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William Shakespeare
A dream in a summer night

Characters

Theseus, Duke of Athens.

Hey, father of Hermia.

Lysander, Demetrius in love with Hermia.

Philostratus, manager of entertainment at the court of Theseus.

Pigwa, a carpenter.

Milaga, carpenter.

The foundation, weaver.

Dudka, bellows repairman.

Snout, coppersmith.

Zamorysh, tailor.

Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus.

Hermia, in love with Lysander.

Helena, in love with Demetria.

Oberon, the king of fairies and elves.

Titania, the 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, Theseus' palace.

Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostratus and retinue.

Theseus

Beautiful, our marriage hour is getting closer:
Four happy days - a new month
They will bring us. But oh, how the old one hesitates!
He stands in the way of my desires,
Like a stepmother or an old widow,
That the young man's income is eating up.

Hippolyta

Four days at night will drown quickly;
Four nights in dreams will sink so quickly ...
And the crescent moon is a bow of silver
Stretched in the sky - will illuminate
Our wedding night!

Theseus

Philostratus, go!
Stir up all the youth in Athens
And awaken the spirited spirit of fun.
Let the sadness for the funeral remain:
We don't need a pale guest at the feast.

Philostratus leaves.

Theseus

I got you with the sword, Hippolyta;
I have achieved your love by threats,
But I'll play the wedding in a different way:
Solemn, and fun, and magnificent!

Enter Aegeus, Hermia, Lysander and Demetrius.

Aegeus

Be happy, our glorious duke Theseus!

Theseus

Thank you, Aegeus! What do you say?

Aegeus

I'm upset, with a complaint to you
To Hermia - yes, to her own daughter! -
Demetrius, come here! - My sir,
Here is the one to whom I wanted to give my daughter. -
Lysander, come closer! - My sir!
But this one bewitched her heart. -
You, you, Lysander! You wrote poetry to her
The pledges of love changed with her,
Under her windows in the moonlight
Feigned love sang a feigned song!
You used it to capture her heart,
Bracelets, hair rings, candy,
Flowers, trinkets, trinkets - everything
That inexperienced youth is sweet!
By deceit you stole her love,
You are obedience due to the father,
Turned into evil stubbornness! - So if
She with you, my sir, will not give
Consent to Demetrius, I appeal
To the ancient Athenian law:
Since my daughter, I can completely
Position; and I decided: Demetrius
Or - as provided by law
In such cases, death is immediate!

Theseus

Well, Hermia, beautiful maiden,
What do you say? Think it over carefully.
You should consider your father as a god:
He created your beauty, and you
It is a cast wax mold;
Leave it or break it - he has the right.
Demetrius is quite a worthy man.

Germia

So is my Lysander.

Theseus

Yes, by itself;
But if your father is not for him,
That means that he is more worthy.

Germia

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

Theseus

No! Hurry your eyes
We must obey his judgment.

Germia

Excuse me, Your Grace, I beg you.
I myself do not know where I found the courage,
And is it possible, without offending modesty,
I’m so free to speak in front of everyone.
But I conjure, let me know:
What's the worst for me
When will I not marry Demetri?

Theseus

What? Death! Or renunciation forever
From the society of men. That's why,
O Hermia, check yourself. Think:
You are young ... Ask your soul,
When you go against your father's will:
Are you able to wear a nun's outfit,
To be imprisoned in a monastery forever,
Live a barren nun all my life
And it's sad to sing to the moon cold hymns?
Stokrates blessed, who humbles his blood,
To make the virgin path on earth;
But the rose, dissolving in the incense,
Happier than the one on the innocent bush
Blossoms, lives, dies - all alone!

Germia

So I bloom and live and die
I want it sooner than girl's rights
Give him power! His yoke
My soul does not want to submit.

Theseus

Think it over, Hermia! On the day of the new moon
(On the day that connects me with my love
For eternal fellowship) must
Are you ready: or die
For violation of the father's will,
Or marry whoever he has chosen
Or give forever at the altar of Diana
A vow of celibacy and a harsh life.

Demetrius

Relax, O Hermia! - And you, Lysander,
Give in to my indisputable rights.

Lysander

Demetri, since your father loves you so much,
Give me your daughter and marry him yourself!

Aegeus

Impertinent 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 Demetrius in full!

Lysander

But, sir, with him I am equal in birth
Yes, and wealth; I love more;
In terms of position, I am no lower,
Rather even higher than Demetrius;
And most importantly - what exceeds everything -
I love Hermia very well!
Why should I renounce my rights?
Demetrius - yes, I'll tell him to his face -
He was in love with Elena, daughter of Nedar.
He carried her away. Tender Elena
Madly loves a fickle
He worships an empty person!

Theseus

I must admit I heard something about it
And I even thought to talk to him;
But busy with the most important things,
I forgot about that. - Come with me, Demetrius,
And you, Hey! Come with me both
And we will find something to talk about! -
Well, Hermia, try to subdue
Your dreams to your father's wish
Otherwise the Athenian law will betray you
(Which we cannot change)
For death or eternal celibacy. -
Well, Hippolyta ... What, my love?
Come ... Demetrius and Aegeus follow me.
I will instruct you to arrange something
To the solemn day and the ceiling
About what concerns both of you.

Aegeus

We are always glad to fulfill our duty.

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

Lysander

Well, my love? How pale your cheeks are!
How quickly the roses suddenly withered on them!

Germia

Not because there is no rain that
It is easy to get out of the storm of my eyes.

Lysander

Alas! I have never heard
And I didn’t read it - in history, in a fairy tale, -
So that the path of true love is smooth.
But - or a difference in origin ...

Germia

Oh woe! The higher is to be captivated by the lower! ..

Lysander

Or the difference in years ...

Germia

About mockery!
To be too old for a young bride!

Lysander

Or the choice of relatives and friends ...

Germia

About flour!
But how to love someone else's choice?

Lysander

And if the choice is good for everyone, - war,
Illness or death always threatens love
And they make it, like a sound, instant,
Like a shadow, flying and, like a dream, short.
So lightning, flashing in the darkness of the night,
Will unfold the heavens and the earth in anger,
And before we exclaim: "Look!" -
She will already be swallowed up by the abyss of darkness -
Everything bright disappears so quickly.

