A

MIDSOMMER

NIGHTS DREAME

[DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

THESEUS, Duke of Athens.
EGEUS, father to Hermia.

LYSANDER,
DEMETRIUS,

}

in love with Hermia.

PHILOSTRATE, master of the revels to Theseus.
QUINCE, a carpenter.

SNUG, a joiner.

BOTTOM, a weaver.
FLUTE, a bellows-mender.

SNOUT, a tinker.

STARVELING, a tailor.

HIPPOLYTA, queen of the Amazons, betrothed to
Theseus.

HERMIA, daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander.
HELENA, in love with Demetrius.

Other fairies attending their King and Queen. Attendants

on Theseus and Hippolyta.

SCENE: Athens, and a wood near it.]

A

MIDSOMMER

NIGHTS DREAME

Actus primus.

[Scene i. Athens. The palace of Theseus.] Enter Theseus, Hippolita, [Philostrate,] with others.

Theseus.

OW faire Hippolita, our nuptiall houre

Now

Drawes on apace: foure happy daies bring in Another Moon: but oh, me thinkes, how slow This old Moon wanes; She lingers my desires Like to a Step-dame, or a Dowager,

Long withering out a yong mans revennew.

9

Hip. Foure daies wil quickly steep themselves in nights

Foure nights wil quickly dreame away the time:

And then the Moone, like to a silver bow,
Now bent in heaven, shal behold the night
Of our solemnities.

The. Go Philostrate,

Stirre up the Athenian youth to merriments,

10. nights: night-1Q.

13. now bent: new-bent-RowE.

Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth,
Turne melancholy forth to Funerals:
The pale companion is not for our pompe,

[Exit Philostrate.]

Hippolita, I woo'd thee with my sword,
And wonne thy love, doing thee injuries:
But I will wed thee in another key,

With pompe, with triumph, and with revelling.

Enter Egeus and his daughter Hermia, Lysander,

and Demetrius.

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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 Against my childe, my daughter Hermia.

Stand forth Dometrius.

My Noble Lord,

This man hath my consent to marrie her.

Stand forth Lysander.

And my gracious Duke,

This man hath bewitch'd the bosome of my childe:
Thou, thou Lysander, thou hast given her rimes,
And interchang'd love-tokens with my childe:
Thou hast by Moone-light at her window sung,
With faining voice, verses of faining love,
And stolne the impression of her fantasie,

With bracelets of thy haire, rings, gawdes, conceits,

30

40

Knackes, trifles, Nose-gaies, sweet meats (messengers

30. Stand forth Dometrius: in text, next line-Rowe. 33. Stand forth Lysander: in text, next line-Rowe. 39. faining.. faining: feigning .. feigning-RowE.

Of strong prevailment in unhardned youth)
With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughters heart,
Turn'd her obedience (which is due to me)

To stubborne harshnesse. And my gracious Duke,
Be it so she will not heere before your Grace,
Consent to marrie with Demetrius,

I beg the ancient priviledge of Athens;
As she is mine, I may dispose of her;
Which shall be either to this Gentleman,
Or to her death, according to our Law,
Immediately provided in that case.

50

The. What say you Hermia? be advis'd faire Maide,

To you your Father should be as a God;

One that compos'd your beauties; yea and one

To whom you are but as a forme in waxe

By him imprinted: and within his power,
To leave the figure, or disfigure it:
Demetrius is a worthy Gentleman.
Her. So is Lysander.

The. In himselfe he is.

But in this kinde, wanting your fathers voyce.
The other must be held the worthier.

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Her. I would my father look'd but with my eyes.
The. Rather your eies must with his judgment looke.
Her. I do entreat your Grace to pardon me.

I know not by what power I am made bold,
Nor how it may concerne my modestie

In such a presence heere to pleade my thoughts: 70
But I beseech your Grace, that I may know

The worst that may befall me in this case,
If I refuse to wed Demetrius.

The. Either to dye the death, or to abjure
For ever the society of men.

Therefore faire Hermia question your desires,