LIST OF PARTS
THESEUS, Duke of Athens
HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus
EGEUS, an Athenian courtier, father to Hermia
LYSANDER, in love with Hermia
HERMIA, in love with Lysander, but ordered by her father to marry Demetrius
DEMETRIUS, in love with Hermia, though once a suitor to Helena
HELENA, in love with Demetrius
Peter QUINCE, a carpenter and leader of an amateur dramatic group, who speaks the PROLOGUE to their play
Nick BOTTOM, a weaver, who plays PYRAMUS in the amateur play
Francis FLUTE, a bellows-mender, who plays THISBE in the amateur play
SNUG, a joiner, who plays a LION in the amateur play
Tom SNOUT, a tinker, who plays a WALL in the amateur play
Robin STARVELING, a tailor, who plays MOONSHINE in the amateur play
OBERON, King of Fairies
TITANIA, Queen of Fairies
ROBIN Goodfellow, also known as Puck, a sprite in the service of Oberon
Fairies attendant upon Titania
PEASEBLOSSOM
COBWEB
MOTH
MUSTARDSEED
PHILOSTRATE, an official in Theseus' court
Other Attendants at the court of Theseus; other Fairies attendant upon Oberon
Act 1 [Scene 1]
running scene 1
Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, with others [Philostrate and attendants]
THESEUS Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour
Draws on apace. Four happy days2 bring in
Another moon: but O, methinks, how slow
This old moon wanes; she lingers4 my desires,
Like to a stepdame or a dowager5
Long withering out a young man's revenue6.
HIPPOLYTA Four days will quickly steep7 themselves in nights,
Four nights will quickly dream away the time.
And then the moon, like to a silver bow9
New-bent10 in heaven, shall behold the night
Of our solemnities11.
THESEUS Go, Philostrate,
Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments,
Awake the pert14 and nimble spirit of mirth,
Turn melancholy forth to funerals:
The pale companion is not for our pomp16.
[Exit Philostrate]
Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword17,
And won thy love doing thee injuries18.
But I will wed thee in another key,
With pomp, with triumph20 and with revelling.
Enter Egeus and his daughter 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.--
Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes,
And interchanged love-tokens with my child.
Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung,
With feigning32 voice verses of feigning love,
And stol'n the impression of her fantasy33
With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gauds, conceits34,
Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats35 -- messengers
Of strong prevailment in unhardened36 youth --
With cunning hast thou filched37 my daughter's heart,
Turned her obedience, which is due to me,
To stubborn harshness.-- And, my gracious duke,
Be it so40 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
Immediately46 provided in that case.
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 disfigure52 it.
Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.
HERMIA So is Lysander.
THESEUS In himself he is.
But in this kind, wanting your father's voice56,
The other must be held the worthier.
HERMIA I would58 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 concern62 my modesty
In such a presence63 here to plead my thoughts:
But I beseech your grace that I may know
The worst that may befall me in this case,
If I refuse to wed Demetrius.
THESEUS Either to die the death67 or to abjure
Forever the society68 of men.
Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires,
Know of your youth, examine well your blood70,
Whether, if you yield not to your father's choice,
You can endure the livery72 of a nun,
For aye to be in shady cloister mewed73,
To live a barren sister all your life,
Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon.
Thrice blessed they that master so their blood,
To undergo such maiden pilgrimage.
But earthlier happy is the rose distilled78
Than that which withering on the virgin thorn
Grows, lives and dies in single blessedness80.
HERMIA So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord,
Ere I will yield my virgin patent82 up
Unto his lordship83, whose unwished yoke
My soul consents not to give sovereignty.
THESEUS Take time to pause, and by the next new moon --
The sealing day86 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 would90,
Or on Diana's altar to protest91
For aye92 austerity and single life.
DEMETRIUS Relent, sweet Hermia.-- And, Lysander, yield
Thy crazed title94 to my certain right.
LYSANDER You have her father's love, Demetrius:
Let me have Hermia's. Do96 you marry him.
EGEUS Scornful Lysander! True, he hath my love;
And what is mine my love shall render98 him.
And she is mine, and all my right of her
I do estate unto100 Demetrius.
