Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and Attendants. Theseus. 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. 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 bow Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments; ΤΟ 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! 20 Theseus. Thanks, good Egeus: what's the news with thee? Egeus. Full of vexation come I, with complaint To stubborn harshness :-and, my gracious duke, 30 Consent to marry with Demetrius, Theseus. 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 Theseus. In himself he is ; But in this kind, wanting your father's voice, The other must be held the worthier. Hermia. I would my father look'd but with my eyes. Theseus. Rather your eyes must with his judgment look. Hermia. I do entreat your grace to pardon me. I know not by what power I am made bold, Nor how it may concern my modesty, In such a presence here to plead my thoughts; If I refuse to wed Demetrius. Theseus. Either to die the death, or to abjure Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires; Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. 40 50 60 70 Thrice blessed they that master so their blood, Than that which withering on the virgin thorn Hermia. So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke My soul consents not to give sovereignty. 80 Theseus. Take time to pause; and, by the next new moon The sealing-day betwixt my love and me For aye austerity and single life. Demetrius. Relent, sweet Hermia:—and, Lysander, yield Thy crazed title to my certain right. Lysander. You have her father's love, Demetrius; Let me have Hermia's: do you marry him. Egeus. Scornful Lysander! true, he hath my love, I do estate unto Demetrius. Lysander. I am, my lord, as well deriv'd as he, As well possess'd; my love is more than his ; My fortunes every way as fairly rank'd, If not with vantage, as Demetrius'; And, which is more than all these boasts can be, Why should not I then prosecute my right? Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his head, 90 100 |