MIDSOMMER
Nights Dreame.
Philostrate,
and Demetrius.
Theseus, our renowned Duke.
Egeus: what's the news with thee?
Stand forth Dometrius.
Stand forth Lysander.
Lysander, thou hast giuen her rimes,
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="1">
<head rend="italic center">Actus primus.</head>
<head type="supplied">[Act 1, Scene 1]</head>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Theseus, Hippolita, with others.</stage>
<cb n="1"/>
<sp who="#F-mnd-duk">
<speaker rend="italic center">Theseus.</speaker>
<l n="1">
<c rend="decoratedCapital">N</c>Ow faire Hippolita, our nuptiall houre</l>
<l n="2">Drawes on apace: foure happy daies bring in</l>
<l n="3">Another Moon: but oh, me thinkes, how slow</l>
<l n="4">This old Moon wanes; She lingers my desires</l>
<l n="5">Like to a Step‑dame, or a Dowager,</l>
<l n="6">Long withering out a yong mans reuennew.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-hip">
<speaker rend="italic">Hip.</speaker>
<l n="7">Foure daies wil quickly steep<choice>
<abbr>theēselues</abbr>
<expan>themselues</expan>
</choice>in nights</l>
<l n="8">Foure nights wil quickly dreame away the time:</l>
<l n="9">And then the Moone, like to a siluer bow,</l>
<l n="10">Now bent in heauen, shal behold the night</l>
<l n="11">Of our solemnities.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-duk">
<speaker rend="italic">The.</speaker>
<l n="12">Go<hi rend="italic">Philostrate</hi>,</l>
<l n="13">Stirre vp the Athenian youth to merriments,</l>
<l n="14">Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth,</l>
<l n="15">Turne melancholy forth to Funerals:</l>
<l n="16">The pale companion is not for our pompe,</l>
<l n="17">Hippolita, I woo'd thee with my sword,</l>
<l n="18">And wonne thy loue, doing thee iniuries:</l>
<l n="19">But I will wed thee in another key,</l>
<l n="20">With pompe, with triumph, and with reuelling.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Egeus and his daughter Hermia, Lysander,
<lb/>and Demetrius.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mnd-ege">
<speaker rend="italic">Ege.</speaker>
<l n="21">Happy be<hi rend="italic">Theseus</hi>, our renowned Duke.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-duk">
<speaker rend="italic">The.</speaker>
<l n="22">Thanks good<hi rend="italic">Egeus</hi>: what's the news with thee?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-ege">
<speaker rend="italic">Ege.</speaker>
<l n="23">Full of vexation, come I, with complaint</l>
<l n="24">Against my childe, my daughter Hermia.</l>
<l n="25">
<hi rend="italic center">Stand forth Dometrius.</hi>
</l>
<l n="26">My Noble Lord,</l>
<l n="27">This man hath my consent to marrie her.</l>
<l n="28">
<hi rend="italic center">Stand forth Lysander.</hi>
</l>
<l n="29">And my gracious Duke,</l>
<l n="30">This man hath bewitch'd the bosome of my childe:</l>
<l n="31">Thou, thou<hi rend="italic">Lysander</hi>, thou hast giuen her rimes,</l>
<l n="32">And interchang'd loue‑tokens with my childe:</l>
<l n="33">Thou hast by Moone‑light at her window sung,</l>
<l n="34">With faining voice, verses of faining loue,</l>
<l n="35">And stolne the impression of her fantasie,</l>
<l n="36">With bracelets of thy haire, rings, gawdes, conceits,</l>
<l n="37">Knackes, trifles, Nose‑gaies, sweet meats (messengers</l>
<l n="38">Of strong preuailment in vnhardned youth)</l>
<cb n="2"/>
<l n="39">With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughters heart,</l>
<l n="40">Turn'd her obedience (which is due to me)</l>
<l n="41">To stubborne harshnesse. And my gracious Duke,</l>
<l n="42">Be it so she will not heere before your Grace,</l>
<l n="43">Consent to marrie with<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>,</l>
<l n="44">I beg the ancient priuiledge of Athens;</l>
<l n="45">As she is mine, I may dispose of her;</l>
<l n="46">Which shall be either to this Gentleman,</l>
<l n="47">Or to her death, according to our Law,</l>
<l n="48">Immediately prouided in that case.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-duk">
<speaker rend="italic">The.</speaker>
<l n="49">What say you Hermia? be aduis'd faire Maide,</l>
<l n="50">To you your Father should be as a God;</l>
