Theseus.
Now, fair Hippolita, our nuptial hour
Draws on apace; four happy days bring in
Another moon: but oh, 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 nights,
Four nights will quickly dream away the time:
And then the moon, like to a silver bow
New bent in heaven, shall behold the night
Of our solemnities.

The.
Go, Philostrate,
Stir up th' Athenian youth to merriments,
Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth:
Turn melancholly forth to funerals,
The pale companion is not for our pomp.

Hippolita, 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.

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
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 hath bewitch'd the bosom of my child:
Thou, thou Lysander, thou hast giv'n her rhimes,
And interchang'd love-tokens with my child:
Thou hast by moon-light at her window sung,
With feigning voice, verses of feigning love,
And stoll'n th' impression of her fantasie
With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conceits,
Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweet-meats, (messengers
Of strong prevailment in unharden'd youth)
With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's heart,
Turn'd her obedience, which is due to me,
To stubborn harshness. And, my gracious Duke,
Be't so 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,
Immediately provided in that case.

The.
What say you, Hermia? be advis'd, fair maid.

To you your father should be as a God;
One that compos'd 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 disfigure it:
Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.

Her.
So is Lysander.

The.
In himself he is;
But in this kind, wanting your father's voice,
The other must be held the worthier.

Her.
I would my father look'd but with my eyes.

The.
Rather your eyes must with his judgment look.

Her.
I do intreat your Grace to pardon me:
I know not by what pow'r I am made bold,
Nor how it may concern my modesty
In such a presence here to plead my thoughts:
But I beseech your Grace, that I may know
The worst that may befal me in this case,
If I refuse to wed Demetrius.

The.
Either to die the death, or to abjure
For ever the society of men.
Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires,
Know of your youth, examine well your blood,
Whether, not yielding to your father's choice,
You can endure the livery of a nun;
For aye to be in shady cloister mew'd,
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 ^{a note}earthlier happy is the rose distill'd,
Than that, which withering on the virgin thorn,
Grows, lives, and dies, in single blessedness.

Her.
So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord,
Ere I will yield my virgin patent up
Unto his lordship, to whose unwish'd yoak
My soul consents not to give Sov'reignty.

The.
Take time to pause, and by the next new moon,
(The sealing day 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 would;
Or on Diana's altar to protest
For aye, austerity and single life.

Dem.
Relent sweet Hermia, and Lysander yield
Thy crazed title to my certain right.

Lys.
You have her father's love, Demetrius;
Let me have Hermia's; do you marry him.

Ege.
Scornful Lysander! true, he hath my love;
And what is mine, my love shall render him.
And she is mine, and all my right of her
I do estate unto Demetrius.

Lys.
I am, my lord, as well deriv'd as he,
As well possest: my love is more than his:
My fortune's ev'ry way as fairly rank'd,
If not with vantage, as Demetrius:
And, which is more than all these boasts can be,
I am belov'd of beauteous Hermia.
Why should not I then prosecute my right?
Demetrius (I'll avouch it to his head)
Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena,
And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, doats
Devoutly doats, doats in idolatry,
Upon this spotted and inconstant man.

The.
I must confess that I have heard so much,

And with Demetrius thought t' have spoke thereof;
But being over-full of self-affairs,
My mind did lose it. But Demetrius come,
And come Egeus, you shall go with me,
I have some private schooling for you both.
For you, fair Hermia, look you arm your self
To fit your fancies to your father's will;
Or else the law of Athens yields you up
(Which by no means we may extenuate)
To death, or to a vow of single life.
Come my Hippolita; what cheer my love?
Demetrius and Egeus go along,
I must employ you in some business
Against our nuptials, and confer with you
Of something nearly that concerns your selves.

Ege.
With duty and desire we follow you. [Exeunt.

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