| Act 1 | … |
| And, my gracious duke, This man hath bewitched the bosom of my child… Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung… With cunning hast thou filched my daughter’s heart, Turned 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: 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 case. | … |
| Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires, 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 mewed, To live a barren sister all your life, Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon. | … |
| 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 winged Cupid painted blind. | … |
| 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 expense. But herein mean I to enrich my pain, To have his sight thither and back again. | … |
| Act 2 | … |
| For Oberon is passing fell and wrath Because that she, as her attendant, hath A lovely boy stolen from an Indian king; She never had so sweet a changeling. | … |
| Yet marked I where the bolt of Cupid fell… Fetch me that flower; the herb I showed thee once. The juice of it on sleeping eyelids laid Will make or man or woman madly dote Upon the next live creature that it sees. | … |
| Having once this juice, I’ll watch Titania when she is asleep And drop the liquor of it in her eyes. The next thing then she, waking, looks upon (Be it on lion, bear, or wolf, or bull, On meddling monkey, or on busy ape) She shall pursue it with the soul of love. | … |
| Run when you will. The story shall be changed: Apollo flies and Daphne holds the chase; The dove pursues the griffin; the mild hind Makes speed to catch the tiger. | … |
SHAKESPEARE A Midsummer Night’s Dream – CM Practice
August 18, 2019