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 man hath bewitched the bosom of my child. (1.1.20-27)
No chance for a lovers’ tête à tête, however, even if Hippolyta were in the mood (and she might well be, it doesn’t have to be all menace and mastery): enter one cross old man, two cross young men, and a cross young woman. (Sometimes they’re all there from the beginning, as part of a larger court crowd.) Egeus at least observes some of the proprieties—happy be Theseus, our renowned duke, greetings, your grace (not a word to Hippolyta)—but Theseus probably realises that something’s up, that this isn’t just a loyal subject’s courtesy call. Thanks, good Egeus. What’s the news with thee?Nothing good, by the looks of it? And it all comes pouring out, outrage and frustration, and a good sense of theatre too. Full of vexation come I—oooo, I’m so cross!—with complaint against my child, my daughter Hermia. (This passage not only sets out the situation with crystal clarity, it’s also an absolute masterclass in expository dramaturgy, attaching names to faces, establishing relationships in space.) Teenage rebellion! But Egeus doesn’t start with Hermia—another talked-about-and-mostly-over woman in this scene?—but with the men. Stand forth, Demetrius, all injured dignity, look at me I’m the biggest catch in Athens, and yes, my noble lord (continues his would-be father-in-law Egeus) this man hath my consent to marry her. Demetrius is my FAVOURITE, the chosen one! But then, stand forth, Lysander. The complication! A defiant bad boy, a yearning glance at Hermia, staring daggers at Demetrius? A triangle! (Hippolyta is watching intently—perhaps Hermia, most of all.) And my gracious duke, look, listen, this man hath bewitched the bosom of my child! He’s seduced her, enchanted her! It’s the only possible explanation!
