HIPPOLYTA, queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus. HERMIA, daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander, HELENA, in love with Demetrius. OBERON, king of the fairies. TITANIA, queen of the fairies. PUCK, or ROBIN GOODFELLOW, a fairy. PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, fairies. Мотн, MUSTARDSEED, 17 Other fairies attending their King and Queen. SCENE. ATHENS AND A WOOD NEAR IT. A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM. ACT I. SCENE I. Athens. A Room in the Palace of Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and Attendants. The. Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial-hour Draws on apace; four happy days bring in Another moon: but O, methinks, how slow This old moon wanes! she lingers my desires, Like to a step-dame, or a dowager, Long withering out a young man's revenue. Hip. Four days will quickly steep themselves in Four nights will quickly dream away the time; Go, Philostrate, The. 19 The pale companion is not for our pomp. [Exit PHILOSTRATE. With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling. Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and DEMETRIUS. 20 Ege. Happy be Theseus, our renowned duke! The. Thanks, good Egeus: what's the news with thee? Ege. Full of vexation come I, with complaint To stubborn harshness: and, my gracious duke, 40 Consent to marry with Demetrius, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens,— Which shall be either to this gentleman The. What say you, Hermia? be advis'd, fair To you your father should be as a god; One that compos'd your beauties; yea, and one By him imprinted, and within his power The. In himself he is; But in this kind, wanting your father's voice, Her. I would my father look'd but with my eyes. Her. I do entreat your grace to pardon me. In such a presence here to plead my thoughts The. Either to die the death, or to abjure Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires; 5 60 70 |