Germia

But if it is inevitable for lovers
Suffering and such is the law of fate,
So let us be patient in trials:
After all, this is an ordinary cross for love,
Decent to her - dreams, languor, tears,
Desires, dreams - love of an unhappy retinue!

Lysander

Yes, you're right ... But Hermia, listen:
I have an aunt. She is a widow
Rich, childless, moreover.
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
Leave your house in secret tomorrow night.
In the forest, three miles from Athens, in the place
Where did I meet you with Elena (you came
Perform the rituals on a May morning, remember?)
I will wait for you.

Germia

Oh my Lysander!
I swear by Cupid's strongest bow
With his best arrow, golden,
Venus doves with purity
By the fire into which Dido threw herself,
When the Trojan set sail, -
With everything that love will bind heaven,
By the darkness of men's oaths, broken godlessly
(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!

Enters Helena.

Lysander

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

Germia

Hey! Where are you going, my lovely friend?

Helena

Am I beautiful? Oh, don't joke in vain.
Your beauty Demetria captivates,
Lucky lady! Your gaze shines on him
Brighter than the stars, your voice is sweeter,
Than a lark song among the fields ...
Whether beauty is a clingy affliction -
I would have been infected with you, my friend!
I would steal from you
And the sparkle of the eyes, and the tenderness of sweet speech ...
Be my whole world - Demetria soon
I would have taken for myself; all others - own!
But teach me what art
Demetria, have you taken possession of the feeling?

Germia

I frown - he loves more and more.

Helena

Such power - my smile!

Germia

I swear it - there is only a brighter flame in it!

Helena

Oh, if only I could soften it with entreaties!

Germia

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

Helena

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

Germia

His madness is not my fault.

Helena

Your beauty! Oh, be mine, fault!

Germia

Lysander

Elena, friend, I will reveal everything to you:
Tomorrow night, barely beheld Phoebe
Your silvery face in the river mirror,
Reed strewn with liquid pearls, -
In the hour that loves the secrets,
We will go out with her from the city gates.

Germia

In the forest, where often, lying between flowers,
We shared our girlish dreams
My lysander must meet me,
And we will leave our native city,
Looking for other friends, a different circle.
Goodbye, my friend's childhood games!
Please, pray for our fate,
And God send Demetrius to you. -
So remember the agreement, Lysander: until the night
Our eyes must fast.

Lysander

Yes, my Hermia ...

Germia leaves.

Goodbye Elena!
Demetrius, I wish you love.

(Leaves.)

Helena

How happy one is to the detriment of the other!
In Athens, I am equal to her beauty ...
What of that? He is blind to my beauty:
Doesn't want to know what everyone knows.
He is delusional, captured by Hermia;
I - also, admiring him blindly.
Love is capable of forgiving low
And turn vices into valor
And not with his eyes - he chooses with his heart:
For that she is portrayed as a blind person.
It is difficult for her to come to terms with common sense.
Without eyes - and wings: a symbol of the reckless
Haste! .. Her name is - child;
After all, it is easy to deceive her by joking.
And how little boys swear in the game,
So it is easy for her and does not care about deceptions.
Until he was captured by Hermia,
Then he swore to me in a hail of vows of love;
But only Hermia breathed with heat -
The hail has melted, and with it all the vows are in vain.
I'll go, I'll 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 I am in my anguish and this is a lot -
Together with him, the road to and from the forest!

(Leaves.)

Scene 2

Athens. A room in a hut.

Enter Pigwa, Milaga, The foundation, Pipe, Snout and Zamorysh.

Pigwa

Is our whole company assembled?

The foundation

And you better do the roll call: call us all on the list.

Pigwa

Here is a list with the names of everyone who was found more or less suitable to present our sideshow in front of the Duke and Duchess on the evening of their wedding.

The foundation

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 "The old comedy and the very cruel death of Pyramus and Theisba."

The foundation

An excellent little thing, I can assure you with my word, and wonderful! Well, kind Peter Pigwa, now call all the actors on the list. Citizens, line up!

Pigwa

Answer the call! .. Nick Basis!

The foundation

There is! Name my role and continue the roll call.

Pigwa

You, Nick Basis, have been scheduled for Pyramus.

The foundation

What is Pyramus? Lover or villain?

Pigwa

A lover who kills himself gloriously for love.

The foundation

Aha! So it takes tears to play it properly. Well, if I take on this role - get ready, audience, handkerchiefs! I will raise a storm ... I will somewhat lament ... But, to tell the truth, my main vocation is the role of villains. Ercules, I would play an extremely rare role, or even such a role as to gnaw the earth and smash everything around to splinters!

There will be a roar
The strikes of the fighters -
And the bar will collapse
A cruel dungeon.
And Phoebe, the light god,
Far and high
Will change evil fate
From your chariot!

What was it like? Excellent, huh? Well, call the other actors. Here you had the manner of Ercules, the character of a villain; a lover is much more teary.

Pigwa

Francis Dudka, bellows repairman.

Pipe

Yes, Peter Pigwa!

Pigwa

You must take on the role of Theisba.

Pipe

Who will it be Thisba? Knight Errant?

Pigwa

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

Pipe

No, please, don't make me play a woman: my beard is breaking through!

Pigwa

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

The foundation

A! If you can play in a mask - let me play you and Theisba: I can speak in a monstrously thin voice. “Yours, yours… Ah, Pyramus, my dear lover! I am your Theisba dear, I am your dear lady! "

Pigwa

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

Pigwa

Robin Zamorysh, tailor!

Zamorysh

Yes, Peter Pigwa!

Pigwa

Raggedy, you play Theisba's mother. - Thomas Snout, coppersmith!

Snout

Yes, Peter Pigwa!

Pigwa

You are the father of Pyramus. I will play Fisbin's father. - Milaga, carpenter, you get the role of Leo. Well, I hope the play is going well with us.

