: Upon the place beneath it is twice bless'd; Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; And earthly power doth then show likest God's Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there. Аст V. Moonlight. How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears; soft stillness, and the night, Become the touches of sweet harmony. Sit, Jessica look, how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold; There's not the smallest orb, which thou behold'st, But in his motion like an angel sings, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims: * A small dish used in the sacramental service. Such harmony is in immortal souls; Music. Do but note a wild and wanton herd, You shall perceive them make a mutual stand, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Let no such man be trusted. A good deea. How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. Nothing good out of Season. The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark, When neither is attended; and, I think How many things by season season'd are -000 A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM. An Hermia, daughter of Egeus, is in love with Lysander contrary to her father's will, he wishing her to marry Demetrius. appeal is made by Egeus to Theseus, Duke of Athens, who condemns Hermia to death or perpetual celibacy except she marries the man of her father's choice. On hearing this sentence, Hermia and Lysander determine to escape beyond the sway of the Duke, and be married privately. Helena, who is in love with Demetrius, (who, however, does not return her love), informs him of the escape of the lovers, on which he pursues them, followed by Helena. In a wood near Athens, Oberon, king of the fairies, overhears a conversation between Helena and Demetrius, in which he rudely repulses her love. The fairy king instructs Puck, an attendant fairy, to squeeze the juice of a certain plant on the eyelids of Demetrius whilst he is asleep, by which he will be charmed into violent love for the first living object that meets his eyes when he awakes, it being presumed that Helena will be this object. Puck by mistake. anoints the eyes of Lysander, whose waking eyes first light on Helena, to whom, in obedience to the charm, he at once transfers his affections. Oberon, discovering Puck's error, releases Lysander from the spell, thus restoring his love for Hermia, whilst Demetrius retains his newly awakened affection for Helena. The underplot, in which Titania the fairy queen figures prominently, adds greatly to the interest of the drama. To Acr I. A Father's Authority. you your father should be as a god; One that compos'd your beauties; yea, and one To whom you are but as a form in wax, Vexations of True Love. For aught that ever I could read, Could ever hear by tale or history, The course of true love never did run smooth. Assignation. I swear to thee, by Cupid's strongest bow; By that which knitteth souls, and prospers loves : The Moon. When Phoebe doth behold Her silver visage in the watery glass, Love. 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 wing'd Cupid painted blind: Nor hath love's mind of any judgment taste; Wings, and no eyes, figure unheedy haste; And therefore is love said to be a child, Because in choice he is so oft beguiled. ACT II. The Fairy Puck. I am that merry wanderer of the night, Fairy Jealousy, and the Effects of it described by Titania. And never, since the middle summer's* spring, * Midsummer. Petty, insignificant. † A pebbly stream. § Their banks. : |