In this article we will talk about the famous comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream". William Shakespeare is a recognized master of drama, whose equal has not yet been found in literature. His works, written back in the 16th century, have not lost their relevance even today.

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The play consists of 5 acts, written in 1596. It is believed that the author composed it specifically for the wedding day of some aristocrat close to Elizabeth I.

The main idea of ​​the comedy: the whole world is a game. And how it ends will depend only on the decisions and mood of the players themselves. But you shouldn’t look for particularly deep philosophical implications in this work, since it was created mainly for the entertainment of the audience.

Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream: summary. Location and characters

The events of the play unfold in ancient Greek Athens. The city is ruled by a king named Theseus, with whom many ancient legends are associated, the main one tells about his conquest of the Amazon tribe, after which he married their queen Hippolyta, who also participates in the play.

In addition to human characters, the comedy contains magical creatures - in particular, the king and queen of these people - Oberon and Titania.

The beginning

The comedy “A Midsummer Night's Dream” begins with wedding preparations (we will present a brief summary in this article). Duke Theseus and Queen Hippolyta are going down the aisle. The celebration is scheduled for the night of the full moon.

An enraged Aegeus, the father of young Hermia, bursts into the palace. He attacks Lysander with accusations - the young man bewitched his daughter and forced him to love himself, and meanwhile the girl had already been promised to Demetrius. Hermia appears and says that she loves Lysander. The Duke intervenes in the conflict and announces that according to the laws of Athens, the daughter is obliged to fulfill the will of the parent. Theseus gives the headstrong girl time to think, but on the first day of the new moon she will have to decide “to die... or marry the one whom her father has chosen... or take... a vow of celibacy.”

Hermia and Lysander decide to flee from Athens and agree to meet the next night near the nearest forest. The lovers reveal their plan to Elena. The girl has long been hopelessly in love with Demetrius, hoping to gain the favor of her beloved, she tells him about the plans of Hermia and Lysander.

Sideshow

Shakespeare, as always, anticipates the development of literary techniques. For example, we see a production of the play in the comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream itself (the summary is proof of this). Thus, the author elevates play, in this case theatrical, to an absolute. And this is already a favorite technique of postmodernism, which will appear only at the end of the 20th century.

So, a company of artisans decides to stage a sideshow in honor of Theseus' wedding. The director is the carpenter Peter Pigva, who chooses the “pathetic comedy” “The Very Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbe.” Weaver Nick Osnova is called to play the role of Pyramus; he is generally ready to take on several characters at once. The role of Thisbe goes to Dudka, a bellows repairman. Don't be surprised, in Shakespeare's time women could not participate in plays, and all roles were played by men. Thisbe's mother was the tailor Robin Zmorysh; Pyramus's father is Tom Snout, a coppersmith; Lev - the carpenter Milyaga. Pigva tells everyone to learn their roles by tomorrow.

Fairy Kingdom

Shakespeare uses images of mythical characters in his play. This makes A Midsummer Night's Dream closer to an English fairy tale.

The action moves to the forest. The ruler of the elves and fairies, Oberon, quarrels with his wife Titania over the baby whom the queen has adopted. The king wants to take the child from his wife in order to make him his page. Titania refuses her husband and leaves with the elves.

Then Oberon orders the elf Peck to bring a flower, which was accidentally hit by Cupid's arrow. If you smear the eyelids of a sleeping person with the juice of this plant, he will fall in love with the first person he sees. The king hopes that his wife will fall in love with some animal and forget about the child.

Invisible Oberon remains to wait for Peck. At this time, Elena and Demetrius appear, who is looking for Hermia and rejects the one who loves him. When a servant brings a flower, Oberon orders Demetrius to anoint his eyelids so that he will fall in love with Helen. The king of the elves himself applies the remaining juice to Titania’s eyelids.

Hermia and Lysander, wandering through the forest, got tired and lay down to rest. Peck mistakes the young man for Demetrius and smears the juice on his eyelids. Waking up, Lysander sees Helen, falls in love with her and confesses his feelings. The girl decides that he is mocking her and runs away. The young man, having abandoned the sleeping Hermia, pursues his new lover.

Titania Awakens

More and more implausible events occur in the play A Midsummer Night's Dream. The summary tells us about the pranks, and not always harmless ones, of elves and fairies.

Craftsmen are gathering in the forest for a rehearsal. The basis suggests, in order not to frighten the audience, to compose two prologues to the play. In the first it will be said that Pyramus does not kill himself at all, and in general this is not Pyramus, but the Foundation. In the second, warn the audience that the Lion is also not really a terrible beast, but a carpenter.

Pak is watching the rehearsal. The prankster decides to bewitch the Base, turning his head into that of a donkey. The artisans mistake their friend for a werewolf and run away from him in fear. At this moment, Titania wakes up, sleeping not far from this place. She sees the Base first, falls in love and invites him with her. The queen immediately summons four elves and orders them to serve the new “my lord.”

Duel

The events of A Midsummer Night's Dream continue to develop. Peck reports to Oberon how the queen fell in love with the monster. The king is delighted with the news. However, having learned that instead of Demetrius the magic juice fell on Lysander, he begins to scold.

Oberon is looking for Demetrius, wanting to correct the servant’s mistake. At this time, Peck lures Elena to the sleeping Demetri. The young man awakens and immediately begins to swear eternal love to the one he has just rejected. Helena comes to the conclusion that Lysander and Demetrius conspired to mock her. She also decided that Hermia was involved in all this. Hearing accusations against her, Hermia attacks her friend with accusations that she seduced Lysander.

The young people, who have now become rivals, decide to use a duel to decide who will get Elena. Peck is delighted with what is happening. However, Oberon orders the servant to lead the duelists deep into the forest, and then separate them and lead them in circles so that they cannot meet. When the exhausted heroes fall asleep, Peck smears Lysander's eyelids with an antidote to love juice.

Awakening

It has a clear entertainment focus on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” During Shakespeare's time, the theater served only for the amusement of the public. Nevertheless, the great playwright, even in comedy, the lowest genre, was considered to be able to invest a bit of meaning.

Oberon, having already received the baby, accidentally sees Titania sleeping next to the Base. The king feels sorry for her, and he smears the antidote on her eyelids. The queen wakes up and exclaims: “I dreamed... I fell in love with a donkey!” Oberon orders Peck to return the Base to its original head. The fairies fly away.

Aegeus, Hippolyta and Theseus come to the forest to hunt. They accidentally find sleeping young people. Waking up, Lysander announces that he and Hermia fled here from the harsh laws of Athens. Demetrius, under the influence of the potion, admits that he loves Elena and wants her to become his wife. Theseus announces that two more couples will be married this evening, besides him and Hippolyta.

The Base wakes up and goes to Pigwe. Here the director gives instructions to the actors before the performance.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream": summary. Denouement

Preparations for the celebration begin. The lovers tell Theseus about everything that happened to them in the forest. The Duke marvels at their adventures.

Philostratus, the manager of the entertainment, arrives. He provides Theseus with a list of recreational activities from which the ruler must choose his favorite ones. The Duke opts for a sideshow of artisans.

The performance begins. Pigva reads the prologue, and the audience makes snide remarks. Snout comes out and explains that he is smeared with lime because he is depicting a wall through which Thisbe and Pyramus must talk. The main action begins. Leo comes on stage and explains to everyone in verse that he is not real. At this time, Theseus admires: “What a reasonable and meek animal!” The actors say stupid things, shamelessly distort the text and make amendments to the plot. This all makes the audience very happy.

At midnight the play ends. The guests leave. The elves, led by Peck, appear. They sing, dance and have fun. Then Oberon and his wife order them to disperse throughout the castle and bless the newlyweds’ beds.

This is where the play “A Midsummer Night's Dream” ends (we presented a summary above).

William Shakespeare

A dream in a summer night

CHARACTERS

Theseus , Duke of Athens.

Aegean , father of Hermia.

