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 come to the ducal oak tree for a rehearsal tomorrow evening.

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, upon waking up, he will fall in love with the first living creature which he will see. 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, not frighten 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, Cobweb and Moth - and orders them to serve “his dear one.” 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.”

The play "Dream in summer night"Shakespeare" was written between 1594 and 1596. It is considered the most romantic of all the comedies of 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 reader's diary and preparing for a literature lesson, we recommend reading online a summary of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by acts and scenes. You can test your knowledge using a test on our website.

Main characters

Theseus- Duke of Athens, a kind and fair ruler.

Lysander, Demetrius- young men, rivals in love.

Hermia- Demetrius's bride, in love with Lysander.

Elena- a girl unrequitedly in love with Demetrius.

Oberon- good king of fairies and elves.

Other characters

Aegean- Hermia's father, a powerful and cruel man.

Hippolyta- Queen of the Amazons, bride of Theseus.

Pigwa– carpenter, play organizer.

Warp- a weaver, one of the central characters in the play.

Titania- wife of Oberon, mistress of elves and fairies.

Pack- a little elf, a prankster.

Philostratus- entertainment manager.

Act I

Scene 1

Theseus is looking forward to his wedding with the Amazon queen Hippolyta, which is to take place in four days. He orders Philostratus to stir up “all the youth in Athens” and arrange happy holiday in honor of the upcoming wedding.

Aegeus comes to the ruler with “grief, with a complaint.” He wants to give his daughter in marriage to Demetrius, but the rebellious Hermia refuses this union because she loves Lysander.

Theseus reminds the girl that she must unquestioningly obey her father, reading him “as if he were a god.” Otherwise, she will face death or imprisonment in a monastery.

Lysander invites his beloved to get married in secret, and she agrees. They share their secret with Elena. However, she decides to tell Demetrius, with whom she is unrequitedly in love, about her upcoming escape.

Scene 2

On the eve of the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta, the carpenter Pigva gathers the townspeople to play in a festive production called “The Pitiful Comedy and the Very Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbe.”

Pigva distributes the roles, gives texts to the homegrown actors and schedules a rehearsal for the next night.

Act II

Scene 1

In a magical forest near Athens, a quarrel occurs between the ruler of fairies and elves, Oberon, and his wife Titania. The subject of the dispute is a baby who was “kidnapped from the Indian Sultan” and to whom Titania became 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.

Subordinate to Oberon is the little elf Peck - “a cheerful spirit, a naughty night tramp.” The king orders him to find a flower that was accidentally hit by Cupid’s arrow - “His name is “Love in Idleness.” If you smear the juice of this flower on the eyelids of a sleeping person, he will fall in love with the first person he sees immediately after waking up. In this way, Oberon wants to distract his wife’s attention from the boy and take him away.

Seeing Demetrius and Helena, the king of the elves turns 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 Peck to smear Demetrius’s eyelids with the magic juice of a flower, and he will fall in love with Elena.

Scene 2

The Elf Lord applies the remaining magic juice to Titania's eyelids. Meanwhile, Hermia and Lysander lose their way and, tired, fall asleep in the forest.

Little Peck, having confused Demetrius with Lysander, wets the latter’s eyelids while he sleeps. Elena walks through the forest, upset by Demetrius’s behavior, and stumbles upon the sleeping Lysander. As soon as he sees Elena in front of him, the young man unleashes a flurry of declarations of love on her. Elena is sure that Lysander is mocking her and runs away into the forest.

Hermia sees bad 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

The citizens of Athens, who have been chosen to take part in the play, gather in the forest. The plot involves suicide, “and ladies can’t stand that at all.” Therefore, the Foundation decides to write two prologues to the play and emphasize the fiction of everything that happens.

Elf Peck watches the actors' rehearsal. He decides to play a prank on them and enchants the Base, turning his head into that of a donkey. Basic's friends run away in fear, and the prankster Peck rushes after them to "grunt and neigh, burn, roar and growl" and scare them even more.

