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Contents Act I Scene I …..10 Act I Scene II…..30 1 Act II Scene I …..45 Act II Scene II…..65 2 Act III Scene I …..79 Act III Scene II…..96 3 Act IV Scene I …..131 Act IV Scene II…..148 4 Act V Scene I…..157 5 e Persons of the Play ..... 8
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Jun 04, 2018

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Page 1: Contents 1 ˜e Persons of the Play 8 - National Chiao Tung ...press.nctu.edu.tw/Upload/Books/9789868299771.pdf · Contents Act I Scene I ... Hermia, who loves Lysander and refuses

Contents

Act I Scene I …..10Act I Scene II…..30

1Act II Scene I …..45Act II Scene II…..65

2

Act III Scene I …..79Act III Scene II…..96

3

Act IV Scene I …..131Act IV Scene II…..1484

Act V Scene I…..1575

�e Persons of the Play..... 8

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

8

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Persons of the PlayTHESEUS, Duke of Athens HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus

PHILOSTRATE, Master of the revels to Theseus.

EGEUS, father to Hermia

HERMIA, daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander

LYSANDER, loved by Hermia

DEMETRIUS, suitor to Hermia

HELENA, in love with Demetrius OBERON, King of the fairies

TITANIA, Queen of the fairies

PUCK, or Robin Goodfellow

PEASEBLOSSOM

COBWEB

MOTH

MUSTARDSEED

Peter QUINCE, a carpenter

Nick BOTTOM, a weaver

Francis FLUTE, a bellows-mender

Tom SNOUT, a tinker

SNUG, a joiner

Robin STARVELING, a tailor

OTHER FAIRIES attending their King and Queen

Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta

Scene: Athens and a wood near it

In love with Hermia

Fairies

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Persons of the Play THESEUS, Duke of Athens HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus

PHILOSTRATE, Master of the revels to Theseus.

EGEUS, father to Hermia

HERMIA, daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander

LYSANDER, loved by Hermia

DEMETRIUS, suitor to Hermia

HELENA, in love with Demetrius OBERON, King of the fairies

TITANIA, Queen of the fairies

PUCK, or Robin Goodfellow

PEASEBLOSSOMCOBWEB MOTH MUSTARDSEED Peter QUINCE, a carpenter

Nick BOTTOM, a weaver

Francis FLUTE, a bellows-mender

Tom SNOUT, a tinker

SNUG, a joiner

Robin STARVELING, a tailor

OTHER FAIRIES attending their King and Queen

Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta

Scene: Athens and a wood near it

Figure 1

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

10

ACT ISCENE I

Athens. The palace of THESEUS, Duke of Athens, four days before his marriage to HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons.

(Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PHILOSTRATE, and attendants)

Directions: To help you better understand and follow A Midsummer Night’s

Dream, read the summary of a specific scene before you begin to read it. If you

get lost during the scene, you can refer to the summary.

Summary: Theseus and Hippolyta talk of their upcoming wedding, which will

take place in four days. The enraged Egeus, a citizen of Athens, brings to Duke

Theseus his case against his daughter, Hermia, who loves Lysander and refuses to

marry her father’s choice, Demetrius. Theseus agrees to invoke the law of Athens,

if Hermia doesn’t obey her father, she will either be put to death or be forced to

become a nun. Lysander and Hermia refuse to be parted and decide to (elope) the

following evening. They tell their plan to Helena, who loves Demetrius. She deter-

mines to tell Demetrius of the elopement.

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Act I Scene I

11

THESEUS

Now, fair Hippolyta°, our nuptial hour1° 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 New-bent in heaven, shall behold the night Of our solemnities°. THESEUS

Go, Philostrate, Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments; Awake the pert° and nimble spirit of mirth;

1 Hippolyta Queen of the Amazons. Theseus wooed and won her by defeating her in battle nuptial hour the time of the wedding ceremony 2 draws on apace is approaching quickly 3 another moon the new moon 4 wanes fades lingers delays 5-6 Like … revenue an old step-mother or wealthy woman who lives so long that she uses up her heir’s inheritance 4-6 She … revenue a) Theseus uses this comparison, called a simile, to describe his impatience to be mar-ried. He says that he feels the way a young man feels waiting to get an inheritance (money); b) Theseus compares himself to an impatient young man whose inheritance is slowly being depleted by his stepmother or widowed mother (dowager) 7 steep dissolve steep themselves in night turn into night 9-10 like…heaven a simile, referring to the crescent of the new moon in the sky 11 solemnities formal wedding ceremonies 13 pert lively Awake … mirth Let there be lots of fun and laughter

5

10

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

12

Turn melancholy forth to funerals; The pale companion2° 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 anther key, With pomp, with triumph°, and with reveling°.

