I'd rather wither away than give up my virginity to
someone I don't love.
THESEUS
Take time to pause, and by the next new moon—
The sealing day betwixt my love and me
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For everlasting bond of fellowship—
Upon that day either prepare to die
For disobedience to your father's will,
Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would,
Or on Diana's altar to protest
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For aye austerity and single life.
THESEUS
Take some time to think about this. By the time of the next new
moon—the day when Hippolyta and I will be
married—be ready either to be executed for disobeying
your father, to marry Demetrius as your father wishes, or to take a
vow to spend the rest of your life as a virgin priestess of the moon
goddess.
DEMETRIUS
Relent, sweet Hermia—And, Lysander, yield
Thy crazèd title to my certain right.
DEMETRIUS
Please give in, sweet Hermia.—And Lysander, stop acting
like she's yours. I've got more of a right to
her than you do.
LYSANDER
You have her father's love, Demetrius.
Let me have Hermia's. Do you marry him.
LYSANDER
Her father loves you, Demetrius. So why don't you marry
him and let me have Hermia?
EGEUS
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Scornful Lysander, true, he hath my love,
And what is mine my love shall render him.
And she is mine, and all my right of her
I do estate unto Demetrius.
EGEUS
It's true, rude Lysander, I do love him.
That's why I'm giving him my daughter.
She's mine, and I'm giving her to
Demetrius.
LYSANDER
(to
THESEUS) I am, my lord, as well
derived as he,
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As well possessed. My love is more than his.
My fortunes every way as fairly ranked,
(If not with vantage) as Demetrius'.
And—which is more than all these boasts can
be—
I am beloved of beauteous Hermia.
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Why should not I then prosecute my right?
Demetrius, I'll avouch it to his head,
Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena,
And won her soul. And she, sweet lady, dotes,
Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry
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Upon this spotted and inconstant man.
LYSANDER
(to
THESEUS) My lord, I'm just
as noble and rich as he is. I love Hermia more than he does. My
prospects are as good as his, if not better. And beautiful Hermia
loves me—which is more important than all those other
things I'm bragging about. Why shouldn't I be
able to marry her? Demetrius—and I'll say this
to his face—courted Nedar's daughter, Helena,
and made her fall in love with him. That sweet lady, Helena, loves
devoutly. She adores this horrible and unfaithful man.