Titania wakes up and falls wholeheartedly in love with the Base, who was wandering alone not far from her. She summons the “light swarm of elves” to serve the new master.

Scene 2

Peck reports to his master that “Titania fell in love with a monster” - a man with a donkey’s head. Oberon is pleased with this state of affairs. But, having learned that Pek mixed up the young men, the king is angry and goes in search of Demetrius to correct the mistake of his servant. Pek flies “faster than all the Tatar arrows” to Elena in order to lure her into the wilderness.

Hermia finds Demetrius and accuses him of murdering his beloved Lysander. Tired of proving his innocence to the girl, Demetri falls asleep. Waking up, he sees Elena in front of him and, bewitched by the juice of the flower, falls in love with her. However, the girl is not at all happy: she is sure that Lysander and Demetrius, who suddenly had feelings for her, are only mocking her, and are ready to “joke at the defenseless - for the sake of a game.”

The young people, who have now become rivals, are ready to fight a duel to find out “who has more rights to Elena.” Puck is “glad that it turned out so funny,” but Oberon orders him to lead the young people into the forest thicket, then separate them and lead them in circles for a long time. When the exhausted rivals fall asleep, the elf smears Lysander's eyelids with an antidote to the magical love juice.

Act IV

Scene 1

Having received the baby and having had a lot of fun with his wife, who is in love with a donkey, Oberon decides to free her from the spell and “drive away her empty delusion from her eyes.” The lord of the elves also orders the faithful Peck to remove the donkey's head "from the head of the Athenian tramp" and send all the actors back to the city.

Theseus enters the clearing, accompanied by Hippolyta and his subjects. He wants to show off his beautiful hounds to his beloved, but suddenly notices the sleeping young people. Theseus is surprised to see them together - after all, these are long-time “rivals in love.”

Lysander honestly tells the ruler that he planned to run away with his beloved Hermia and secretly get married. Demetrius, in turn, admits that from now on “passion, purpose and joy of the eyes” are Helena, not Hermia.

Theseus graciously agrees to these unions and reports that today “two couples of lovers will unite in the temple.”

Scene 2

The actors gather at Pigva's house. After a night rehearsal, no one can find the Basis - “no other way than he was carried away evil spirits ».

The Base enters and informs his friends that he has been ordered “to all converge at the palace.” He asks everyone to repeat their roles once again, put on clean underwear, but most importantly, not to eat “neither onions nor garlic” in order to “emit a sweet fragrance” during the game.

Act V

Scene 1

Theseus is wary of the lovers' story - he does not believe "fables and fairy tales" Hippolyta shares the opinion of her future husband, and believes that “in the events of this night there is more than one play of the imagination.”

Theseus asks the lovers how they would like to brighten up their leisure time “from dinner to bed.” He summons the entertainment manager Philostratus, and he offers the Duke “a list of all ready-made entertainments.” Theseus chooses a play by Athenian artisans, but Philostratus considers this production unsuccessful, since “there is not a worthwhile word in it, nor a 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 amendments to the plot. Such absurdity amuses the Duke and his guests, and they are satisfied with the play. At midnight everyone goes home.

Scene 2

At 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 more qualitative analysis Shakespeare's works after reading brief retelling"A Midsummer Night's Dream" we recommend reading the play in its entirety.

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Theseus , Duke of Athens.

Aegean , father of Hermia.

Lysander, Demetrius , in love with Hermia.

Philostratus , manager of entertainment at the court of Theseus.

Pigwa , carpenter.

Gentleman , carpenter.

Warp , 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,

Current page: 1 (book has 3 pages in total) [available reading passage: 1 pages]

William Shakespeare
A Midsummer Night's Dream

Characters

Theseus, Duke of Athens.

Hey, Hermia's father.

Lysander, Demetrius, in love with Hermia.

Philostratus, manager of entertainment at the court of Theseus.

Pigva, carpenter.

Gentleman, carpenter

Warp, weaver.

Dudka, bellows repairer.

