Midsummer-Night's Dream. A COMEDY, BY WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE. ACCURATELY PRINTED FROM THE TEXT OF MR. STEEVENS'S LAST EDITION. PERSONS REPRESENTED. Theseus, Duke of Athens. Egeus, Father to Hermia. 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. 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. Other Fairies attending their King and Queen. 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 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; And then the moon, like to a silver bow New bent in heaven, shall behold the night The. Go, Philostrate, Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments; B And won thy love, doing thee injuries; 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 I beg the ancient privilege of Athens; The. What say you, Hermia? be advis'd, fair maid: To you your father should be as a god; One that compos'd your beauties; yea, and one 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. The. Rather your eyes must with his judgment look. Her. I do entreat your grace to pardon me. In such a presence here, to plead my thoughts: If I refuse to wed Demetrius. The. Either to die the death, or to abjure For ever the society of men. Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. |