LYSANDER I am, my lord, as well derived101 as he,
As well possessed102: my love is more than his,
My fortunes every way as fairly103 ranked,
If not with vantage, as Demetrius'104,
And, which is more than all these boasts can be,
I am beloved of beauteous Hermia.
Why should not I then prosecute107 my right?
Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his head108,
Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena109,
And won her soul: and she, sweet lady, dotes110,
Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry,
Upon this spotted112 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-affairs115,
My mind did lose116 it. But, Demetrius, come,
And come, Egeus, you shall go with me.
br /> I have some private schooling118 for you both.
For you, fair Hermia, look you arm119 yourself
To fit your fancies120 to your father's will,
Or else the law of Athens yields you up --
Which by no means we may extenuate122 --
To death or to a vow of single life.--
Come, my Hippolyta. What cheer, my love?--
Demetrius and Egeus, go125 along:
I must employ you in some business
Against127 our nuptial and confer with you
Of something nearly that128 concerns yourselves.
EGEUS With duty and desire we follow you.
Exeunt all but Lysander and Hermia
LYSANDER How now, my love! Why is your cheek so pale?
How chance the roses there do fade so fast?
HERMIA Belike132 for want of rain, which I could well
Beteem133 them from the tempest of mine eyes.
LYSANDER Ay me, for aught134 that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth.
But either it was different in blood137--
HERMIA O cross138! Too high to be enthralled to low.
LYSANDER Or else misgraffed139 in respect of years--
HERMIA O spite! Too old to be engaged to young.
LYSANDER Or else it stood upon the choice of merit141--
HERMIA O hell! To choose love by another's eyes.
LYSANDER Or if there were a sympathy143 in choice,
War, death or sickness did lay siege to it,
Making it momentary145 as a sound,
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream:
Brief as the lightning in the collied147 night,
That in a spleen unfolds148 both heaven and earth,
And ere149 a man hath power to say 'Behold!'
The jaws of darkness do devour it up:
So quick bright things come to confusion151.
HERMIA If then true lovers have been ever crossed152,
It stands as an edict in destiny.
Then let us teach our trial154 patience,
Because it is a customary cross,
As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs,
Wishes and tears, poor fancy's157 followers.
LYSANDER A good persuasion158. Therefore hear me, Hermia.
I have a widow aunt, a dowager
Of great revenue, and she hath no child.
From Athens is her house removed seven leagues161,
And she respects162 me as her only son.
There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee,
And to that place the sharp Athenian law
Cannot pursue us. If thou lov'st me, then
Steal forth thy father's house tomorrow night,
And in the wood, a league without167 the town,
Where I did meet thee once with Helena,
To do observance to a morn of May169,
There will I stay170 for thee.
HERMIA My good Lysander!
I swear to thee, by Cupid's172 strongest bow,
By his best arrow with the golden head173,
By the simplicity of Venus' doves174,
By that which knitteth175 souls and prospers love,
And by that fire which burned the Carthage queen176,
When the false Troyan177 under sail was seen,
By all the vows that ever men have broke,
In number more than ever women spoke,
In that same place thou hast appointed me,
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee.
LYSANDER Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena.
Enter Helena
HERMIA God speed fair183 Helena, whither away?
HELENA Call you me fair? That fair again unsay.
Demetrius loves your fair: O happy185 fair!
Your eyes are lodestars, and your tongue's sweet air186
More tuneable187 than lark to shepherd's ear
When wheat is green188, when hawthorn buds appear.
Sickness is catching: O, were favour189 so,
Your words I catch190, fair Hermia, ere I go,
My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye,
My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody.
Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated193,
The rest I'll give to be to you translated194.
O, teach me how you look, and with what art
You sway the motion of Demetrius' heart.
HERMIA I frown upon him, yet he loves me still.
HELENA O, that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill!
HERMIA I give him curses, yet he gives me love.
HELENA O, that my prayers could such affection move200!
HERMIA The more I hate, the more he follows me.
HELENA The more I love, the more he hateth me.
HERMIA His folly, Helena, is none203 of mine.
HELENA None, but your beauty: would that fault were mine!
HERMIA Take comfort: he no more shall see my face.
Lysander and myself will fly206 this place.
Before the time I did Lysander see,
Seemed Athens like a paradise to me.
