A

MIDSUMMER-NIGHT's DREAM.

Thefeus, Duke of Athens.

Egeus, Father to Hermia.

Lyfander,

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in love with Hermia.

Demetrius,

Philoftrate, Master of the Revels to Thefeus.

Quince, the Carpenter.

Snug, the Joiner.
Bottom, the Weaver.
Flute, the Bellows-mender.
Snout, the Tinker.

Starveling, the Tailor.

Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Thefeus. Hermia, Daughter to Egeus, in love with Lyfander. Helena, in love with Demetrius.

Oberon, King of the Fairies.

Titania, Queen of the Fairies.

Puck, or Robin-goodfellow, a Fairy.

Other Fairies attending their King and Queen.
Attendants on Thefeus and Hippolyta.

SCENE, Athens, and a Wood not far from it.

MIDSUMMER-NIGHT's DREAM.

ACT I.

SCENE I. Athens. A Room in the Palace of THESEUS. Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and Attendants.

THE. Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour Draws on apace; four happy days bring in Another moon: but, oh, methinks, how flow This old moon wanes! the lingers my defires,

Like to a step-dame, or a dowager,

Long withering out a young man's revenue.

HIP. Four days will quickly fteep themselves in nights;

Four nights will quickly dream away the time;

And then the moon, like to a filver bow

New bent in heaven, fhall behold the night
Of our folemnities.

THE. Go, Philoftrate,

Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments;
Awake the pert and nimble fpirit of mirth;
Turn melancholy forth to funerals,
The pale companion is not for our pomp.-

[Exit PHILOSTRAŢE.

Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my fword,

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 Thefeus, 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 confent to marry her :-
Stand forth, Lyfander ;-and, my gracious duke,
This hath bewitch'd the bofom of my child :
Thou, thou, Lyfander, thou haft given her rhimes,
And interchang'd love-tokens with my child:
Thou haft by moon-light at her window fung,
With feigning voice, verses of feigning love;
And ftol'n the impreffion of her fantasy
With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gawds, conceits,
Knacks, trifles, nofegays, fweet-meats; messengers
Of ftrong prevailment in unharden'd youth:
With cunning haft thou filch'd my daughter's heart;
Turn'd her obedience, which is due to me,

To stubborn harshness :-And, my gracious duke,
Be it fo fhe will not here before your grace

Confent 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 cafe.

THE. What say you, Hermia? be advis'd, fair maid : To you your father fhould be as a god;

One that compos'd your beauties; yea, and one