Lysander, Demetrius , in love with Hermia.

Philostratus , manager of entertainment at the court of Theseus.

Pigwa , a carpenter.

Gentleman , carpenter.

The basis , weaver

Dudka , bellows repairer.

Snout , coppersmith.

Hungry , tailor.

Hippolyta , queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus.

Hermia , in love with Lysander.

Elena , in love with Demetrius.

Oberon , king of fairies and elves.

Titania , queen of fairies and elves.

Peck, or Good Little Robin , little elf.

Sweet Pea, Cobweb, Moth, Mustard Seed , elves.

Fairies and elves, submissive to Oberon and Titania, retinue.

The scene is Athens and the forest nearby.

ACT I

SCENE 1

Athens, Palace of Theseus.

Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostratus And retinue.

Theseus

Beautiful, our wedding hour is getting closer:

Four happy days - new month

They'll bring it to us. But oh, how the old man hesitates!

He stands in the way of my desires,

Like a stepmother or an old widow,

That young men's income is being eaten up.

Hippolyta

Four days of nights will quickly drown;

Four nights in dreams will disappear so quickly...

And the crescent moon is a bow made of silver,

Stretched in the sky, it will illuminate

The night of our wedding!

Theseus

Philostratus, go!

Stirred up all the youth in Athens

And awaken the spirit of fun.

Let the sadness remain for the funeral:

We don't need a pale guest at our feast.

Philostratus leaves.

Theseus

I got you with the sword, Hippolyta;

I achieved your love with threats,

Solemn, and fun, and magnificent!

Enter Aegean, Hermia, Lysander And Demetrius.

Aegean

Be happy, our glorious Duke Theseus!

Theseus

Thank you, Egey! What do you say?

Aegean

I am upset, with a complaint to you

To Hermia - yes, to her own daughter! -

Demetri, come! - My lord,

This is the one to whom I wanted to give my daughter. -

Lysander, come closer too! - My lord!

And this one bewitched her heart. -

You, you, Lysander! You wrote poetry to her,

I exchanged pledges of love with her,

Under her windows in the moonlight

I feignedly sang love a feigned song!

You used it to capture her heart,

Bracelets, hair rings, candy,

Flowers, trinkets, trinkets - everything,

What sweetness to inexperienced youth!

By deceit you stole her love,

You are the obedience due to your father,

Turned evil into stubbornness! - So if

In your presence, my lord, she will not give

Consent to Demetrius, I appeal

To the ancient Athenian law:

Since my daughter is mine, I can be completely with her

locate; and I decided: Demetrius

Or - as provided by law

In such cases - death immediately!

Theseus

Well, Hermia, beautiful maiden,

What do you say? Think it over carefully.

He created your beauty, and you

They cast a wax mold;

He has the right to leave it or break it.

Demetrius is a completely worthy person.

Hermia

My Lysander too.

Theseus

Yes, on my own;

But if your father is not for him,

That means he is more worthy.

Hermia

I wanted my father to look at mine

Theseus

No! Hurry up your eyes

We must obey his judgment.

Hermia

Forgive me, Your Grace, I beg you.

I don’t know where I found the courage,

And is it possible, without offending modesty,

I can speak so freely in front of everyone.

But I beg you, let me find out:

What's the worst that's coming to me?

When will I not marry Demetrius?

Theseus

What? Death! Or renunciation forever

From the company of men. That's why,

Oh Hermia, check yourself. Think:

You are young... Ask your soul,

When you go against your father's will:

Can you put on a nun's outfit?

To be forever imprisoned in a monastery,

Live your whole life as a barren nun

And is it sad to sing hymns to the cold moon?

A hundred times blessed is he who humbles his blood,

To complete the virgin path on earth;

But the rose, dissolving into incense,

Happier than the one on the innocent bush

Blooms, lives, dies - all alone!

Hermia

So I bloom, and live, and die

I want it sooner than my maiden rights

Give him power! His yoke

My soul does not want to submit.

Theseus

Think about it, Hermia! On the day of the new moon

(On the day that will connect me with my love

For an eternal commonwealth) must

You be ready: or die

For violating the father's will,

Or marry the one he chose,

Or give forever at the altar of Diana

Vow of celibacy and harsh life.

Demetrius

Soften, O Hermia! - And you, Lysander,

Give in to my undeniable rights.

Lysander

Demetrius, since your father loves you so much,

Give me your daughter and marry him yourself!

Aegean

Impudent 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 it to Demetrius in full!

Lysander

But, sir, I am equal in birth with him

Yes, and wealth; I love more;

I am no lower in status

Rather even higher than Demetrius;

And most importantly - what exceeds everything -

I love Hermia the beautiful!

Why should I renounce my rights?

Demetrius - yes, I’ll tell him to his face -

He was in love with Elena, Nedar's daughter.

She was attracted to him. Tender Elena

He loves the fickle one madly,

Idolizes the empty man!

Theseus

Frankly, I've heard something about this

And I even thought about talking to him;

But, busy with the most important matters,

Forgot about that. - Come with me, Demetrius,

And you, Aegeus! Come with me, both of you

And we will find something to talk about! -

Well, Hermia, try to subdue

Your dreams according to your father's wishes,

Otherwise the Athenian law will betray you

(Which we cannot change)

To death or to eternal celibacy. -

Well, Hippolyta... What, my love?

Let's go... - Demetrius and Aegeus follow me.

I'll instruct you to arrange something

For the solemn day and I will celebrate

About something that concerns both of you.

Aegean

We are always happy to fulfill our duty.

Theseus, Hippolyta, Aegean, Demetrius And retinue leaving.

Lysander

Well, my love? How pale are the cheeks!

How quickly the roses suddenly withered on them!

Hermia

Is it because there is no rain, which

It's easy to get out of the storm of my eyes.

Lysander

Alas! I've never heard before

And I didn’t read it - whether in history or in a fairy tale, -

May the path of true love be smooth.

But - or the difference in origin...

Hermia

Oh woe! The higher one should be captivated by the lower one!…

Lysander

Or the difference in years...

Hermia

O mockery!

Being too old for a young bride!

Lysander

Or the choice of loved ones and friends...

Hermia

But how can you love someone else's choice?

Lysander

And if the choice is good for everyone, it’s war,

Illness or death always threaten love

And they make it, like sound, instantaneous,

Like a shadow, fleeting and like a dream, short.

So lightning, flashing in the darkness of the night,

He will angrily tear open the heavens and the earth,

And before we exclaim: “Look!” -

She will already be swallowed up by the abyss of darkness -

Everything bright disappears so quickly.

Hermia

But if it's inevitable for lovers

Suffering is the law of fate,

So let us be patient in trials:

After all, this is an ordinary cross for love,

Suitable for her - dreams, longings, tears,

Desires, dreams - love's unhappy retinue!

Lysander

Yes, you're right... But, Hermia, listen:

I have an aunt. She's a widow

Rich, childless at that.

He 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

You secretly leave the house tomorrow night.

In the forest, three miles from Athens, in the place

Where did I meet you and Elena (you came

Perform rituals on May morning, remember?),

I'll be waiting for you.

Hermia

Oh my Lysander!

I swear by the strongest bow of Cupid,

His best arrow, golden,

Venus doves with purity,

With the fire into which Dido threw herself,

When the Trojan raised his sails, -

With all that love binds the heavens,

The darkness of men's oaths, shamelessly broken

(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!

Included Elena.

Lysander

You will keep your vow... But look - Elena!

Hermia

Hello! Where are you going, my beautiful friend?

Elena

Am I beautiful? Oh, don't joke in vain.

Your beauty captivates Demetrius,

Lucky girl! Your gaze shines upon him

Than the lark's song among the fields...

Be beauty a sticky disease -

I would get infected from you, my friend!

I would steal it from you

And the sparkle of eyes, and the tenderness of sweet speech...

Be my whole world - Demetrius soon

I would take it for myself; own everything else!

