Faculty of English

THESEUS        But Demetrius, come, And come, Egeus; you shall go with me. I have some private schooling for you both. For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself To fit your fancies to your father’s will; Or else, the law of Athens yields you up (Which by no means we may extenuate) To death, or to a vow of single life.  (1.1.114-121) Theseus defuses […]

LYSANDER     Demetrius, I’ll avouch it to his head, Made love to Nedar’s daughter Helena And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes, Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry Upon this spotted and inconstant man. THESEUS        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.   (1.1.106-114) […]

LYSANDER     I am, my lord, as well derived as he, As well possessed; my love is more than his, My fortunes every way as fairly ranked (If not with vantage) as Demetrius’; And (which is more than all these boasts can be) I am belov’d of beauteous Hermia. Why should not I then prosecute my right?           (1.1.99-105) Lysander seems more worried about being […]

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 […]