А

Midsummer-Night's

DRE A M.

A

COMEDY.

Printed in the YEAR 1709.

Thecus

, Duke theniah Lord.

Heseus, 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

Theseus. Hermia, Daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysan

der. Helena, in love with Demetrius.

ATTENDANTS.

Oberon, King of the Fairies.
Titania, Queen of the Fairies.
Puck, or Robin-goodfellow, a Fairy.
Peaseblossom,
Cobweb,

Fairies.
Moth,
Mustardseed,
Other Fairies attending on the King and Queen.
SCENE Athens, and a Wood

not far from it.

}

A

OW, fair Hippolita, our Nuptial Hour
Draws on space; four happy Days bring in
Arother Moon: But oh, methinks, how low
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 steep themselves in Nights,
Four Nights will quickly dream away the Time :
And then the Moon, like to a Silver Bow,
New bent in Heaven, shall bt hold the Night
Of our Solemnities.

The. Go, Philoftrate,
Stir up the Athenian Youth to Merriments,
Awake the pert and nimble Spirit of Mirth,
Turn Melancholiy forth to Funerals:
Vol. II.

B 2

The

The pale Companion is not for our Pomp.
Hippolita, I woo'd the 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.
Ege. Happy be Theseus, 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 Consent to marry her.
Stand forth Lysander. And, my gracious Duke
This hath bewitch'd the Bosom of my Child:
Thou, thou Lyfander, thou hast given her Rhimes,
And interchang'd Love-tokens with my Child :
Thou hast, by Moon-light, at her Window sung,
With feigning Voice, Verses of feigning Love,
And stoll'n the Impression of her Fantasie,
With Bracelets of thy Hair, Rings, Gawds, Conceits,
Knacks, Trifles, Nolegays, Sweet-meats, Messengers
Of strong 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 so she will not here before your Grace
Consent to marry with Demetrius,
I beg the antient 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 should 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.