<l n="51">One that compos'd your beauties; yea and one</l>
<l n="52">To whom you are but as a forme in waxe</l>
<l n="53">By him imprinted: and within his power,</l>
<l n="54">To leaue the figure, or disfigure it:</l>
<l n="55">
<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>is a worthy Gentleman.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="56">So is<hi rend="italic">Lysander</hi>.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-duk">
<speaker rend="italic">The.</speaker>
<l n="57">In himselfe he is.</l>
<l n="58">But in this kinde, wanting your fathers voyce.</l>
<l n="59">The other must be held the worthier.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="60">I would my father look'd but with my eyes.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-duk">
<speaker rend="italic">The.</speaker>
<l n="61">Rather your eies must with his iudgment looke.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="62">I do entreat your Grace to pardon me.</l>
<l n="63">I know not by what power I am made bold,</l>
<l n="64">Nor how it may concerne my modestie</l>
<l n="65">In such a presence heere to pleade my thoughts:</l>
<l n="66">But I beseech your Grace, that I may know</l>
<l n="67">The worst that may befall me in this case,</l>
<l n="68">If I refuse to wed<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-duk">
<speaker rend="italic">The.</speaker>
<l n="69">Either to dye the death, or to abiure</l>
<l n="70">For euer the society of men.</l>
<l n="71">Therefore faire Hermia question your desires,</l>
<l n="72">Know of your youth, examine well your blood,</l>
<l n="73">Whether (if you yeeld not to your fathers choice)</l>
<l n="74">You can endure the liuerie of a Nunne,</l>
<l n="75">For aye to be in shady Cloister mew'd,</l>
<l n="76">To liue a barren sister all your life,</l>
<l n="77">Chanting faint hymnes to the cold fruitlesse Moone,</l>
<l n="78">Thrice blessed they that master so their blood,</l>
<l n="79">To vndergo such maiden pilgrimage,</l>
<l n="80">But earthlier happie is the Rose distil'd,</l>
<l n="81">Then that which withering on the virgin thorne,</l>
<l n="82">Growes, liues, and dies, in single blessednesse.</l>
</sp>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0166-0.jpg" n="146"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="83">So will I grow, so liue, so die my Lord,</l>
<l n="84">Ere I will yeeld my virgin Patent vp</l>
<l n="85">Vnto his Lordship, whose vnwished yoake,</l>
<l n="86">My soule consents not to giue soueraignty.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-duk">
<speaker rend="italic">The.</speaker>
<l n="87">Take time to pause, and by the next new Moon</l>
<l n="88">The sealing day betwixt my loue and me,</l>
<l n="89">For euerlasting bond of fellowship:</l>
<l n="90">Vpon that day either prepare to dye,</l>
<l n="91">For disobedience to your fathers will,</l>
<l n="92">Or else to wed<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>as hee would,</l>
<l n="93">Or on<hi rend="italic">Dianaes</hi>Altar to protest</l>
<l n="94">For aie, austerity, and single life.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-dem">
<speaker rend="italic">Dem.</speaker>
<l n="95">Relent sweet<hi rend="italic">Hermia</hi>, and<hi rend="italic">Lysander</hi>, yeelde</l>
<l n="96">Thy crazed title to my certaine right.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-lys">
<speaker rend="italic">Lys.</speaker>
<l n="97">You haue her fathers loue,<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>:</l>
<l n="98">Let me haue<hi rend="italic">Hermiaes</hi>: do you marry him.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-ege">
<speaker rend="italic">Egeus.</speaker>
<l n="99">Scornfull<hi rend="italic">Lysander</hi>, true, he hath my Loue;</l>
<l n="100">A<c rend="invertedType">n</c>d what is mine, my loue shall render him.</l>
<l n="101">And she is mine, and all my right of her,</l>
<l n="102">I do estate vnto<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-lys">
<speaker rend="italic">Lys.</speaker>
<l n="103">I am my Lord, as well deriu'd as he,</l>
<l n="104">As well possest: my loue is more then his:</l>
<l n="105">My fortunes euery way as fairely ranck'd</l>