Snout, coppersmith

Runt, 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, Butterfly, 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, 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,
But I will play the wedding in a different way:
Solemn, and fun, and magnificent!

Enter Aegeus, 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.
You should consider your father as if you were a god:
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

How would I
I wanted my father to look at mine
With your eyes!

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!

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 the retinue leave.

Lysander

So, 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 highest - to be captivated by the lower!..

Lysander

Or the difference in years...

Hermia

O mockery!
Being too old for a young bride!

Lysander

Or the choice of relatives and friends...

Hermia

Oh flour!
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 should 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
Brighter than the stars, your voice is dearer,
Than the lark's song among the fields...
Whether beauty is a sticky disease -
I would get infected from you, my friend!
I would steal it from you
And the sparkle of the 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 me more and more.

Elena

Such power - if only for 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

Lysander

Elena, friend, I will reveal everything to you:
Tomorrow night, as soon as he sees Phoebeus
Your silvery face in the river mirror,
Reeds 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, Warp, Dudka, Snout And Hungry.

Pigwa

Is our entire company assembled?

Warp

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.

Warp

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.”

Warp

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!

Warp

Eat! Name my role and continue the roll call.

Pigwa

You, Nick Basis, have been targeted for Pyramus.

Warp

What is Pyramus? Lover or Villain?

Pigwa

A lover who valiantly kills himself because of love.

Warp

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

Doesn't mean anything; you can play in a mask and you will squeak in the thinnest voice.

Warp

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.

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 the father of Pyramus. 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.

Warp

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!

Warp

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-bred, with manners, well, in a word, exactly like you... You only play Pyramus.

Warp

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

Pigwa

Yes, whichever one you want.

Warp

OK. I'll introduce him to you with a straw-colored beard. 1
A red beard was worn when playing the roles of villains and traitors, for example Judas. All the colors listed by the Base were very unsuitable for the role of Pyramus's tender lover.

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 2
A play on words: the “French crown” (coin) is bare, there cannot be hair on it, but the “French crown”, corona Veneris (med.), is a consequence of the “French disease”, often leading to hair loss.

And you will have to play with a bare face... - Well, citizens, here are your roles, and I ask you, beg you and 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.

Warp

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.

Warp

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

They leave.

Act II

Scene 1

Forest near Athens.

Appear with different sides 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
I sprinkle the circle in the grass with dew.
The 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 back! 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 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.
Are you Peck?

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 his retinue, on the other 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.

Oberon

Wait, you wretch! Am I not your husband?

Titania

So, I am your wife! But I know
How did you secretly leave the magical land
And in the form of Corin on the pipe
Played all day and sang poems of love
Phillide is tender. Why are you here?
Then came from distant India,
What about your daring mistress,
In buskins, an Amazon, now a wife
Theseus takes, and you want to lay them down
And give happiness and joy?

Oberon

Shame, shame, Titania! Is it for you?
Should I be blamed for Hippolyta?
I know your love for Theseus!
Aren't you him in the twinkling of a starry night?
Took her away from poor Perigenes?
Was it not for you that he mercilessly abandoned
Egmea, Ariadne, Antiope?

Titania

All the fabrications of your jealousy!
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
Wreath of fragrant 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

Be 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

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.
If not, go ahead and I’ll go further away.

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 leave.

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,
That he could pierce thousands of hearts!
But the fiery arrow suddenly went out
In the moisture of the innocent moon's rays,
And the royal priestess left
In virginal thought, alien to love.
But I saw where the arrow fell:
In the West there is a small flower;
From white it turned scarlet from the wound!
"Love in idleness 3
“Love in Idleness” – Old English popular name Pansy flower.

" his name is.
Find him! You know how it grows...
And if the juice of this flower
We will lubricate the eyelids of the sleeping man, when he wakes up,
He is the first living creature
What he sees, he will fall madly in love.
Find a flower and come back soon
Than Leviathan can swim a mile.

I'm ready to fly around the entire globe
In half an hour.

(Disappears.)