Milaga

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

Pigwa

There’s nothing to learn here, and you’ll play like that: all you have to do is growl.

The foundation

Let me play you and Leo! I will growl so that your heart will rejoice; I will growl so much that the duke himself will definitely say: "Come on, let him growl, let him growl!"

Pigwa

Well, if you growl so terribly, you will probably scare the duchess and all the ladies to death; they will scream too, and that will be enough to get us all hung!

Yes, yes, they outweigh one and all!

The foundation

It's me with you, friends, I agree that if we taunt the ladies, they won't think of anything better how to whip us all up. But I will be able to alter my voice so that I will growl tenderly, that your chick is a dove; I will growl to you, that your nightingale!

Pigwa

You cannot play any role, except for 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 the same as you ... You only have to play Pyramus.

The foundation

Okay, I agree, taking the role. And in what beard should I play her?

Pigwa

Yes, whatever you want.

The foundation

OK. I will introduce him to you in 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 little suited to the role of Pyramus' gentle 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
Play on words: "French crown" (coin) is naked, it cannot have hair, but "French crown", corona Veneris (honey), 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, I implore you and I conjure you - to memorize them by heart tomorrow evening. And in the evening, come to the palace forest, one mile from the city: there we will have a rehearsal in the moonlight. Otherwise, if we get together in the city, they will sniff out about it and blurt out our idea. In the meantime, I'll list the props we need for the play. And I ask you - do not let me down.

The foundation

We will definitely come. There it will be possible to rehearse, as they say, more unceremoniously, more freely. Try not to hit your face in the dirt! Until then, be healthy!

Pigwa

Meeting - at the duke's oak.

The foundation

OK. Hang yourself, but be in place.

Leave.

Act II

Scene 1

Forest near Athens.

Appear from different directions fairy and Peck.

Oh, fairy! Hello! Where is your way?

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 the moons faster
I serve the queen of the fairies
I sprinkle dew on a circle in the grass.
The drop caps are her escort.
Do you see the golden outfit?
The specks burn on it:
That rubies, the color of the queen, -
All the aroma is hidden in them.
For initial caps, I need a supply of dewdrops -
Insert pearl earrings into each of the ears.
Goodbye, goofy spirit! I'm flying forward.
The queen will come here with the elves.

My king will have fun here at night, -
See that the queen does not meet with him!
He is furious with her, angry - fear!
Because of the child that she has in the pages
(Kidnapped from the Indian Sultan).
She pampers, dresses up the little boy,
And the jealous Oberon wants to take
Him to himself, to wander with him in the woods.
The queen sees all the joy in him,
Doesn't give up! Since then, only over the stream,
On a clearing illuminated by the light of stars
They will converge - in an instant for a squabble,
So much so that the elves are all out of fear - away,
They will crawl into an acorn and tremble all night!

Yes, you ... I'm not mistaken, perhaps:
Habits, kind of ... are you Good Little Robin?
The one who scares the rural needlewomen,
Breaks them and spoils the handles of the mills,
It prevents the oil from being knocked down on the sly,
Then he skims the cream from the milk,
It interferes with fermenting yeast in the mash,
That at night leads travelers in a ravine;
But if someone calls him friend -
It helps those, brings happiness into the house.
Are you Peck?

Well yes, I am Kind Little Robin,
Cheerful spirit, mischievous night tramp.
I serve in jesters at Oberon ...
I'll laugh in front of a well-fed stallion,
Like a mare; I'm still fooling around:
Suddenly I'll hide with a baked apple in a mug,
And only the gossip will get ready to sip,
From there I go to her lips - gallop! And chest
I’ll sag all over to her with beer.
Or to the aunt who tells the story whiningly,
I'll show myself as a three-legged chair in the corner:
Suddenly I slip out - fucking! - aunt on the floor.
Well, cough, well, scream! Let's go fun!
Everyone dies bursting with laughter
And, holding on to the sides, the whole chorus repeats,
That they didn’t laugh like that until now ...
But, fairy, away! Here is the king. Get out of here.

And here she is! Ah, it wouldn't be bad!

Come in from one side Oberon with his retinue, on the other Titania with his.

Oberon

Not in a good hour I am in the moonlight
I meet the haughty Titania.

Titania

How, is it you, jealous Oberon? -
Fly, elves, away! I renounce
From society and Oberon's lodge.

Oberon

Wait, worthless! Am I not your husband?

Titania

So, I am your spouse! But I know,
How did you secretly leave the magic land
And in the form of Corin on the pipe
Played all day and sang love poems
Phyllida is tender. Why are you here?
Then came from distant India,
That your impudent mistress
An amazon in caturns, now a wife
Theseus takes, and you want their box
And to bestow happiness and joy?

Oberon

Shame, shame, Titania! Do you
Reproach me for Hippolyta?
I know your love for Theseus!
Do not you eh him in the twinkling of the starry night
Did she take you away from poor Perigene?
Not for you he mercilessly abandoned
Egmey, Ariadne, Antiope?

Titania

All the fabrications of your jealousy!
Since the middle of summer we cannot
Get together in the meadows, in the forest, by the noisy river,
By the stone enclosed key,
On golden sand washed by the sea
Drive circles to the whistle and songs of the wind
So that you do not interfere with our games with a cry!
And the winds sang our songs in vain.
In revenge they raised from the sea
Malignant mists. Those rain
They fell to the ground. The rivers got angry
And they went out of the shores, puffed up.
Since then the ox has been pulling the yoke in vain,
In vain the plowman pours his sweat: bread
They rot without growing antennae.
The pens are empty in the flooded fields
The crows grew fat from the falling ...
The dirt has covered the traces of merry games;
There are no paths in the green labyrinths:
Their trail is overgrown, and you will not find it!
Mortals are more likely to ask for winters;
I can't hear their songs at night ...
And here is the moon, the ruler of the waters,
Pale with anger, the air was washed
And she spread rheumatism everywhere.
All times are thrown into confusion:
And gray-headed frost falls
To a crimson rose in a fresh embrace;
But to the crown of icy winter
Fragrant wreath of summer buds
Attached to a mock. Spring and summer
Birthing autumn and winter
Change their outfit, and cannot
The world is amazed to distinguish between 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 reread Oberon?
After all, I ask a little: give
You are a boy in my page!