<l n="106">(If not with vantage) as<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>:</l>
<l n="107">And (which is more then all these boasts can be)</l>
<l n="108">I am belou'd of beauteous<hi rend="italic">Hermia</hi>.</l>
<l n="109">Why should not I then prosecute my right?</l>
<l n="110">
<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>, Ile auouch it to his head,</l>
<l n="111">Made loue to<hi rend="italic">Nedars</hi>daughter,<hi rend="italic">Helena</hi>,</l>
<l n="112">And won her soule: and she (sweet Ladie) dotes,</l>
<l n="113">Deuoutly dotes, dotes in Idolatry,</l>
<l n="114">Vpon this spotted and inconstant man.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-duk">
<speaker rend="italic">The.</speaker>
<l n="115">I must confesse, that I haue heard so much,</l>
<l n="116">And with<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>thought to haue spoke thereof:</l>
<l n="117">But being ouer‑full of selfe‑affaires,</l>
<l n="118">My minde did lose it. But<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>come,</l>
<l n="119">And come<hi rend="italic">Egeus</hi>, you shall go with me,</l>
<l n="120">I haue some priuate schooling for you both.</l>
<l n="121">For you faire<hi rend="italic">Hermia</hi>, looke you arme your selfe,</l>
<l n="122">To fit your fancies to your Fathers will;</l>
<l n="123">Or else the Law of Athens yeelds you vp</l>
<l n="124">(Which by no meanes we may extenuate)</l>
<l n="125">To death, or to a vow of single life.</l>
<l n="126">Come my<hi rend="italic">Hippolita</hi>, what cheare my loue?</l>
<l n="127">
<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>and<hi rend="italic">Egeus</hi>go along:</l>
<l n="128">I must imploy you in some businesse</l>
<l n="129">Against our nuptiall, and conferre with you</l>
<l n="130">Of something, neerely that concernes your selues.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-ege">
<speaker rend="italic">Ege.</speaker>
<l n="131">With dutie and desire we follow you.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt</stage>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Manet Lysander and Hermia.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mnd-lys">
<speaker rend="italic">Lys.</speaker>
<l n="132">How now my loue? Why is your cheek so pale?</l>
<l n="133">How chance the Roses there do fade so fast?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="134">Belike for want of raine, which I could well</l>
<l n="135">Beteeme them, from the tempest of mine eyes.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-lys">
<speaker rend="italic">Lys.</speaker>
<l n="136">For ought that euer I could reade,</l>
<l n="137">Could euer heare by tale or historie,</l>
<l n="138">The course of true loue neuer did run smooth,</l>
<l n="139">But either it was different in blood.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="140">O crosse! too high to be enthral'd to loue.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-lys">
<speaker rend="italic">Lys.</speaker>
<l n="141">Or else misgraffed, in respect of yeares.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="142">O spight! too old to be ingag'd to yong.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-lys">
<speaker rend="italic">Lys.</speaker>
<l n="143">Or else it stood vpon the choise of merit.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="144">O hell! to choose loue by anothers eie.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-lys">
<speaker rend="italic">Lys.</speaker>
<l n="145">Or if there were a simpathie in choise,</l>
<l n="146">Warre, death, or sicknesse, did lay siege to it;</l>
<l n="147">Making it momentarie, as a sound:</l>
<cb n="2"/>
<l n="148">Swift as a shadow, short as any dreame,</l>
<l n="149">Briefe as the lightning in the collied night,</l>
<l n="150">That (in a spleene) vnfolds both heauen and earth;</l>
<l n="151">And ere a man hath power to say, behold,</l>
<l n="152">The iawes of darknesse do deuoure it vp:</l>
<l n="153">So quicke bright things come to confusion.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="154">If then true Louers haue beene euer crost,</l>
<l n="155">It stands as an edict in destinie:</l>