Oberon

Having obtained this juice,
I will find Titania sleeping,
I'll sprinkle magic liquid into 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 busy monkey, -
She will rush after him with her soul,
And before I remove the spell from her
(What can I do with other grass)
She will give me the boy herself!
But who is coming here? I'm invisible
I can eavesdrop on mortal conversations.

Included Demetrius; Elena follows him.

Demetrius

Elena

You attracted me, cruel magnet,
Although you are not pulling iron, but your heart,
Which is truer in love than steel.
Stop attracting - I won’t reach out.

Demetrius

Was I being nice to you?
Did I entice you? I said directly
Whatever I don’t love, I won’t love you.

Elena

But I love you more and more.
After all, I am your dog: hit harder -
I will only wag my tail in response.
Well, treat me like a little dog:
Kick, hit, drive me;
Allow me only one thing, unworthy
(Could I ask for anything less?) –
So that you tolerate me like a dog.

Demetrius

Do not tempt my hatred.
I feel sick when I see you.

Elena

And I'm sick when I don't see you.

Demetrius

You're putting your modesty at risk
Leaving the city and giving myself
Free for those who don't love you:
You trust the temptations of the night
And the evil suggestions of these deserted places
The treasure of your innocence.

Elena

Demetrius

I'll run away and hide in the thicket of the forest,
I will throw you to the beasts to be eaten.

Elena

Oh! The most fierce beast is kinder! Well then
Run. Let all fairy tales change:
Let Daphne chase after Apollo,
The dove follows the griffin, the doe follows the tiger,
Aimless pursuit, if courage
She runs, and timidity chases after her!

Demetrius

Enough, I don't want to listen anymore!
Let me go! And if you run after me,
I will hurt you in the forest!

Elena

Oh, you've been hurting me for a long time
Everywhere - in the temple, in the city and in the field.
Shame on you! You have insulted all the women in me.
It's not right for us to fight for love:
They beg us, your job is to beg.
I won't be left behind. Hell can be heaven
If we die by the hand of our beloved.

Demetrius And Elena leaving.

Oberon

Good journey, nymph! Blowjob night - and you will
You run away, he chases you!

Appears Pack.

Hello my wanderer! What, did you find a flower?

Yes, here it is!

Oberon

ABOUT! Give it quickly!
There is a hill in the forest: wild cumin grows there,
The violet blooms next to the letter,
And honeysuckle has its fragrant canopy
Intertwined with fragrant muscat rose;
There, tired of the fun game,
The queen likes to relax sometimes;
From the shiny skin shed by a snake -
For the fairy there is a blanket there on the bed.
There I will let the magic juice into her eyes,
So that Titania would be captivated by strange nonsense.
But take some: wandering through the forest here
Beauty, into an arrogant rake
In love. Lubricate his eyes
But try so that our handsome man
He saw her and opened his lids a little.
Look: he is wearing Athenian clothes.
Yes, do it, make sure
He fell in love with her more instantly.
Get back before the rooster crows.

Do not be afraid, the faithful spirit will fulfill everything.

They leave.

Scene 2

Another part of the forest.

Included Titania with his retinue.

Titania

Make a circle now and sing a song!
Then for a third of a minute - everything from here:
Who is to kill worms in muscat roses,
Who – to get mice bats wings
For elves to wear cloaks, who drive owls,
That they hoot all night, marveling at us.
Now you lull me to sleep
Then go: I want to sleep.

First Elf

(sings)

In the motley spots of the copperhead
And prickly hedgehogs,
Away, away from the queen,
Snakes, worms and snakes!

Sweet-voiced nightingale,
Merge a song with our song!
Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye!
The intrigues, the spells of the enemy,
Don't disturb bright dreams.
Sleep, queen, rest.
Good night, bye, bye!

First Elf

Don't you dare do anything bad
Long-legged spiders!
All snails, get out of here!
Get lost, black bugs!

Sweet-voiced nightingale,
Merge a song with our song!
Bye, bye... etc.

Second Elf

Everything is calm... Now we’re flying.
One - remain a sentry!

