Call You fair That Fair Again Give Me That Boy and I Will Go With Thee

A Midsummer Night'southward Dream Translation Act 1, Scene i

THESEUS and HIPPOLYTA enter forth with PHILOSTRATE and others.

THESEUS

At present, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour Draws on speedily. 4 happy days bring in Another moon. But oh, methinks how slow This quondam moon wanes! She lingers my desires, Like to a stepdame or a dowager Long withering out a young homo's revenue.

THESEUS

Now, beautiful Hippolyta , the hr of our wedding is speeding closer. In four joyful days there volition be a new crescent moon, and we will marry. Simply oh! The old moon seems to me to shrink away and so slowly! It delays me from getting what I desire, just similar an old rich widow will force her stepson to wait forever to receive his inheritance.

HIPPOLYTA

4 days will chop-chop steep themselves in night. 4 nights will chop-chop dream away the fourth dimension. And so the moon, like to a silverish bow New bent in heaven, shall behold the dark Of our solemnities.

HIPPOLYTA

Iv days will quickly pass and turn to nighttime. And each night, we will dream away the time. And soon the moon—like a silver bow newly aptitude into a curve in the sky—volition wait down on the night of our wedding celebration.

THESEUS

Go, Philostrate, Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments. Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth. Turn melancholy forth to funerals. The pale companion is not for our pomp.

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.

Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword And won thy dearest doing thee injuries. Only I will wed thee in another cardinal, With pomp, with triumph, and with reveling.

Hippolyta, I wooed with y'all by fighting against yous, and won your love by injuring y'all. But I'll marry you in a different way—with splendid ceremonies, public festivities, and celebration.

EGEUS

Happy be Theseus, our renownèd duke.

EGEUS

Joy to y'all, Theseus—our famous and distinguished duke!

EGEUS enters with his daughter HERMIA, forth with LYSANDER and DEMETRIUS.

THESEUS

Thank you, good Egeus. What'due south the news with thee?

THESEUS

Thank you, dear Egeus. What's going on with you?

EGEUS

Full of vexation come I with complaint Against my child, my daughter Hermia. Stand up forth, Demetrius. My noble lord, This human hath my consent to ally her. Stand forth, Lysander. And my gracious knuckles, This man hath bewitched the bosom of my child. Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes, And interchanged beloved tokens with my child. G hast by moonlight at her window sung With feigning voice verses of feigning dear, And stol'n the impression of her fantasy With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gauds, conceits, Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats—messengers Of strong prevailment in unhardened youth. With cunning hast m filched my daughter's center, Turned her obedience (which is due to me) To stubborn harshness. And, my gracious duke, Be it and then she will not hither before your grace Consent to ally with Demetrius, I beg the ancient privilege of Athens. As she is mine, I may dispose of her— Which shall exist either to this gentleman Or to her death—according to our police Immediately provided in that example.

EGEUS

I've come up to you full of anger, to protest confronting the deportment of my daughter, Hermia. Step forward, Demetrius. My noble lord Theseus, this man, Demetrius, has my blessing to marry her. Footstep forward, Lysander. All the same, my gracious duke, this homo, Lysander, has put a spell on my daughter's center. You, you, Lysander, y'all have given her poems, and exchanged tokens of love with my daughter. You've come beneath her window in the moonlight and pretended to dearest her with your fake dear songs. And you've stolen her fancy by giving her locks of your hair, rings, toys, trinkets, knickknacks, little presents, flowers, and candies—all of which will powerfully influence an innocent child. You've sneaked and schemed to steal my daughter's heart, transforming the obedience which she owes me into harsh stubbornness. My gracious duke, if Hermia, standing here in front of you, won't agree to marry Demetrius, then I demand my traditional rights equally a father in Athens . Since she belongs to me, I can practise what I want with her, as the law expressly states for just such a case every bit this: either she marries Demetrius, or she dies.

THESEUS

What say you lot, Hermia? Be advised, fair maid: To you lot your father should be as a god, Ane that composed your beauties, yea, and one To whom you are only as a form in wax, By him imprinted and within his power To leave the figure or disfigure it. Demetrius is a worthy admirer.

THESEUS

And what practice you say, Hermia? Accept this advice, pretty girl: you should come across your begetter as a god, since he'south the ane who created your dazzler. 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 expert human being.