(Enter EGEUS, HERMIA, LYSANDER, and DEMETRIUS)

EGEUS

Happy be Theseus, our renowned° duke! 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,

15 pale companion melancholy fellow 14-15 Turn … pomp sadness and gloom belong at funerals, not at our wedding 17 injuries according to legend, the Amazons were a warrior race of women. Theseus’ injuries include a) defeating Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, in a battle that ended the Amazons’ attempt to conquer Greece and then b) taking her captive 16-17 I … injuries Theseus had made war against the Amazons and had taken their queen, Hipolyta, captive. Here he is making a joke by calling their fighting their courting 19 triumph; reveling public festivities 18-19 in … reveling in a different style, with fun and happiness 20 renowned famous 22 vexation distress; anger; troubles 24 stand forth step forward

15

20

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Act I Scene I

13

This man hath my consent to marry her. Stand forth, Lysander: and, my gracious Duke, This man hath bewitch’d3° the bosom of my child: Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes°, And interchang’d love-tokens with my child: Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung With feigning° voice, verses of feigning° love; And stolen the impression of her fantasy With bracelets of thy hair, ring, gauds°, conceits°, Knacks°, trifles°, nosegays°, sweetmeats° – messengers Of strong prevailment° in unharden’d youth: With cunning has 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 ancient privilege° of Athens,

27 bewitch’d be witched – today bewitched has a relatively harmless connotation, but in Shake-speare’s time, it meant literally “used witchcraft or magic charms.” An accusation of bewitching would have indeed been serious 28 given her rhymes spoken words of love 31 feigning; feign-ing (faining) softly singing; deceptive feigning voice … love lying deceptive and pretending that you love her 32 stolen the impression of her fantasy a) made her fall in love with you; b) made a lasting impression on her imagination 33 gauds; conceits fancy toys and articles 34 knacks; trifles knickknacks; small gifts nosegays small bunches of flowers sweetmeats candies 35 prevailment persuasion 34-35 messengers…youth a) all of these gifts can easily persuade a young person; b) tokens that can strongly influence inexperienced young people 36 filch’d stolen 39 be it so if 41 privilege rights I beg … Athens I demand my rights within the laws of this city

25

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35

40

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

14

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 provided4° in that case.

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 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.

HERMIA So is Lysander.

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.

45 immediately provided clearly stated or granted 47 To … god a simile meaning that Hermia should respect and honor her father 48 compos’d created 48-51 One … it as your parent, your father is your creator and he has absolute power over you, even the right to put you to death 51 disfigure destroy 54 kind case wanting lacking But…voice in this case, without your father’s approval 56-57 I would … look Hermia wishes her father could see Lysander as she does, but she is told to look at Lysander from her father’s point of view

45

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55

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Act I Scene I

15

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 modesty5°, In such a presence° here to plead my thoughts; 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 Either to die the death or to abjure° For ever the society of men. Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desire°; Know of° your youth, examine well your blood°, Whether, if you yield not to your father's choice, You can endure the livery° of a nun, For aye° to be in shady cloister° mew'd°, To live a barren sister all your life,

60 concern my modesty make me seem too brazen 59-60 I know…modesty I don’t know how I have the nerve (courage) to say this, or what you’ll think of me 61 in such a presence before you, the Duke 62 beseech beg; plead with; humbly ask 65 abjure renounce; give up 67 question your desires make sure you know what you want 68 know of remember; think about blood passion Know of … blood Remember how young you are, take a good look at your desires 70 livery uniform endure … nun tolerate becoming a nun 71 aye ever mew’d caged; confined cloister convent For … mew’d forever to live confined in the nunnery or convent 72 To live … life a reference to the vows of chastity taken by nuns

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65

70

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

16

Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon6°. Thrice-blessed they that master so their blood°, To undergo such maiden pilgrimage; But earthlier° happy is the rose distill'd°, Than that which, withering on the virgin thorn, Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness°.

HERMIA

So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, Ere I will yield my virgin patent° up Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke° My soul consents not to give sovereignt°.

