Shakespeare's Comedies (with CD-ROM)

Author: (English) Shakespeare
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-05-01
Features: In Athens. The Court of Theseus [Theseus, Hippolyta, Phaedra, and others enter. Theseus, fair Hippolyta, now our nuptial hour draws on, four days will quickly drop, and then new moon. But, ah! how slow this old moon doth o'erhang her boughs, and steals my hope, like a crone that eats the young man's estate. Four days will quickly turn to night, four nights will quickly run their course in dreams, and then the moon, like a new bow of silver, shall in heaven's eye view our nuptial hours. Theseus, go, Phaedra, stir up the Athenian youth to mirth, awake the lively spirits, cast away care to the grave; that pale faced fellow must not share in our nuptial train. (Phaedra exits) Hippolyta, I have wooed thee with my sword, and with forceful intrusion won thy heart; but this time I will change my tune, and with pomp, pride, and revelry shall we celebrate our wedding. [Egeus, his daughter Hermia, Lysander, and Demetrius enter. Egeus, the renowned Duke Theseus, wish you well! Theseus Thank you, good Egeus. What business have you? Egeus I come full of wrath to accuse my son, my daughter Hermia. Step forward, Demetrius. Your Highness, this is the man I promised to marry her to. Step forward, Lysander. Your Highness, this man has corrupted my child. You, you, Lysander, you wrote poems to my child, exchanging love tokens with her; on moonlit nights before her window you sang love songs in a feigned voice; you used hair bracelets, rings, gaudy ornaments, trinkets, flowers, candies, messengers that could strongly allure a young girl's heart to steal her affections; you used cunning to steal her heart, inciting her to turn my obedience into stubborn resistance. Your Highness, if she still refuses to marry Demetrius before your very eyes, I shall demand the ancient right of Athens, for she is my daughter, and I may do as I please with her; according to our laws, if she does not marry this gentleman, she shall be put to death immediately. Theseus What say you, Hermia? Be cautious, fair maid! Your father should be a god to you; your beauty is what he has given you, you are like his seal pressed on soft wax, he can preserve you or destroy you. Demetrius is a very good gentleman. Hermia Lysander is also very good. Theseus He is undoubtedly good in himself; but if he is to be your husband, he falls short without your father's consent. Hermia I truly hope my father shares my view. Theseus You should still follow your father's judgment. Hermia I beg your Highness's forgiveness! I do not know what force makes me so bold, nor what effect my confiding in you will have on my good name; but