But teach me: what art

Demetria, have you taken possession of the feeling?

Hermia

I frown - he loves everything more and more.

Elena

Such power - if only my smile!

Hermia

I swear to him - the flame in him is only brighter!

Elena

Oh, if only I could soften him with entreaties!

Hermia

The tougher I am, the more gentle he is with me!

Elena

The more tender I am, the harsher he is with me!

Hermia

His madness is not my fault.

Elena

Your beauty! Oh, be mine, wine!

Hermia

I won't meet him again: don't suffer.

We will leave this region forever!

While I lived here, not knowing love,

Athens seemed better to me than heaven...

And now - love! How good is she?

When is heaven free to make hell?

Lysander

Elena, friend, I will reveal everything to you:

Tomorrow night, as soon as he sees Phoebeus

Your silvery face in the river mirror,

The reeds are strewn with liquid pearls, -

In the hour that protects lovers' secrets,

We will leave the city gates with her.

Hermia

In the forest, where often, lying between flowers,

We shared girlish dreams,

My Lysander must meet me,

And we will leave our native city,

Looking for other friends, a different circle.

Farewell, my friend's childhood games!

Please pray for our fate,

And God send Demetrius to you. -

So remember the agreement, Lysander: until night

Our eyes must fast.

Lysander

Yes, my Hermia...

Hermia leaves.

Goodbye Elena!

Demetrius I wish you love.

(Leaves.)

Elena

How happy is one at the expense of the other!

In Athens I am equal in beauty with her...

So what? He is blind to my beauty:

Doesn't want to know what everyone knows.

He is in error, captivated by Hermia;

Me too, admiring him blindly.

Love is capable of forgiving the base

And turn vices into valor

And he chooses not with his eyes, but with his heart:

That's why they portray her as blind.

It is difficult for her to reconcile with common sense.

Without eyes - and wings: a symbol of recklessness

Haste!... Her name is child;

After all, it’s easy to deceive her by joking.

And how the boys swear in the game,

So it’s easy for her and she doesn’t care about deception.

Until he was captured by Hermia,

Then he swore to me with a hail of vows of love;

But only Hermia breathed with heat -

The hail melted, and with it all the oaths in vain.

I’ll go and 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 in my melancholy and this is a lot -

The road to and from the forest with him!

(Leaves.)

SCENE 2

Athens. A room in a hut.

Enter Pigwa, Gentleman, The basis, Dudka, Snout And Hungry.

Pigwa

Is our entire company assembled?

The basis

You better do a roll call: call us all on the list.

Pigwa

Here is a list with the names of everyone who was found in the slightest degree suitable to present our interlude before the Duke and Duchess on the evening of their wedding day.

The basis

First of all, kind Peter Pigwa, tell us what the play is, then read the names of the actors - and you will get to the point!

Pigwa

Right! Our play is “A pitiful comedy and a very cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe.”

The basis

An excellent little thing, I assure you, and very funny! Well, kind Peter Pigva, now call all the actors on the list. Citizens, line up!

Pigwa

Answer the call!... Nick Basis!

The basis

Eat! Name my role and continue roll call.

Pigwa

You, Nick Basis, have been targeted for Pyramus.

The basis

What is Pyramus? Lover or Villain?

Pigwa

A lover who valiantly kills himself for love.

The basis

Yeah! This means that tears are required to play it properly. Well, if I take on this role, get your handkerchiefs ready, audience! I will raise a storm... I will lament to some extent... But, to tell the truth, my main calling is the role of villains. I would play a rare role of Hercules, or in general such a role that I would gnaw the earth and smash everything around into pieces!

There will be a roar

Strikes of fighters -

And the bolt will collapse

A cruel dungeon.

And Fib, the bright god,

Far and high

Evil fate will change

From your chariot!

What was it like? Great, huh? Well, call other actors. Here was the manner of Hercules, the character of a villain; lover - much more tear-jerking.

Pigwa

Francis Dudka, bellows repairman.

Dudka

Yes, Peter Pigva!

Pigwa

You must take on the role of Thisbe.

Dudka

Who will Thisbe be? Knight Errant?

Pigwa

No, this is the lady with whom Pyramus is in love.

Dudka

No, I honor you, don’t force me to play a woman: my beard is growing!

Pigwa

Does not mean anything; you can play in a mask and you will squeak in the thinnest voice.

The basis

A! If you can play in a mask, let me play Thisbe for you too: I can speak in a monstrously thin voice. “Yours, yours... Ah, Pyramus, my dear lover! I am your Thisbe dear, I am your dear lady!

Pigwa

No! No! You must play Pyramus, and you, Dudka, must play Thisbe.

The basis

Pigwa

Robin Hungry, tailor!

Hungry

Yes, Peter Pigva!

Pigwa

Runt, you will play Thisbe's mother. - Thomas Rylo, coppersmith!

Snout

Yes, Peter Pigva!

Pigwa

You are Pyramus' father. I will play Feasbin's father. - Gentleman, carpenter, you get the role of Leo. Well, I hope that the play is selling well here.

Gentleman

Have you rewritten the role of Leo? You will give it to me now, otherwise my memory is very slow for learning.

Pigwa

There’s nothing to learn here, and this is how you’ll play: you’ll just have to growl.

The basis

Let me play Leo for you too! I will roar so much that your heart will rejoice; I will growl so much that the Duke himself will definitely say: “Come on, let him growl some more, let him growl some more!”

Pigwa

Well, if you growl so terribly, you will probably frighten the duchess and all the ladies to death; they will also scream, and this will be enough to hang us all!

Yes, yes, they will outweigh every single one of them!

The basis

I agree with you, friends, that if we intimidate the ladies, they won’t come up with anything better than to hang us all up. But I will be able to change my voice so much that I will growl tenderly, like your little dove; I will roar to you that you are a nightingale!

Pigwa

You cannot play any role except Pyramus, because Pyramus is a handsome fellow, just such a real man in the prime of his years, a first-class man, well-mannered, with manners, well, in a word, exactly like you... You only play Pyramus.

The basis

Okay, I agree, I'll take the role. What kind of beard should I play her with?

Pigwa

Yes, whichever one you want.

The basis

OK. I'll introduce him to you with a straw-colored beard. Or is it better in orange-brown? Or purple-red? Or maybe the color of the French crown - pure yellow?

Pigwa

Some French crowns have no 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 tomorrow evening. And in the evening come to the palace forest, one mile from the city: there we will arrange a rehearsal in the moonlight. Otherwise, if we gather in the city, they will get wind of this and blurt out our idea. In the meantime, I'll make a list of the props we need for the play. And I ask you - do not let me down.

The basis

We'll definitely come. There it will be possible to rehearse, as they say, more unceremoniously, more freely. Try not to lose face! Until then, stay healthy!

Pigwa

Meeting at the Duke's oak tree.

The basis

OK. Even if you hang yourself, stay where you are.

They leave.

ACT II

SCENE 1

Forest near Athens.

Appear from different directions fairy And Pack.

Ah, fairy! Hello! Where is your path?

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 faster than the moon,

I serve the fairy queen

Initial letters are her convoy.

Do you see the golden outfit?

The spots on it are burning:

Those are rubies, the color of the queen, -

All the flavor is hidden in them.

For initial letters I need a supply of dewdrops -

Put pearl earrings in each ear.

Farewell, foolish spirit! I'm flying forward.

The queen and the elves will come here.

My king will have fun here at night, -

Be careful that the queen doesn't meet him!

He is furious with her, angry - fear!

Because of the child that she has as pages

(Kidnapped from the Indian Sultan).

She pampers and dresses up the boy,

And Oberon the jealous wants to take

Him for yourself, so that you can wander with him in the forests.

The queen sees all the joy in him,

Doesn't give away! Since then, only above the stream,

In a clearing illuminated by the light of stars

They will come together - instantly for squabbles,

So much so that the elves all run away in fear,

They climb into an acorn and tremble all night!