<l n="156">Then let vs teach our triall patience,</l>
<l n="157">Because it is a customarie crosse,</l>
<l n="158">As due to loue, as thoughts, and dreames, and sighes,</l>
<l n="159">Wishes and teares; poore Fancies followers.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-lys">
<speaker rend="italic">Lys.</speaker>
<l n="160">A good perswasion; therefore heare me<hi rend="italic">Hermia</hi>,</l>
<l n="161">I haue a Widdow Aunt, a dowager,</l>
<l n="162">Of great reuennew, and she hath no childe,</l>
<l n="163">From Athens is her house remou'd seuen leagues,</l>
<l n="164">And she respects me, as her onely sonne:</l>
<l n="165">There gentle<hi rend="italic">Hermia</hi>, may I marrie thee,</l>
<l n="166">And to that place, the sharpe Athenian Law</l>
<l n="167">Cannot pursue vs. If thou lou'st me, then</l>
<l n="168">Steale forth thy fathers house to morrow night:</l>
<l n="169">And in the wood, a league without the towne,</l>
<l n="170">(Where I did meete thee once with<hi rend="italic">Helena</hi>,</l>
<l n="171">To do obseruance for a morne of May)</l>
<l n="172">There will I stay for thee.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="173">My good<hi rend="italic">Lysander</hi>,</l>
<l n="174">I sweare to thee, by Cupids strongest bow,</l>
<l n="175">By his best arrow with the golden head,</l>
<l n="176">By the simplicitie of Venus Doues,</l>
<l n="177">By that which knitteth soules, and prospers loue,</l>
<l n="178">And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage Queene,</l>
<l n="179">When the false Troyan vnder saile was seene,</l>
<l n="180">By all the vowes that euer men haue broke,</l>
<l n="181">(In number more then euer women spoke)</l>
<l n="182">In that same place thou hast appointed me,</l>
<l n="183">To morrow truly will I meete with thee.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-lys">
<speaker rend="italic">Lys.</speaker>
<l n="184">Keepe promise loue: looke here comes<hi rend="italic">Helena</hi>.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Helena.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="185">God speede faire<hi rend="italic">Helena</hi>, whither away?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-hel">
<speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
<l n="186">Cal you me faire? that faire againe vnsay,</l>
<l n="187">
<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>loues you faire: O happie faire!</l>
<l n="188">Your eyes are loadstarres, and your tongues sweete ayre</l>
<l n="189">More tuneable then Larke to shepheards eare,</l>
<l n="190">When wheate is greene, when hauthorne buds appeare,</l>
<l n="191">Sicknesse is catching: O were fauor so,</l>
<l n="192">Your words I catch, faire<hi rend="italic">Hermia</hi>ere I go,</l>
<l n="193">My eare should catch your voice, my eye, your eye,</l>
<l n="194">My tongue should catch your tongues sweete melodie,</l>
<l n="195">Were the world mine,<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>being bated,</l>
<l n="196">The rest Ile giue to be to you translated.</l>
<l n="197">O teach me how you looke, and with what art</l>
<l n="198">you sway the motion of<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>hart.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="199">I frowne vpon him, yet he loues me still.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-hel">
<speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
<l n="200">O that your frownes would teach my smiles
<lb/>such skil.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="201">I giue him curses, yet he giues me loue.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-hel">
<speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
<l n="202">O that my prayers could such affection mooue.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="203">The more I hate, the more he followes me.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-hel">
<speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
<l n="204">The more I loue, the more he hateth me.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="205">His folly Helena is none of mine.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-hel">
