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Theseus , Duke of Athens.
Aegeus , father of Hermia.
Lysander, Demetri in love with Hermia.
Philostratus , manager of entertainment at the court of Theseus.
Pigwa , a carpenter.
Milaga , carpenter.
The foundation , weaver.
Pipe , bellows repairman.
Snout , coppersmith.
Zamorysh , tailor.
Hippolyta , Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus.
Germia , in love with Lysander.
Elena , in love with Demetrius.
Oberon , the king of fairies and elves.
Titania , the queen of fairies and elves.
Peck, or Good Little Robin , little elf.
Sweet Pea, Cobweb, Moth, Mustard Seed , elves.
Fairies and elves, obedient to Oberon and Titania, retinue.
The scene is Athens and the forest nearby.
ACT I
SCENE 1
Athens, Theseus' palace.
Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostratus and retinue.
Theseus
Beautiful, our marriage hour is getting closer:
Four happy days - a new month
They will bring us. But oh, how the old one hesitates!
He stands in the way of my desires,
Like a stepmother or an old widow,
That the young man's income is eating up.
Hippolyta
Four days at night will drown quickly;
Four nights in dreams will sink so quickly ...
And the crescent moon is a bow of silver
Stretched in the sky - will illuminate
Our wedding night!
Theseus
Philostratus, go!
Stir up all the youth in Athens
And awaken the spirited spirit of fun.
Let the sadness for the funeral remain:
We don't need a pale guest at the feast.
Philostratus leaves.
Theseus
I got you with the sword, Hippolyta;
I have achieved your love by threats,
Solemn, and fun, and magnificent!
Enter Aegeus, Germia, Lysander and Demetrius.
Aegeus
Be happy, our glorious duke Theseus!
Theseus
Thank you, Aegeus! What do you say?
Aegeus
I'm upset, with a complaint to you
To Hermia - yes, to her own daughter! -
Demetrius, come here! - My sir,
Here is the one to whom I wanted to give my daughter. -
Lysander, come closer! - My sir!
But this one bewitched her heart. -
You, you, Lysander! You wrote poetry to her
The pledges of love changed with her,
Under her windows in the moonlight
Feigned love sang a feigned song!
You used it to capture her heart,
Bracelets, hair rings, candy,
Flowers, trinkets, trinkets - everything
That inexperienced youth is sweet!
By deceit you stole her love,
You are obedience due to the father,
Turned into evil stubbornness! - So if
She with you, my sir, will not give
Consent to Demetrius, I appeal
To the ancient Athenian law:
Since my daughter, I can completely
Position; and I decided: Demetrius
Or - as provided by law
In such cases, death is immediate!
Theseus
Well, Hermia, beautiful maiden,
What do you say? Think it over carefully.
He created your beauty, and you
It is a cast wax mold;
Leave it or break it - he has the right.
Demetrius is quite a worthy man.
Germia
So is my Lysander.
Theseus
Yes, by itself;
But if your father is not for him,
That means that he is more worthy.
Germia
I wanted my father to watch mine
Theseus
Not! Hurry your eyes
We must obey his judgment.
Germia
Excuse me, Your Grace, I beg you.
I myself do not know where I found the courage,
And is it possible, without offending modesty,
I’m so free to speak in front of everyone.
But I conjure, let me know:
What's the worst for me
When will I not marry Demetri?
Theseus
What? Death! Or renunciation forever
From the society of men. That's why,
O Hermia, check yourself. Think:
You are young ... Ask your soul,
The comedy in five acts was written in the mid-1590s. It is believed that Shakespeare wrote his work in honor of the Day of St. John the Baptist or for the wedding celebration of a famous aristocrat.
The play consists of several plot lines, one way or another intertwined with each other. Theseus, Duke of Athens, prepares to marry Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons. The celebrations are to take place on a full moon night. A young girl named Hermia is in love with a young man Lysander, who also loves her. However, Demetrius also takes care of Hermia. Aegeus, the girl's father, prefers the second fan.
Since Hermia refuses to marry Demetrius, the father turns to the Duke of Athens, claiming that Lysander has bewitched her daughter. The Duke demands obedience to the father's will. Lysander and Hermia decided to flee the city. The girl shared her secret with her friend Elena. Since Elena was once the beloved of Demetrius and still continues to love him, the insidious woman is driven by the desire to regain the favor of her ex-fiancé. Helen gives Demetrius the secret of her friend.
Meanwhile, preparations for the Duke's wedding continue. Several city masters decided to stage a comedy about Pyramus and Theisbe in honor of the newlyweds. The production is directed by Peter Pigwa, a carpenter. The role of Thisba will be played by the bellows repairman Francis Dudka. The mother of the protagonist will be the tailor Robin Zamorysh. Carpenter Milyaga will be a Leo. Weaver Nick Osnova will become Pyramus, and his father will be played by the coppersmith Tom Snout. The masters agree to meet in the forest the next day to rehearse the play. In Shakespeare's time, women were not allowed on stage. That is why it might not seem strange to the audience that all the roles in the play are played by only men.
Not far from Athens, in the forest live a couple - Oberon, the elven leader, and his wife, Queen Titania. The wife took over the education of the boy. Oberon wants to take him away to make him a servant. Titania disagrees. As a result, the husband and wife quarreled. The husband wants to put a love spell on the queen, so that love makes her forget about her adopted son.
For this, the king needs a special flower. Oberon becomes a casual witness to the conversation between Demetrius and Elena. Hermia and Lysander agreed to meet in the forest, which was known to the girl's friend. Elena led Demetrius to the same forest. Oberon sends the elf Pak to enchant Demetrius. By mistake, Puck bewitched Lysander. Peacefully sleeping young man, waking up, falls in love with the first person he managed to see - Elena. He leaves Hermia and runs after a new lover.
