MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM. ACT I. SCENE I.-Athens. A Room in the Palace of Theseus. Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and The. Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour 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 Now bent in heaven, shall behold the night Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments; [Exit PHILOSTRATE. Hippolyta, I woo'd thee with my sword, With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling. triumph,] i. e. shows, spectacles. "These triumphs (those of the Romans), have so borne the bell above all the rest, that the word triumphing, which cometh thereof, hath been applied to all high, great, and statelie dooings."-This passage is from The Duke of Anjou's entertainment at Antwerp, 1581, quoted by STEEVENS. Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and DEMETRIUS. C With cunning hast thou filch'd my daughter's heart; To stubborn harshness :-And, my gracious duke, Consent to marry with Demetrius, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens ; 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 brenowned duke!] Theseus is called duke in Chaucer's Knight's Tale : and in the same manner Stanyhurst, in his translation of Virgil, talks of duke Æneas. STEEVENS. In our old language duke had the sense of dux-commander. с gauds,] i. e. Baubles, toys, trifles. To leave the figure, or disfigure it.] i. e. You owe to your father a being which he may at pleasure continue or destroy.-JOHNSON. Her. So is Lysander. 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. I know not by what power I am made bold; In such a presence here, to plead my thoughts: The. Either to die the death, or to abjure e Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, For aye to be in shady cloister mew'd, Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke My soul consents not to give sovereignty.' The. Take time to pause; and, by the next new moon (The sealing-day betwixt my love and me, For everlasting bond of fellowship,) f Know of your youth,] Bring your youth to the question. to give sovereignty.] i. e. Give sovereignty to. This elliptical mode of expression was common in our author's time.-MALONE. 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; Ege. Scornful Lysander! true, he hath my love, Lys. I am, my lord, as well deriv'd as he, And, which is more than all these boasts can be, Why should not I then prosecute my right? Upon this spotted and inconstant man. The. I must confess, that I have heard so much, My mind did lose it.-But, Demetrius, come; I must employ you in some business g spotted--] As spotless is innocent, so spotted is wicked. Ege. With duty, and desire, we follow you. [Exeunt THES. HIP. EGE. DEM. and train. Lys. How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale? How chance the roses there do fade so fast? Her. Belike for want of rain: which I could well The course of true love never did run smooth: Her. O cross!, too high to be enthrall'd to low! The jaws of darkness do devour it up: So quick bright things come to confusion. Her. If then true lovers have been ever cross'd, It stands as an edíct in destiny: Then let us teach our trial patience, Because it is a customary cross; As due to love, as thoughts, and dreams, and sighs, Lys. A good persuasion; therefore, hear me, Hermia. I have a widow aunt, a dowager Of great revénue, and she hath no child; From Athens is her house remote seven leagues; h Beteem-] Pour out upon them. k 1 i Momentany-] i. e. Momentary. collied-] i. e. Black, smutted with coal. spleen,] i. e. Sudden hasty fit. m -fancy-] i. e. Love. |