THESEUS

In himself he is. Merely in this kind, wanting your begetter's voice, The other must be held the worthier.

THESEUS

Yes he is. Merely in this state of affairs, because he lacks your father's support, yous must consider Demetrius to be better.

HERMIA

I would my father looked but with my eyes.

HERMIA

I wish my father could wait at them through my eyes.

THESEUS

Rather your eyes must with his judgment wait.

THESEUS

Instead, your view of them must be influenced by your father'due south wishes.

HERMIA

I do entreat your grace to pardon me. I know not by what power I am fabricated bold Nor how it may concern my modesty In such a presence hither to plead my thoughts, Simply I beseech your grace that I may know The worst that may befall me in this case, If I refuse to wed Demetrius.

HERMIA

I beg your Grace to forgive me. I don't know what is making me bold plenty to do this, or even how speaking my thoughts to such an important person every bit you might harm my reputation for modesty. But I beg y'all to explicate to me the worst thing that could happen to me in this situation if I pass up to ally Demetrius.

THESEUS

Either to dice the death or to abjure Forever the society of men. Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires. Know of your youth. Examine well your blood— Whether, if you yield not to your begetter'due south choice, You tin can endure the livery of a nun, For yep to exist in shady cloister mewed, To alive a arid sister all your life, Chanting faint hymns to the cold, fruitless moon. Thrice-blessèd they that master so their blood To undergo such maiden pilgrimage. But earthlier happy is the rose distilled Than that which, withering on the virgin thorn, Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness.

THESEUS

Yous'll either be sentenced to decease or to never once again interact with another homo. Therefore, beautiful Hermia, really call up about what you want. Recall about how young y'all are, and explore your feelings —if you practice non requite in to your father's wishes, will you lot exist able to tolerate life wearing the robes of a nun, shut upward in a nighttime 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 every bit blessed. But a married adult female lives happier in this world than a virgin, who achieves the blessing of chastity but grows, lives, and withers to death every bit a bloom on the stem.

HERMIA

So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, Ere I will yield my virgin patent upwardly Unto his lordship, whose unwishèd yoke My soul consents not to give sovereignty.

HERMIA

That is how I volition abound, alive, and die, my lord. I volition not requite up the buying of my virginity to my lord father. My soul refuses to permit him command me into the yoke of a matrimony I do not want.

THESEUS

Have fourth dimension to pause, and past the next new moon— The sealing solar day betwixt my love and me For everlasting bond of fellowship— Upon that solar day either prepare to dice For defiance to your male parent's will, Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would, Or on Diana's altar to protestation For aye austerity and single life.

THESEUS

Accept some fourth dimension to consider. Past the next new moon—the mean solar day when my beloved and I will exist joined in marriage —be ready either to die for disobeying your father's desires, to marry Demetrius, as your father wishes. Or else, you tin can go to the temple of Diana and vow to spend the rest of your life as a virgin priestess.

DEMETRIUS

Relent, sweet Hermia And, Lysander, yield Thy crazèd title to my certain correct.

DEMETRIUS

Give in, sugariness Hermia. And, Lysander, give up your crazy claim to possession of what is mine.

LYSANDER

Yous have her male parent'due south love, Demetrius. Let me take Hermia's. Do you marry him.

LYSANDER

Her father loves y'all, Demetrius. Let me accept Hermia, and you can marry him.

EGEUS

Scornful Lysander, true, he hath my dear, And what is mine my love shall render him. And she is mine, and all my right of her I practise manor unto Demetrius.

EGEUS

Rude Lysander, information technology's true, I do beloved him. And because I beloved him, I will give to him what is mine. Hermia is  mine, and I'm giving my rights to her to Demetrius.

LYSANDER

[To THESEUS] I am, my lord, equally well derived equally he, As well possessed. My beloved is more than his. My fortunes every manner as fairly ranked, (If not with vantage) equally Demetrius'. And—which is more than than all these boasts can be— I am beloved of beauteous Hermia. Why should not I then prosecute my right? Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his caput, Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena, And won her soul. And she, sweetness lady, dotes, Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry Upon this spotted and inconstant homo.