City masters gathered in the forest to rehearse the play. Pak appeared nearby and bewitched the weaver. A donkey's head has grown at Base. At the sight of such a metamorphosis, the rest of the masters fled. Not far from the rehearsal site, Titania was sleeping, whom Pak had already bewitched. Waking up, the queen sees a monster-weaver in front of her and falls in love with him.
Oberon is pleased with Pac's actions, but the elf's mistake had to be corrected. The king enchanted the sleeping Demetrius, who, after awakening, fell in love with Helen, who was near him. Having met, the girlfriends begin to quarrel. Hermia accuses Elena of betrayal. Demetrius and Lysander now both love the same woman and challenge each other to a duel. Pack likes the confusion he has caused, but Oberon disables Lysander. In addition, he freed his wife from the spell and returned the weaver Base to its former appearance. Oberon was already able to get his wife's adopted son in the pages and no longer wants to torment her.
Hippolyta, Theseus and Aegeus hunt in the forest and find 2 sleeping couples: Lysander and Hermia, Demetriya and Elena. The awakened Lysander explains that he was forced to flee with his beloved from the city so that she would not become the wife of a rival. Demetrius declares that Hermia is no longer interesting to him. He only loves Elena. The weaver also comes to his senses and goes to the city. The play ends with a merry wedding, at which Theseus and Hippolyta, Lysander and Hermia, and Demetrius and Elena were married.
Mere mortals
There are no completely positive or completely negative characters in the play. Ordinary mortals behave the way people behaved at all times: they love, hate, fight for their right to happiness, selfishly without thinking about this right for another person. In the course of the play, almost every character manifests itself both positively and negatively.
It is likely that the author did not want to divide his characters into 2 camps because he wanted to show their helplessness. All heroes, including Duke Theseus, were to appear as puppets. Shakespeare removes responsibility for their actions from his characters. Man's destiny does not belong to him. It's all the fault of an evil fate, a predetermined path. Perhaps the author did not believe in the existence of Greek gods, but he fully admitted that there is a force that determines our life.
Forest gods
According to Greek tradition, the forest gods in Shakespeare's play have anthropomorphic qualities. They are distinguished from people only by their power and supernatural abilities. The rest of the king, queen and elves are similar to ordinary Athenians. Oberon quarreled with his wife like an ordinary mortal. Elf Pak loves pranks, like any boy on the streets of Athens. Gods are also able to love, envy and intrigue each other.
Gods with human faces
The author has no reverence for supernatural forest creatures. He seeks to portray them as comically as possible, to show their quarrelsomeness, vanity and some stupidity. Gods, like people, are not divided into good and bad. Oberon, who started a real intrigue to take his adopted son from his wife, nevertheless does not show cruelty and helps the lovers unite.
Fatum is often present in the works of Shakespeare. Fate did not allow Romeo and Juliet to unite. Despite all the tricks, a cruel fate doomed the young Veronese to inevitable death.
main idea
The idea of the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream", a summary of which will interest the future viewer or reader, can be controversial, since the main purpose of this work is to entertain the audience. One can only assume that Shakespeare chose the opinion that human life is just a game as an idea. Exactly how the game will end depends solely on the mood of the players.
Analysis of the work
Creating his play, the author set himself one single goal - to please the audience. The work does not contain any moral teachings or profound philosophy. Audiences who are keen on the plot do not always notice the lack of credibility. The ruler of Athens could hardly be called a duke. Greek urban artisans cannot bear typical English names.
However, Shakespeare's plans did not include credibility, the over-striving for which could make the work too boring. At the end of the play, Pak, addressing the audience, asks them to imagine that everything they see is just a dream. The presentation of the play as a not entirely logical dream justifies the inaccuracy and inaccuracies, because in dreams everything becomes possible that was impossible in reality.
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Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream was written between 1594 and 1596. It is considered the most romantic of all comedies by the writer, who used all his rich imagination when writing it. Shakespeare filled the play with amazing creatures, and presented events in an unreal, fantastic light.
For a reader's diary and preparation for a literature lesson, we recommend reading an online summary of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by acts and scenes. You can check your knowledge using the test on our website.
main characters
Theseus- Duke of Athens, kind and just ruler.
Lysander, Demetri- boys, rivals in love.
Germia- the bride Demetrius, in love with Lysander.
Elena- a girl who is unrequitedly in love with Demetrius.
Oberon- the kind king of fairies and elves.
Other characters
Aegeus- Hermia's father, a domineering and cruel man.
Hippolyta- the queen of the Amazons, the bride of Theseus.
Pigwa- carpenter, play organizer.
The foundation- a weaver, one of the central characters in the play.
Titania- the wife of Oberon, the mistress of the elves and fairies.
Peck- little elf, prankster.
Philostratus- entertainment manager.
Act I
Scene 1
Theseus is looking forward to the wedding with Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons, which is due in four days. He orders Philostratus to stir up "all the youth in Athens" and arrange a cheerful holiday in honor of the upcoming marriage.
Aegeus comes to the ruler with “grief, with a complaint”. He wants to marry his daughter to Demetrius, but the rebellious Hermia refuses this union, because he loves Lysander.
Theseus reminds the girl that she must obey her father unquestioningly, reading him "like a god." Otherwise, she will die or be imprisoned in a monastery.
Lysander invites his beloved to marry in secret, and she agrees. They share their secret with Elena. However, she decides to tell about the upcoming escape of Demetrius, with whom she is unrequitedly in love.
