MIDSUMMER-NIGHTS' DREAM

Summary

ACT I.

SCENE I.—ATHENS. A Room in the Palace of THESEUS,

Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and ATTENDANTS.

Theseus. 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.

Hippolyta. 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.

Theseus. Go, Philostrate,

Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments;

Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth;

Turn melancholy forth to funerals,

The pale companion is not for our pomp.

[Exit PHILOSTRATE.

Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword,

And won thy love, doing thee injuries;

But I will wed thee in another key,

With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling.

Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and DEMETRIUS.

Egeus. Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke!

Theseus. Thanks, good Egeus: What's the news with thee?

Egeus. Full of vexation come I, with complaint

Against my child, my daughter Hermia.—

Stand forth, Demetrius;—My noble lord,

This man hath my consent to marry her:—

Stand forth, Lysander;—and, my gracious duke,

This hath bewitch'd the bosom of my child:

Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes,

And interchang'd love-tokens with my child:

Thou hast by moon-light at her window sung,

With feigning voice, verses of feigning love;

And stol'n the impression of her fantasy

With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gauds, conceits,

Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats; messengers