Titania

Stay calm:
I won't give up magic for all your land!
After all, his mother was my priestess!
With her in the spicy air of Indian nights
On the golden sands of Neptune
We often sat, counting the ships.
Laughed with her, looking like sails,
Pregnant women blown up by the wind ...
She jokingly imitated them cutely
(At that time she was heavy
My favorite) and swam as if
Returning with some trinket
To me, as if from a voyage with goods ...
But my friend was mortal
And this boy cost her life.
By loving her, I will cherish the child;
Loving her, I will not give it up!

Oberon

Titania

Must be before Theseus' wedding.
If you want to dance peacefully with us
And have fun in the moonlight - stay.
If not - go, and I'll go away.

Oberon

Give it back, I'll go with you!

Titania

Not beyond the magical land! - Follow me, elves!
If I don’t leave, we will quarrel forever.

Titania and her entourage leave.

Oberon

Go! You won't leave the forest earlier
Than for the insult I will not avenge. -
My dear Peck, come here! Do you remember,
As I listened to the song of the siren by the sea,
Climbed to the ridge to the dolphin?
Were so sweet and harmonious
The sounds that the rough ocean itself
He politely subsided, listening to this song,
And the stars were falling like crazy
From their heights to listen to the song ...

Oberon

At that moment I saw (although you did not see):
Between the cold moon and the earth
An armed Cupid was flying.
To the Vestal who reigns in the West
He took aim and so he shot an arrow
What a thousand hearts could pierce!
But the fiery arrow suddenly went out
In the moisture of the rays of the innocent moon,
And the royal priestess withdrew
In virgin meditation, alien to love.
But I saw where the arrow fell:
There is a small flower in the West;
From white he turned scarlet from the wound!
"With love in idleness 3
"Love in idleness" is an old English folk name for a flower " pansies».

" his name is.
Find him! How it grows, you know ...
And if the juice of this flower
We will lubricate the eyelids of the sleeping man - waking up,
He is the first living being,
What he sees will fall madly in love.
Find a flower and come back soon
Than the Leviathan will sail a mile.

I am ready to fly around the whole globe
In half an hour.

(Disappears.)

Oberon

Having obtained this juice,
I will catch Titania sleeping
I will sprinkle a magic liquid in 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 take the spell off her
(What can I do with other grass)
She herself will give the boy to me!
But who is coming here? I'm invisible
I can overhear a mortal conversation.

Enters Demetrius; Helena follows him.

Demetrius

Helena

You pulled me in, magnet is cruel
Though it is not the iron that you pull, but the heart,
Which is truer in love than steel.
Give up attracting - I won't stretch.

Demetrius

Did I play nice with you?
Did I lure you? I said bluntly
What I don’t love, I don’t love you.

Helena

But I love you more and more.
After all, I'm your dog: hit harder -
I will only wag my tail in response.
Well, treat me like a dog:
Kick with your foot, kick, chase me;
Let me only be unworthy
(Could I ask for less?) -
So that, like a dog, you put up with me.

Demetrius

Do not tempt my hatred.
It makes me sick when I see you.

Helena

I’m sick when I don’t see you.

Demetrius

You put your modesty at risk
Leaving the city and giving myself
To the free man who does not love you:
You trust the temptations of the night
And the evil suggestions of these desolate places
The treasure of your innocence.

Helena

Demetrius

I will run away and hide in the woods
I'll throw you to the beasts to be eaten.

Helena

Oh! The fiercest beast is kinder! Well,
Run. Let all fairy tales change:
Let Daphne chase Apollo,
The dove - for the griffin, the doe - for the tiger, -
Purposeless pursuit if courage
Runs, and shyness 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!

Helena

Oh, you hurt me for a long time
Everywhere - in the temple, in the city and in the field.
Be ashamed! In me you have insulted all the women.
It is not for us to fight for love:
We are prayed, your business is to beg.
I will not leave you alone. Hell is heaven
Kohl by hand, dying beloved.

Demetrius and Helena go away.

Oberon

Good path, nymph! Blowjob night - and you will
You run away, he chase you!

Appears Peck.

Hello my wanderer! What, found a flower?

Yes, there he is!

Oberon

O! Come on it soon!
There is a hill in the forest: there wild cumin grows,
The violet blooms next to the letter,
And honeysuckle its fragrant canopy
Woven with fragrant muscat rose;
There, tired of the fun game,
The queen loves to rest at times;
From the shining skin shed by the snake -
For the fairy, the veil is there on the bed.
There I will let the magic juice into her eyes,
So that the strange delirium captivated Titania.
But take a part: wanders here in the woods
Beauty, in a haughty rake
In love. Lubricate his eyes,
But try to make our handsome man
He saw her, a little open his eyes.
Look: he is wearing Athenian clothes.
Yes, do so, make sure
He fell in love with her instantly.
Come back before the cock crows.

Do not be afraid, everything will be filled with the right spirit.

Leave.

Scene 2

Another part of the forest.

Enters Titania with his retinue.

Titania

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

First elf

(sings)

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

Sweet-voiced nightingale
With our song, merge the song!
Bayu, Bayu, Bayu, Bayu, Bayu, Bayu, Bayu, Bayu!
Intrigues, enchantments of the enemy's coves,
Do not embarrass bright dreams.
Sleep, queen, rest.
Good night, buy, buy!

First elf

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

Sweet-voiced nightingale
With our song, merge the song!
Bayu, bayu ... etc.

Second elf

All calmly ... Now - let's fly.
One - stay a sentry!

Elves disappear ... Titania falls asleep. Appears Oberon.

Oberon

(squeezing a flower over Titania's eyes)

What will you see, when you wake up
You will be carried away with all your soul.
May love oppress you:
Whether it is a wolf, a bear, or a cat,
Or with a stiff bristle hog -
For your loving eyes
It will become only a mile.
When it comes, wake up soon!

(Disappears.)

Enter Lysander and Germia.

