A Midsummer Night's Dream
ACT FIRST
Scene One
[Athens. The Palace of Theseus]
Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, with [Philostrate and] others.
The. 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,4
Like to a step-dame, or a dowager
Long withering out a young man's revenue.
Hip. Four days will quickly steep themselves in night;
Four nights will quickly dream away the time;8
And then the moon, like to a silver bow
New-bent in heaven, shall behold the night
Of our solemnities.
The.Go, Philostrate,
Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments;12
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,16
And won thy love doing thee injuries;
But I will wed thee in another key,
With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling.
4 lingers: delays fulfillment of
5, 6 Cf. n.
13 pert: lively
15 pomp: ceremonial procession
19 triumph: festive entertainment
