A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

ACTI SCENEI
 We meet Duke Theseus at his swanky palace in Athens and learn that he's going
to marry Hippolyta (Queen of the Amazons) in four days, during the new moon.
 Our groom-to-be is in a VERY big hurry to enjoy his wedding night, but time is
passing way too slowly for Theseus, who lashes out at the moon for being a
slowpoke.
 Hippolyta is more reasonable. She assures Theseus that four days will go by in a
jiffy and says the moon will "behold the night of their solemnities." (Translation:
When the moon looks down on Theseus and Hippolyta on their wedding night,
it's going to get an eyeful.)
 Theseus sends Philostrate, the Master of the Revels, into the streets of Athens
and get the youth of the city to party so that the time passes quickly.
 Brain Snack: In Shakespeare's days, the Master of the Revels was the title of the
royal court's official party planner. Basically, the Master of the Revels was in
charge of hiring entertainers and deciding which plays could be performed on
public stages in and around London. He also had the authority to censor plays
that were offensive or didn't kiss up to the monarch enough.
 Theseus turns to Hippolyta and promises her that their wedding will be more
joyful than the circumstances under which they got engaged. (As every
mythology buff knows, Theseus is alluding to the fact that he captured Hippolyta
when he conquered her people, the Amazons.)
 An Athenian man named Egeus shows up and greets Theseus. Egeus has
brought along his daughter Hermia and two guys named Lysander and
Demetrius.
 Egeus is not a happy camper.
 He lodges a formal complaint to the Duke against his disobedient daughter, who
refuses to marry Demetrius, the guy Egeus has chosen to be her husband.
 According to Egeus, Hermia's been "bewitch'd" by Lysander and refuses to marry
Demetrius.
 Egeus then cites the wrongs Lysander has committed: Lysander has presented
Hermia with various love-tokens, serenaded her by moonlight, and even given
her a lock of his hair.
 Egeus points out that Hermia is his daughter and therefore his property. Athenian
law dictates that Hermia has to marry the guy of his choice... or be put to death.
 Brain Snack: In Shakespeare's England, parents really liked to pick out their kids'
spouses. Sometimes, parents even filed lawsuits to try to force their kids into
arranged marriages.

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 Theseus puts on his Dr. Phil hat and tries to reason with Hermia, but our girl flat-
out refuses to marry Demetrius.
 Hermia asks the Duke what the worst-case scenario would be if she didn't marry
Demetrius.
 Theseus (who is also Athens's resident Judge Judy) says that, if Hermia refuses
to marry Demetrius, she has only two other options: 1) Become a celibate nun or
2) Be put to death.
 Things aren't looking good for Hermia.
 Theseus warns that being a nun is not so great and suggests that Hermia just
bite the bullet [decide to do something difficult or unpleasant that one has been putting off
or hesitating over ] and marry Demetrius.
 Hermia declares she would rather die a virgin than marry a boy she doesn't love.
 Theseus tells her she should really reconsider and gives her four days to declare
her own fate. In other words, Hermia has until Theseus and Hippolyta's wedding
day to decide if she'll get married, become a nun, or be sent to the chopping
block.
 Demetrius tries to get Hermia and Lysander to give in, but Lysander points out
that since Hermia's dad loves Demetrius so much, maybe the two of them should
get married.
 Lysander defends his right to marry Hermia: he's equal to Demetrius in pedigree,
better off financially, and besides, Hermia actually loves him.
 Furthermore, Lysander claims that Demetrius is known to have previously
courted Hermia's friend, Helena, who still has a crush on Demetrius.
 Theseus says he's heard about this and meant to have a talk with Demetrius
about it.
 Theseus calls Egeus and Demetrius away with him so he can give them some
advice.
 Before the men leave, Theseus advises Hermia to be a good girl and listen to her
dad, or deal with Athenian law.
 Lysander and Hermia are left to discuss their bad luck.
 Hermia is really upset by the whole death/nun ultimatum.
 Lysander tries to take everything in stride and famously declares "the course of
true love never did run smooth."