Lysander

My love! Are you tired of wandering
But I confess that I lost my way.
Would you like to lie down and wait
So that the new day dispels all worries?

Germia

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

Lysander

I will lie down on the same moss too:
One heart in us, let one and a bed!

Germia

No, no, my Lysander! I love you!
But lie down, I pray that!

Lysander

My friend, understand the innocence of my words,
Love will help you understand them.
I wanted to tell you that love is wonderful
In one merged our two hearts closely
And so bound them both by an oath,
That faithfulness in them alone lives to the grave.
Do not refuse me in a place nearby:
Believe that I am not capable of lying.

Germia

You play very skillfully with words;
But how sad it was for my pride,
When I let a lie in you!
But respect and love, you are still
You will prove to me if you go further:
For a young man with a girl, human shame
Doesn't allow such closeness ...
Lie down further. Sleep well, without worries;
And only with life let love pass.

Lysander

Germia

I wish you the same, dear!

Fall asleep.

Enters Peck.

I went through the whole forest:
There was no one there,
So that I could check on it
I am a flower sap magic.
Night ... Silence ... Shh! Who's there?
Isn't it he himself?
There is no doubt about it:
He is dressed in Athenian.
Here comes the girl here too
Sleeps sweetly on a wet bed.
Oh, poor thing! So tender ...
And she did not dare to lie down
Closer to the heartless?
Oh villain! Well, wait a minute!

(Squeezes the juice of a flower over Lysander's eyes.)

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

(Disappears.)

Enters Demetrius, running after him Helena.

Helena

Oh wait! Kill me, kill me!

Demetrius

I say: get out of my sight quickly!

Helena

Will you leave me alone? Have mercy!

Demetrius

Leave me alone, otherwise ... Let me go! Go away!

(Runs away.)

Helena

Tired! In pursuit, I am exhausted.
The more requests, the less I achieve.
Oh, happiness to her - wherever she is, -
That 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 bad, disgusting, like a bear!
The beast is afraid to look at me.
So how can I wonder Demetrius,
That he, like a beast, strives away from me?
Like a mirror, you false glass,
Could I be able to match her?
But what is it? Lysander? He lies here!
But is he dead or asleep? No blood: not killed.
Wake up, O Lysander, my friend! What's wrong with you?

Lysander

(waking up)

I will throw myself into the flame for you with delight,
Transparent Elena! I see
How your soul shines through in beauty.
Demetrius where? Here is the name for
Who will perish by my sword!

Helena

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
That I wasted my time with her voluntarily!
I do not love Hermia - I love Elena.
I took the dove as a replacement.
After all, the mind has a will to obey,
And he said: you are higher without comparison!
Until the time, after all, the fruits do not ripen:
I was young hitherto by years,
But my mind is ripe to the core
And now he has become the leader of my desires.
In your eyes I read at this moment
A love story in the fairest of books.

Helena

Why am I doomed to suffer?
How did she deserve these insults?
Either it is not enough for you, or it is not enough for you,
That I do not see affection from him,
Why did you laugh at me godlessly?
No, it is hardly possible to do worse!
You should be ashamed of a bad joke:
In a mockery of suddenly courting me!
Farewell! But I must tell you
What more chivalry was waiting to meet in you.
Oh Gods! To be rejected alone
To be rude to be ridiculed by others!

(Runs away.)

Lysander

A! She did not see Hermia!
Sleep, Hermia! I don't need you.
Yes, it makes us so disgusted
Surplus in delicacies or satiety.
So heresy afterwards outrages those
Whom she seduced - 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:
Love her, serve her without betrayal.

(Runs away.)

Germia

(waking up)

My Lysander, help me! Coming soon,
Tear the creeping snake from your chest! ..
O horrible dream! .. I am trembling with fear.
I dreamed that a terrible snake
My heart was gnawing. It was hard, stuffy
And you looked with a smile indifferently.
Lysander! How! No? Gone? Oh my husband! ..
Doesn't he hear? Respond, dear friend,
In the name of all love! What is it?
I lose my senses from fear. No answer?
So, then, I have to go in search?
Find him - or find your death!

(Runs away.)

Attention! This is an introductory excerpt from the book.

If you liked the beginning of the book, then full version can be purchased from our partner - distributor of legal content LLC "Liters".

Theseus , Duke of Athens.

Aegeus , father of Hermia.

Lysander, Demetri in love with Hermia.

Philostratus , manager of entertainment at the court of Theseus.

Pigwa , a carpenter.

Milaga , carpenter.

The foundation , weaver.

Pipe , bellows repairman.

Snout , coppersmith.

Zamorysh , tailor.

Hippolyta , Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus.

Germia , in love with Lysander.

Helena , in love with Demetrius.

Oberon , the king of fairies and elves.

Titania , the queen of fairies and elves.

Peck, or Good Little Robin , little elf.

Sweet Pea, Cobweb, Moth, 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, Theseus' palace.

Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostratus and retinue.

Theseus

Beautiful, our marriage hour is getting closer:

Four happy days - a new month

They will bring us. But oh, how the old one hesitates!

He stands in the way of my desires,

Like a stepmother or an old widow,

That the young man's income is eating up.

Hippolyta

Four days at night will drown quickly;

Four nights in dreams will sink so quickly ...

And the crescent moon is a bow of silver

Stretched in the sky - will illuminate

Our wedding night!

Theseus

Philostratus, go!

Stir up all the youth in Athens

And awaken the spirited spirit of fun.

Let the sadness for the funeral remain:

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

Philostratus leaves.

Theseus

I got you with the sword, Hippolyta;

I have achieved your love by threats,

Solemn, and fun, and magnificent!

Enter Aegeus, Germia, Lysander and Demetrius.

Aegeus

Be happy, our glorious duke Theseus!

Theseus

Thank you, Aegeus! What do you say?

Aegeus

I'm upset, with a complaint to you

To Hermia - yes, to her own daughter! -

Demetrius, come here! - My sir,

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

Lysander, come closer! - My sir!

But this one bewitched her heart. -

You, you, Lysander! You wrote poetry to her

The pledges of love changed with her,

Under her windows in the moonlight

Feigned love sang a feigned song!