Scene 2
On the eve of the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta, the carpenter Pigva gathers the townspeople who are to play in a festive production called "The Former Comedy and the Very Cruel Death of Pyramus and Theisba."
Pigwa assigns roles, gives lyrics to homegrown actors, and sets up a rehearsal for the next night.
Act II
Scene 1
In a magical forest not far from Athens, there is a quarrel between the ruler of the fairies and elves Oberon and his wife Titania. The subject of the dispute is the infant who was "kidnapped from the Indian Sultan" and to whom Titania has become strongly attached. The jealous king wants to take the baby away from his wife to make him his page, but she refuses him and leaves with the elves.
Oberon subordinates a little elf Pek - "a cheerful spirit, a mischievous night tramp." The Tsar orders him to find the flower, which was accidentally hit by Cupid's arrow - "His name is" Love in idleness ". If you lubricate the eyelids of a sleeping person with the juice of this flower, then he will fall in love with the first person he sees immediately after waking up. Thus, Oberon wants to divert the attention of his wife from the boy and take him away.
Seeing Demetrius and Helen, the king of the elves becomes invisible in order to "eavesdrop on mortal conversation." Elena confesses her love to the young man, but he rejects her. Oberon decides to help the unfortunate girl, and orders Pek to smear his eyelids with the magic juice of the Demetrius flower, and he falls in love with Elena.
Scene 2
The Elven Lord applies the leftover sap to Titania's eyelids. Meanwhile, Hermia and Lysander lose their way and, tired, fall asleep in the forest.
Little Pack, confusing Demetrius with Lysander, moistens the latter's eyelids during sleep. Elena is walking through the forest, upset by Demetrius's behavior, and stumbles upon a sleeping Lysander. As soon as he saw Elena in front of him, the young man unleashes a flurry of love confessions on her. Elena is sure that Lysander is taunting her and flees into the forest.
Hermia has a terrible dream. She asks Lysander to come to the rescue, but, not finding her lover nearby, she goes in search of him.
Act III
Scene 1
In the forest, the citizens of Athens gather, who have been chosen to participate in the play. The plot assumes suicide, "and the ladies absolutely cannot stand it." Therefore, Basis decides to write two prologues to the play and focus on the fiction of everything that happens.
The rehearsal of the actors is overseen by the elf Pack. He decides to play a trick on them, and enchants the Basis, turning his head into a donkey's. Base's friends scatter in fear, and the prankster Pack rushes after them to “grunt and laugh, burn, roar and growl,” and scare them even more.
Titania wakes up and with all her heart falls in love with Osnov, who wandered alone nearby. She summons the "light swarm" of elves to serve the new master.
Scene 2
Peck reports to his master that "Titania has fallen in love with the monster" - a man with a donkey's head. Oberon is pleased with this state of affairs. But, having learned that Paek confused the young men, the king becomes angry and goes in search of Demetrius in order to correct the mistake of his servant. Pek flies "faster than all Tatar arrows" to Elena in order to lure into the wilderness.
Hermia finds Demetrius and accuses him of killing his beloved Lysander. Tired of proving his innocence to the girl, Demetrius falls asleep. Waking up, he sees Elena in front of him and, bewitched by the sap of the flower, falls in love with her. However, the girl is not at all happy: she is sure that Lysander and Demetrius, who were suddenly inflamed with feelings for her, only mock her, and are ready to "joke at the defenseless - for the game."
Young people, who have now become rivals, are ready to fight a duel to find out "who has more rights to Elena." Peck is “glad it turned out so funny,” but Oberon orders him to take the young people into the thicket, then separate them and drive in circles for a long time. When the emaciated rivals fall asleep, the elf lubricates Lysander's eyelids with an antidote from the magical love juice.
Act IV
Scene 1
Having got the baby and having had a lot of fun with his wife, who is in love with a donkey, Oberon decides to save her from the spell and "banish her empty delusion from her eyes." Also, the lord of the elves orders the faithful Pek to remove the donkey's head "from the head of the Athenian vagabond" and send all the actors back to the city.
Theseus enters the clearing, accompanied by Hippolyta and his subjects. He wants to show his beloved his beautiful hounds, but suddenly notices sleeping young people. Theseus is surprised to see them together - they are old rivals in love.
Lysander honestly tells the sovereign that he planned to escape with his beloved Hermia and secretly get married. Demetrius, in turn, admits that from now on "passion, purpose and joy of the eyes" is Helen, not Hermia.
Theseus graciously agrees to these unions and reports that today "in the temple, two couples in love will unite."
Scene 2
The actors gather at Pigwa's house. After the night rehearsal, no one can find the Basis - "only he was carried away by evil spirits."
Basis enters and informs his friends that he has been ordered to "all get together at the palace." He asks everyone to repeat their roles once again, put on clean underwear, but the most important thing is not to eat "neither onion, nor garlic, so that during the game" emit a sweet fragrance. "
Act V
Scene 1
Theseus is wary of the story of lovers - he does not believe "fables and fairy tales." Hippolyta shares the opinion of the future spouse, and believes that "there is more than one play of imagination in the events of this night."
Theseus asks the lovers how they would like to brighten up their leisure time "from dinner to sleep." He summons Philostratus, the entertainment manager, and he offers the duke a "list of all ready-made entertainments." Theseus chooses a play by the Athenian artisans, but Philostratus considers this production unsuccessful, since "there is not a word in it either worthwhile or worthwhile actor."
Having learned that the actors in the play are "ordinary people, artisans from Athens", the duke wants to support his subjects and insists on his choice.