Elves disappear . Titania falls asleep. Appears Oberon.

Oberon

(squeezing the flower onto Titania's eyes)

What will you see when you wake up?
You will be passionate about it with all your heart.
Let love oppress you:
Be it a wolf, a bear, or a cat,
Or a hog with stiff bristles -
For your loving gaze
He will become just nicer.
When he comes, wake up quickly!

(Disappears.)

Enter Lysander And Hermia.

Lysander

My love! Are you tired of wandering
But I admit that I have lost my way.
Don't you want to lie down and wait,
So that the new day will dispel all worries?

Hermia

Well, then find yourself a shelter;
And I’ll lie down here on the mossy slope.

Lysander

I will also lie down on the same moss:
There is one heart in us, even if there is one bed!

Hermia

No, no, my Lysander! I love you!
But lie back, I pray for it!

Lysander

My friend, understand the innocence of my words,
Love will help you understand them.
I wanted to say that love is wonderful
Merged our two hearts tightly into one
And she bound them both with an oath,
That loyalty alone lives in them to the grave.
Don't refuse me a place nearby:
Believe me, I am incapable of lying.

Hermia

You play with words skillfully;
But how sad it would be for my pride,
When would I allow a lie in you!
But respect and love you still
You will prove it to me when you move further:
For a boy and a girl, human shame
Doesn't allow such closeness...
Lie down further. Sleep peacefully, without worries;
And only with life let love pass.

Lysander

Hermia

I wish the same for you, dear!

They fall asleep.

Included Pack.

I walked right through the forest:
There was no one there
So that I can check it on it
I am the flower's magic juice.
Night... Silence... Shh! Who's there?
Isn't it him himself?
This is him, no doubt:
He is dressed in Athenian style.
There's a girl here too
Sleeps sweetly on a damp bed.
Oh, poor thing! So tender...
And she didn’t dare lie down
Closer to the heartless?
O villain! Well, just wait!

(Squeezes the juice of the flower onto Lysander’s eyes.)

Enslaved by the power of enchantment,
Let him barely wake up
He will lose sleep from love.
I'm flying: Oberon is waiting!

(Disappears.)

Included Demetrius, runs after him Elena.

Elena

Oh wait! Kill me, kill me!

Demetrius

I say: get out of my sight quickly!

Elena

Will you leave me alone? Have mercy!

Demetrius

Leave me, or else... Let me go! Go away!

(Runs away.)

Elena

No strength! I'm exhausted in the chase.
The more requests, the less I achieve.
Oh, happiness to her, wherever she is,
What the beauty of the stars is given to her eyes!
And why are those stars so shiny?
Not from salty tears: I cry more often!
No, I’m ugly, disgusting, like a bear!
The beast is afraid to look at me.
So how can I marvel at Demetrius?
Why is he, like an animal, trying to get away from me?
Like a mirror, you lying glass,
Could I be equal to her?
But what is it? Lysander? He lies here!
But is he dead or sleeping? No blood: not killed.
Wake up, O Lysander, my friend! What's wrong with you?

Lysander

(waking up)

I will throw myself into the flames with delight for you,
Transparent Elena! I see
How your soul shines through in beauty.
Where is Demetri? Here's the name for
Who will die by my sword!

Elena

No, no, Lysander, you don't say that.
Let him love her; but understand:
She loves you - that's enough!

Lysander

Enough? No! It's hard and painful for me
Why did I spend time with her voluntarily?
I don’t love Hermia, I love Elena.
I took the dove as a replacement for the crow.
After all, the mind has the will in subordination,
And he said: you are superior without comparison!
It’s not time for the fruits to ripen:
I was still young in years,
But my mind has matured to the core
And now he has become the leader of my desires.
I read in your eyes at this moment
A story of love in the most beautiful of books.

Elena

Why am I doomed to torment?
What did you do to deserve these insults?
Or is it not enough for you, or is it not enough for you,
That I don’t see affection from him,
Why did you laugh at me shamelessly?
No, it’s hardly possible to do worse!
You should be ashamed of this bad joke:
It's a mockery to suddenly court me!
Farewell! But I must tell you
What more chivalry was waiting to be found in you.
Oh gods! To be rejected by one
To be rudely ridiculed by others!