You used it to capture her heart,

Bracelets, hair rings, candy,

Flowers, trinkets, trinkets - everything

That inexperienced youth is sweet!

By deceit you stole her love,

You are obedience due to the father,

Turned into evil stubbornness! - So if

She with you, my sir, will not give

Consent to Demetrius, I appeal

To the ancient Athenian law:

Since my daughter, I can completely

Position; and I decided: Demetrius

Or - as provided by law

In such cases, death is immediate!

Theseus

Well, Hermia, beautiful maiden,

What do you say? Think it over carefully.

He created your beauty, and you

It is a cast wax mold;

Leave it or break it - he has the right.

Demetrius is quite a worthy man.

Germia

So is my Lysander.

Theseus

Yes, by itself;

But if your father is not for him,

That means that he is more worthy.

Germia

I wanted my father to watch mine

Theseus

No! Hurry your eyes

We must obey his judgment.

Germia

Excuse me, Your Grace, I beg you.

I myself do not know where I found the courage,

And is it possible, without offending modesty,

I’m so free to speak in front of everyone.

But I conjure, let me know:

What's the worst for me

When will I not marry Demetri?

Theseus

What? Death! Or renunciation forever

From the society of men. That's why,

O Hermia, check yourself. Think:

You are young ... Ask your soul,

Sleep in summer night(Eng. A Midsummer Night "s Dream) - 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 English aristocrat and the patroness of the arts, Elizabeth Carey, who married on February 19, 1595, on that day Midsummer Night's Dream was first performed at the theater. According to another version, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is timed to celebrate the Day of St. John (a holiday similar to the Day of Ivan Kupala in the Russian tradition).
In 1826, 17-year-old German composer Felix Mendelssohn wrote the music for the theatrical production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Mendelssohn's music to 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. Particularly popular was Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" from "A Midsummer Night's Dream", from an anthem of fickle love turning for many into a hymn of marital fidelity.

Theseus is going to marry Hippolyta, and the wedding of Demetrius and Hermia is also being prepared, which Hermia's father insists on. Hermia loves Lysander, together they decide to run away and tell about this to Helen, who is in love with Demetrius, in the hope that Helen will be gladdened by the escape of her rival for the heart of Demetrius. Elena, counting on the gratitude of Demetrius, tells him about the escape of his bride. As a result, all four - Hermia, Lysander, Helena 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 Pak 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 that sees and forgets her Indian pet. There is magic juice in the flower, which grew in the place where Cupid's arrow hit, bouncing off the chaste virgin.

Fairy

Or you just look like him,
Or, in fact, you are Dodger Robin,
Crafty spirit. Not you in the villages
Are you scaring the girls? Do you grind the grain yourself?
You skim the cream and spend hours all over
Can't you let the worker knock down the butter?
Are you spoiling yeast in beer? You fool
Night traveler and after you laugh?
And who calls you "little friend Pak"
You are happy to help Tom this way and that.
Tell me is it you?

Fairy and Pak

Arthur Rackham - Fairy and Puck

Arthur Rackham - Fairy and Puck

Oberon

For good is this meeting at the moon,
Arrogant Titania?

Titania

What is it?

Jealous Oberon? Let's go, 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 who have decided to play the play "Pyramas and Theisba" at Theseus' wedding also come to the forest. One of them - the weaver Motok (in another translation - the Base) turns out to be turned by Pak into a creature with a donkey's head. The donkey-headed weaver is the first to see Titania upon awakening and falls in love with him.

Titania

Do not seek to leave this thicket.
You wouldn't find a way anyway.
I am a creature of the rarest of breeds.
In my possession - summer all year round.
I love you too. Come my friend.
Elves will run to you for services,
To look for pearls for you in the seas
And sing when you slumber on the flowers.
I will so cleanse your mortal skeleton,
That you, as a spirit, will soar above the earth.

Titania and the Foundation

Alfred Fredericks - Foundation

Alfred Fredericks - Titania and Hank (Main)

Alfred Fredericks - Titania and the Foundation

Edwin Landseer. Titania and the Foundation

John Anster Fitzgerald. Titania and the Foundation

Joseph Noel Paton. Titania and Hank (Base)

Arthur Rackham - Titania and the Foundation

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

Arthur Rackham. Helena

Jones Simmons. Hermia and Lysander

Alfred Fredericks - Lysander and Hermia

Alfred Fredericks - Germany

Alfred Fredericks. Demetri and Helena

Oberon orders Pak to remove the effect of the magic juice from Lysander, and he heals Titania, who has already given him an Indian boy. The weaver returns to his normal appearance and, together with his comrades, plays at a triple wedding: Theseus marries Hippolyta, Lysander to Hermia, and Demetrius to his new love- Elena.

Oberon
(speaking)

Hello Robin! See? Admire.
I begin to feel sorry for the poor.
Now she was gathering at the edge
Flowers for this vile little creature;

Oberon, Titania and Hank (Base)

Titania

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

Oberon

Here he is, your gentle friend.

Oberon, Titania and Basis

Alfred Fredericks - Titania, Oberon and Foundation

John Anster Fitzgerald - Oberon and Titania

William Blake. Oberon, Titania and Pak with dancing fairies

Alfred Fredericks - Theseus and Hippolyta

Now I'll tell you about the two adaptations of the Shakespeare comedy that I watched - the 1935 release and the 1999 release.

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

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

Oberon and Titania

Titania and the Foundation

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 the original Shakespeare text - the action is transferred to the Italian town of Athens at the end of the 19th century, and Lysander, Hermia, Demetrius and Helen 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 looks in one breath. Titania is playing. The best actress for this role cannot be found, 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 the Foundation

From theatrical performances of the role of Titania, one cannot fail to mention Vivien Leigh, she first appeared on the stage as Titania in the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" on December 27, 1937.

Vivien Leigh as Titania

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 of the warlike tribe of women by the Greeks - the Amazons. Theseus marries the queen of this tribe, Hippolyta. The play, apparently, was created for a performance on the occasion of the wedding of some dignitaries.

