THESEUS.
Go one of you, find out the forester,
For now our observation is perform'd;
And since we have the vaward of the day,
My love shall hear the musick of my hounds:
Uncouple in the western valley, go,
Dispatch I say; but soft, what nymphs are these?

EGEUS. (looking out.)
My lord, this is my daughter here asleep,
And this, Lysander; this Demetrius is,
I wonder at their being here together.

THESEUS.
No doubt they rose up early, to observe
The rite of May, and hearing our intent,
Came here in grace of our solemnity.
But speak, Egeus, is not this the day
That Hermia should give answer of her choice?

EGEUS.
It is, my lord.

THESEUS.
Go bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns.
AIR.
Hark, hark, how the hounds and horn,
Chearly rouse the slumb'ring morn:
From the side of yon hoar hill,
Thro' the high wood echoing shrill. [They wake.

THESEUS.
Good-morrow friends; saint Valentine is past.
Begin these wood-birds but to couple now?
How comes this concord in the world
That hatred is so far from jealousy,
To sleep by hate, and not fear enmity?

LYSANDER.
My lord, I shall reply amazedly,
Half sleep, half waking; but, as I do think,
I came with Hermia hither. Our intent
Was to be gone from Athens, where we might be
Free from the peril of th' Athenian law.

EGEUS.
Enough, enough, my lord, you have enough;
I beg the law, the law upon his head:
They would have stoll'n away, they would, Demetrius,
Thereby to have defeated you and me.

DEMETRIUS.
My lord, the joy and pleasure of mine eye,
Is only Helena. To her, my lord,
Was I betrothed ere I Hermia saw;
But like a sickness did I loath this food;
But now in health come to my natural taste.

THESEUS.
Egeus, I will overbear your will,
For in the temple, by and by with us,
These couples shall eternally be knit;
And, for the morning now is something worn,
Our purpos'd hunting shall be set aside.

DEMETRIUS.
These things seem small and undistinguishable,
Like far-off mountains turned into clouds.
AIR. HELENA.
Love's a tempest, life's the ocean,
  Passion crost, the deep deform;
Rude and raging tho' the motion,
  Virtue fearless, braves the storm:
Storms and tempests may blow over
  And subside to gentle gales;
So the poor despairing lover,
  When least hoping, oft prevails.

THESEUS.
Come now (to Love and Hymen, let us pay
Our vows, and then with mirth conclude the day)
A fortnight hold we this solemnity,
In nightly revel, and new jollity.
CHORUS
Hail to love, and welcome joy!
Hail to the delicious boy!
See the sun from love returning,
Love's the flame in which he's burning:
Hail to love, the softest pleasure;
Love and beauty rein for ever. [Exeunt. FINIS.

Previous section