 Hermia declares that they should be patient because they're destined to be
together.
 Lysander then pipes up that he has a rich, widowed aunt who lives outside of
Athens and loves him like a son. They can run away to aunt's house and get
hitched because she lives outside the reach of Athenian law.
 Hermia agrees to meet Lysander in the woods next night. From there, they can
run off and pull a Romeo and Juliet (a.k.a. elope, not commit a double-suicide).

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  Hermia's friend Helena then shows up. Helena's a mess because she loves
Demetrius but Demetrius wants to marry Hermia.
 Helena says she wishes she could be more like Hermia—pretty, sweet-voiced,
and good at making men fall in love with her.
 Hermia points out she hasn't done much to inspire Demetrius. The more she
frowns, curses, and hates him, the more he loves her.
 Helena has done the opposite, and Demetrius won't give her the time of day.
 Hermia then tells Helena to relax—Demetrius won't be distracted by Hermia
anymore because Hermia's going to run off and get hitched to Lysander.
 The lovers explain their plan to Helena: Next night, they'll meet up in the woods
and then run away to get married.
 The happy lovers exit after wishing Helena good luck with Demetrius.
 Helena, now alone, feels sorry for herself for being in love with a guy who won't
give her the time of day.
 Helena tries to understand why Demetrius fell out of love with her (and fell in love
with Hermia).
 Helena decides the best thing to do is tattle to Demetrius that Hermia plans to
elope with Lysander. She reasons that she's got nothing to lose and thinks that
maybe Demetrius will be so grateful that he'll change his mind and fall in love
with her again.

Original Translation
THESEUS and HIPPOLYTA enter along THESEUS and HIPPOLYTA enter along
with PHILOSTRATE and others. with PHILOSTRATE and others.

THESEUS
Now, fair Hippolyta, 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 stepdame 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.
THESEUS
Now, beautiful Hippolyta, the hour of our
wedding is speeding closer. In four joyful
days there will be a new crescent moon,
and we will marry. But oh! The old moon
seems to me to shrink away so slowly! It
delays me from getting what I desire, just
like an old rich widow will force her
stepson to wait forever to receive his
inheritance.
HIPPOLYTA
Four days will quickly pass and turn to
night. And each night, we will dream
away the time. And soon the moon—like
a silver bow newly bent into a curve in the

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And then the moon, like to a silver bow
New bent in heaven, shall behold the
night
Of our solemnities.
THESEUS
Go, Philostrate,
Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments.
Awake the pert [attractive, lively] and
nimble [able to move quickly and
lightly] spirit of mirth.
Turn melancholy forth to funerals.
The pale companion is not for our pomp.
PHILOSTRATE exits.
Hippolyta, I wooed 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
reveling.[enjoying oneself in a lively,
noisy way; especially with drinking
and dancing.]
EGEUS
Happy be Theseus, our renownèd duke.
EGEUS enters with his daughter
HERMIA, along with LYSANDER and
DEMETRIUS.
THESEUS
Thanks, good Egeus. What’s the news
with thee?
EGEUS
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 man hath bewitched the bosom
[heart] of my child.
Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her
rhymes [love poetry],
sky—will look down on the night of our
wedding celebration.
THESEUS
Go, Philostrate, get the young people of
Athens in the mood to celebrate. Wake
up the lively and swift spirit of fun. Send
sadness out to funerals—that pale
emotion has no place at our festivities.
We can’t have miserable fellows in our
festivities.
PHILOSTRATE exits.
Hippolyta, I wooed with you by fighting
against you, and won your love by
injuring you. But I’ll marry you in a
different way—with splendid ceremonies,
public festivities, and celebration.
EGEUS
Joy to you, Theseus—our famous and
distinguished duke!
EGEUS enters with his daughter
HERMIA, along with LYSANDER and
DEMETRIUS.
THESEUS
Thank you, dear Egeus. What’s going on
with you?
