THESEUS,
           Duke of Athens

    EGEUS,
           father to Hermia

    LYSANDER,
           in love with Hermia

    DEMETRIUS,
           in love with Hermia

    PHILOSTRATE,
           Master of the
              Revels to Theseus

    QUINCE,
           a carpenter

    SNUG,
           a joiner

    BOTTOM,
           a weaver

    FLUTE,
           a bellows-mender

    SNOUT,
           a tinker

    STARVELING,
           a tailor

    HIPPOLYTA,
           Queen of the Amazons,
         bethrothed to Theseus

    HERMIA,
           daughter to Egeus,
         in love with Lysander

    HELENA,
           in love with Demetrius

    OBERON,
           King of the Fairies

    TITANIA,
           Queen of the Fairies

    PUCK,
           or ROBIN GOODFELLOW

    PEASEBLOSSOM,
           fairy

    COBWEB,
           fairy

    MOTH,
           fairy

    MUSTARDSEED,
           fairy

    PROLOGUE,
           PYRAMUS,
         THISBY,
           WALL,
         MOONSHINE,
           LION are presented by:
        QUINCE,
           BOTTOM,
         FLUTE,
           SNOUT,
         STARVELING,
           AND SNUG

    Other Fairies
          attending their King and Queen

    Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta

   SCENE:

    Athens and
           a wood near it
 
  ACT I. SCENE I. Athens. The
       palace of THESEUS

    Enter THESEUS,
           HIPPOLYTA,
         PHILOSTRATE,
           and ATTENDANTS

    THESEUS.

    Now,
           fair Hippolyta,
         our nuptial hour 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;
        Turn melancholy forth to funerals;
           The pale companion
            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 another key,
           With pomp,
         with triumph,
           and with revelling.

    Enter EGEUS,
           and his daughter 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,
           This man
              hath my consent
                  to marry her.

    Stand forth,
           Lysander.

    And,
           my gracious Duke,
         This man