During the performance, the actors say outright nonsense, distorting the text and making their own corrections to the plot. Such an absurdity amuses the Duke and his guests, and they are pleased with the play. Everyone goes home at midnight.
Scene 2
On the site of the theatrical performance, Obreon appears with Titania and his retinue. The lord of the elves allows his subjects to have a lot of fun. Finally, he decides to bring prosperity, happiness and good luck "as a gift to the beautiful newlyweds".
Conclusion
This play is strikingly different from other dramatic works of Shakespeare, in which realism has always dominated. This is a real magical extravaganza, light and ironic, which naturally ends with a happy ending.
For a better analysis of Shakespeare's work, after reading a short retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream, we recommend that you read the play in its full version.
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Retelling rating
Average rating: 4.4. Total ratings received: 94.
The comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was written by W. Shakespeare in 1590. The play consists of five acts. He wrote this work in honor of the wedding of a famous aristocrat.
The events of the play take place in Athens. Duke Theseus is preparing for his own wedding. His bride is the queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta.
The beautiful Hermia is madly in love with Lysander, who reciprocates her. However, not only he shows interest in the girl, there is another admirer of her Demetrius. Aegeus, Hermia's father, is supported by Demetrius.
Since Hermia refuses to marry Demetrius, Aegeus turns to Theseus. If Hermia refuses, then she will face the death penalty, since according to the laws of those times, the father has the right to dispose of the body and fate. The Duke of Athens gives Hermia the right to choose: marriage, execution, or a vow of celibacy.
Lysander tries to persuade Theseus to reverse this decision. He tries to prove to the duke that he is no worse than Demetrius. Lysander has just as much wealth as Demetrius, Lysander and Hermia's feelings are mutual, unlike his rival.
Lysander invites the girl to secretly marry his aunt, not far from Athens. They tell about their plan to Elena, who is not indifferent to Demetrius. Elena, taking advantage of the moment, told her lover everything in order to get at least a drop of gratitude.
Preparations for Theseus' wedding continues. The masters decided to make a gift for the newlyweds, to stage a comedy about Theisbe and Pyramus. The play is directed by Peter Pigwa.
Not far from Athens, the elf Pek meets a fairy. They were thwarted by Oberon and Titania. She proves to Oberon that the disruptions in the changing seasons are due to their quarrel, and this adversely affects people. In order not to quarrel further, the spouses go their separate ways.
Peck, on the orders of Oberon, must bring the magic flower "Love in Idleness", which Cupid accidentally hit with an arrow. The fact is that the sap of the plant is unusual, it is endowed with magical qualities: if the substance touches the eyelids of the sleeping person, then he will fall in love with the first person he sees when he wakes up. Oberon wanted to use this miraculous plant for his wife to take away from her the child that she had stolen from the Sultan. Seeing Demetrius and Elena, he turns into invisibility.
Titania slumbers quietly on the lawn. The rehearsal is taking place in the same place. Peck is present at the rehearsal of the actors. The base plays the role of Pyramus, he goes into the bushes, and returns to the site already with a donkey's head. All the actors are shocked by what is happening, run away. Titania wakes up from the noise and is the first to see the Foundation. She confesses her love for him.
Lysander compliments Elena, and she believes that he is mocking her. Hermia demands an explanation from her beloved, but he humiliates her, she realizes that he simply hated her. Hermia and Elena will quarrel and start a fight.
Now two heroes are fighting for Elena's heart. Peck is happy about what is happening. On Oberon's orders, Peck lubricates Lizard's eyelids with an ointment that removes magic.
Two rivals and two ladies of their hearts fell asleep side by side in the forest.
Having received what he wants from his wife, Oberon removes the magic from her. He makes peace with his wife, and they fly away.
Early in the morning Theseus, together with Hippolyta and Aegeus, set off for the forest. There they find Lizard, Demetrius, Elena and Hermia sleeping. They explain everything to the duke. Demetrius says that he always loved Elena and only wants to be with her, and Hermia was just a passing hobby.
The Duke invites everyone to the temple to marry three couples in love.
Theseus, together with the guests, are watching the artisans' performance. After watching the play, everyone gets ready for bed.
At this place, Peck appears, he does the cleaning, prepares the place for the elves. Titania and Oberon with their retinue sing and have fun.
Picture or drawing Midsummer night's dream
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Theseus , Duke of Athens.
Aegeus , father of Hermia.
Lysander, Demetri in love with Hermia.
Philostratus , manager of entertainment at the court of Theseus.
Pigwa , a carpenter.
Milaga , carpenter.
The foundation , weaver.
Pipe , bellows repairman.
Snout , coppersmith.
Zamorysh , tailor.
Hippolyta , Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus.
Germia , in love with Lysander.
Elena , in love with Demetrius.
Oberon , the king of fairies and elves.
Titania , the queen of fairies and elves.
Peck, or Good Little Robin , little elf.
Sweet Pea, Cobweb, Moth, Mustard Seed , elves.
Fairies and elves, obedient to Oberon and Titania, retinue.
The scene is Athens and the forest nearby.
ACT I
SCENE 1
Athens, Theseus' palace.
Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostratus and retinue.
Theseus
Beautiful, our marriage hour is getting closer:
Four happy days - a new month
They will bring us. But oh, how the old one hesitates!
He stands in the way of my desires,
Like a stepmother or an old widow,
That the young man's income is eating up.
Hippolyta
Four days at night will drown quickly;
Four nights in dreams will sink so quickly ...
And the crescent moon is a bow of silver
Stretched in the sky - will illuminate
Our wedding night!
Theseus
Philostratus, go!
Stir up all the youth in Athens
And awaken the spirited spirit of fun.