EGEUS
I’ve come to you full of anger, to protest
against the actions of my daughter,
Hermia. Step forward, Demetrius. My
noble lord Theseus, this man, Demetrius,
has my blessing to marry her. Step
forward, Lysander. Yet, my gracious
duke, this man, Lysander, has put a spell
on my daughter’s heart. You, you,
Lysander, you have given her poems,
and exchanged tokens of love with my
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And interchanged love tokens with my daughter. You’ve come beneath her
child. window in the moonlight and pretended to
Thou hast by moonlight at her window love her with your fake love songs. And
sung you’ve stolen her fancy by giving her
With feigning voice [with a voice that locks of your hair, rings, toys, trinkets,
pretends to be sincere] verses of knickknacks, little presents, flowers, and
feigning love [pretended love], candies—all of which will powerfully
And stol'n the impression of her fantasy influence an innocent child. You’ve
[caught her imagination by making an sneaked and schemed to steal my
impression on her] daughter’s heart, transforming the
With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gauds obedience which she owes me into harsh
[silly toys], conceits [fancy things], stubbornness. My gracious duke, if
Knacks[knick-knacks, useless little Hermia, standing here in front of you,
gifts], trifles, nosegays [bunches of won’t agree to marry Demetrius, then I
flowers], sweetmeats [sweets]— demand my traditional rights as a father
messengers in Athens. Since she belongs to me, I can
Of strong prevailment [persuasive do what I want with her, as the law
power] in unhardened [inexperienced] expressly states for just such a case as
youth. this: either she marries Demetrius, or she
With cunning hast thou filched [stolen] dies.
my daughter’s heart,
Turned her obedience (which is due
[owed] to me)
To stubborn harshness. And, my gracious
duke,
Be it so [if] she will not here before your
grace
Consent to marry with Demetrius, I beg
the ancient privilege of Athens [I claim
the traditional right of an Athenian].
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
law specifically designed for such
cases (against which there could be
no appeal].
THESEUS THESEUS
What say you, Hermia? Be advised And what do you say, Hermia? Take this
[think carefully], fair maid: advice, pretty girl: you should see your

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To you your father should be as a god,
One that composed your beauties, yea,
and one
To whom you are but as a form in wax,
By him imprinted [nothing more than a
wax figure that he has modeled] and
within his power
To leave the figure or disfigure [destroy]
it.
Demetrius is a worthy gentleman.
HERMIA
So is Lysander.
THESEUS
In himself he is.
But in this kind [in a matter like this],
wanting [lacking] your father’s voice,
The other must be held the worthier.
HERMIA
I would [wish] my father looked but with
my eyes.
[the relationship(or lack of it) between
seeing and judging, the eyes and
mind, is central to the concerns of the
play]
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
[affect my reputation for modesty]
In such a presence [before the duke]
here to plead my thoughts [express my
feelings],
But I beseech your grace that I may know
The worst that may befall me in this case,
If I refuse to wed Demetrius.
THESEUS
father as a god, since he’s the one who
created your beauty. To him, you’re like a
figure that he sculpted out of wax, giving
him the power to leave it as it is or to
destroy it. Demetrius is a good man.
HERMIA
So is Lysander.
THESEUS
Yes, he is.
But in this situation, because he lacks
your father's support, you must consider
Demetrius to be better.
HERMIA
I wish my father could look at them
through my eyes.
THESEUS
Instead, your view of them must be
influenced by your father's wishes.
HERMIA
I beg your Grace to forgive me.
I don’t know what is making me bold
enough to do this, or even how speaking
my thoughts to such an important person
as you might harm my reputation for
modesty. But I beg you to explain to me
the worst thing that could happen to me in
this situation if I refuse to marry
Demetrius.
THESEUS
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Either to die the death [be legally put to
death] or to abjure [renounce]
Forever the society of men.
Therefore, fair Hermia, question your
desires [ask yourself what you really
want].
Know of your youth [remember that you
are young]. Examine well your blood—
Whether, if you yield not to your father’s
choice,
You can endure the livery [habit] of a
nun,
For aye [ever] to be in shady cloister
mewed [shut up],
To live a barren sister [nun] all your life,
Chanting faint hymns to the cold, fruitless
moon [Diana, goddess of moon and of
chastity].
