A

Midfummer-Night's

DREAM.

Α

COMEDY.

Printed in the YEAR 1709.

TH

'Hefcus, Duke of Athens. Egeus, an Athenian Lord. Lyfander, in Love with Hermia. Demetrius, in Love with Hermia. Quince, the Carpenter.

Snug, the Joiner.

Bottom, the Weaver.

Flute, the Bellows-mender.
Snowt, the Tinker.
Starveling, the Tailor.

Hippolita, Princess of the Amazons, betrothed to

Thefeus.

Hermia, Daughter to Egeus, in love with Lyfander.

Helena, in love with Demetrius.

ATTENDANTS.

Oberon, King of the Fairies.

Titania, Queen of the Fairies.

Puck, or Robin-goodfellow, a Fairy.

Peafebloffom,

Cobweb,

Fairies.

Moth,

Mustardfeed,

Other Fairies attending on the King and Queen.

SCENE Athens, and a Wood not far from it.

A

A

Midfummer-Night's Dream.

ACTI SCENE I

Enter Thefeus and Hippolita, with Attendants.

THESE US.

OW, fair Hippolita, our Nuptial Hour
Draws on apace; four happy Days bring in
Another Moon: But oh, methinks, how flow
This old Moon wanes! She lingers my De-
fires

Like to a Step-dame, or a Dowager,

Long withering out a young Man's Revenue.

Hip. Four Days will quickly fteep themfelves in Nights, Four Nights will quickly dream away the Time:

And then the Moon, like to a Silver Bow,

New bent in Heaven, fhall behold the Night

Of our Solemnities.

The. Go, Philoftrate,

Stir up the Athenian Youth to Merriments,
Awake the pert and nimble Spirit of Mirth,
Turn Melancholly forth to Funerals:

VOL. II.

B 2

The

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, Lyfander, and Demetrius.
Ege. Happy be Thefeus, our renowned Duke.
The. Thanks, good Egens; 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, Verfes of feigning Love,
And ftoll'n the Impreffion of her Fantafie,
With Bracelets of thy Hair, Rings, Gawds, Conceits,
Knacks, Trifles, Nofegays, Sweet-meats, Meffengers
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 ftubborn Harfhnefs. And, my gracious Duke,
Be it fo fhe will not here before your Grace
Confent to marry with Demetrius,

I beg the antient Privilege of Athens,
As the is mine, I may difpofe of her:
Which shall be either to this Gentleman,
Or to her Death, according to our Law,
Immediately provided in that Cafe.

The. What fay 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
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.