SCENE.-Athens, and a Wood not far from it. ACT I. SCENE I-Athens. A Room in the Palace of THESEUS. Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and Attendants. 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 The. 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. Ege. Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke! The. Thanks, good Egeus: What's the news with thee? With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's heart; To stubborn harshness :-And, my gracious duke, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens; The. 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. The. In himself he is : But, in this kind, wanting your father's voice, The other must be held the worthier. Her. I would, my father look'd but with my eyes. The. Rather your eyes must with his judgment look. I know not by what power I am made bold; In such a presence here, to plead my thoughts; * Shows. † Baubles. But I beseech your grace that I may know The. Either to die the death, or to abjure Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, For aye* to be in shady cloister mew'd, Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. Than that, which, withering on the virgin thorn, Her. 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. The. 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, 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; I do estate unto Demetrius. Lys. I am, my lord, as well derived 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 spottedt 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; I have some private schooling for you both.- 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 The course of true love never did run smooth: Her. O cross! too high to be enthrall'd to low! That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, So quick bright things come to confusion. Her. If then true lovers have been ever cross'd, It stands as an edict in destiny: Then let us teach our trial patience, Because it is a customary cross; As due to love, as thoughts, and dreams, and sighs, Wishes and tears, poor fancy's § followers. Lys. A good persuasion; therefore, hear me, Hermia. I have a widow aunt, a dowager Of great revenue, and she hath no child: From Athens is her house remote seven leagues: And she respects me as her only son. There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee; * Give, bestow. + Black. + Momentary. 6 Love s. Cannot pursue us: If thou lov'st me then, Her. My good Lysander! I swear to thee, by Cupid's strongest bow; By that which knitteth souls, and prospers loves; Lys. Keep promise, love: Look, here comes Helena. Her. God speed, fair Helena! Whither away? Your eyes are lode-stars ;* and your tongue's sweet air, When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear. O, teach me how you look; and with what art Her. I frown upon him, yet he loves me still. Hel. Q, that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill Her. I give him curses, yet he gives me love. Hel. O, that my prayers could such affection move! Her. The more I hate, the more he follows me. Hel. The more I love, the more he hateth me. Her. His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine. Hel. None, but your beauty; Would that fault were mine! Her. Take comfort; he no more shall see my face; Lysander and myself will fly this place. Before the time I did Lysander see, Seem'd Athens as a paradise to me: That he hath turn'd a heaven into hell! Lys. Helen, to you our minds we will unfold: *Pole-stars. + Countenance. |