Thrice-blessèd they that master
[discipline] so their blood [passions]
To undergo such maiden pilgrimage [life
vowed to celibacy].
But earthlier happy [more happy on
earth] is the rose distilled [the rose that
is plucked, whose scent is distilled to
make perfume]
Than that which, withering on the virgin
thorn,
Grows, lives, and dies in single
blessedness [the particular state of
grace granted in many religions to
those who vow never to marry and live
in celibacy].
HERMIA
So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord,
Ere I will yield my virgin patent [right to
remain virgin] up
Unto his lordship [the domination of this
man], whose unwishèd yoke [a wooden
cross-piece linking two oxen together
You’ll either be sentenced to death or to
never again interact with another man.
Therefore, beautiful Hermia, really think
about what you want. Think about how
young you are, and explore your
feelings—if you do not give in to your
father's wishes, will you be able to
tolerate life wearing the robes of a nun,
shut up in a dark convent, living your
whole life without husband or children,
chanting quietly to Diana. Those who can
control their passions and remain virgins
their whole lives are three times as
blessed. But a married woman lives
happier in this world than a virgin, who
achieves the blessing of chastity but
grows, lives, and withers to death as a
flower on the stem.
HERMIA
That is how I will grow, live, and die, my
lord. I will not give up the ownership of my
virginity to my lord father. My soul refuses
to let him command me into the yoke of a
marriage I do not want.
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for the purpose of ploughing; from this
it becomes a symbol of bondage and
servitude]
My soul consents not to give sovereignty
[acknowledge as lord and master].
THESEUS THESEUS
Take time to pause [wait a short time Take some time to consider. By the next
before making your decision] , and by new moon—the day when my beloved
the next new moon—The sealing day and I will be joined in marriage—be ready
[the day on which they will seal(=make either to die for disobeying your father's
official) their vows] betwixt my love and desires, to marry Demetrius, as your
me father wishes. Or else, you can go to the
For everlasting bond of fellowship—Upon temple of Diana and vow to spend the
that day either prepare to die rest of your life as a virgin priestess.
For disobedience to your father’s will,
Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would,
Or on Diana’s altar to protest [vow]
For aye [ever] austerity [strict
simplicity; In Christian church, nuns
and monks vow to live in poverty,
chastity and obedience.] and single life.
DEMETRIUS DEMETRIUS
Relent, sweet Hermia And, Lysander, Give in, sweet Hermia. And, Lysander,
yield give up your crazy claim to possession of
Thy crazèd title [uncertain claim what is mine.
(because Hermia’s father does not
admit it)] to my certain right.
LYSANDER LYSANDER
You have her father’s love, Demetrius. Her father loves you, Demetrius. Let me
Let me have Hermia’s. Do you marry him have Hermia, and you can marry him.
[you go and marry him].
EGEUS EGEUS
Scornful Lysander, true, he hath my love, Rude Lysander, it's true, I do love
And what is mine my love shall render him. And because I love him, I will give to
him. him what is mine. Hermia is mine, and I’m
And she is mine, and all my right of her giving my rights to her to Demetrius.
I do estate unto [The phrase is a legal
one, continuing the idea that Hermia is
a mere possession] Demetrius.
LYSANDER LYSANDER

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[To THESEUS] I am, my lord, as well
derived [nobly descended, of good
family] as he,
As well possessed [rich in
possessions]. My love is more than his.
My fortunes every way as fairly ranked,
[my financial position and prospects
rank me as high.]
fortunes: position in life
(If not with vantage [even better]) as
Demetrius'.
And—which is more than all these boasts
can be—I am beloved of beauteous
Hermia.
Why should not I then prosecute my right
[persist in making my claim]?
Demetrius, I’ll avouch it to his head
[declare before his face(in his
presence)],
Made love [courted] to Nedar’s daughter,
Helena,
And won her soul [affection]. And she,
sweet lady, dotes,
Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry
[idolizes]
Upon this spotted [dishonourable] and
inconstant man.