Yes, you... I’m not mistaken, perhaps:

Habits, appearance... are you a Good Little Robin?

The one who scares the village needlewomen,

He breaks and spoils the handles of the mills,

It prevents you from churning the butter on the sly,

It skims the cream off the milk,

That prevents the yeast from fermenting in the mash,

Sometimes he leads travelers in a ravine at night;

But if someone calls him friend -

It helps and brings happiness into the house.

Well, yes, I am Good Little Robin,

Cheerful spirit, naughty night tramp.

I serve in Oberon's jesters...

Then I’ll neigh in front of a well-fed stallion,

Like a mare; I'm still fooling around:

Suddenly I’ll hide in a mug with a baked apple,

And as soon as the gossip gets ready to take a sip,

From there I hit her lips - hop! And breasts

I'll droop beer all over her.

Or the aunt who tells the story tearfully,

I'll appear as a three-legged chair in the corner:

Suddenly I slip out - bang! - aunt on the floor.

Well, cough, well, scream! Let's have fun!

Everyone dies bursting with laughter

And, holding their sides, the whole choir repeats,

Why haven't we laughed like that before...

But, fairy, away! Here is the king. Get out of here.

And here she is! Oh, that wouldn't be bad!

Enter from one side Oberon with my retinue, with another Titania with yours.

Oberon

It's not a good hour when I'm in the moonlight

I meet the arrogant Titania.

Titania

What, is it you, jealous Oberon? -

Fly, elves, away! I renounce

From society and Oberon's bed.

Since mid-summer we can't

Gather in the meadows, in the forest, near a noisy river,

At the stone-enclosed key,

On golden sand washed by the sea,

Driving in circles to the whistle and songs of the wind,

So that you don’t interfere with our games by shouting!

And the winds sang songs to us in vain.

In revenge they raised from the sea

Malicious fogs. Those are the rain

They fell to the ground. The rivers got angry

And they came out, proud, from the banks.

Since then the ox has pulled the yoke in vain,

In vain the plowman pours out his sweat: bread

They rot without growing antennae.

Empty paddocks in flooded fields,

The crows grew fat from carrion...

The mud has carried traces of fun games;

There are no paths in the green labyrinths:

Their trail is overgrown, and they can’t find it!

Mortals are more likely to ask for winter;

You can’t hear their songs at night...

And here is the moon, ruler of the waters,

Pale with anger, the air has washed all over

And she spread rheumatism everywhere.

All times are in confusion:

And the gray-headed frost falls

To a crimson rose in fresh arms;

But to the crown of icy winter

A fragrant wreath of summer buds

Attached in mockery. Spring and summer

Birthing autumn and winter

Change outfits, and can't

The world is amazed to discern 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 contradict Oberon?

After all, I ask for little: give it

You are a boy to be my page!

Titania

Stay calm:

I won’t trade you for your entire magical land!

After all, his mother was my priestess!

With her in the spicy air of the Indian nights

On the golden Neptune sands

We often sat, counting the ships.

Laughed with her, watching the sails

Pregnant women were blown by the wind...

She jokingly imitated them cutely

(She was heavy at that time

My favorite) and swam as if

Returning with some trifle

To me, as if from sailing with goods...

But my friend was mortal,

And this boy cost her her life.

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

It must have been before the wedding of Theseus.

If you want to dance peacefully with us

And have fun under the moon - stay.

Oberon

Give me the child, I'll go with you!

Titania

Not for the magical land! - Follow me, elves!

If I don’t leave, we’ll quarrel forever.

Titania and her retinue leaving.

Oberon

Go! You won't leave the forest early

I will not take revenge for any insult. -

My dear Peck, come here! Do you remember"

How I listened to the siren's song by the sea,

Climbing up to the dolphin's ridge?

They were so sweet and harmonious

Those sounds that the rough ocean itself

He calmed down politely, listening to this song,

And the stars fell like crazy

From your heights to listen to the song...

Oberon

At that moment I saw (even though you didn’t see):

Between the cold moon and the earth

An armed Cupid was flying.

To the Vestal reigning in the West

He took aim and shot the arrow,

End of free trial.

The action takes place in Athens. The ruler of Athens bears the name of Theseus, one of the most popular heroes of ancient legends about the conquest by the Greeks of the warlike tribe of women - the Amazons. Theseus marries the queen of this tribe, Hippolyta. The play was apparently created for a performance on the occasion of the wedding of some high-ranking officials.

Preparations are underway for the wedding of Duke Theseus and the Amazon queen Hippolyta, which is to take place on the night of the full moon. An angry Aegeus, Hermia's father, appears at the duke's palace, accusing Lysander of bewitching his daughter and cunningly forcing her to love him, while she had already been promised to Demetrius. Hermia confesses her love for Lysander. The Duke announces that according to Athenian law, she must submit to her father's will. He gives the girl a reprieve, but on the day of the new moon she will have to “either die / For violating her father’s will, / Or marry the one he chose, / Or take forever at the altar of Diana / A vow of celibacy and a harsh life.” The lovers agree to escape from Athens together and meet the next night in a nearby forest. They reveal their plan to Hermia's friend Helena, who was once Demetrius' lover and still loves him passionately. Hoping for his gratitude, she is going to tell Demetrius about the plans of the lovers. Meanwhile, a company of rustic artisans is preparing to stage a sideshow on the occasion of the Duke's wedding. The director, carpenter Peter Pigwa, chose a suitable work: “A pitiful comedy and the very cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe.” Weaver Nick Osnova agrees to play the role of Pyramus, as well as most other roles. Bellows repairman Francis Dudke is given the role of Thisbe (in Shakespeare's time, women were not allowed on stage). The tailor Robin Hungry will be Thisbe's mother, and the coppersmith Tom Snout will be the father of Pyramus. The role of Leo is assigned to the carpenter Milaga: he “has a memory for learning,” and for this role you only need to roar. Pigva asks everyone to memorize the roles and tomorrow evening come to the forest to the ducal oak tree for a rehearsal.

In a forest near Athens, the king of fairies and elves Oberon and his wife Queen Titania quarrel over a child whom Titania adopted, and Oberon wants to take for himself to make him a page. Titania refuses to submit to her husband's will and leaves with the elves. Oberon asks the mischievous elf Puck (Good Little Robin) to bring him a small flower on which Cupid's arrow fell after he missed "the Vestal reigning in the West" (an allusion to Queen Elizabeth). If the eyelids of a sleeping person are smeared with the juice of this flower, then when he wakes up, he will fall in love with the first living creature he sees. Oberon wants to make Titania fall in love with some wild animal and forget about the boy. Peck flies off in search of the flower, and Oberon becomes an invisible witness to the conversation between Helen and Demetrius, who is looking for Hermia and Lysander in the forest and rejects his former lover with contempt. When Peck returns with the flower, Oberon instructs him to find Demetrius, whom he describes as an “arrogant rake” in Athenian robes, and anoint his eyes, but so that when he awakens, the beauty in love with him will be next to him. Finding Titania sleeping, Oberon squeezes the juice of the flower onto her eyelids. Lysander and Hermia got lost in the forest and also lay down to rest, at Hermia’s request - away from each other, since “for a young man and a girl, human shame / Does not allow intimacy...”. Peck, mistaking Lysander for Demetrius, drips juice onto his eyes. Elena appears, from whom Demetrius ran away, and stopping to rest, wakes up Lysander, who immediately falls in love with her. Elena believes that he is mocking her and runs away, and Lysander, abandoning Hermia, rushes after Elena.

