterprise,
To conjure tears up in a poor maid’s eyes
With your derision! none of noble sort
Would so offend a virgin, and extort
A poor soul’s patience, all to make you sport.
– William Shakespeare
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 3, Scene 2. Helena vehemently protests that Lysander and Demetrius are mocking her for their own amusement. With Lysander trying to convince Helena of the sincerity of his love, Demetrius has awakened and also falls in love with Helena. But she has had enough of their "sport," believing that they are simply making fun of her. However, the audience knows that the real reason for the men’s behavior is they have been enchanted by a love potion, making this is an example of dramatic irony.