THESEUS
I must confess that I have heard so much
And with Demetrius thought to have
spoke thereof,
But being overfull of self-affairs, [too
concerned with my own business]
My mind did lose [forget] it. But,
Demetrius, come.
And come, Egeus. You shall go with me.
I have some private schooling [advice to
give you in private] for you both.
For [as for] you, fair Hermia, look you
arm [prepare] yourself
[To THESEUS] My lord, I’m as noble as
Demetrius, and as rich. I love Hermia
more than he does. My prospects are in
every way as good as Demetrius', if not
better. And, more importantly than all of
those things I just boasted about,
beautiful Hermia loves me. Why shouldn’t
I be able to pursue my rights marry her?
Demetrius—and I’ll declare this to his
face—wooed Nedar’s daughter, Helena,
and won her love. Now Helena, that
sweet lady, obsesses, deeply obsesses,
obsesses over this stained and unfaithful
man, idolizing him as if he were a god.
THESEUS
I must admit I’ve heard that too, and
meant to speak about it with
Demetrius. But because I was too busy
with my own concerns, I forget about it.
But now, Demetrius and Egeus, come
with me. I have some advice for you both
that I want to give in private. As for you,
beautiful Hermia, prepare yourself to
shape your desires to match what your
father wants, or else the law of Athens—
which I can’t modify or lessen in any
way—demands that you either die or take
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To fit your fancies to your father’s will
[make your wishes agree with what
your father wants],
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 Hippolyta. What cheer [how
are you feeling, perhaps Hyppolyta
looks sad thinking about Hermia’s
difficult choice], my love?
Demetrius and Egeus, go along.
I must employ you in some business [All
three syllables of the word must be
pronounced]
Against [in preparation for] our nuptial
and confer with you
Of something nearly that concerns
yourselves [discuss something that
closely concerns you].
EGEUS
With duty and desire [willingness] we
follow you.
They exit, except LYSANDER and
HERMIA.
LYSANDER
How now, my love? Why is your cheek so
pale?
How chance [why] the roses there do
fade so fast?
HERMIA
Belike [probably] for want of rain, which I
could well
Beteem [pour down on] them from the
tempest of my eyes.
LYSANDER
Ay me [Lysander sighs]! For aught
[anything] that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run
smooth.
a vow of chastity and never marry. Come
along, Hippolyta. How are you, my love?
Demetrius and Egeus, come with us. I
have some work I need you to do
regarding our wedding, and there's
something that concerns the two of you
that I want to discuss.
EGEUS
We follow you because it is our duty, and
because we want to.
They all exit, except LYSANDER and
HERMIA.
LYSANDER
How are you, my love? Why are your
cheeks so pale? How is it that the roses
in them have faded so quickly?
HERMIA
Probably because they lacked rain, which
I could easily give them from the tears in
my eyes.
LYSANDER
Oh dear! In every book that I have ever
read, whether a story or a history, the
path of true love is never smooth or
easy. Perhaps the lovers are of different
social classes—
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But either it was different in blood [social
class] —
HERMIA HERMIA
O cross! Too high to be enthralled to low. Oh, what an obstacle! Being a person of
high rank in love with someone of low
stature.
LYSANDER LYSANDER
Or else misgraffèd in respect of years [ill- Or else they were very different ages—
matched through difference of age]—
HERMIA HERMIA
O spite! Too old to be engaged to young. Oh, vicious fate! Being too old to marry
someone young.
LYSANDER LYSANDER
Or else it stood upon [depended on] the Or else their ability to choose depended
choice of friends [relations]— on the wishes of their relatives—
HERMIA HERMIA
O hell, to choose love by another’s eyes! Oh, what a hell, to have someone else's
wishes determine who you can love!