THESEUS Take time to pause; and by the next new moon – The sealing-day° betwixt my love and me,

73 cold fruitless moon Diana, goddess of the moon and of chastity Chanting … moon Shake-speare is referring to a time when many of the women who took vows of chastity were not Christian nuns but worshippers of the moon goddess Diana. Theseus calls Diana cold because she is a virgin, and fruitless because she has no children 74 blood passions 75 To undergo such maiden pilgrimage to devote themselves to the life of a nun 76 earthlier on earth distill’d changed; plucked and used to create perfume 78 single blessendness celibacy; chastity 74-78 Thrice-blessed…blessedness women taking vows of chastity are blessed in heaven, but many other women are happier marrying and having children than remaining virgins 80 patent privi-lege my virgin patent my virginity, or my right to remain a virgin or before I give up my right to remain a virgin 81 unwished yoke unwanted domination (constraint) 82 sovereignty authority consents … sovereignty will not obey 84 sealing-day wedding day 84-85 The sealing-day … fellowship our wedding day, when our vows are sealed

75

80

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Act I Scene I

17

For everlasting bond of fellowship – Upon that day either prepare to die For disobedience to your father's will, Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would; Or on Diana's altar to protest7° 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, And what is mine my love shall render° him. And she is mine, and all my right of her 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';

89 protest vow 90 austerity morally strict; severe strictness 92 crazed unsound crazed title faulty claim for possession 96 render give 98 estate bequeath; give estate unto settle upon, leave to 99 as well deriv’d as he from as good a family 99-100 as well … possess’d as well born and as rich 102 vantage advantage 101-102 My … vantage my prospects for the future are the same as Demetrius, and →

85

90

95

100

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

18

And, which is more than all these boasts can be, I am belov’d of beauteous Hermia: Why should not I then prosecute8° my right? Demetrius, I'll avouch° it to his head°, Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena, And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes°, Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry°, Upon this spotted° and inconstant° man.

THESEUS I must confess that I have heard so much, And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof; But, being over-full of self-affairs, My mind did lose it. But, Demetrius, come, And come, Egeus; you shall go with me, I have some private schooling° for you both. For you, fair Hermia, look you arm° yourself To fit your fancies° to your father's will; Or else the law of Athens yields you up – Which by no means we may extenuat° – To death, or to a vow of single life. Come, my Hippolyta. What cheer, my love?

maybe even better 105 prosecute demand 106 avouch swear head face avouch … head declare it to his face 107 made love to courted; wooed 108 dotes loves 109 dotes in idolatry worships entirely 110 spotted guilty; immoral spotted and inconstant man inconsistent, un-trustworthy, unfaithful 113-114 But … lose it I had my own business to think about and forgot it 116 schooling business, instructions 117 arm prepare 118 fancies desires 120 extenuate lessen; mitigate Which … extenuate which we cannot change (i.e. for a lighter sentence)

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Act I Scene I

19

Demetrius and Egeus, go along. I must employ you in some business Against9° our nuptial, and confer with you Of something nearly that° concerns yourselves.

EGEUS With duty and desire we follow you.

(Exeunt all but LYSANDER and HERMIA)

LYSANDER How now, my love! Why is your cheek so pale? How chance the roses there do fade so fast?

HERMIA Belike° for want of rain, which I could well Beteem° them° from the tempest of my eyes.

LYSANDER Ay me! For aught° that I could ever read, Could ever hear by tale or history, The course of true love never did run smooth; But either it was different in blood –

HERMIA O cross°! too high to be enthrall'd° to low.

125 against in preparation for 126 that that closely 130 belike likely; perhaps 131 beteem supply them the tears 132 aught anything 135 But … blood the lovers were members of dif-ferent social classes 136 O cross a reference to the crucifixion of Christ, and a mild oath in those times enthrall’d enslaved →

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

20

LYSANDER

Or else misgraffed° in respect of years° –

HERMIA

O spite! too old to be engag’d to young.

LYSANDER

Or else it stood upon the choice of friends10° –

HERMIA

O hell! to choose love by another’s eyes.

