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 Draws on apace; four happy days bring in 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 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, gawdst, conceits, Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweet-meats; messengers, Of strong prevailment in unharden'd youth: With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's heart; Turn'd her obedience, which is due to me, To stubborn harshness :-and, my gracious duke, 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; The. In himself be 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 judgement 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 adjure For ever the society of men. 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 . Ever. The. Take time to pause: and, by the next new moon (The sealing-day betwixt my love and me, For everlasting bond of fellowship), 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. Or else the law of Athens yield you up I must employ you in some business [Exeunt Thes. Hip. Ege. Dem. and train. Lys. How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale ? How chance the roses there do fade so fast? Her. Belike for want of rain; which I could well Beteem them* from the tempest of mine eyes. Lys. Ah me! for aught that ever I could read, The course of true love never did run smooth: Her. O cross! too high to be enthrall'd to low! Swift as a shadow, short as any dream; That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, Her. If then true lovers have been ever cross'd, Then let us teach our trial patience, Because it is a customary cross; • Give, bestow. ↑ Momentary. Black: ון |