LYSANDER LYSANDER
Or, if there were a sympathy [agreement] Or—even if two people loved each other
in choice, and could choose to marry—war, death,
War, death, or sickness did lay siege to or sickness might intervene, so that their
[make war on] it, love lasts no longer than a sound is, as
Making it momentary as a sound, fleeting as a shadow, short as a
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream, dream. Or it's as brief as a bolt of
Brief as the lightning in the collied lightning that—like a flash of passion—
[blackened(from colly=soot)] night; lights up heaven and Earth but then
That, in a spleen [sudden passionate disappears into darkness before you can
impulse], unfolds [lights up] both even say "Look!" That’s how bright things
heaven and Earth, that are full of life are destroyed.
And ere [before] a man hath power to
say “Behold!”
The jaws of darkness do devour it up.
So quick bright things come to confusion
[are ruined, destroyed].
HERMIA HERMIA
If then true lovers have been ever If true lovers are always thwarted [let
crossed, down], then it proves that destiny is
It stands as an edict in destiny [If true saying that our thwarted love must be
lovers have always (‘ever’) been true. So, let’s make sure to approach our

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frustrated (‘crossed’) then fate must problem with patience. Since all true love
have some law about it.]. must be thwarted, then being thwarted is
Then let us teach our trial patience [let us as much a part of love as dreams, sighs,
learn to endure this test with patience], wishes, and tears are.
Because it is a customary cross
[because such frustration is quite
normal],
As due to love [belonging to love] as
thoughts and dreams and sighs,
Wishes and tears, poor fancy’s [love]
followers.
LYSANDER LYSANDER
A good persuasion [advice]. Therefore, That's the right way to think about it. So,
hear me, Hermia. listen, Hermia. I have an aunt who is a
I have a widow aunt, a dowager [widow] widow, who has property and great
Of great revenue [the word must be wealth, and doesn’t have any
stressed on the second syllable], and children. Her house is about twenty miles
she hath no child. from Athens, and she thinks of me as a
From Athens is her house remote son. Dear Hermia, I could marry you
[distant] seven leagues [a rough there, where the harsh laws of Athens
measurement of distance, usually can’t follow us. So if you love me, sneak
about 3 miles], out of your father’s house tomorrow
And she respects [regards] me as her night. I will wait for you in the woods,
only son. three miles out of town, at the spot where
There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee. I once met you with Helena to celebrate
And to that place the sharp Athenian law May Day.
Cannot pursue us [the harsh Athenian
law will have no power over us]. If thou
lovest me then,
Steal forth [creep out of] thy father’s
house tomorrow night.
And in the wood, a league without
[outside] the town—Where I did meet
thee once with Helena
To do observance to a morn of May [to
perform the (fertility) rites of May
Day]—There will I stay [wait] for thee.
HERMIA HERMIA
My good Lysander! My noble Lysander! I swear to you—by
I swear to thee by Cupid’s [ the classical Cupid's strongest bow, by his best gold-

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God of love, usually depicted as tipped arrow; by the innocent doves that
blindfolded, winged boy with a bow drive Venus' chariot; by everything that
and 2 arrows, one to inspire love, and binds souls together and makes love
the other to kill love] strongest bow, grow; by the bonfire upon which Queen
By his best arrow with the golden head, Dido of Carthage burned herself to death
By the simplicity of Venus' doves [the when she saw that her lover Aeneas had
classical goddess of love often secretly sailed away from her; and by all
travelled in chariot drawn by white the promises that men have ever broken
doves- their colour signifying the (which outnumber all the promises
innocence(‘simplicity’) of pure love] , women have ever made). I will meet you
By that which knitteth souls and prospers tomorrow at the spot you have asked me
loves [Hermia may be referring to the to go to.
girdle worn by and associated with
Venus.],
And by that fire which burned the
Carthage queen
When the false Trojan under sail was
seen[Dido, Queen of Carthage flung
herself on a funeral pyre when her
lover, the Trojan Aeneas, sailed away
from her; the story is told in Virgil’s
Aeneid, Book IV],
By all the vows that ever men have
broke(In number more than ever women
spoke),
In that same place thou hast appointed
me,
Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee.
LYSANDER LYSANDER
Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Keep your promise, my love. Look, here
Helena. comes Helena.
HERMIA HERMIA
Godspeed [may God be with you], fair Welcome, beautiful Helena! Where are
Helena! you going?