Near the place where Titania sleeps, a company of artisans gathered for a rehearsal. At the suggestion of Osnova, who is very concerned that, God forbid, he should not scare the female spectators, two prologues are written for the play - the first that Pyramus does not kill himself at all and that he is not really Pyramus, but a weaver Osnova, and the second - that Lev is not a lion at all, but a carpenter, Milag. Naughty Peck, who is watching the rehearsal with interest, casts a spell on the Foundation: now the weaver has a donkey's head. The friends, mistaking the Base for a werewolf, run away in fear. At this time, Titania wakes up and, looking at the Base, says: “Your image captivates the eye. I love you. Follow me!” Titania summons four elves - Mustard Seed, Sweet Pea, Gossamer and Moth - and orders them to serve "her darling." Oberon is delighted to listen to Peck's story about how Titania fell in love with the monster, but is very dissatisfied when he learns that the elf sprinkled magic juice into the eyes of Lysander, and not Demetrius. Oberon puts Demetrius to sleep and corrects the mistake of Peck, who, on the orders of his master, lures Helen closer to the sleeping Demetrius. As soon as he wakes up, Demetrius begins to swear his love to the one he recently rejected with contempt. Elena is convinced that both young men, Lysander and Demetrius, are mocking her: “There is no strength to listen to empty ridicule!” In addition, she believes that Hermia is at one with them, and bitterly reproaches her friend for her deceit. Shocked by Lysander's rude insults, Hermia accuses Helen of being a deceiver and a thief who stole Lysander's heart from her. Word for word - and she is already trying to scratch out Elena’s eyes. The young people - now rivals seeking Elena's love - retire to decide in a duel which of them has more rights. Peck is delighted with all this confusion, but Oberon orders him to lead both duelists deeper into the forest, imitating their voices, and lead them astray, “so that they will never find each other.” When Lysander collapses exhausted and falls asleep, Peck squeezes the juice of a plant on his eyelids - an antidote to the love flower. Elena and Demetrius were also euthanized not far from each other.

Seeing Titania asleep next to the Base, Oberon, who by this time had already acquired the child he liked, takes pity on her and touches her eyes with an antidote flower. The fairy queen wakes up with the words: “My Oberon! What can we dream about! / I dreamed that I fell in love with a donkey!” Peck, on Oberon's orders, returns his own head to the Base. The Elf Lords fly away. Theseus, Hippolyta and Aegeus appear hunting in the forest. They find sleeping young people and wake them up. Already free from the effects of the love potion, but still stunned, Lysander explains that he and Hermia fled into the forest from the severity of Athenian laws, while Demetrius admits that “Passion, purpose and joy of the eyes are now / Not Hermia, but dear Helen.” Theseus announces that two more couples will be married today with them and Hippolyta, after which he leaves with his retinue. The awakened Base goes to Pigwa's house, where his friends are eagerly awaiting him. He gives the actors the last instructions: “Let Thisbe put on clean underwear,” and let Lev not try to cut his nails - they should look out from under the skin like claws.

Theseus marvels at the strange story of the lovers. “Madmen, lovers, poets - / All created from fantasies alone,” he says. The entertainment manager, Philostratus, presents him with a list of entertainments. The Duke chooses the workmen's play: "It can never be too bad, / Which devotion humbly offers." Pigva reads the prologue to the audience's ironic comments. Snout explains that he is the Wall through which Pyramus and Thisbe are talking, and therefore is smeared with lime. When the Pyramus Base looks for a crack in the Wall to look at his beloved, Snout helpfully spreads his fingers. Lev appears and explains in verse that he is not real. “What a meek animal,” Theseus admires, “and what a reasonable one!” Amateur actors shamelessly distort the text and say a lot of nonsense, which greatly amuses their noble viewers. Finally the play is over. Everyone leaves - it’s already midnight, a magical hour for lovers. Peck appears, he and the rest of the elves first sing and dance, and then, by order of Oberon and Titania, scatter around the palace to bless the beds of the newlyweds. Pak addresses the audience: “If I couldn’t amuse you, / It will be easy for you to fix everything: / Imagine that you fell asleep / And dreams flashed before you.”

Theseus, Duke of Athens.

Aegeus, father of Hermia.

Lysander, Demetrius - lovers of Hermia.

Philostratus, organizer of entertainment at the court of Theseus.

Pigva, carpenter.

Driller, carpenter.

Warp, weaver.

Flute, master of bellows blowers.

Snout, coppersmith.

Otter, tailor.

Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, bride of Theseus.

Hermia, daughter of Aegeus, in love with Lysander.

Helena, in love with Demetrius.

Oberon, king of the elves.

Titania, queen of the elves.

Peck, or Robin, good spirit, elf.

Sweet Pea, Cobweb, Moth, Mustard Seed are elves.

Fairies and elves submissive to Oberon and Titania.

Courtiers of Theseus and Hippolyta.

The action takes place in Athens and the surrounding forest.

Act I

Scene 1

Athens. A room in Theseus' palace. Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostratus.

Theseus

Now our union is close, Hippolyta!
Four happy days will pass
And they will bring with them a new month.
How quietly the old month is waning!
He hesitates to fulfill my desires,
How a stepmother or widow hesitates
The heir is underage
Declare it finished so that
Don't lose your income heir.

Hippolyta

Four days will quickly drown in nights,
And quickly four nights will pass in dreams;
Then the moon is a silver arc,
Bent over again in the dark skies,
Will illuminate our solemn night.

Theseus

Friend Philostratus, go and invite
Let all the young men of Athens have some fun.
Awaken the spirit of living fun in them.
For the funeral, let them leave sadness:
There is no place for a pale guest at the holiday!

Philostratus leaves.

I have taken possession of you, Hippolyta!
With my sword, with enmity I acquired
Your love; but our marriage will be consummated
Among the pomp, celebrations and pleasures.

Enter Aegeus, Hermia, Lysander and Demetrius.

Aegean

Greetings to you, Theseus, our glorious duke!

Theseus

Thank you. What's new, Aegeus?

Aegean

I am complaining about my Hermia
I appear filled with sadness.
Come closer, Demetrius. Dear Duke,
Here is a man whose wife
I already promised to give my daughter away.
Come closer, Lysander! Sovereign,
And this one bewitched her heart.
Lysander, yes, you wrote poetry to her,
You and my daughter exchanged
Pledges of love; you're under the window
During the moon's radiance he sang to her
Feigning a gentle voice of words,
Breathing with feigned love;
You turned her head with all sorts of nonsense:
Bracelets made from your own hair,
Rings, pendants, sweets,
Trinkets, toys, flowers -
Messengers who always
They are omnipotent over inexperienced youth;
You trick my daughter
He stole the heart - and obedience,
which she owes to me,
You have changed into persistence, into stubbornness.
My lord, when hands and words
She will not give Demetrius in front of us,
Then I ask you to provide me
Ancient Athenian law:
After all, my daughter is mine, and I am her destiny
I can arrange it.

Let her
Here Demetrius will choose or death,
Which in such cases
Immediately pronounces our law.

Theseus

Well, Hermia, what do you say? Think about it:
Your father should be your god.
He is the creator of your beauty - before him
You are the same as a wax figure,
Which was poured out to them. It has
He has every right to destroy,
And complete your creation.
Demetrius is a worthy person.

Hermia

Isn't it the same with Lysander?

Theseus

Hermia

Oh, if only
I could give my eyes to my father,
So that he looks like me!

Theseus

Rather you
Must look at it with prudence.

Hermia

Theseus

Excommunication from society forever
Or else you will choose death for yourself.
So, Hermia, examine yourself;
Think how young and ardent you are;
Think about what if you
You refuse to obey your father,
Then you should become a nun,
To be walled up in a monastery
And remain forever barren
And sing hymns to the insensitive moon.
Those who are thrice happy are those who have so much strength,
So that, having curbed yourself, you can accomplish it calmly
The path is virgin; but the rose is on the ground
Happier when it blooms
And does not hide its fragrance;
Happier, believe me, those roses
Which quietly withers on the stem,
Grows, lives and accepts death -
And all alone, all in a lonely lot.

Hermia

So I grow, and live, and die
I want one, sooner than I agree
I'll give my virginity to someone
Whose power the soul rejects with all its might.