(Runs away.)

Lysander

A! She didn't see Hermia!
Sleep, Hermia! I don't need you anymore.
Yes, it disgusts us
Excess in delicacy or satiety.
So the heresy later outrages those
Whomever she seduced, it was like a grave sin.
You were such my heresy:
Let everyone curse you, I am the strongest!
I will give all my strength to the power of Elena:
To love her, to serve her without betrayal.

(Runs away.)

Hermia

(waking up)

My Lysander, help! I'll come soon,
Rip the creeping snake off your chest!..
Oh terrible dream!.. I am trembling with fear.
I dreamed that a terrible snake
It was gnawing at my heart. It was hard, stuffy,
And you looked with an indifferent smile.
Lysander! How! No? Gone? O my husband!..
Doesn't he hear? Answer me, dear friend,
In the name of all love! What is this?
I faint from fear. No answer?
So, does that mean I should go looking?
To find him is to find your death!

(Runs away.)

Attention! This is an introductory fragment of the book.

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A Midsummer Night's Dream is a comedy by William Shakespeare, written between 1594 and 1596. Presumably, the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was written by Shakespeare for the wedding of the English aristocrat and patron of the arts, Elizabeth Carey, who got married on February 19, 1595, on this day “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was first performed in the theater. According to another version, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is dedicated to the celebration of St. John’s Day (a holiday similar to the day of Ivan Kupala in the Russian tradition. ).
In 1826, 17-year-old German composer Felix Mendelssohn wrote music for a theatrical production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Mendelssohn's music for A Midsummer Night's Dream was very popular in 19th-century productions; it also left its mark in cinema, being the main theme song in the 1935 film A Midsummer Night's Dream. Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" gained particular popularity, turning from a hymn to the fickleness of love for many into a hymn to marital fidelity.

Theseus is going to marry Hippolyta, and the wedding of Demetrius and Hermia is also being prepared, on which Hermia’s father insists. Hermia loves Lysander, together they decide to run away and tell Elena, who is in love with Demetrius, about this in the hope that Elena will be pleased by the escape of her rival for Demetrius’s heart. Elena, counting on Demetrius’ gratitude, tells him about the escape of his bride. As a result, all four - Hermia, Lysander, Helen and Demetrius - find themselves in the forest at a time when the king of fairies and elves Oberon decides to punish his wife Titania, who does not give him her Indian page. Oberon orders his servant Puck to smear the eyes of the sleeping Titania with magic juice, after she wakes up, she will fall in love with the first living creature who sees and forgets her Indian pet. There is magic juice in a flower that grew in the place where Cupid's arrow hit, bouncing off a chaste virgin.

Fairy

Or maybe you just look like him,
Or are you really Rogue Robin,
Evil spirit. Not you in the villages
Are you scaring girls? Do you grind the grains yourself?
Skim off the cream and spend hours on end
Don't you let the worker churn the butter?
Are you spoiling the yeast in your beer? You're fooling
Do you want to follow the night traveler?
And who calls you "dear Puck"
That's why you're happy to help in this way and that.
Tell me, is it you?

Fairy and Puck

Arthur Rackham - Fairy and Puck

Arthur Rackham - Fairy and Puck

Oberon

Is this meeting under the moon good?
Haughty Titania?

Titania

What is this?

Jealous Oberon? Let's fly away, fairies!
I hate the sight of him and his bed.

Oberon and Titania

Joseph Noel Paton. The dispute between Oberon and Titania

Alfred Fredericks. Titania and Oberon

Arthur Rackham - Titania and Oberon

Arthur Rackham. Titania

Arthur Rackham - Titania

Amateur actors also come to the forest, deciding to perform the play “Pyramus and Thisbe” at the wedding of Theseus. One of them, the weaver Motok (in another translation - the Basis), turns out to be turned by Pak into a creature with a donkey's head. The weaver with the donkey's head is the first one Titania sees after waking up and falls in love with him.