Whither away?
HELENA ENTERS. HELENA ENTERS.
HELENA HELENA
Call you me “fair?” That “fair” again Did you call me “beautiful?” Take it back.
unsay. Your beauty is what Demetrius loves. Oh,
Demetrius loves your fair [your beauty]. lucky beauty! Your eyes are like stars,

13
O happy fair!
Your eyes are lodestars [guiding stars],
and your tongue’s sweet air [sound]
More tunable [tuneful] than lark to
shepherd’s ear
When wheat is green, when hawthorn
buds [the hawthorn is one of the first
trees to flower in the English spring
time] appear.
Sickness is catching [infectious]. Oh,
were favor [beauty/charm] so,
Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere
[before] I go.
My ear should catch your voice. My eye,
your eye.
My tongue should catch your tongue’s
sweet melody.
Were the world mine, Demetrius being
bated [except], The rest I’d give to be to
you translated [transferred (to become
Hermia’s property)].
O, teach me how you look and with what
art
You sway the motion of Demetrius' heart
[influence the way Demetrius feels].
HERMIA
I frown upon him, yet he loves me still.
HELENA
Oh, that your frowns would teach my
smiles such skill!
HERMIA
I give him curses, yet he gives me love.
HELENA
Oh, that my prayers could such affection
move!
HERMIA
The more I hate, the more he follows me.
HELENA
The more I love, the more he hateth me.
and your sweet voice is more melodic
than a lark’s song is to a shepherd in the
springtime, when the wheat is green and
hawthorn buds appear. Sickness is
contagious. Oh, I wish beauty was also. I
would catch yours, beautiful Hermia,
before I left. My ear would be infected by
your voice, my eye by your eye, and my
tongue would catch your tongue's musical
voice. If I owned the world, I’d give it all
up—with the exception of Demetrius—to
be transformed into you. Oh, teach me
how you look at Demetrius, and the tricks
you use to make him fall in love with you.
HERMIA
I frown at him, but he still loves me.
HELENA
Oh, if only your frowns could teach my
smiles to have that same ability!
HERMIA
I curse him, but he responds with love.
HELENA
Oh, if only my prayers could arouse that
kind of affection!
HERMIA
The more I hate him, the more he follows
me.
HELENA
The more I love him, the more he hates
14

HERMIA
His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine.
HELENA
None, but your beauty. Would [I wish]
that fault were mine!
HERMIA
Take comfort. He no more shall see my
face.
Lysander and myself will fly [escape
from] this place.
Before the time I did Lysander see
Seemed Athens as a paradise to me.
Oh, then, what graces [qualities] in my
love do dwell,
That he hath turned a heaven unto a hell!
LYSANDER
Helen, to you our minds [thoughts,
plans] we will unfold [open, explain].
Tomorrow night when Phoebe [another
name for Diana-goddess of the moon]
doth behold
Her silver visage [face] in the watery
glass [mirror made by a stretch of
water(a lake or pond)],
Decking [trimming] with liquid pearl
[drops of dew(glistening
pearls);the Elizabethans thought that
dew fell from the moon] the bladed
grass
(A time that lovers' flights doth still
[always] conceal),
Through Athens' gates have we devised
[planned] to steal.
HERMIA
[To HELENA] And in the wood where
often you and I
Upon faint [delicate: The primrose is a
pale yellow, slightly scented flower of
early spring] primrose beds were wont
me.
HERMIA
Helena, his foolishness is not my fault.
HELENA
It’s only your beauty’s fault. I wish I had
that fault!
HERMIA
Don’t worry. He'll never see my face
again. Lysander and I are running away
from here. Before the first time I saw
Lysander, Athens seemed like paradise
to me. But Lysander is so beautiful and
graceful that, by comparison, he’s turned
what I thought was heaven into hell!