Let the sadness for the funeral remain:
We don't need a pale guest at the feast.
Philostratus leaves.
Theseus
I got you with the sword, Hippolyta;
I have achieved your love by threats,
Solemn, and fun, and magnificent!
Enter Aegeus, Germia, Lysander and Demetrius.
Aegeus
Be happy, our glorious duke Theseus!
Theseus
Thank you, Aegeus! What do you say?
Aegeus
I'm upset, with a complaint to you
To Hermia - yes, to her own daughter! -
Demetrius, come here! - My sir,
Here is the one to whom I wanted to give my daughter. -
Lysander, come closer! - My sir!
But this one bewitched her heart. -
You, you, Lysander! You wrote poetry to her
The pledges of love changed with her,
Under her windows in the moonlight
Feigned love sang a feigned song!
You used it to capture her heart,
Bracelets, hair rings, candy,
Flowers, trinkets, trinkets - everything
That inexperienced youth is sweet!
By deceit you stole her love,
You are obedience due to the father,
Turned into evil stubbornness! - So if
She with you, my sir, will not give
Consent to Demetrius, I appeal
To the ancient Athenian law:
Since my daughter, I can completely
Position; and I decided: Demetrius
Or - as provided by law
In such cases, death is immediate!
Theseus
Well, Hermia, beautiful maiden,
What do you say? Think it over carefully.
He created your beauty, and you
It is a cast wax mold;
Leave it or break it - he has the right.
Demetrius is quite a worthy man.
Germia
So is my Lysander.
Theseus
Yes, by itself;
But if your father is not for him,
That means that he is more worthy.
Germia
I wanted my father to watch mine
Theseus
Not! Hurry your eyes
We must obey his judgment.
Germia
Excuse me, Your Grace, I beg you.
I myself do not know where I found the courage,
And is it possible, without offending modesty,
I’m so free to speak in front of everyone.
But I conjure, let me know:
What's the worst for me
When will I not marry Demetri?
Theseus
What? Death! Or renunciation forever
From the society of men. That's why,
O Hermia, check yourself. Think:
You are young ... Ask your soul,
When you go against your father's will:
Are you able to wear a nun's outfit,
To be imprisoned in a monastery forever,
Live a barren nun all my life
And it's sad to sing to the moon cold hymns?
Stokrates blessed, who humbles his blood,
To make the virgin path on earth;
But the rose, dissolving in the incense,
Happier than the one on the innocent bush
Blossoms, lives, dies - all alone!
Germia
So I bloom and live and die
I want it sooner than girl's rights
Give him power! His yoke
My soul does not want to submit.
Theseus
Think it over, Hermia! On the day of the new moon
(On the day that connects me with my love
For eternal fellowship) must
Are you ready: or die
For violation of the father's will,
Or marry whoever he has chosen
Or give forever at the altar of Diana
A vow of celibacy and a harsh life.
Demetrius
Relax, O Hermia! - And you, Lysander,
Give in to my indisputable rights.
Lysander
Demetri, since your father loves you so much,
Give me your daughter and marry him yourself!
Aegeus
Impertinent mocker! Yes, father's love -
Behind him and with her is everything that I own.
But my daughter is mine, and all rights over her
I give Demetrius in full!
Lysander
But, sir, with him I am equal in birth
Yes, and wealth; I love more;
In terms of position, I am no lower,
Rather even higher than Demetrius;
And most importantly - what exceeds everything -
I love Hermia very well!
Why should I renounce my rights?
Demetrius - yes, I'll tell him to his face -
He was in love with Elena, daughter of Nedar.
He carried her away. Tender Elena
Madly loves a fickle
He worships an empty person!
Theseus
I must admit I heard something about it
And I even thought to talk to him;
But busy with the most important things,
I forgot about that. - Come with me, Demetrius,
And you, Hey! Come with me both
And we will find something to talk about! -
Well, Hermia, try to subdue
Your dreams to your father's wish
Otherwise the Athenian law will betray you
(Which we cannot change)
For death or eternal celibacy. -
Well, Hippolyta ... What, my love?
Let's go ... - Demetrius and Aegeus follow me.
I will instruct you to arrange something
To the solemn day and the ceiling
About what concerns both of you.
Aegeus
We are always glad to fulfill our duty.
Theseus, Hippolyta, Aegeus, Demetrius and retinue go away.
Lysander
Well, my love? How pale your cheeks are!
How quickly the roses suddenly withered on them!
Germia
Not because there is no rain that
It is easy to get out of the storm of my eyes.
Lysander
Alas! I have never heard
And I didn’t read it - in history, in a fairy tale, -
So that the path of true love is smooth.
But - or a difference in origin ...
Germia
Oh woe! The highest - to be captivated by the lower! ...
Lysander
Or the difference in years ...
Germia
About mockery!
To be too old for a young bride!
Lysander
Or the choice of relatives and friends ...
Germia
But how to love someone else's choice?
Lysander
And if the choice is good for everyone, - war,
Illness or death always threatens love
And they make it, like a sound, instant,
Like a shadow, flying and, like a dream, short.
So lightning, flashing in the darkness of the night,
Will unfold the heavens and the earth in anger,
And before we exclaim: "Look!" -
She will already be swallowed up by the abyss of darkness -
Everything bright disappears so quickly.
Germia
But if it is inevitable for lovers
Suffering and such is the law of fate,
So let us be patient in trials:
After all, this is an ordinary cross for love,
Decent to her - dreams, languor, tears,
Desires, dreams - love of an unhappy retinue!
Lysander
Yes, you're right ... But Hermia, listen:
I have an aunt. She is a widow
Rich, childless, moreover.
