Theseus, duke of Athens. Egeus, father to Hermia. Lysander, } in love with Hermia. Demetrius, Philostrate, master of the revels to Theseus. Quince, the carpenter. Snug, the joiner. Bottom, the weaver. Flute, the bellows-mender. Snout, the tinker. Starveling, the tailor. Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus. Hermia, daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander. Helena, in love with Demetrius. Oberon, king of the fairies. Titania, queen of the fairies. Puck, or Robin-goodfellow, a fairy. Other fairies attending their king and queen, Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta. Scene, Athens, and a wood not far from it. MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM. ACT I. SCENE I. Athens. A room in the palace of Theseus. Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostrate, and at tendants. Theseus. Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour 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; And then the moon, like to a silver bow New bent in heaven, shall behold the night Of our solemnities. The. Go, Philostrate, Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments; Turn melancholy forth to funerals, [Exit Philostrate. Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword, With pomp, with triumph*, and with revelling. Enter Egeus, Hermia, Lysander, and Demetrius. Ege. Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke! The. Thanks, good Egeus: what's the news with thee? Ege. Full of vexation come I, with complaint With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawdst, conceits, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens; The. What say you, Hermia? be advis'd, fairmaid: To you your father should be as a god; Her. So is Lysander. In himself he is: The. Her. I would my father look'd but with my eyes. look. Her. I do entreat your grace to pardon me. In such a presence here, to plead my thoughts: The. Either to die the death, or to adjure Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, For aye* to be in shady cloister mew'd, Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. Ere I will yield my virgin patent up The. Take time to pause: and, by the next new moon (The sealing-day betwixt my love and me, For everlasting bond of fellowship), Upon that day either prepare to die, Or else, to wed Demetrius, as he would: 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 deriv'd as he, As well possess'd; my love is more than his; My fortunes every way as fairly rank'd, If not with vantage, as Demetrius'; And, which is more than all these boasts can be, Why should not I then prosecute my right? Upon this spotted and inconstant man. The. I must confess, that I have heard so much, And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof; But, being over-full of self-affairs, My mind did lose it.-But, Demetrius, come; • Wicked. |