O, then, what graces in my love do dwell,
That he hath turned a heaven into hell!
LYSANDER Helen, to you our minds we will unfold:
Tomorrow night, when Phoebe212 doth behold
Her silver visage in the wat'ry glass213,
Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass,
A time that lovers' flights doth still215 conceal,
Through Athens' gates have we devised to steal.
HERMIA And in the wood, where often you and I
Upon faint primrose beds were wont218 to lie,
Emptying our bosoms of their counsel219 sweet,
There my Lysander and myself shall meet,
And thence from Athens turn away our eyes,
To seek new friends and strange222 companions.
Farewell, sweet playfellow: pray thou for us,
And good luck grant thee thy Demetrius! --
Keep word, Lysander: we must starve our sight
From lovers' food till morrow deep midnight.
Exit
LYSANDER I will, my Hermia.-- Helena, adieu.
As you on him, Demetrius dote on you!
Exit
HELENA How happy some o'er other some229 can be!
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so:
He will not know what all232 but he doth know.
And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes,
So I, admiring of his qualities.
Things base and vile, holding no quantity235,
Love can transpose to form236 and dignity.
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind238.
Nor hath love's mind of any judgement taste239,
Wings and no eyes figure240 unheedy haste.
And therefore is love said to be a child,
Because in choice he is often beguiled242.
As waggish boys in game themselves forswear243,
So the boy love is perjured everywhere.
For ere Demetrius looked on Hermia's eyne245,
He hailed down oaths that he was only mine.
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,
So he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt.
I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight:
Then to the wood will he tomorrow night
Pursue her; and for this intelligence251,
If I have thanks, it is a dear expense252.
But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
To have his sight thither and back again.
Exit
[Act 1 Scene 2]
running scene 2
Enter Quince the carpente
r, Snug the joiner, Bottom the weaver, Flute the bellows-mender, Snout the tinker and Starveling the tailor
QUINCE Is all our company here?
BOTTOM You were best to call them generally2, man by man,
according to the scrip3.
QUINCE Here is the scroll of every man's name, which is
thought fit through all Athens to play in our interlude5 before
the duke and the duchess on his wedding day at night.
BOTTOM First, good Peter Quince, say what the play treats7
on, then read the names of the actors, and so grow on to a
point8.
QUINCE Marry10, our play is 'The most lamentable comedy
and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe.'
BOTTOM A very good piece of work, I assure you, and a
merry. Now, good Peter Quince, call forth your actors by the
scroll. Masters, spread yourselves14.
QUINCE Answer as I call you. Nick Bottom, the weaver.
BOTTOM Ready. Name what part I am for, and proceed.
QUINCE You, Nick Bottom, are set down for Pyramus.
BOTTOM What is Pyramus, a lover or a tyrant?
QUINCE A lover that kills himself most gallantly for love.
BOTTOM That will ask20 some tears in the true performing of it.
If I do it, let the audience look to their eyes: I will move
storms; I will condole22 in some measure. To the rest -- yet my
chief humour is for a tyrant: I could play Ercles rarely23, or a
part to tear a cat in, to make all split24.
The raging rocks
And shivering26 shocks
Shall break the locks
Of prison gates.
And Phibbus' car29
Shall shine from far
And make and mar31
The foolish Fates32.
This was lofty33. Now name the rest of the players. This is Ercles'
vein34, a tyrant's vein: a lover is more condoling.
QUINCE Francis Flute, the bellows-mender.
FLUTE Here, Peter Quince.
QUINCE You must take Thisbe on you.
FLUTE What is Thisbe? A wand'ring38 knight?
QUINCE It is the lady that Pyramus must love.
FLUTE Nay, faith, let not me play a woman: I have a beard
coming.
QUINCE That's all one42. You shall play it in a mask, and you
may speak as small as you will43.
BOTTOM An44 I may hide my face, let me play Thisbe too. I'll
speak in a monstrous little voice. 'Thisne, Thisne!' 'Ah,
Pyramus, my lover dear! Thy Thisbe dear and lady dear!'
QUINCE No, no, you must play Pyramus.-- And, Flute, you
Thisbe.
BOTTOM Well, proceed.
QUINCE Robin Starveling, the tailor.