Theseus

Think carefully; but when
The new moon will come - on this day
I will unite forever with Hippolyta -
Then you should be ready too
Or die for disobedience,
Or do what your father wants,
Or bring it on the altar of Diana
Holy vow to spend his entire life
And a strict and lonely maiden.

Demetrius

Oh, agree, Hermia! Lysander,
Drop your empty claims!
You must yield to my rights
Indisputable.

Lysander

Father's love
You got it, Demetrius, so leave it
Hermia for me, and take it yourself.

Aegean

Oh, impudent! Yes, my love
He owns it - and everything that is in it is mine,
My love will be given to him forever.
After all, my daughter is mine, and all my rights
I hand it over to Demetrius.

Lysander

But, sir, isn’t it just like him,
And am I rich and famous by birth?
My love is stronger than his love
Wealth and honor among people
I am equal to Demetrius; May be,
I even surpass Demetrius;
And beyond that, what can he boast about?
I am loved by the beautiful Hermia:
Why should I give up my rights?
Demetrius... Yes, I will announce in front of him:
He proposed to Nedar's daughter
My love; since then Elena's soul
He took possession, and good Helen
She is completely devoted to him with all her heart;
She idolizes the infidel.

Theseus

I admit, I heard the same rumors
And before me, and I intended
Talk to Demetrius about this;
But I forgot: at that time I was very
Concerned with the most important matters.
Follow me, Aegeus, and you, Demetrius,
Follow me: I need you both
Give some special instructions.
You, Hermia, are beautiful, get ready
Agree on your desires
With the wishes of the parent; otherwise
Law of Athens that change
We cannot, he will pronounce his judgment
And he will condemn you to imprisonment
Or to death. Let's go, Hippolyta!
What, honey, how are you feeling?
Demetrius and Aegeus, follow me:
I must resort to your help,
To make everything necessary for the wedding.
We'll also talk about something,
As for what concerns you.

Aegean

We follow duty and desire.

Theseus, Hippolyta, Aegeus, Demetrius and their retinue leave.

Lysander

But what's wrong with you, dear friend? From what
You are so pale and the roses are dead
Are yours on the cheeks?

Hermia

Of course, because
That there is no rain; but the storm of my eyes
Easily replaces this shortcoming.

Lysander

I have never had the chance to read
Or hear in history, in a story,
So that somewhere the path of true love
Was done calmly. Sometimes
He is outraged by the difference in births...

Hermia

Misfortune when high born
Falls in love with a simple maiden!

Lysander

Sometimes
Let's differentiate between years...

Hermia

What a punishment
When youth is forged with old age!

Lysander

And sometimes peace of mind depends
From the choice of relatives...

Hermia

Oh, this is hell.
When should we choose not ourselves?
Object of love!

Lysander

And if their choice
I agree with the attraction of loving souls,
Then war, disease or death
Their happiness will certainly be interfered with.
So, love is instantaneous like a sound,
Brief as a dream, transitory as a ghost;
Like lightning in the dead of night,
She is fast - she will flash and illuminate
Before my eyes both heaven and earth,
But before a man can
To say: “Look!”, again the abysses of darkness
Everything will be absorbed. So fast on the ground
Everything bright disappears in chaos!

Hermia

But if for true love
Suffering is always necessary
Then, apparently, such is the law of fate.
Let us learn to bear it with patience;
We cannot avoid suffering:
It belongs to love, like sighs,
Dreams and dreams, desires and tears,
Always companions of lovers!

Lysander

This faith is wonderful; and now
I'll say this: I have an aunt, -
A rich childless widow.
She lives about three miles from here,
And I love her like my own son.
There, Hermia, we can get married,
The law of Athens will not overtake us there.
When you love me, tomorrow night
Quietly leave your parents' house,
And there, in the forest, which is only a mile away
From the city where I met you
With Elena one May morning,
When you performed rituals with her,
I'll be waiting.

Hermia

Oh, my good Lysander,
I swear by the strongest bow of Cupid
And the best, golden, arrow,
And the meekness of Venus doves,
I swear by what binds souls
And love makes you happy,
I swear by the fire that burned Dido,
When the lying Trojan sailed away,
I swear to you, Lysander, with all the darkness
Men of broken vows,
Which will surely surpass
In their number all women's vows,
I will be where you appointed me!

Lysander

Oh, dear friend, keep your promise!
Look, Elena is coming towards us.

Elena enters.

Hermia

Be happy, beautiful Elena!
Where are you going?

Elena

Beautiful? Alas!
Take back your name quickly!
Oh, Demetrius loves your beauty,
Happy! Yes, they burn for him
Your eyes are like a polar star,
And your voice is pleasant to him
More gratifying than the lark's singing
For the shepherd, when there are fields all around
Covered with green wheat,
And in the middle there is a hawthorn in bloom.
Diseases are sticky - why?
And beauty shouldn’t be sticky?
While I'm here, I might get infected,
O beautiful Hermia, by you!
My greedy ear would be filled with your voice
My eyes would assimilate your gaze;
My words would perhaps penetrate
By the melody of your sweetest words;
If only the whole world were my property,
Leaving Demetrius for himself, the world
I would give it just to be you.
Oh, teach me to look like you!
Tell me what method you have
Demetrius and his thoughts?

Hermia

I frown, but he still loves me.

Elena

Oh, if only I were charming
How your frown is, my smile!

Hermia

I argue with him, and he tells me
Words of love.

Elena

If only my prayers
They could have awakened love in him as well!

Hermia

And the more I hate him,
The more he pursues me.

Elena

He hates me even more
The more I surrender to him.

Hermia

His madness is not my fault.

Elena

No, your beauty is to blame.
Oh, if only mine were so guilty!

Hermia

Take comfort, he won't see me anymore:
I decided to run away with Lysander.
Until I saw
Lysander, Athens was paradise!
Now my paradise, alas, has changed
To cruel hell with the power of love!

Lysander

Elena, we will open our souls
In front of you. Tomorrow night we
When the moon's image is silvery
In the bosom of the mirror waters it will reflect
And he will remove all the weeds with wet pearl,
At the very hour that covers
In its silence lovers escape,
We decided to leave Athens.

Hermia

And in the forest in which you and I
So often, resting on flowers,
They poured out their dreams to each other,
I will meet with my Lysander;
There we will turn our eyes away from Athens,
To look for friends again in a foreign country.
Farewell my friend; pray
For the two of us. Let happiness give
Your love Demetrius! Lysander,
Don't forget the promised word:
Must be by tomorrow midnight
We deprive ourselves of a sweet date,
Which is like food for lovers!

Lysander

I will be there. Goodbye, Elena.
Let Demetrius belong to you,
How you belong to him now.

Elena

How uneven happiness is in this world!
A beauty just like her
In Athens I have a reputation; but what's the use?
Demetrius thinks differently: he doesn’t want
Recognize me as I am recognized by everyone.
But it seems that we are both mistaken:
He fell madly in love with Hermia,
And I am in his dignity. So what?
After all, for love everything is low and empty
It’s easy to recreate it into a decent one:
Love looks with the soul, not with the eyes.
And that's why winged Cupid
Presented to us blind and reckless.
To be with wings and to be deprived of eyes -
Haste senseless emblem!
Love is called a child because
That in her choice she often
She can be deceived like a child.
I've seen how windy children are
Among the game of promises to each other
Suddenly they cheat on them and suddenly cheat on them.
A love child, like other children,
I'm ready to take it back if necessary
All the promises made recently.
Demetrius has not yet seen
The eye of Hermia, he swore to me with a hail of oaths,
That he belongs only to me;
But this city melted before Hermia
And it fell like a cursed rain on the ground.
I will open an escape for Hermia:
Surely in the night to pursue her
He will start, and if gratitude
I'll get it from him for this,
It will cost me dearly!
Yes, see him there and then
It’s sad to return to Athens again -
This reward is enough for me!

Scene 2

Athens. A room in a hut. Enter Base, Gimlet, Flute, Snout, Pigwa and Otter.

