THESEUS, Duke of Athens. LYSANDER, DEMETRIUS, in love with Hermia. PHILOSTRATE, Master of the Revels to Theseus. QUINCE, the Carpenter. SNUG, the Joiner. BOTTOM, the Weaver. FLUTE, the Bellows-mender. STARVELING, the Tailor. HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus. HERMIA, Daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander. OBERON King of the Fairies. PUCK, or Robin-goodfellow, a Fairy. Characters in the Interlude performed by the Clowns. Other Fairies attending their King and Queen. Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta. Scene, Athens, and a Wood not far from it. A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM. ACT I. SCENE 1.-Athens.-A Room in the Palace of THESEUS. Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and Attendants. The. Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour Draws on apace; four happy days bring in Another moon: but, oh, methinks how slow This old moon wanes! She lingers my desires, Like to a step-dame, or a dowager, Long withering out a young man's revenue. Hip. Four days will quickly steep themselves in nights; Four nights will quickly dream away the time; New bent in heaven, shall behold the night The. Go, Philostrate, Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments; [Exit Philostrate. Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword, With pomp, with triumph *, and with revelling. Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and DEMETRIUS. thee? Ege. Full of vexation come I, with complaint * Shows. Against my child, my daughter Hermia.- With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conceits, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens; The. What say you, Hermia? Be advised, fair maid: To you your father should be as a god; One that composed your beauties; yea, and one By him imprinted, and within his power To leave the figure, or disfigure it. Her. So is Lysander. The. In himself he is: But in this kind, wanting your father's voice, Her. I would, my father look'd but with my eyes. look. Her. I do entreat your grace to pardon me.} I know not by what power I am made bold; Nor how it may concern my modesty, In such a presence here, to plead my thoughts: The. Either to die the death, or to abjure • Baubles Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, For aye to be in shady cloister mew'd, Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke My soul consents not to give sovereignty. The. Take time to pause: and, by the next new moon, (The sealing-day betwixt my love and me, Upon that day either prepare to die, For aye, austerity and single life. Dem. Relent, sweet Hermia;-And, Lysander, yield Thy crazed title to my certain right. Lys. You have her father's love, Demetrius; Let me have Hermia's: do you marry him. Ege. Scornful Lysander! true, he hath my love; And what is mine, my love shall render him; And she is mine; and all my right of her I do estate unto Demetrius. Lys. I am, my lord, as well derived as he, And, which is more than all these boasts can be, Why should not I then prosecute my right? Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his head, Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena, And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes, Upon this spotted + and inconstant man. The. I must confess, that I have heard so much, . Ever. VOL. 1. + Wicked. Fff And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof; My mind did lose it.-But, Demetrius, come; I have some private schooling for you both.- I must employ you in some business [Exeunt Thes. Hip. Ege. Dem. and Train. Lys. How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale? How chance the roses there do fade so fast? Her. Belike for want of rain; which I could well The course of true love never did run smooth t Her. O cross! too high to be enthrall'd to low! Lys. Or else misgraffed, in respect of years; Her. O spite! too old to be engaged to young! Lys. Or else it stood upon the choice of friends: Her. O hell! to choose love by another's eye! Lys. Or, if there were a sympathy in choice, War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it; Making it momentary as a sound, Swift as a shadow, short as any dream; Brief as the lightning in the collied + night, That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, And ere a man hath power to say,-Behold! The jaws of darkness do devour it up : So quick bright things come to confusion. Her. If then true lovers have been ever cross'd, It stands as an edict in destiny: Then let us teach our trial patience, As due to love, as thoughts, and dreams, and sighs, • Give, bestow. + Black. * Sport. |