LYSANDER
Helena, we’ll let you in on our
plan. Tomorrow night—when Phoebe is
reflected on the water and decorates the
grass with beads of pearly light (the time
of night that always hides lovers on the
run—we plan to sneak out through the
gates of Athens.
like
HERMIA
[To HELENA] In the woods where you
and I used to laze around on the pale
primroses, sharing all of the sweet
secrets of our hearts—that’s where
Lysander and I will meet. Then we’ll turn
15
[accustomed] to lie,
Emptying our bosoms [hearts] of their
counsel [secrets] sweet,
There my Lysander and myself shall
meet.
And thence from Athens turn away our
eyes
To seek new friends and stranger
companies [company of strangers].
Farewell, sweet playfellow. Pray thou for
us.
And good luck grant thee thy Demetrius!
Keep word [keep your promise],
Lysander. We must starve our sight
From lovers' food [i.e. the sight of each
other] till morrow deep midnight.
LYSANDER
I will, my Hermia.
HERMIA EXITS.
Helena, adieu.
As you on him, Demetrius dote on you!
[May Demetrius love you as much as
you love him.]
LYSANDER EXITS.
HELENA
How happy some o'er [over] other some
can be! [how happy some people are,
compared to others]
Through Athens I am thought as fair as
she.
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so.
He will not know what all but he do know.
And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes,
So I, admiring of his qualities.
Things base and vile, holding no
quantity,[having no value]
Love can transpose [transform] to form
and dignity. [The truth of this
observation will be demonstrated in
Act 3, when Titania falls in love with
away from Athens and look for new
friends and the company of strangers.
Goodbye, sweet friend of my youth. Pray
for us, and may fate give you
Demetrius! Keep your promise, Lysander.
We must refrain from the pleasure of
seeing each other until tomorrow at
midnight.
LYSANDER
I will, my Hermia.
HERMIA EXITS.
Goodbye, Helena. May Demetrius love
you just as you love him!
LYSANDER EXITS.
HELENA
How happy some people can be
compared to others! Throughout Athens,
people think I'm as beautiful as Hermia.
But what does that matter? Demetrius
doesn't think so. The only opinion he has
is his own. And as he wanders, idolizing
Hermia's eyes, likewise I admire his
beauty. Love can transform crude and
horrible things of no worth into beautiful
and dignified things. Love doesn't look
with eyes, but with the mind. That's why
they paint winged Cupid blind. And Love
doesn't have good judgment or taste—
wings and blindness make for undue
speed in falling in love. Thus, Love is
16
Bottom] thought of as a child, because he often
Love looks not with the eyes but with the makes the wrong choice. Just like
mind [imagination, intelligence]. mischievous boys who go back on their
And therefore is winged Cupid painted word as they play games, so too does the
blind. boy Love perjure himself
Nor hath Love's mind of any judgment everywhere. Because before Demetrius
taste—Wings and no eyes figure saw Hermia's eyes, he swore that he
[represent] unheedy [thoughtless] belonged to only me. And when he felt
haste. attracted to Hermia, he dissolved. His
And therefore is Love said to be a child, promises melted down like hail in the
Because in choice he is so oft beguiled heat. I will go and tell him that beautiful
[deceived]. Hermia is running away. Then he'll go to
As waggish [playful] boys in game [in the forest tomorrow night to pursue her.
fun] themselves forswear [break And if he thanks me for this piece of
promises], information, it will all be worth it. But in
So the boy Love is perjured everywhere this way I plan to make my pain worse, by
[like a little boy breaks his promises seeing him go there and back again.
everywhere].
For ere [until] Demetrius looked on
Hermia's eyne [eyes],
He hailed down oaths that he was only HELENA exits.
mine.
And when this hail some heat from
Hermia felt,
So he dissolved, and showers of oaths
did melt.
I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight.
Then to the wood will he tomorrow night
Pursue her. And for this intelligence
[piece of information]
If I have thanks, it is a dear expense.[The
phrase has several meanings: (i) it will
cause Demetrius some effort to give
thanks to Helena, but (ii) thanks from
Demetrius will be precious to Helena
even though (iii) she has paid a high
price for them (in betraying her
friends).]
But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
To have his sight thither and back again.

17
HELENA exits.

18