The ARGUMENT.
THESEUS, Duke of Athens, having brought the Princess
Hippolita from the Amazons, designs to marry her in a few
days. In the mean time Egeus, one of his courtiers, complains
to him of his daughter Hermia's love to Lysander, and aversion
to Demetrius, for whom he intended her. Hermia refuses to
marry Demetrius, and the Duke allows her four days, either to
obey her father, to be put to death, or to vow perpetual chastity.
Lysander persuades her to fly with him from Athens, and
marry him: She consents, and informs her friend Helena of
her design, who, out of dotage on Demetrius, acquaints him
with it. He pursues Hermia, and Helena follows him. Thus
they all meet at a wood, some little distance from Athens,
where they become liable to the power of the Fairies.
Oberon, King of the Fairies, and Titania his Queen, being
come to give a blessing to Theseus' wedding, quarrel about
an Indian boy, whom the Queen loved, to the raising Oberon's
jealousy. Oberon, in revenge, and to get the boy from
her, charms the Queen to be enamour'd of the first live
creature she should see, and sends Puck with the same charm
to force Demetrius to love Helena, but my mistake, Puck
charms Lysander, who then loaths Hermia, and becomes in
love with Helena. Oberon, seeing the mistake, charms Demetrius,
who also falls in love with Helena. This produces
a quarrel; but the rivals are prevented fighting by the artifice
of Puck. Oberon, having got the Indian boy, puts an
end to the charm that held the Queen enamoured of a clown:
The lovers being asleep are likewise freed from the power
of the charm. Theseus, Hippolita, Egeus, &c. coming to
hunt in the Wood, find the four lovers sleeping; they are
waked with the sound of the horns, and Demetrius avowing
his love to Helena, and Lysander avowing his love to Hermia,
they are married at the same time with Theseus and Hippolita.