LYSANDER

[To THESEUS] My lord, I'grand equally noble equally Demetrius, and as rich. I love Hermia more than than he does. My prospects are in every way equally good every bit Demetrius', if non better. And, more chiefly than all of those things I simply boasted almost, 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 up—wooed Nedar's daughter, Helena, and won her love. At present 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 confess that I have heard and then much And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof, But being overfull of self-affairs, My mind did lose it. But, Demetrius, come. And come, Egeus. Y'all shall go with me. I have some individual schooling for you both. For you lot, off-white Hermia, look you lot arm yourself To fit your fancies to your father's will, Or else the police of Athens yields yous up (Which by no ways nosotros may extenuate) To death, or to a vow of single life. Come, my Hippolyta. What cheer, my honey? Demetrius and Egeus, keep. I must utilise yous in some business Against our nuptial and confer with y'all Of something nearly that concerns yourselves.

THESEUS

I must admit I've heard that likewise, and meant to speak about information technology with Demetrius. But because I was too busy with my own concerns, I forget virtually it. But now, Demetrius and Egeus, come with me. I have some communication for you both that I desire to give in individual. As for you, beautiful Hermia, prepare yourself to shape your desires to friction match what your father wants, or else the law of Athens—which I can't modify or lessen in any mode—demands that y'all either die or take a vow of guiltlessness and never ally. Come along, Hippolyta. How are yous, my love? Demetrius and Egeus, come up with united states. I have some work I need you to do regarding our wedding, and at that place'due south something that concerns the 2 of y'all that I want to discuss.

EGEUS

With duty and desire we follow you.

EGEUS

Nosotros follow you considering it is our duty, and because we want to.

They exit, except LYSANDER and HERMIA.

LYSANDER

How at present, my love? Why is your cheek so pale? How take a chance the roses there do fade and then fast?

LYSANDER

How are you, my love? Why are your cheeks then pale? How is it that the roses in them accept faded so quickly?

HERMIA

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

HERMIA

Probably because they lacked rain, which I could easily requite them from the tears in my eyes.

LYSANDER

Ay me! For zilch that I could ever read, Could ever hear by tale or history, The course of truthful love never did run smooth. But either information technology was different in blood—

LYSANDER

Oh dear! In every book that I take e'er read, whether  a story or a history, the path of true dearest is never shine or easy. Perhaps the lovers are of different social classes—

HERMIA

O cantankerous! Likewise high to be enthralled to low.

HERMIA

Oh, what an obstacle! Being a person of high rank in dear with someone of low stature.

LYSANDER

Or else misgraffèd in respect of years—

LYSANDER

Or else they were very different ages—

HERMIA

O spite! Too old to exist engaged to young.

HERMIA

Oh, vicious fate! Beingness too quondam to marry someone immature.

LYSANDER

Or else it stood upon the choice of friends—

LYSANDER

Or else their power to choose depended on the wishes of their relatives—

HERMIA

O hell, to choose dearest by some other'due south eyes!

HERMIA

Oh, what a hell, to accept someone else'due south wishes make up one's mind who you can dear!

LYSANDER

Or, if in that location were a sympathy in option, War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it, Making it momentary every bit a audio, Swift every bit a shadow, curt as any dream, Brief equally the lightning in the collied nighttime; That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and Globe, And ere a man hath power to say "Behold!" The jaws of darkness do devour it upward. Then quick vivid things come to confusion.

LYSANDER

Or—even if two people loved each other and could cull to marry—war, death, or sickness might arbitrate, so that their love lasts no longer than a sound, is as fleeting as a shadow, short equally a dream. Or it's as brief as a bolt of lightning that—like a flash of passion—lights up heaven and Earth but then disappears into darkness before you tin can even say "Look!" That'due south how brilliant things that are full of life are destroyed.

HERMIA

If and then truthful lovers have been e'er crossed, It stands as an edict in destiny. Then permit united states of america teach our trial patience, Considering it is a customary cantankerous, Every bit due to love every bit thoughts and dreams and sighs, Wishes and tears, poor fancy'due south followers.

HERMIA

If truthful lovers are e'er thwarted, then information technology proves that destiny is maxim that our thwarted honey must be true. And so let'southward make certain to approach our problem with patience. Since all true beloved must be thwarted, then being thwarted is as much a part of love as dreams, sighs, wishes, and tears are.

