A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Act I

Scene I

Athens. The palace of Theseus.

Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostrate, and Attendants.

Theseus

Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hourDraws on apace; four happy days bring inAnother moon: but, O, methinks, how slowThis old moon wanes! she lingers my desires,Like to a step-dame or a dowagerLong withering out a young man’s revenue.

Hippolyta

Four days will quickly steep themselves in night;Four nights will quickly dream away the time;And then the moon, like to a silver bowNew-bent in heaven, shall behold the nightOf our solemnities.

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 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.

Egeus

Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke!

Theseus

Thanks, good Egeus: what’s the news with thee?

Egeus

Full of vexation come I, with complaintAgainst 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 bewitch’d the bosom of my child:

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