Pigwa

The basis

It would be better to do a roll call, calling one after another in the order in which we are recorded.

Pigwa

Here is a list of the names of all those people who are found capable and chosen from all the Athenians to perform our interlude before the Duke and Duchess on the evening after the wedding.

The basis

First of all, dear Peter Pigwa, tell us what our play is? Then read the names of the actors. Get down to business.

Pigwa

OK! Our play is “A pitiful comedy about the cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe.”

The basis

It’s a nice thing, I assure you, it’s very funny! Now, dear Peter Pigva, call our actors from the list. Brothers, form a line.

Pigwa

Answer the call. Nick Warp, weaver!

The basis

On the face! Give me a role in the play and move on.

Pigwa

You, Nick Basis, will take on the role of Pyramus.

The basis

What is Pyramus? Lover or tyrant?

Pigwa

A lover who most nobly kills himself because of love.

The basis

It will take a few tears to play this role properly. If I play this role, then take care of your eyes, gentlemen, listeners! I'll raise a storm, I'll moan a lot! Well, move on to others! However, according to my character, the role of a tyrant would be more suitable for me: I would perfectly play the role of Hercules or a role in which I would have to rage and tell everything to hell.

(Recites.)

With trepidation, with a crash the rocks, pushing,
Prisons will eliminate constipation!
And Fib, approaching in his chariot,
Fates will change their verdicts!

This is beauty! Well, call out the rest of the actors. This is completely in the spirit of Hercules, in the spirit of a tyrant - lovers speak more tearfully.

Pigwa

Francis Flute, bellows blower.

Flute

Pigwa

You must take on the role of Thisbe.

Flute

What is Thisbe? Knight Errant?

Pigwa

Flute

No, damn it, I don’t want to play a female role: I’m already growing a beard.

Pigwa

The basis

If you can hide your face under a mask, then give me the role of Thisbe. I will say in a damn thin voice: “Thisbe, Thisbe! - Ah, Pyramus, my dear, my beloved! “Your dear Thisbe, your dear beloved!”

Pigwa

No no! You must play the role of Pyramus, and you, Flute, Thisbe.

The basis

Fine. Continue.

Pigwa

Robin Otter, tailor.

Otter

Pigwa

Robin Otter, you'll be playing Thisbe's mother. - Thomas Rylo, coppersmith!

Snout

Pigwa

For you - the role of Father Pyramus. I myself will play Thisbe's father. Driller, carpenter, you will portray a lion. Well, it seems that now all the roles have been distributed.

Buraw

Have you written the role of a lion? Please, if it is written, give it to me, otherwise I am very slow at memorizing it.

Pigwa

No, you will just improvise: you will only have to growl.

The basis

Let me take the role of the lion. I will growl so much that all listeners will love to listen to me. I will roar so much that the Duke will say: “Let him roar some more, let him roar some more!”

Pigwa

If you growl too terribly, you will frighten the Duchess and the ladies: you will growl, and they will squeal. And this is enough for us to be hanged.

All

Yes, that's enough to get us all hanged!

The basis

I agree with you, friends, that if we frighten the ladies to the point that they faint, then perhaps they may order us to be hanged; I will hold my voice and roar like a tender dove, I will roar like a nightingale.

Pigwa

You cannot play any other role than Pyramus. Pyramus needs a man with a pleasant appearance, the handsomest man one can imagine, in the prime of his life. This role requires a person with the most graceful and noble appearance. Therefore, you must certainly play the role of Pyramus.

The basis

Okay, I'll take it upon myself. Which beard is best for my role?

Pigwa

Whichever one you want.

The basis

I will give myself a beard of either straw color, or deep orange, or purple-raspberry, or bright yellow, a French shade.

Pigwa

French heads are often completely bald, and therefore you would have to play without a beard at all. However, friends, here are your roles. I demand, I beg and I humbly ask you to learn them by tomorrow evening. We will all gather in the ducal forest, which is only a mile from the city, and there, in the moonlight, we will do a rehearsal. If we gather in the city, the crowd will run after us and chatter about our intentions. In the meantime, I'll make a list of some of the things needed for our presentation. Please don't deceive me: come.

The basis

We will definitely be there. There you will be able to exercise freely and wonderfully. Try your best, friends! Don't be late! Farewell!

Pigwa

We will gather at the Duke's oak tree.

The basis

OK! We'll fail if we don't come!

Everyone leaves.

Act II

Scene 1

Forest near Athens. A fairy enters on one side and Peck on the other.

Pack

What's new? Where are you going, elf?

Fairy

Over the mountains, over the valleys,
Through the depths of the forest,
Over the fence, over the walls,
Through the fire and through the wave -
The path everywhere is not difficult for me.
I'm running faster than the moon,
I serve the wonderful queen
In the hour of midnight silence!
I am magic circles
I water it for her.
Do you see the letters on the lawn?
These are her pets;
Do you see the painted spots?
Are there gold on their clothes?
Those rubies are expensive,
Gift of young sorceresses.
They contain a cache of fragrance,
They have all the luxury of their beauty.
I'm in a hurry to get ready
Drops of morning dew;
I hang in the middle
I want every letter
By a dewdrop pearl.
Well, goodbye, I'm flying!
The holiday will begin here soon
For the young queen,
And with the queen it will be brought
A whole swarm of light elves!

Pack

And the king has a holiday here tonight.
Warn your queen
So that she doesn’t meet him at all:
He is extremely angry with her
Because she has a lovely boy,
Recently stolen from the king
Indian. The queen did not have
Never more beautiful than a child.
Our envious Oberon desires
Take him into your retinue at all costs,
To run around the wilderness of the forest with him;
Meanwhile, the dear child
I don’t want to give in to the queen.
She cleans it up with flowers
And in him alone lies all the joy.
Now that they meet
Or in the forest, or on green grass,
Or by the stream, under the brilliance of wonderful stars,
Then they start to quarrel so much,
That the elves all run away from fear
And they hide, poor things, quickly
Under the cups of fallen acorns.

Fairy

Your appearance and manner,
Perhaps I'm being deceived
But it seems that you are definitely an evil spirit.
Named Robin, or Good Friend.
Aren't you the one who scares the village girls?
Then you skim the cream off the milk,
Then you break hand mills,
You don’t let the housewife churn butter,
So you don’t let their drinks sour?
Aren't you the one who leads pedestrians astray?
And do you enjoy their fear and annoyance?
But who calls you dear Peck,
Thus you bring happiness with you,
And you do the work for them yourself.
Aren't you Peck?

Pack

Indeed, you found out:
I'm definitely that cheerful spirit of the nights
And together Oberon's court jester.
He often laughs at me,
When I start neighing like a mare,
And deceive the horse with your voice,
Who ate his fat with beans.
Sometimes, while frolicking, I take
Type of baked apple, and with it
I quietly hide in the cup of the godmother;
And as soon as the godfather begins to slurp,
I push into her lips and drink
I wet my wrinkled neck.
And sometimes for a sedate aunt,
When she starts telling
A story filled with tears
I, having become a three-legged, smooth chair,
I jump out from under it -
And the aunt flies in a fit of coughing,
And a whole choir, tucking their sides,
He laughs and sneezes and swears,
That he never had fun
As true as in this hour of the fall.
Shh! Oberon, my king, comes here!

Fairy

And here is my queen! It is good to,
If only your king would leave here soon.

Oberon and his retinue enter on one side, and Titania with her retinue on the other.

Oberon

Titania

Ah, it's you, jealous Oberon!
Come, elves: I swore
Do not share any company or bed with him.

Oberon

Stop, criminal wife:
Am I your husband?

Titania

And I'm your wife!
Oh, I know you often leave
Secretly a magical land
And in the form of the lover Corinne
You spend your days with a flute in your hands,
At the feet of his beloved Phyllida
And sing your love to her in poetry!
Why are you from distant Indian countries?
Did you come here? That's right because
What's with the daring Amazon in boots,
With your warlike darling,
Theseus is preparing to unite
And you want to give them to the bed
And happiness and joy without end.