Lives about seven miles from here.
So: she loves me like a son!
There, Hermia, we can get married.
Cruel Athenian laws
They won't find us there. If you really love
Leave your house in secret tomorrow night.
In the forest, three miles from Athens, in the place
Where did I meet you with Elena (you came
Perform the rituals on a May morning, remember?)
I will wait for you.
Germia
Oh my Lysander!
I swear by Cupid's strongest bow
With his best arrow, golden,
Venus doves with purity
By the fire into which Dido threw herself,
When the Trojan set sail, -
With everything that love will bind heaven,
By the darkness of men's oaths, broken godlessly
(In which it is impossible for women to catch up with them),
I swear: in the forest you indicated
I'll be there tomorrow night, my dear!
Enters Elena.
Lysander
You will keep your oath ... But look - Elena!
Germia
Hey! Where are you going, my lovely friend?
Elena
Am I beautiful? Oh, don't joke in vain.
Your beauty Demetria captivates,
Lucky lady! Your gaze shines on him
Than a lark song among the fields ...
Whether beauty is a clingy affliction -
I would have been infected with you, my friend!
I would steal from you
And the sparkle of the eyes, and the tenderness of sweet speech ...
Be my whole world - Demetria soon
I would have taken for myself; all others - own!
But teach me what art
Demetria, have you taken possession of the feeling?
Germia
I frown - he loves more and more.
Elena
Such power - my smile!
Germia
I swear it - there is only a brighter flame in it!
Elena
Oh, if only I could soften it with entreaties!
Germia
The tougher I am, the more tender he is with me!
Elena
The more tender I am, the harder he is with me!
Germia
His madness is not my fault.
Elena
Your beauty! Oh, be mine, fault!
Germia
I will not meet with him again: do not suffer.
We will leave this land forever!
While I lived here without knowing love,
Athens seemed to me better than paradise ...
And now - love! What is she good about
When is it free to make hell out of heaven?
Lysander
Elena, friend, I will reveal everything to you:
Tomorrow night, barely beheld Phoebe
Your silvery face in the river mirror,
Reed strewn with liquid pearls, -
In the hour that loves the secrets,
We will go out with her from the city gates.
Germia
In the forest, where often, lying between flowers,
We shared our girlish dreams
My lysander must meet me,
And we will leave our native city,
Looking for other friends, a different circle.
Goodbye, my friend's childhood games!
Please, pray for our fate,
And God send Demetrius to you. -
So remember the agreement, Lysander: until the night
Our eyes must fast.
Lysander
Yes, my Hermia ...
Germia leaves.
Goodbye Elena!
Demetrius, I wish you love.
(Leaves.)
Elena
How happy one is to the detriment of the other!
In Athens, I am equal to her beauty ...
What of that? He is blind to my beauty:
Doesn't want to know what everyone knows.
He is delusional, captured by Hermia;
I - also, admiring him blindly.
Love is capable of forgiving low
And turn vices into valor
And not with his eyes - he chooses with his heart:
For that she is portrayed as a blind person.
It is difficult for her to come to terms with common sense.
Without eyes - and wings: a symbol of the reckless
Haste! ... Her name is - child;
After all, it is easy to deceive her by joking.
And how little boys swear in the game,
So it is easy for her and does not care about deceptions.
Until he was captured by Hermia,
Then he swore to me in a hail of vows of love;
But only Hermia breathed with heat -
The hail has melted, and with it all the vows are in vain.
I'll go, I'll reveal their plans to him:
He will probably go into the forest at night;
And if I receive gratitude,
I will pay dearly for this.
But I am in my anguish and this is a lot -
Together with him, the road to and from the forest!
(Leaves.)
SCENE 2
Athens. A room in a hut.
Enter Pigwa, Milaga, The foundation, Pipe, Snout and Zamorysh.
Pigwa
Is our whole company assembled?
The foundation
And you better do the roll call: call us all on the list.
Pigwa
Here is a list with the names of everyone who was found more or less suitable to present our sideshow in front of the Duke and Duchess on the evening of their wedding.
The foundation
First of all, kind Peter Pigwa, tell us what the play consists of, then read the names of the actors - and you will get to the point!
Pigwa
Right! Our play is "The old comedy and the very cruel death of Pyramus and Theisba."
The foundation
An excellent little thing, I can assure you with my word, and wonderful! Well, kind Peter Pigwa, now call all the actors on the list. Citizens, line up!
Pigwa
Answer the call! ... Nick Basis!
The foundation
There is! Name my role and continue the roll call.
Pigwa
You, Nick Basis, have been scheduled for Pyramus.
The foundation
What is Pyramus? Lover or villain?
Pigwa
A lover who kills himself gloriously for love.
The foundation
Aha! So it takes tears to play it properly. Well, if I take on this role - get ready, audience, handkerchiefs! I will raise a storm ... I will to some extent lament ... But, to tell the truth, my main vocation is the role of villains. Ercules, I would play an extremely rare role, or even such a role as to gnaw the earth and smash everything around to splinters!
There will be a roar
The strikes of the fighters -
And the bar will collapse
A cruel dungeon.
And Phoebe, the light god,
Far and high
Will change evil fate
From your chariot!
What was it like? Excellent, huh? Well, call the other actors. Here you had the manner of Ercules, the character of a villain; a lover is much more teary.
Pigwa
Francis Dudka, bellows repairman.
Pipe
Yes, Peter Pigwa!
Pigwa
You must take on the role of Theisba.
Pipe
Who will it be Thisba? Knight Errant?
Pigwa
No, this is the lady Pyramus is in love with.
Pipe
No, please, don't make me play a woman: my beard is breaking through!