LYSANDER

A good persuasion. Therefore, hear me, Hermia. I have a widow aunt, a dowager Of cracking revenue, and she hath no child. From Athens is her house remote seven leagues, And she respects me as her only son. At that place, gentle Hermia, may I ally thee. And to that place the abrupt Athenian law Cannot pursue us. If thou lovest me then, Steal along thy male parent's house tomorrow night. And in the wood, a league without the town— Where I did come across thee once with Helena To do observance to a morn of May— At that place will I stay for thee.

LYSANDER

That'southward the right fashion to recollect nigh it. So, listen, Hermia. I have an aunt who is a widow, who has property and great wealth, and doesn't accept any children. Her house is nigh xx miles from Athens, and she thinks of me as a son.  Dear Hermia, I could marry you in that location, where the harsh laws of Athens tin't follow united states. So if you love me, sneak out of your father's firm tomorrow night. I will look for you in the woods, three miles out of town, at the spot where I one time met you with Helena to gloat May Day.

HERMIA

My good Lysander! I swear to thee past Cupid's strongest bow, By his all-time pointer with the gilded head, By the simplicity of Venus' doves, By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves, And by that burn down which burned the Carthage queen When the false Troyan under sail was seen, Past all the vows that e'er men accept broke (In number more than always women spoke), In that aforementioned identify thou hast appointed me, Tomorrow truly volition I meet with thee.

HERMIA

My noble Lysander! I swear to you lot—by Cupid'due south strongest bow, by his best gold-tipped pointer; by the innocent doves that drive Venus ' chariot; by everything that binds souls together and makes love grow; by the bonfire upon which Queen Dido of Carthage burned herself to death when she saw that her lover Aeneas had secretly sailed abroad from her; and by all the promises that men accept ever broken (which outnumber all the promises women have e'er made). I will meet yous tomorrow at the spot you have asked me to go to.

LYSANDER

Keep promise, love. Expect, here comes Helena.

LYSANDER

Keep your promise, my love. Wait, here comes Helena.

HERMIA

Godspeed, fair Helena! Whither away?

HERMIA

Welcome, beautiful Helena! Where are yous going?

HELENA

Telephone call you me "fair?" That "fair" again unsay. Demetrius loves your fair. O happy fair! Your eyes are lodestars, and your tongue'south sugariness air More than tunable than lark to shepherd's ear When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds announced. Sickness is communicable. Oh, were favor so, Yours would I grab, off-white Hermia, ere I go. My ear should catch your voice. My middle, your eye. My tongue should catch your natural language'southward sweet melody. Were the earth mine, Demetrius being bated, The residual I'd give to be to you translated. O, teach me how you await and with what art You sway the motion of Demetrius' heart.

HELENA

Did you call me "beautiful?" Accept it dorsum. Your beauty is what Demetrius loves. Oh, lucky beauty! Your optics are like stars, and your sweet voice is more melodic than a distraction'south vocal is to a shepherd in the springtime, when the wheat is green and hawthorn buds appear. Sickness is contagious. Oh, I wish dazzler was also. I would take hold of yours, beautiful Hermia, before I left. My ear would be infected by your voice, my centre by your eye, and my tongue would grab your tongue's musical phonation. If I owned the world, I'd give information technology all up—with the exception of Demetrius—to be transformed into y'all. Oh, teach me how you wait at Demetrius, and the tricks you use to make him fall in love with you.

HERMIA

I pout upon him, however he loves me all the same.

HERMIA

I frown at him, merely he withal loves me.

HELENA

Oh, that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill!

HELENA

Oh, if merely your frowns could teach my smiles to have that same ability!

HERMIA

I requite him curses, notwithstanding he gives me love.

HERMIA

I curse him, but he responds with dear.

HELENA

Oh, that my prayers could such amore motility!

HELENA

Oh, if but my prayers could arouse that kind of affection!

HERMIA

The more I hate, the more than he follows me.

HERMIA

The more I hate him, the more he follows me.

HELENA

The more I love, the more than he hateth me.

HELENA

The more I love him, the more he hates me.

HERMIA

His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine.

HERMIA

Helena, his foolishness is not my fault.

HELENA

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

HELENA

It's but your beauty's mistake. I wish I had that fault!