LYSANDER Or, if there were a sympathy° in choice, War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it°, Making it momentany° as a sound, Swift as a shadow, short as any dream; Brief as the lightning in the collied° night, That, in a spleen°, unfolds both heaven and earth°, And ere a man hath power to say “Behold!” The jaws of darkness do devour it up: So quick bright things come to confusion°.

too … low how unfortunate to love someone who is in a lower class or to be too high-born to be bound to one so humbly born 137 misgraffed mismatched or poorly matched respect of years age 139 friends relatives 141 sympathy agreement a sympathy in choice mutual love 142 did lay siege to it put an end to it 143 momentany momentary 145 collied coal-black 146 spleen the spleen was thought to be the organ in the body that produced sudden and impulsive actions; fit of anger passion unfolds … earth the bright lightning illuminates the sky and the land 149 come to confusion are ruined or come to an end

140

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Act I Scene I

21

HERMIA If then true lovers have been ever cross’d11°, It stands as an edict° 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, Wishes and tears – poor Fancy’s° followers.

LYSANDER A good persuasion°: therefore, hear me, Hermia. I have a widow aunt, a dowager° Of great revenu°, and she hath no child: From Athens is her house remote seven leagues°: And she respects° me as her only son. There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee; And to that place the sharp Athenian law Cannot pursue us. If thou lov’st me, then, Steal forth thy father's house tomorrow night; And in the wood, a league without the town, Where I did meet thee once with Helena

150 cross’d always thwarted If then … cross’d if lovers always have problems 151 edict order; law destiny decree of fate It stands…destiny that is just the normal way things are 152 trial suffering then … patience let us bear our troubles patiently 153 cross burden 155 fancy’s love’s 152-155 Then let … followers then we should be patient with our problems and accept our problems as being as normal for lovers as tears and dreams are 156 persuasion argument; advice 157 dowager elderly woman 158 revenue wealth of great revenue with a lot of money 159 leagues 3 miles or 4 km 160 respects regards; treats

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

22

To do observance to a morn of May12°, There will I stay° for thee.

HERMIA My good Lysander! I swear to thee, by Cupid’s° strongest bow, By his best arrow with the golden head, By the simplicity° of Venus' doves°, By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves, And by that fire which burn'd the Carthage queen, When the false Troyan° under sail was seen – 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.

167 morn of May May day, when lovers celebrated woodland rites To do … May perform the ceremonies of May Day. The arrival of spring, May Day was celebrated with dances, games, and festivities for lovers (to perform the May Day rituals) 168 stay wait 169 Cupid the god of love whose golden arrows aroused love 170 By his … head according to legend, Cupid’s gold-tipped arrow produces love in the person struck 171 simplicity innocence Venus’ doves The chariot of Venus, the goddess of love, was often depicted as drawn by silver doves By the … doves by the innocence of the bird of peace, the bird sacred to Venus, the goddess of love 172 By that … loves this refers to the belt (called a girdle in those days) of Venus. It had the power of being able to join people together in love 173-174 And by … was seen Dido, queen of Carthage, burned herself on a funeral pyre when Aeneas, her Trojan love, secretly deserted her and sailed away 174 Troyan Trojan 173-174 And by … was seen Dido, the queen of Carthage, burned herself on a funeral pyre after Aeneas, her Trojan love, secretly deserted her and sailed away 177 thou hast appointed me you just told me about

170

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Act I Scene I

23

LYSANDER Keep promise, love. Look, here comes Helena.

(Enter HELENA)

HERMIA God speed13° fair Helena! Whither away°?

HELENA Call you me fair°? That fair again unsay. Demetrius loves your fair: O happy fair! Your eyes are lode-stars°; and your tongue's sweet air More tuneable° than lark to shepherd's ear, When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear. Sickness is catching. O, were favor° so, Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere 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°, The rest I'd give to be to you translated°. O, teach me how you look; and with what art You sway the motion° of Demetrius’ heart!

180 God speed good to see you whither away where are you going? 181 fair beauty 183 lode-stars those stars used by sailors to navigate by. In Shakespeare’s time, these guide-stars were believed to have magnetic powers your tongue’s sweet air your voice air song 184 tuneable musical 186 favor beauty or love O, were favor so if beauty (attractiveness) could be caught like sickness 189 melody song 190 being bated caught; expected 191 translated transformed The rest … translated I would give it all to you 193 motion emotion

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

24

HERMIA I frown upon him, yet he loves me still.

HELENA O that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill!

HERMIA I give him curses, yet he gives me love.

HELENA O 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.

HERMIA His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine.

HELENA None but your beauty. Would that fault were mine!