<speaker rend="italic">Hel.</speaker>
<l n="206">None but your beauty, wold that fault wer mine</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="207">Take comfort: he no more shall see my face,</l>
<l n="208">
<hi rend="italic">Lysander</hi>and my selfe will flie this place.</l>
<l n="209">Before the time I did<hi rend="italic">Lysander</hi>see,</l>
<l n="210">Seem'd Athens like a Paradise to mee.</l>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0167-0.jpg" n="147"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<l n="211">O then, what graces in my Loue do dwell,</l>
<l n="212">That he hath turn'd a heauen into hell.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-lys">
<speaker rend="italic">Lys.</speaker>
<l n="213">
<hi rend="italic">Helen</hi>, to you our mindes we will vnfold,</l>
<l n="214">To morrow night, when<hi rend="italic">Phoebe</hi>doth behold</l>
<l n="215">Her siluer visage, in the watry glasse,</l>
<l n="216">Decking with liquid pearle, the bladed grasse</l>
<l n="217">(A time that Louers flights doth still conceale)</l>
<l n="218">Through<hi rend="italic">Athens</hi>gates, haue we deuis'd to steale.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mnd-her">
<speaker rend="italic">Her.</speaker>
<l n="219">And in the wood, where often you and I,</l>
<l n="220">Vpon faint Primrose beds, were wont to lye,</l>
<l n="221">Emptying our bosomes, of their counsell sweld:</l>
<l n="222">There my<hi rend="italic">Lysander</hi>, and my selfe shall meete,</l>
<l n="223">And thence from<hi rend="italic">Athens</hi>turne away our eyes</l>
<l n="224">To seeke new friends and strange companions,</l>
<l n="225">Farwell sweet play‑fellow, pray thou for vs,</l>
<l n="226">And good lucke grant thee thy<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>.</l>
<l n="227">Keepe word<hi rend="italic">Lysander</hi>we must starue our sight,</l>
<l n="228">From louers foode, till morrow deepe midnight.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit Hermia.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mnd-lys">
<speaker rend="italic">Lys.</speaker>
<l n="229">I will my<hi rend="italic">Hermia</hi>.<hi rend="italic">Helena</hi>adieu,</l>
<l n="230">As you on him,<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>dotes on you.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit Lysander.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mnd-hel">
<speaker rend="italic">Hele.</speaker>
<l n="231">How happy some, ore othersome can be?</l>
<l n="232">Through<hi rend="italic">Athens</hi>I am thought as faire as she.</l>
<l n="233">But what of that?<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>thinkes not so:</l>
<l n="234">He will not know, what all, but he doth know,</l>
<l n="235">And as hee erres, doting on<hi rend="italic">Hermias</hi>eyes;</l>
<l n="236">So I, admiring of his qualities:</l>
<l n="237">Things base and vilde, holding no quantity,</l>
<l n="238">Loue can transpose to forme and dignity,</l>
<l n="239">Loue lookes not with the eyes, but with the minde,</l>
<l n="240">And therefore is wing'd<hi rend="italic">Cupid</hi>painted blinde.</l>
<l n="241">Nor hath loues minde of any iudgement taste:</l>
<l n="242">Wings and no eyes, figure, vnheedy haste.</l>
<l n="243">And therefore is Loue said to be a childe,</l>
<l n="244">Because in choise he is often beguil'd,</l>
<l n="245">As waggish boyes in game themselues forsweare;</l>
<l n="246">So the boy Loue is periur'd euery where.</l>
<l n="247">For ere<hi rend="italic">Demetrius</hi>lookt on<hi rend="italic">Hermias</hi>eyne,</l>
<l n="248">He hail'd downe oathes that he was onely mine.</l>
<l n="249">And when this Haile some heat from<hi rend="italic">Hermia</hi>felt,</l>
<l n="250">So he dissolu'd, and showres of oathes did melt,</l>
<l n="251">I will goe tell him of faire<hi rend="italic">Hermias</hi>flight:</l>
<l n="252">Then to the wood will he, to morrow night</l>
<l n="253">Pursue her; and for his intelligence,</l>
<l n="254">If I haue thankes, it is a deere expence:</l>
<l n="255">But heerein meane I to enrich my paine,</l>
<l n="256">To haue his sight thither, and backe againe.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
</div>