Oberon

Titania, can you blame me?
Because I'm attached to Hippolyta?
I know your passion for Theseus:
In the pale light of the stars, isn't it you?
She stole him from Perigenes,
Which one did he seduce? Isn't it you
Made him forget all his vows
Which he gave to Ariadne,
Aglaya and the beautiful Antiope?

Titania

You invented all this in jealousy.
How summer passed in half,
It never happened to us to get together
In the forest, in the meadows, in the valley, on the mountain,
Or by a stream overgrown with reeds,
Or on the edge of the seaside shores,
To dance to the whistle and chatter of the wind
And make circles, without
So that you with your restless cry
Didn't interfere with the fun of our games.
And the winds seem to take revenge on us
Because they sing songs to us in vain,
Everyone began to suck from the sea
Malicious mists and vapors,
Fogs covered all the plains
And the insignificant little rivers swollen,
That the shores cannot contain them.
Since we quarreled with you,
In vain is the ox harnessed to the yoke,
The farmer wastes his labor in vain:
The green wheat has all rotted,
Although she hasn’t covered herself with fluff yet;
The crows have grown fat from death,
And they stand in the flooded fields
Forgotten, deserted paddocks;
Silt covered the traces of fun games,
And you can’t see anyone playing in the meadow.
Since then, winter has not pleased people,
And you can't hear the singing at night.
But the moon, ruler of the waters,
All pale with anger, she got drunk
Fog and dampness all over the air
And it gave rise to runny noses in abundance.
All times have been confused since then:
Then white-headed frost falls
Into the arms of a luxuriantly blooming rose;
As if in mockery, summer blows
Garlands from raspukolok and them
The brow of winter, crowned with ice,
And decorates the old lady’s beard.
Harsh winter, spring, and summer,
And the fertile autumn changes
Regular liveries among themselves;
The surprised world will not recognize the times -
And all this was caused by our discord,
And we are the reason and the beginning of everything!

Oberon

It's up to you to fix everything.
Titania, why contradict?
I'm just asking you to give in to the child.
To my pages.

Titania

You can be at peace -
I won’t take the whole magical country
For this child. His mother
She was my priestess. How many times
In the darkness of Indian nights, fragrant,
She used to be my companion!
On the golden Neptune sands
We loved to sit and watch
Like merchant ships on the waves
They rush into the distance. Oh, how we laughed
Admiring how the wind is playful
I pulled their sails - and those
They suddenly swelled with a huge belly!
Then my unfortunate friend
Pregnant was my page
And with dexterity, she used to imitate,
Flying through the air, sails,
Pregnant women from the wind. Above the ground
As if on the waves, having swam, she
Rushing back with some trinket
And she handed it to me, saying,
That our ship with its rich cargo
Came back from a long journey.
But my friend was mortal
And she died, giving her son life.
Loving her, I will raise a son;
Loving her, I will not part with him.

Oberon

Titania

Oberon

Give me the child -
And then I’m ready to go with you.

Titania

Titania and her retinue leave.

Here is an introductory fragment of the book.
Only part of the text is open for free reading (restriction of the copyright holder). If you liked the book, the full text can be obtained on our partner's website.

pages: 1 2 3 4 5

William Shakespeare

A dream in a summer night

CHARACTERS

Theseus , Duke of Athens.

Aegean , father of Hermia.

Lysander, Demetrius , in love with Hermia.

Philostratus , manager of entertainment at the court of Theseus.

Pigwa , a carpenter.

Gentleman , carpenter.

The basis , weaver

Dudka , bellows repairer.

Snout , coppersmith.

Hungry , tailor.

Hippolyta , queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus.

Hermia , in love with Lysander.

Elena , in love with Demetrius.

Oberon , king of fairies and elves.

Titania , queen of fairies and elves.

Peck, or Good Little Robin , little elf.

Sweet Pea, Cobweb, Moth, Mustard Seed , elves.

Fairies and elves, submissive to Oberon and Titania, retinue.

The scene is Athens and the forest nearby.

ACT I

Athens, Palace of Theseus.

Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostratus And retinue.

Beautiful, our wedding hour is getting closer:

Four happy days - new month

They'll bring it to us. But oh, how the old man hesitates!

He stands in the way of my desires,

Like a stepmother or an old widow,

That young men's income is being eaten up.

Four days of nights will quickly drown;

Four nights in dreams will disappear so quickly...

And the crescent moon is a bow made of silver,

Stretched in the sky, it will illuminate

The night of our wedding!

Philostratus, go!

Stirred up all the youth in Athens

And awaken the spirit of fun.

Let the sadness remain for the funeral:

We don't need a pale guest at our feast.

Philostratus leaves.

I got you with the sword, Hippolyta;

I achieved your love with threats,

But I will play the wedding in a different way:

Solemn, and fun, and magnificent!

Enter Aegean, Hermia, Lysander And Demetrius.

Be happy, our glorious Duke Theseus!

Thank you, Egey! What do you say?

I am upset, with a complaint to you

To Hermia - yes, to her own daughter! -

Demetri, come! - My lord,

This is the one to whom I wanted to give my daughter. -

Lysander, come closer too! - My lord!

And this one bewitched her heart. -

You, you, Lysander! You wrote poetry to her,

I exchanged pledges of love with her,

Under her windows in the moonlight

I feignedly sang love a feigned song!

You used it to capture her heart,

Bracelets, hair rings, candy,

Flowers, trinkets, trinkets - everything,

What sweetness to inexperienced youth!

By deceit you stole her love,

You are the obedience due to your father,

Turned evil into stubbornness! - So if

In your presence, my lord, she will not give

Consent to Demetrius, I appeal

To the ancient Athenian law:

Since my daughter is mine, I can be completely with her

locate; and I decided: Demetrius

Or - as provided by law

In such cases - death immediately!

Well, Hermia, beautiful maiden,

What do you say? Think it over carefully.

He created your beauty, and you

They cast a wax mold;

He has the right to leave it or break it.

Demetrius is a completely worthy person.

My Lysander too.

Yes, on my own;

But if your father is not for him,

That means he is more worthy.

I wanted my father to look at mine

No! Hurry up your eyes

We must obey his judgment.

Forgive me, Your Grace, I beg you.

I don’t know where I found the courage,

And is it possible, without offending modesty,

I can speak so freely in front of everyone.

But I beg you, let me find out:

What's the worst that's coming to me?

When will I not marry Demetrius?

What? Death! Or renunciation forever

From the company of men. That's why,

Oh Hermia, check yourself. Think:

You are young... Ask your soul,

When you go against your father's will:

Can you put on a nun's outfit?

To be forever imprisoned in a monastery,

Live your whole life as a barren nun2

And is it sad to sing hymns to the cold moon?

A hundred times blessed is he who humbles his blood,

To complete the virgin path on earth;

But the rose, dissolving into incense, 3

Happier than the one on the innocent bush

Blooms, lives, dies - all alone!

So I bloom, and live, and die

I want it sooner than my maiden rights

Give him power! His yoke

My soul does not want to submit.

Think about it, Hermia! On the day of the new moon

(On the day that will connect me with my love

For an eternal commonwealth) must

You be ready: or die

For violating the father's will,

Or marry the one he chose,

Or give forever at the altar of Diana

Vow of celibacy and harsh life.

Soften, O Hermia! - And you, Lysander,

Give in to my undeniable rights.

Demetrius, since your father loves you so much,

Give me your daughter and marry him yourself!

Impudent 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 it to Demetrius in full!

But, sir, I am equal in birth with him

Yes, and wealth; I love more;

I am no lower in status

Rather even higher than Demetrius;

And most importantly - what exceeds everything -

I love Hermia the beautiful!

Why should I renounce my rights?

Demetrius - yes, I’ll tell him to his face -