Preparations are underway for the wedding of Duke Theseus and Queen Hippolyta of the Amazons, which is to take place on the night of the full moon. The enraged Aegeus, Hermia's father, comes to the duke's palace, who accuses Lysander of having bewitched his daughter and insidiously forced her to love him, while she was already promised to Demetrius. Hermia confesses her love for Lysander. The Duke announces that, according to Athenian law, she must submit to the will of her father. He gives the girl a reprieve, but on the day of the new moon she will have to "either die / For violation of her father's will, / Or marry the one he chose, / Or give forever at the altar of Diana / Vow of celibacy and a harsh life." The lovers agree to flee from Athens together and meet the next night in a nearby forest. They reveal their plan to Hermia's friend Elena, who was once Demetri's lover and still loves him passionately. Hoping for his gratitude, she is going to tell Demetri about the plans of the lovers. Meanwhile, a company of rustic artisans prepares to stage a sideshow for the Duke's wedding. The director, carpenter Peter Pigwa, chose a suitable piece: "The old comedy and the very cruel death of Pyramus and Theisba." Weaver Nick Osnova agrees to play the role of Pyramus, as, indeed, most other roles. The bellows repairer Francis Dudka is given the role of Theisba (in Shakespeare's time, women were not allowed on the stage). Tailor Robin Zamorysh will be the mother of Theisba, and the coppersmith Tom Snout will be the father of Pyramus. The role of Leo is entrusted to the carpenter Milyaga: he has a "memory hard to learn", and for this role you only need to growl. Pigwa asks everyone to memorize the roles and come to the duke's oak forest tomorrow night for a rehearsal.

In the forest near Athens, the king of fairies and elves Oberon and his wife, Queen Titania, quarrel over a child whom Titania has adopted, and Oberon wants to take for himself in order to make a page. Titania refuses to obey the will of her husband and leaves with the elves. Oberon asks the mischievous elf Pack (Good Little Robin) to bring him a small flower that Cupid's arrow fell on after he missed "the Vestal in the West" (a reference to Queen Elizabeth). If the eyelids of the sleeping person are smeared with the juice of this flower, then, upon waking up, he will fall in love with the first living being that he sees. Oberon thus wants to make Titania fall in love with some wild animal and forget about the boy. Peck flies off in search of a flower, and Oberon becomes an invisible witness to the conversation between Elena and Demetrius, who is looking for Hermia and Lysander in the forest and rejects his former beloved with contempt. When Peck returns with a flower, Oberon instructs him to find Demetrius, whom he describes as a "haughty hangman" in Athenian robes, and to lubricate his eyes, but so that during awakening a beauty in love with him would be next to him. Finding a sleeping Titania, Oberon squeezes the juice of a flower onto her eyelids. Lysander and Hermia got lost in the forest and also lay down to rest, at Hermia's request - far from each other, because "for a young man with a girl, human shame / Does not allow closeness ...". Peck, mistaking Lysander for Demetrius, drips juice over his eyes. Helen appears, from whom Demetrius fled, and stopping to rest, wakes Lysander, who immediately falls in love with her. Elena thinks that he is taunting her and runs away, and Lysander, leaving Hermia, rushes after Elena.

Near the place where Titania sleeps, a company of artisans has gathered for a rehearsal. At the suggestion of Osnovy, who is very concerned that, God forbid, not to frighten the ladies-spectators, they write two prologues to the play - the first one that Pyramus does not kill himself at all and that he is not actually Pyramus, but the weaver Basis, but the second - that Leo is not a lion at all, but the carpenter Milyaga. Naughty Paek, who is watching the rehearsal with interest, enchants the Basis: now the weaver has a donkey's head. The friends, mistaking the Basis for a werewolf, scatter in fear. At this time, Titania wakes up and, looking at the Base, says: “Your image captivates the eyes of You, I love you. Follow me! " Titania summons four elves - Mustard Seed, Sweet Pea, Cobweb and Moth - and orders them to serve "their sweetheart." Oberon is delighted to hear Pack's story about how Titania fell in love with a monster, but he is rather unhappy when he learns that the elf sprinkled magic juice in the eyes of Lysander, not Demetrius. Oberon puts Demetrius to sleep and corrects Pack's mistake, who, on the orders of his master, lures Elena closer to the sleeping Demetrius. As soon as he wakes up, Demetrius begins to swear in 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 power to listen to empty ridicule!" In addition, she believes that Hermia is at the same time with them, and bitterly reproaches her friend for deceit. Shocked by Lysander's rude insults, Hermia accuses Elena 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. Young people - now rivals seeking Elena's love - are retiring in order to decide in a duel which of them has the most 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 they can not find each other." When Lysander falls off his feet in exhaustion and falls asleep, Peck squeezes the juice of a plant on his eyelids - the antidote to the love flower. Elena and Demetrius are also euthanized near each other.

Seeing Titania, asleep next to the Basis, Oberon, who by this time had already got 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! " Pack, on Oberon's orders, returns his own head to 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 a love potion, but still stunned, Lysander explains that he and Hermia fled into the forest from the severity of the 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 Basis goes to Pigwa's house, where his friends are eagerly awaiting him. He gives the actors the last instructions: “Let Theisba put on clean linen", And let Leo not take it into his head 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 of fantasies are created by one,” he says. The entertainment manager Philostratus presents him with a list of entertainment. The Duke chooses the artisan play: "It can never be too bad, / What devotion humbly offers." Pigwa reads the prologue to the ironic comments of the audience. The snout explains that he is the Wall through which Pyramus and Theisba talk, and therefore is smeared with lime. As Pyramus Base looks for a crack in the Wall to look at its beloved, Snout obligingly spreads its fingers. Leo appears and explains in verse that he is not real. “What a meek animal, - Theseus admires, - and what a sensible one!” Amateur actors shamelessly misinterpret the text and say a lot of nonsense, than amuse their noble audience. Finally the play is over. Everyone leaves - it's already midnight, the magic hour for lovers. Peck appears, he and the rest of the elves first sing and dance, and then, at the behest of Oberon and Titania, scatter around the palace to bless the beds of the newlyweds. Peck addresses the audience: "If I could not amuse you, / It will be easy for you to fix everything: / Imagine that you fell asleep / And dreams flashed in front of you."

Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream was written between 1594 and 1596. It is considered the most romantic of all comedies by 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 the literature lesson, we recommend reading the online summary of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by acts and scenes. You can check your knowledge using the test on our website.

main characters

Theseus- Duke of Athens, kind and just ruler.

Lysander, Demetri- boys, rivals in love.

Germia- the bride Demetrius, in love with Lysander.

Helena- a girl who is unrequitedly in love with Demetrius.

Oberon- the kind king of fairies and elves.

Other characters

Aegeus- Hermia's father, a domineering and cruel man.

Hippolyta- the queen of the Amazons, the bride of Theseus.

Pigwa- carpenter, play organizer.

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

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

Peck- little elf, prankster.

Philostratus- entertainment manager.

Act I

Scene 1

Theseus is looking forward to the wedding with Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons, which is due in four days. He orders Philostratus to stir up "all the youth in Athens" and arrange a cheerful holiday in honor of the upcoming marriage.

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

Theseus reminds the girl that she must obey her father unquestioningly, reading him "like a god." Otherwise, she will die or be imprisoned in a monastery.

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

Scene 2

On the eve of the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta, the carpenter Pigva gathers the townspeople who are to play in a festive production called "The Former Comedy and the Very Cruel Death of Pyramus and Theisba."

Pigwa assigns roles, gives lyrics to homegrown actors, and sets up a rehearsal for the next night.

Act II

Scene 1

In a magical forest not far from Athens, there is a quarrel between the ruler of the fairies and elves Oberon and his wife Titania. The subject of the dispute is the infant who was "kidnapped from the Indian Sultan" and to whom Titania has become 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.

Oberon subordinates a little elf Pek - "a cheerful spirit, a mischievous night tramp." The Tsar orders him to find the flower, which was accidentally hit by Cupid's arrow - "His name is" Love in idleness ". If you lubricate the eyelids of a sleeping person with the juice of this flower, then he will fall in love with the first person he sees immediately after waking up. Thus, Oberon wants to divert the attention of his wife from the boy and take him away.

Seeing Demetrius and Helen, the king of the elves becomes 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 Pek to smear his eyelids with the magic juice of the Demetrius flower, and he falls in love with Elena.

Scene 2

The Elven Lord applies the leftover sap to Titania's eyelids. Meanwhile, Hermia and Lysander lose their way and, tired, fall asleep in the forest.

Little Pack, confusing Demetrius with Lysander, moistens the latter's eyelids during sleep. Elena is walking through the forest, upset by Demetrius's behavior, and stumbles upon a sleeping Lysander. As soon as he saw Elena in front of him, the young man unleashes a flurry of love confessions on her. Elena is sure that Lysander is taunting her and flees into the forest.

Hermia has a terrible 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

In the forest, the citizens of Athens gather, who have been chosen to participate in the play. The plot assumes suicide, "and the ladies absolutely cannot stand it." Therefore, Basis decides to write two prologues to the play and focus on the fiction of everything that happens.

The rehearsal of the actors is overseen by the elf Pack. He decides to play a trick on them, and enchants the Basis, turning his head into a donkey's. Base's friends scatter in fear, and the prankster Pack rushes after them to "grunt and laugh, burn, roar and growl", and scare them even more.

Titania wakes up and with all her heart falls in love with Osnov, who wandered alone nearby. She summons the "light swarm" of elves to serve the new master.

Scene 2

Peck reports to his master that "Titania has fallen in love with the monster" - a man with a donkey's head. Oberon is pleased with this state of affairs. But, having learned that Paek confused the young men, the king becomes angry and goes in search of Demetrius in order to correct the mistake of his servant. Pek flies "faster than all Tatar arrows" to Elena in order to lure into the wilderness.

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

Young people, who have now become rivals, are ready to fight a duel to find out "who has more rights to Elena." Peck is “glad it turned out so funny,” but Oberon orders him to take the young people into the thicket, then separate them and drive in circles for a long time. When the emaciated rivals fall asleep, the elf lubricates Lysander's eyelids with an antidote from the magical love juice.

Act IV

Scene 1

Having got the baby and having had a lot of fun with his wife, who is in love with a donkey, Oberon decides to save her from the spell and "banish her empty delusion from her eyes." Also, the lord of the elves orders the faithful Pek to remove the donkey's head "from the head of the Athenian vagabond" and send all the actors back to the city.

Theseus enters the clearing, accompanied by Hippolyta and his subjects. He wants to show his beloved his beautiful hounds, but suddenly notices sleeping young people. Theseus is surprised to see them together - they are old rivals in love.

Lysander honestly tells the sovereign that he planned to escape with his beloved Hermia and secretly get married. Demetrius, in turn, admits that from now on "passion, purpose and joy of the eyes" is Helen, not Hermia.

Theseus graciously agrees to these unions and reports that today "in the temple, two couples in love will unite."

Scene 2

The actors gather at Pigwa's house. After the night rehearsal, no one can find the Basis - “only he was carried away devilry ».

Basis enters and informs his friends that he has been ordered to "all get together at the palace." He asks everyone to repeat their roles once again, put on clean underwear, but most importantly, do not eat "neither onions, nor garlic, so as to" emit a sweet fragrance "during the game.

Act V

Scene 1

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

Theseus asks the lovers how they would like to brighten up their leisure time "from dinner to sleep." He summons Philostratus, the entertainment manager, and he offers the duke a "list of all ready-made entertainments." Theseus chooses a play by the Athenian artisans, but Philostratus considers this production unsuccessful, since "there is not a word in it either worthwhile or worthwhile actor."

Upon learning that the actors in the play are “ simple 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 corrections to the plot. Such an absurdity amuses the Duke and his guests, and they are pleased with the play. Everyone goes home at midnight.

Scene 2

On 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 a better analysis of Shakespeare's work after reading brief retelling We recommend reading the play in full version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

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