HERMIA

Take comfort. He no more than shall see my face. Lysander and myself will fly this place. Before the time I did Lysander see Seemed Athens equally a paradise to me. Oh, then, what graces in my love do dwell, That he hath turned a heaven unto a hell!

HERMIA

Don't worry. He'll never come across my face again. Lysander and I are running abroad from here. Before the offset time I saw Lysander, Athens seemed like paradise to me. But Lysander is and then beautiful and graceful that, by comparison, he'south turned what I thought was sky into hell!

LYSANDER

Helen, to you our minds nosotros will unfold. Tomorrow night when Phoebe doth behold Her silver visage in the watery drinking glass, Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass (A fourth dimension that lovers' flights doth still conceal), Through Athens' gates have we devised to steal.

LYSANDER

Helena, we'll permit you in on our program. Tomorrow nighttime—when Phoebe is reflected on the h2o and decorates the grass with chaplet of pearly low-cal (the time of night that ever hides lovers on the run—we program to sneak out through the gates of Athens.

HERMIA

[To HELENA] And in the forest where often you lot and I Upon faint primrose beds were wont to prevarication, Emptying our bosoms of their counsel sugariness, At that place my Lysander and myself shall run across. And thence from Athens turn abroad our optics To seek new friends and stranger companies. Good day, sugariness playfellow. Pray thou for us. And proficient luck grant thee thy Demetrius! Keep word, Lysander. We must starve our sight From lovers' nutrient till morrow deep midnight.

HERMIA

[To HELENA]   In the woods where you and I used to laze around on the pale primroses, sharing all of the sugariness secrets of our hearts—that's where Lysander and I volition see. Then nosotros'll plow away from Athens and  expect for new friends and the company of strangers. Good day, sweet friend of my youth. Pray for us, and may fate give you lot Demetrius! Continue your promise, Lysander. Nosotros must refrain from the pleasure of seeing each other until tomorrow at midnight.

LYSANDER

I will, my Hermia.

LYSANDER

I volition, my Hermia.

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

Cheerio, Helena. May Demetrius love yous just as you beloved him!

HELENA

How happy some o'er other some can be! Through Athens I am thought as fair as she. But what of that? Demetrius thinks non so. He will not know what all simply he do know. And every bit he errs, doting on Hermia's optics, So I, admiring of his qualities. Things base and vile, holding no quantity, Honey tin can transpose to form and dignity. Love looks not with the optics but with the mind. And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind. Nor hath Love's listen of whatsoever judgment sense of taste— Wings and no eyes effigy unheedy haste. And therefore is Love said to be a child, Considering in choice he is so ofttimes beguiled. As waggish boys in game themselves forswear, So the boy Dear is perjured everywhere. For ere Demetrius looked on Hermia'south eyne, He hailed down oaths that he was but mine. And when this hail some rut from Hermia felt, And then he dissolved, and showers of oaths did cook. I volition go tell him of fair Hermia's flight. And then to the forest will he tomorrow night Pursue her. And for this intelligence If I have thanks, it is a dear expense. Only herein mean I to enrich my pain, To have his sight thither and back again.

HELENA

How happy some people tin can be compared to others!  Throughout Athens, people call up I'm every bit beautiful as Hermia. But what does that affair? Demetrius doesn't think then. The but stance he has is his ain. 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. Dearest doesn't expect with eyes, but with the mind. That's why they paint winged Cupid bullheaded. And Love doesn't accept good judgment or taste—wings and blindness make for undue speed in falling in love.  Thus, Love is thought of equally a kid, because he often makes the incorrect choice. Just like mischievous boys who go back on their word as they play games, and so too does the boy Dearest perjure himself everywhere. Because before Demetrius saw Helena's optics, he swore that he belonged to only me. And when he felt attracted to Hermia, he dissolved. His promises melted down like hail in the oestrus. I volition go and tell him that beautiful Hermia is running away. And so he'll got to the forest tomorrow nighttime to pursue her. And if he thanks me for this piece of data, it will all be worth it. But in this way I plan to make my pain worse, by seeing him go there and back once again.

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Source: https://www.litcharts.com/shakescleare/shakespeare-translations/a-midsummer-nights-dream/act-1-scene-1

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