DEMETRIUS   Relent, sweet Hermia; and Lysander, yield Thy crazed title to my certain right. LYSANDER     You have her father’s love, Demetrius. Let me have Hermia’s: do you marry him. EGEUS 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 […]

THESEUS        Take time to pause, and by the next new moon, The sealing day betwixt my love and me For everlasting bond of fellowship, Upon that day either prepare to die For disobedience to your father’s will, Or else to wed Demetrius as he would, Or on Diana’s altar to protest, For aye, austerity and single life.     (1.1.83-90) Theseus can be magnanimous, and […]

THESEUS        Thrice blessed they that master so their blood To undergo such maiden pilgrimage; But earthlier happy is the rose distilled Than that which, withering on the virgin thorn, Grows, lives and dies in single blessedness. HERMIA         So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, Ere I will yield my virgin patent up Unto his lordship whose unwished yoke My soul consents not to give sovereignty.  (1.1.74-82) Theseus is perhaps supercilious, […]

THESEUS        Either to die the death, or to abjure For ever the society of men. Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, Know of your youth, examine well your blood Whether, if you yield not to your father’s choice, You can endure the livery of a nun, For aye to be in shady cloister mewed To live a barren sister all your life, Chanting faint hymns […]

HERMIA         I would my father looked but with my eyes. THESEUS        Rather your eyes must with his judgement look. HERMIA         I do entreat your grace to pardon me. I know not by what power I am made bold, Nor how it may concern my modesty In such a presence here to plead my thoughts, But I beseech your grace that […]

THESEUS        What say you, Hermia? Be advised, fair maid. To you your father should be as a god, One that composed your beauties; yea, and one To whom you are but as a form in wax, By him imprinted, and within his power To leave the figure, or disfigure it. Demetrius is a worthy gentleman. HERMIA         So is Lysander. THESEUS                                In himself […]

EGEUS            And, my gracious duke, Be it so she will not here before your grace Consent to marry with Demetrius, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens: As she is mine, I may dispose of her, Which shall be either to this gentleman, Or to her death, according to our law Immediately provided in that case. (1.1.38-45) But Egeus has a particular […]

EGEUS Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes And interchanged love-tokens with my child; Thou hast, by moonlight, at her window sung, With faining voice, verses of feigning love, And stolen the impression of her fantasy; With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gauds, conceits, Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats (messengers Of strong prevailment in unhardened youth), With cunning hast thou filched my daughter’s heart, Turned her obedience, which […]

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.  […]

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 wooed 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.       […]