Pigwa
Does not mean anything; you can play in a mask and you will squeak in the thinnest voice.
The foundation
A! If you can play in a mask - let me play you and Theisba: I can speak in a monstrously thin voice. “Yours, yours… Ah, Pyramus, my dear lover! I am your Theisba dear, I am your dear lady! "
Pigwa
Not! Not! You must play Pyramus, and you, Dudka, must play Theisbu.
The foundation
Pigwa
Robin Zamorysh, tailor!
Zamorysh
Yes, Peter Pigwa!
Pigwa
Raggedy, you play Theisba's mother. - Thomas Snout, coppersmith!
Snout
Yes, Peter Pigwa!
Pigwa
You are the father of Pyramus. I will play Fisbin's father. - Milaga, carpenter, you get the role of Leo. Well, I hope the play is going well with us.
Milaga
Have you rewritten the role of Leo? You will give it to me now, otherwise my memory is very tight for learning.
Pigwa
There’s nothing to learn here, and you’ll play like that: all you have to do is growl.
The foundation
Let me play you and Leo! I will growl so that your heart will rejoice; I will growl so much that the duke himself will definitely say: "Come on, let him growl, let him growl!"
Pigwa
Well, if you growl so terribly, you will probably scare the duchess and all the ladies to death; they will scream too, and that will be enough to get us all hung!
Everything
Yes, yes, they outweigh one and all!
The foundation
It's me with you, friends, I agree that if we taunt the ladies, they won't think of anything better how to pull us all up. But I will be able to alter my voice so that I will growl tenderly, that your chick is a dove; I will growl to you, that your nightingale!
Pigwa
You cannot play any role, except for Pyramus, because Pyramus is a handsome fellow, just such a real man in his prime, a first-class man, well-bred, with manners, well, in a word, exactly like you ... play Pyrama.
The foundation
Okay, I agree, taking the role. And in what beard should I play her?
Pigwa
Yes, whatever you want.
The foundation
OK. I will introduce him to you in a straw-colored beard. Or is it better in orange-brown? Or purple-red? Or maybe the color of the French crown is pure yellow?
Pigwa
Some French crowns do not have any hair at all, and you will have to play with a bare face ... - Well, citizens, here are your roles, and I ask you, I beg you and I conjure you - to memorize them by heart tomorrow evening. And in the evening, come to the palace forest, one mile from the city: there we will have a rehearsal in the moonlight. Otherwise, if we get together in the city, they will sniff out about it and blurt out our idea. In the meantime, I'll list the props we need for the play. And I ask you - do not let me down.
The foundation
We will definitely come. There it will be possible to rehearse, as they say, more unceremoniously, more freely. Try not to hit your face in the dirt! Until then, be healthy!
Pigwa
Meeting - at the duke's oak.
The foundation
OK. Hang yourself, but be in place.
Leave.
ACT II
SCENE 1
Forest near Athens.
Appear from different directions fairy and Peck.
Peck
Oh, fairy! Hello! Where is your way?
Fairy
Over the hills, over the valleys
Through the thorns, through the bushes,
Over the waters, through the flames
I wander here and there!
I fly the moons faster
I serve the queen of the fairies
The drop caps are her escort.
Do you see the golden outfit?
The specks burn on it:
That rubies, the color of the queen, -
All the aroma is hidden in them.
For initial caps, I need a supply of dewdrops -
Insert pearl earrings into each of the ears.
Goodbye, goofy spirit! I'm flying forward.
The queen will come here with the elves.
Peck
My king will have fun here at night, -
See that the queen does not meet with him!
He is furious with her, angry - fear!
Because of the child that she has in the pages
(Kidnapped from the Indian Sultan).
She pampers, dresses up the little boy,
And the jealous Oberon wants to take
Him to himself, to wander with him in the woods.
The queen sees all the joy in him,
Doesn't give up! Since then, only over the stream,
On a clearing illuminated by the light of stars
They will converge - in an instant for a squabble,
So much so that the elves are all out of fear - away,
They will crawl into an acorn and tremble all night!
Fairy
Yes, you ... I'm not mistaken, perhaps:
Habits, kind of ... are you Good Little Robin?
The one who scares the rural needlewomen,
Breaks them and spoils the handles of the mills,
It prevents the oil from being knocked down on the sly,
Then he skims the cream from the milk,
It interferes with fermenting yeast in the mash,
That at night leads travelers in a ravine;
But if someone calls him friend -
It helps those, brings happiness into the house.
Are you Peck?
Peck
Well yes, I am Kind Little Robin,
Cheerful spirit, mischievous night tramp.
I serve in jesters at Oberon ...
I'll laugh in front of a well-fed stallion,
Like a mare; I'm still fooling around:
Suddenly I'll hide with a baked apple in a mug,
And only the gossip will get ready to sip,
From there I go to her lips - gallop! And chest
I’ll sag all over to her with beer.
Or to the aunt who tells the story whiningly,
I'll show myself as a three-legged chair in the corner:
Suddenly I slip out - fucking! - aunt on the floor.
Well, cough, well, scream! Let's go fun!
Everyone dies bursting with laughter
And, holding on to the sides, the whole chorus repeats,
That they didn’t laugh like that until now ...
But, fairy, away! Here is the king. Get out of here.
Fairy
And here she is! Ah, it wouldn't be bad!
Come in from one side Oberon with his retinue, with another Titania with his.
Oberon
Not in a good hour I am in the moonlight
I meet the haughty Titania.
Titania
How, is it you, jealous Oberon? -
Fly, elves, away! I renounce
From society and Oberon's lodge.
Oberon
Wait, worthless! Am I not your husband?