HERMIA Take comfort. He no more shall see my face; Lysander and myself will fly this place. Before the time I did Lysander see, Seem’d Athens as a paradise to me. O, then, what graces14° in my love do dwell, That he hath turn'd a heaven unto a hell°!

206 graces quality (qualities) 207 he hath … hell her love for Lysander has resulted in her father’s anger and Theseus’ edict

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Act I Scene I

25

LYSANDER Helen, to you our minds we will unfold15°. Tomorrow night, when Phœbe° doth behold Her silver visage° in the watery glass, Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass, A time that lovers' flights doth still° conceal, Through Athens' gates have we devis’d° to steal.

HERMIA And in the wood, where often you and I Upon faint primrose beds were wont° to lie, Emptying our bosoms of their counsel° sweet, There my Lysander and myself shall meet; And thence from Athens turn away our eyes, To seek new friends and stranger companies. Farewell, sweet playfellow. Pray thou for us; And good luck grant thee thy Demetrius! Keep word, Lysander. We must starve our sight From lovers' food till morrow deep midnight.

LYSANDER I will, my Hermia.

208 to you … unfold we’ll tell you our plan 209 Phœbe Diana, the goddess of the moon 210 visage face 209-210 doth … glass when the moon is reflected in the water 211 Decking … glass dew 212 still always A time … conceal the time of night that is always best for lovers to flee 213 devis’d planned 215 were wont accustomed, used 216 counsel secrets Emptying … sweet talking our hearts out to each other 222-223 We must…midnight we’d better not see each other till we meet tomorrow night

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

26

(Exit HERMIA)

Helena, adieu. As you on him, Demetrius dote on you!

(Exit)

HELENA How happy some o’er16° other some can be! 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°, Love can transpose° to form and dignity. Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind°; And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind. Nor hath Love's mind of any judgement taste; Wings, and no eyes, figure unheedy° haste. And therefore is Love said to be a child,

226 o’er over How happy … can be some people are a lot happier than others 230 and as he errs he is making a mistake 232 no quantity having little value holding no quantity bearing no relation; to how they are viewed by love 233 transpose change 234 mind imagination 235 And…blind in paintings, Cupid is shown wearing a mask to indicate that love is not just based on how someone looks, but also on his or her personality. We have the expression “Love is blind” 236 Nor … taste sometimes there is no reason for loving someone 237 figure unheedy signify (symbolize) careless Wings … haste love can be sudden

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230

235

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Act I Scene I

27

Because in choice he is so oft beguil’d°. As waggish boys in game themselves forswear, So the boy Love is perjur’d17° everywhere: For ere Demetrius look'd on Hermia's eyne°, He hail'd down oaths that he was only mine; And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt, So he dissolv’d, and show’rs 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° If I have thanks, it is a dear expens°: But herein mean I to enrich my pain, To have his sight thither and back again.

(Exit)

239 beguil’d deceived 238-239 And … beguil’d like a child, love is spontaneous, or doesn’t stop to think, and is often fooled. This speech, lines 234-239, refers to Demetrius being in love with Hermia, when Hermia does not love him back 241 perjur’d guilty of lying is perjur’d does not keep his word 240-241 As waggish…everywhere boastful boys tell lies when they are playing, and many people, playing at love, lie also; just as mischievous boys, in jest, will not keep their word 236-241 Nor hath … everywhere Helena plays on Cupid’s blindness, his wings and his boyish qualities 242 eyne eyes For … eyne before Demetrius noticed Hermia 242-245 for … melt when Demetrius saw Hermia, his love for Helena melted away and disappeared 248 intelligence piece of information 249 expense costly a dear expense telling Demetrius about Hermia’s plan may cost Helena her friendship with Hermia 251 To have … again I will follow him (and be able to see him) as he goes into the woods after Hermia 250-251 But … again my reward will be that Demetrius will accompany me to and from the woods

240

245

250

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

28

Exercises

Quotation Test: 1. Identify each of the significant or very characteristic quotation or speech below, such as

Who is the speaker? (a) At which point in the play? State briefly the context. What is the speaker talking about? “The course of true love never did run smooth;” “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind.”

Why does Egeus go and complain to Theseus about his daughter 2. Hermia? Are similar things still happening today?

List how Lysander courted Hermia.3.

In Theseus’ opinion, what would happen to Hermia if she yields 4. not to her father’s choice to marry Demetrius?

What plan do Lysander and Hermia contrive in order to flee the 5. sharp Athenian Law?

(b)

(c)