Titania

Don’t try to leave this thicket.
You wouldn't find a way anyway.
I am a creature of the rarest of breeds.
In my domain it is summer all year round.
And I love you. Come, my friend.
Elves will come running to you for services,
So that you can look for pearls in the seas
And sing when you're dozing on the flowers.
This is how I will cleanse your mortal frame,
That you, like a spirit, will soar above the earth.

Titania and Base

Alfred Fredericks - Foundation

Alfred Fredericks - Titania and the Skein (Base)

Alfred Fredericks - Titania and the Base

Edwin Landseer. Titania and Base

John Anster Fitzgerald. Titania and Base

Joseph Noel Paton. Titania and Skein (Base)

Arthur Rackham - Titania and the Foundation

Oberon witnessed a conversation between Helen and Demetrius, who rejects the girl in love. Oberon orders Puck to pour magic juice into the eyes of the sleeping Demetrius so that Demetrius will fall in love with Helen. But Puck mistakenly pours juice into Lysander's eyes and he falls in love with Helen, forgetting his love for Hermia. Correcting himself, Puck waters Demetri's eyes and he also falls in love with Elena. Helen, who did not have a single admirer, now finds two and decides that Demetrius, Lysander and Hermia want to play a cruel joke on her. Hermia is at a loss as to why Lysander has lost interest in her. Demetrius and Lysander leave to fight for Helen's heart.

Arthur Rackham. Elena

Jones Simmons. Hermia and Lysander

Alfred Fredericks - Lysander and Hermia

Alfred Fredericks - Hermia

Alfred Fredericks. Demetri and Elena

Oberon orders Puck to remove the effect of the magic juice from Lysander, and he himself heals Titania, who has already given him the Indian boy. The weaver returns to his normal appearance and he and his comrades play at a triple wedding: Theseus marries Hippolyta, Lysander marries Hermia, and Demetrius marries his new love, Helen.

Oberon
(speaking)

Oh, Robin, hello! Do you see? Admire it.
I'm starting to feel sorry for the poor thing.
Now she was collecting at the edge of the forest
Flowers for this vile creature;

Oberon, Titania and Hank (Base)

Titania

My Oberon! Oh, what a fable!
I had a dream that I loved a donkey.

Oberon

Here he is, your gentle friend.

Oberon, Titania and Base

Alfred Fredericks - Titania, Oberon and Foundation

John Anster Fitzgerald - Oberon and Titania

William Blake. Oberon, Titania and Puck with dancing fairies

Alfred Fredericks - Theseus and Hippolyta

Now I’ll tell you about two film adaptations of Shakespeare’s comedy that I watched - 1935 and 1999.

The 1935 film A Midsummer Night's Dream was directed by Max Reinhardt and William Dieterli. This film has a wonderful fairytale atmosphere, especially Titania, played by Anita Louise.

Stills from the film "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1935):

Oberon and Titania

Titania and Base

Hermia (played by Olivia de Havilland)

Elena (played by Jean Muir)

Of the modern adaptations of A Midsummer Night's Dream, I would like to mention the 1999 film directed by Michael Hoffman, I like it even more than the 1935 film, despite some deviations from Shakespeare's original text - the action is transferred to the Italian town of Athens at the end of the 19th century, and Lysander, Hermia, Demetrius and Helena ride bicycles through the forest. If in the 1935 film the emphasis is shifted towards the fairy tale, then in the 1999 film the main thing is not the fabulousness, but the comic nature of what is happening, due to this the film is watched in one go. Plays Titania. It is impossible to choose a better actress for this role; Michelle Pfeiffer as the queen of fairies and elves is simply magnificent.

Stills from the film "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1999):

Oberon and Titania

Titania and Base

Of the theatrical performances of the role of Titania, one cannot fail to mention Vivien Leigh; she first appeared on stage in the role of Titania in the play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” on December 27, 1937.

Vivien Leigh as Titania