Titania
So, I am your spouse! But I know,
How did you secretly leave the magic land
And in the form of Corin on the pipe
Played all day and sang love poems
Not for you he mercilessly abandoned
Titania
All the fabrications of your jealousy!
Since the middle of summer we cannot
Get together in the meadows, in the forest, by the noisy river,
By the stone enclosed key,
On golden sand washed by the sea
Drive circles to the whistle and songs of the wind
So that you do not interfere with our games with a cry!
And the winds sang our songs in vain.
In revenge they raised from the sea
Malignant mists. Those rain
They fell to the ground. The rivers got angry
And they went out of the shores, puffed up.
Since then the ox has been pulling the yoke in vain,
In vain the plowman pours his sweat: bread
They rot without growing antennae.
The pens are empty in the flooded fields
The crows grew fat from the falling ...
The dirt has covered the traces of merry games;
There are no paths in the green labyrinths:
Their trail is overgrown, and you will not find it!
Mortals are more likely to ask for winters;
I can't hear their songs at night ...
And here is the moon, the ruler of the waters,
Pale with anger, the air was washed
And she spread rheumatism everywhere.
All times are thrown into confusion:
And gray-headed frost falls
To a crimson rose in a fresh embrace;
But to the crown of icy winter
Fragrant wreath of summer buds
Attached to a mock. Spring and summer
Birthing autumn and winter
Change their outfit, and cannot
The world is amazed to distinguish between the times!
But such disasters appeared
All because of our quarrels and disagreements:
We are their cause, we create them.
Oberon
It's in your hands to change everything: why
Titania will reread Oberon?
After all, I ask a little: give
You are a boy in my page!
Titania
Stay calm:
I won't give up magic for all your land!
After all, his mother was my priestess!
With her in the spicy air of Indian nights
On the golden sands of Neptune
We often sat, counting the ships.
Laughed with her, looking like sails,
Pregnant women blown up by the wind ...
She jokingly imitated them cutely
(At that time she was heavy
My favorite) and swam as if
Returning with some trinket
To me, as if from a voyage with goods ...
But my friend was mortal
And this boy cost her life.
By loving her, I will cherish the child;
Loving her, I will not give it up!
Oberon
How long will you stay here in the forest?
Titania
Must be before Theseus' wedding.
If you want to dance peacefully with us
And have fun in the moonlight - stay.
Oberon
Give it back, I'll go with you!
Titania
Not beyond the magical land! - Follow me, elves!
If I don’t leave, we will quarrel forever.
Titania and her retinue go away.
Oberon
Go! You won't leave the forest earlier
Than for the insult I will not avenge. -
My dear Peck, come here! Do you remember"
As I listened to the song of the siren by the sea,
Climbed to the ridge to the dolphin?
Were so sweet and harmonious
The sounds that the rough ocean itself
He politely subsided, listening to this song,
And the stars were falling like crazy
From their heights to listen to the song ...
Peck
Oberon
At that moment I saw (although you did not see):
Between the cold moon and the earth
An armed Cupid was flying.
To the Vestal who reigns in the West
He took aim and so he shot an arrow
What a thousand hearts could pierce!
But the fiery arrow suddenly went out
In the moisture of the rays of the innocent moon,
And the royal priestess withdrew
In virgin meditation, alien to love.
But I saw where the arrow fell:
There is a small flower in the West;
From white he turned scarlet from the wound!
Peck
I am ready to fly around the whole globe
In half an hour.
(Disappears.)
Oberon
Having obtained this juice,
I will catch Titania sleeping
I will sprinkle a magic liquid in her eyes,
And the first one she looks at
Waking up, be it a lion, a bear, or a wolf,
Or a bull, or a troublesome monkey, -
She will rush after him with her soul,
And before I take the spell off her
(What can I do with other grass)
She herself will give the boy to me!
But who is coming here? I'm invisible
I can overhear a mortal conversation.
Enters Demetrius; Elena follows him.
Demetrius
I do not love you! Leave me alone!
Well, where is Hermia and where is Lysander?
I want to kill him - I was killed by her!
You said: they fled into the forest ...
Well, here I am - I'm standing in the forest,
And Hermia is not here at all!
Go away and don't reach for me!
Elena
You pulled me in, magnet is cruel
Though it is not the iron that you pull, but the heart,
Which is truer in love than steel.
Give up attracting - I won't stretch.
Demetrius
Did I play nice with you?
Did I lure you? I said bluntly
What I don’t love, I don’t love you.
Elena
But I love you more and more.
After all, I'm your dog: hit harder -
I will only wag my tail in response.
Well, treat me like a dog:
Kick with your foot, kick, chase me;
Let me only be unworthy
(Could I ask for less?) -
So that, like a dog, you put up with me.
Demetrius
Do not tempt my hatred.
It makes me sick when I see you.
Elena
I’m sick when I don’t see you.
Demetrius
You put your modesty at risk
Leaving the city and giving myself
To the free man who does not love you:
You trust the temptations of the night
And the evil suggestions of these desolate places
The treasure of your innocence.
Elena
Your honor will be my protection!
Your face illuminates the night for me.
I do not consider this forest to be deserted;
You are here with me, you are the whole world to me.
How can I say that I'm alone
When the whole world is here looking at me?
Demetrius
I will run away and hide in the woods
I'll throw you to the beasts to be eaten.
Elena
Oh! The fiercest beast is kinder! Well,
Run. Let all fairy tales change:
Let Daphne chase Apollo,
Yes, do so, make sure
He fell in love with her instantly.
Come back before the cock crows.
Peck
Do not be afraid, everything will be filled with the right spirit.