Shakespeare's Midsummer's Dream. A dream in a summer night

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 my 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,

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

TO special day and I'll talk

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

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.

She with common sense difficult to reconcile.

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's probably in the forest will go at night sometimes;

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.

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!

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.

Pack

Ah, fairy! Hello! Where is your path?

Fairy

Over the hills, over the valleys,

Through the thorns, through the bushes,

Over the waters, through the flames

I wander here and there!

I fly faster than the moon,

I serve the fairy queen

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.

Pack

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!

Fairy

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?

Pack

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.

Fairy

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

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

Oberon

Not in good hour I'm in the moonlight

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,

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...

Pack

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!

Pack

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

I do not love you! Leave me alone!

Well, where is Hermia and where is Lysander?

I want to kill him - I was killed by her!

You said: they fled into the forest...

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

Your honor will be my protection!

Your face lights up the night for me.

I don’t consider this forest deserted;

You are here with me, you are the whole world to me.

How can I say that I'm alone

When the whole world is here looking at me?

Demetrius

I'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,

Run. Let all fairy tales change:

Let Daphne chase after Apollo,

Yes, do it, make sure

He fell in love with her more instantly.

Get back before the rooster crows.

Pack

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

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.

Puck, 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 person with a pleasant appearance, handsome man, as imaginable, 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 stuffed himself 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 countries Indian
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, full text can be obtained from our partner's website.

pages: 1 2 3 4 5

Sleep in summer night(English: 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 married on 19 On this day, A Midsummer Night's Dream was first performed in the theater in February 1595. According to another version, A Midsummer Night's Dream was dedicated to the celebration of St. John's Day (a holiday similar to Ivan Kupala's Day 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 score for A Midsummer Night's Dream was very popular in 19th-century productions, and it also left its mark on 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 about this to Elena, who is in love with Demetrius, 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 love the first Living being, which will see and forget its 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

Oberon

Is this meeting under the moon good?
Arrogant 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. 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.
It's summer in my domain 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 Hank (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- Elena.

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. As musical arrangement Mendelssohn's music was used.

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 note 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. Best Actress It’s impossible to find anyone for this role; Michelle Pfeiffer in the role of 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

CHARACTERS

Theseus, Duke of Athens.
Aegeus, father of Hermia.
Lysander |
) lovers of Hermia.
Demetrius |
Philostratus, master of festivities at the court of Theseus.
Klin, carpenter.
Saw, carpenter.
Hank, weaver.
Duda, bellows repairman.
Snout, coppersmith.
Hungry 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.
Puck, or Rogue Robin.
Bob |
Cobweb) elves.
Moth |
Mustard |
Elves and fairies from the retinue of Oberon and Titania.
Retinue of Theseus and Hippolyta.

Setting: Athens and nearby forest.

ACT ONE

PHENOMENON 1

Athens. Palace of Theseus.
Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostratus and retinue.

Theseus
The hour of our wedding is near, Hippolyta:
Only four days until the new moon.
But old moon it takes so long to melt
And does not allow my wishes to come true,
Like a stepmother with a lifetime income,
Healing is to the detriment of his stepson.

Hippolyta
Four days will easily drown in the night,
Four nights of sleep will disappear easily,
And the new month, bending in the sky
He glances at his silvery bow
The night of our wedding.

Theseus
Philostratus, go,
Call the youth of Athens to fun,
Ignite a lively and ardent spirit of fun.
A despondent place is at a funeral;
We don't need this pale-faced guest.
Philostratus leaves.
I wooed you with my sword, Hippolyta,
I earned your love through cruelty;
But I will play the wedding in a different way,
Among the celebrations, and spectacles, and feasts.
Enter Aegeus, Hermia, Lysander and Demetrius.
Aegean
May our Duke Theseus be happy!
Theseus
Thank you, Egey. What did you come with?
Aegean
Full of indignation, I came with a complaint
To Hermia, to my own daughter.
Here, Demetri! This person
I, sir, have promised her as my husband.
Here, Lysander! And this man
He bewitched her soul, oh my Duke.
You, you, Lysander! You brought her poems,
Love pledges changed;
You are under her window, in the moonlight,
He languidly sang to her about languid love;
You captured her imagination
Giving now a lock of your hair, now a ring,
Flowers, gifts, memos, trinkets, -
Youth readily believes such ambassadors;
You stole my daughter's heart,
You turned your daughter's obedience
In obstinate stubbornness. Sovereign,
When she is here, before your eyes,
Demetrius will reject, I will come running
To the ancient custom of Athens:
She is mine, and I have all power over her.
That's why I'll give my daughter
I will condemn Demetrius to death,
As provided by law.
Theseus
What do you say, Hermia? Child, think:
Your Father is like God to you;
He is the one who created your beauty;
For him you are just a wax form,
Which he sculpted and is domineering
Either leave it like that or destroy it.
Demetrius is a very worthy person.
Hermia
The same goes for Lysander.
Theseus
On my own;
But here, since your father doesn't want him,
We recognize another as more worthy.
Hermia
Oh, if my father looked like me!
Theseus
No, you have to look through his eyes.
Hermia
May your lordship excuse me.
I don't know what gives me courage
And how my modesty allows me
In such presence, raise your voice;
But I ask: let me know
The worst thing that can happen to me
When I refuse my hand to Demetrius.
Theseus
Will you accept death or be forever
Excommunicated from the company of men.

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