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1596 `
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A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM `
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by William Shakespeare `
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DRAMATIS PERSONAE `
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THESEUS, Duke of Athens `
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EGEUS, father to Hermia `
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LYSANDER, in love with Hermia `
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DEMETRIUS, in love with Hermia `
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PHILOSTRATE, Master of the Revels to Theseus `
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QUINCE, a carpenter `
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SNUG, a joiner `
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BOTTOM, a weaver `
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FLUTE, a bellows-mender `
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SNOUT, a tinker `
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STARVELING, a tailor `
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HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons, bethrothed to Theseus `
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HERMIA, daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander `
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HELENA, in love with Demetrius `
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OBERON, King of the Fairies `
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TITANIA, Queen of the Fairies `
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PUCK, or ROBIN GOODFELLOW `
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PEASEBLOSSOM, fairy `
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COBWEB, fairy `
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MOTH, fairy `
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MUSTARDSEED, fairy `
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PROLOGUE, PYRAMUS, THISBY, WALL, MOONSHINE, LION are presented `
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by: `
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QUINCE, BOTTOM, FLUTE, SNOUT, STARVELING, AND SNUG `
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Other Fairies attending their King and Queen `
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Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta `
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SCENE: `
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Athens and a wood near it `
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ACT I. SCENE I. `
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Athens. The palace of THESEUS `
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Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and ATTENDANTS `
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THESEUS. Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour `
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Draws on apace; four happy days bring in `
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Another moon; but, O, methinks, how slow `
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This old moon wanes! She lingers my desires, `
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Like to a step-dame or a dowager, `
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Long withering out a young man's revenue. `
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HIPPOLYTA. Four days will quickly steep themselves in night; `
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Four nights will quickly dream away the time; `
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And then the moon, like to a silver bow `
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New-bent in heaven, shall behold the night `
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Of our solemnities. `
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THESEUS. Go, Philostrate, `
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Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments; `
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Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth; `
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Turn melancholy forth to funerals; `
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The pale companion is not for our pomp. Exit PHILOSTRATE `
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Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword, `
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And won thy love doing thee injuries; `
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But I will wed thee in another key, `
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With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling. `
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Enter EGEUS, and his daughter HERMIA, LYSANDER, `
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and DEMETRIUS `
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EGEUS. Happy be Theseus, our renowned Duke! `
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THESEUS. Thanks, good Egeus; what's the news with thee? `
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EGEUS. Full of vexation come I, with complaint `
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Against my child, my daughter Hermia. `
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Stand forth, Demetrius. My noble lord, `
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This man hath my consent to marry her. `
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Stand forth, Lysander. And, my gracious Duke, `
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This man hath bewitch'd the bosom of my child. `
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Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes, `
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And interchang'd love-tokens with my child; `
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Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung, `
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With feigning voice, verses of feigning love, `
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And stol'n the impression of her fantasy `
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With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conceits, `
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Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats- messengers `
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Of strong prevailment in unhardened youth; `
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With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's heart; `
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Turn'd her obedience, which is due to me, `
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To stubborn harshness. And, my gracious Duke, `
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Be it so she will not here before your Grace `
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Consent to marry with Demetrius, `
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I beg the ancient privilege of Athens: `
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As she is mine I may dispose of her; `
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Which shall be either to this gentleman `
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Or to her death, according to our law `
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Immediately provided in that case. `
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THESEUS. What say you, Hermia? Be advis'd, fair maid. `
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To you your father should be as a god; `
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One that compos'd your beauties; yea, and one `
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To whom you are but as a form in wax, `
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By him imprinted, and within his power `
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To leave the figure, or disfigure it. `
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Demetrius is a worthy gentleman. `
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HERMIA. So is Lysander. `
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THESEUS. In himself he is; `
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But, in this kind, wanting your father's voice, `
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The other must be held the worthier. `
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HERMIA. I would my father look'd but with my eyes. `
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THESEUS. Rather your eyes must with his judgment look. `
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HERMIA. I do entreat your Grace to pardon me. `
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I know not by what power I am made bold, `
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Nor how it may concern my modesty `
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In such a presence here to plead my thoughts; `
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But I beseech your Grace that I may know `
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The worst that may befall me in this case, `
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If I refuse to wed Demetrius. `
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THESEUS. Either to die the death, or to abjure `
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For ever the society of men. `
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Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, `
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Know of your youth, examine well your blood, `
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Whether, if you yield not to your father's choice, `
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You can endure the livery of a nun, `
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For aye to be shady cloister mew'd, `
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To live a barren sister all your life, `
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Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. `
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Thrice-blessed they that master so their blood `
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To undergo such maiden pilgrimage; `
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But earthlier happy is the rose distill'd `
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Than that which withering on the virgin thorn `
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Grows, lives, and dies, in single blessedness. `
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HERMIA. So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, `
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Ere I will yield my virgin patent up `
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Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke `
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My soul consents not to give sovereignty. `
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THESEUS. Take time to pause; and by the next new moon- `
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The sealing-day betwixt my love and me `
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For everlasting bond of fellowship- `
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Upon that day either prepare to die `
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For disobedience to your father's will, `
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Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would, `
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Or on Diana's altar to protest `
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For aye austerity and single life. `
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DEMETRIUS. Relent, sweet Hermia; and, Lysander, yield `
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Thy crazed title to my certain right. `
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LYSANDER. You have her father's love, Demetrius; `
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Let me have Hermia's; do you marry him. `
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EGEUS. Scornful Lysander, true, he hath my love; `
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And what is mine my love shall render him; `
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And she is mine; and all my right of her `
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I do estate unto Demetrius. `
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LYSANDER. I am, my lord, as well deriv'd as he, `
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As well possess'd; my love is more than his; `
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My fortunes every way as fairly rank'd, `
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If not with vantage, as Demetrius'; `
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And, which is more than all these boasts can be, `
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I am belov'd of beauteous Hermia. `
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Why should not I then prosecute my right? `
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Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his head, `
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Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena, `
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And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes, `
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Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry, `
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Upon this spotted and inconstant man. `
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THESEUS. I must confess that I have heard so much, `
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And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof; `
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But, being over-full of self-affairs, `
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My mind did lose it. But, Demetrius, come; `
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And come, Egeus; you shall go with me; `
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I have some private schooling for you both. `
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For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself `
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To fit your fancies to your father's will, `
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Or else the law of Athens yields you up- `
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Which by no means we may extenuate- `
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To death, or to a vow of single life. `
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Come, my Hippolyta; what cheer, my love? `
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Demetrius, and Egeus, go along; `
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I must employ you in some business `
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Against our nuptial, and confer with you `
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Of something nearly that concerns yourselves. `
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EGEUS. With duty and desire we follow you. `
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Exeunt all but LYSANDER and HERMIA `
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LYSANDER. How now, my love! Why is your cheek so pale? `
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How chance the roses there do fade so fast? `
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HERMIA. Belike for want of rain, which I could well `
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Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes. `
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LYSANDER. Ay me! for aught that I could ever read, `
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Could ever hear by tale or history, `
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The course of true love never did run smooth; `
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But either it was different in blood- `
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HERMIA. O cross! too high to be enthrall'd to low. `
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LYSANDER. Or else misgraffed in respect of years- `
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HERMIA. O spite! too old to be engag'd to young. `
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LYSANDER. Or else it stood upon the choice of friends- `
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