A Midsummer Night's Dream play. William Shakespeare "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

The comedy in five acts was written in the mid-1590s. It is believed that Shakespeare wrote his work in honor of the Day of St. John the Baptist or for the wedding celebration of a famous aristocrat.

The play consists of several storylines, one way or another intertwined with each other. Theseus, Duke of Athens, prepares for his wedding to the Amazon queen Hippolyta. The celebrations should take place on a full moon night. A young girl named Hermia is in love with the young man Lysander, who also loves her. However, Demetrius is also courting Hermia. Aegeus, the girl's father, gives preference to the second suitor.

Since Hermia refuses to marry Demetrius, the father turns to the Duke of Athens, claiming that Lysander has bewitched her daughter. The Duke demands obedience to his father's will. Lysander and Hermia decided to flee the city. The girl shared her secret with her friend Elena. Since Elena was once Demetrius's lover and still continues to love him, the insidious woman is driven by the desire to regain the favor of her ex-fiancé. Elena reveals her friend's secret to Demetrius.

Meanwhile, preparations for the Duke's wedding continue. Several city masters decided to stage a comedy about Pyramus and Thisbe in honor of the newlyweds. The production is directed by carpenter Peter Pigva. The role of Thisbe will be played by bellows repairman Francis Dudka. The mother of the main character will be tailor Robin Zamorysh. The carpenter Gentle will be a Leo. Weaver Nick Basis will be Pyramus, and his father will be played by coppersmith Tom Snout. The masters agree to meet in the forest the next day to rehearse the performance. In Shakespeare's time, women were not allowed on stage. That is why it might not seem strange to the audience that all the roles in the play are played by men alone.

Not far from Athens, a couple lives in the forest - Oberon, the elven leader, and his wife Queen Titania. The wife took the boy into custody. Oberon wants to take him away to make him a servant. Titania disagrees. As a result, the husband and wife quarreled. The husband wants to cast a love spell on the queen, so that love will make her forget about her adopted son.

For this, the king needs a special flower. Oberon accidentally witnesses a conversation between Demetrius and Helena. Hermia and Lysander agreed to meet in the forest, as the girl’s friend knew about. Helena led Demetrius to the same forest. Oberon sends the elf Puck to cast a spell on Demetrius. By mistake, Puck bewitched Lysander. The young man, who was sleeping peacefully, wakes up and falls in love with the first person he managed to see - Elena. He leaves Hermia and runs after his new lover.

The city's craftsmen gathered in the forest to rehearse a play. Puck appeared nearby and bewitched the weaver. The Base grew a donkey's head. At the sight of such a metamorphosis, the other masters fled. Titania, who had already been bewitched by Puck, was sleeping not far from the rehearsal site. Waking up, the queen sees a weaver monster in front of her and falls in love with him.

Oberon is pleased with Puck's actions, but the elf's mistake had to be corrected. The king bewitched the sleeping Demetrius, who, after waking up, fell in love with Elena who was next to him. Having met, the friends begin to quarrel. Hermia accuses Helen of betrayal. Demetrius and Lysander now both love the same woman and challenge each other to a duel. Puck likes the confusion that he himself caused, but Oberon disenchantes Lysander. In addition, he freed his wife from the spell and returned the weaver to the Basis to his former appearance. Oberon has already managed to get his wife’s adopted son as a page and no longer wants to torment her.

Hippolyta, Theseus and Aegeus hunt in the forest and find 2 sleeping couples: Lysander and Hermia, Demetrius and Helen. The awakened Lysander explains that he was forced to flee the city with his beloved so that she would not become the wife of his rival. Demetrius declares that Hermia is no longer interesting to him. He only loves Elena. The weaver also comes to his senses and goes to the city. The play ends happy wedding, where Theseus and Hippolyta, Lysander and Hermia, and Demetrius and Helena were married.

Mere mortals

There are neither completely positive nor completely negative characters in the play. Mere mortals behave as people have behaved at all times: they love, they hate, they fight for their right to happiness, selfishly without thinking about this right for another person. During the course of the play, almost every character manifests himself in both positive and negative ways.

It is likely that the author did not want to divide his characters into 2 camps because he wanted to show their helplessness. All heroes, including Duke Theseus, were to appear as puppets. Shakespeare absolves his characters of responsibility for their actions. A person's destiny does not belong to him. It’s all because of evil fate, a predetermined path. Perhaps the author did not believe in the existence greek gods, however, he fully admitted that there is a force that determines our lives.

Forest gods

According to Greek tradition, the forest gods in Shakespeare's play have anthropomorphic qualities. They are distinguished from people only by their power and supernatural abilities. Otherwise, the king, queen and elves are similar to ordinary Athenians. Oberon quarreled with his wife, like an ordinary mortal. Elf Puck loves pranks, like any boy on the streets of Athens. The gods are also capable of love, envy and intrigue each other.

Gods with human face
The author has no reverence for the supernatural creatures of the forest. He strives to portray them as comically as possible, to show their grumpiness, vanity and some stupidity. Gods, like people, are not divided into good and bad. Oberon, who started a real intrigue to take away his adopted son from his wife, nevertheless does not show cruelty and helps the lovers unite.

Fatum is often present in Shakespeare's works. Evil fate did not allow Romeo and Juliet to unite. Despite all the tricks, cruel fate doomed the young Veronese to inevitable death.

main idea

The idea of the play "Dream in summer night", the summary of which will interest the future viewer or reader, may cause controversy, since the main purpose of this work is to entertain the public. One can only assume that Shakespeare's idea was that human life is just a game. How exactly the game ends depends solely on the mood of the players.

Analysis of the work

When creating his play, the author set himself one single goal - to please the public. The work contains neither moral teachings nor deep philosophy. Viewers who are captivated by the plot do not always notice the lack of authenticity. The ruler of Athens could hardly be called a duke. Urban Greek artisans cannot wear typical english names.

However, Shakespeare's plans did not include authenticity, an excessive desire for which can make the work too boring. At the end of the play, Park, addressing the audience, asks them to imagine that everything they saw was just a dream. Presenting the play as a not entirely logical dream justifies unreliability and inaccuracy, because in dreams everything that was impossible in reality becomes possible.

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Theseus , Duke of Athens.

Aegean , father of Hermia.

Lysander, Demetrius , in love with Hermia.

Philostratus , manager of entertainment at the court of Theseus.

Pigwa , 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,

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

For the solemn day and I will celebrate

About something that concerns both of you.

Aegean

We are always happy to fulfill our duty.

Theseus, Hippolyta, Aegean, Demetrius And 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 that 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.

It is difficult for her to reconcile with common sense.

Without eyes - and wings: a symbol of recklessness

Haste!... Her name is child;

After all, it’s easy to deceive her by joking.

And how the boys swear in the game,

So it’s easy for her and she doesn’t care about deception.

Until he was captured by Hermia,

Then he swore to me with a hail of vows of love;

But only Hermia breathed with heat -

The hail melted, and with it all the oaths in vain.

I’ll go and reveal their plans to him:

He will probably go into the forest at night;

And if I receive gratitude,

I will pay dearly for this.

But in my melancholy and this is a lot -

The road to and from the forest with him!

(Leaves.)

SCENE 2

Athens. A room in a hut.

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

It's not a good hour when 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.

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 February 19, 1595, on this day "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was first performed in the theater. According to another version, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is 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 music for theatrical production"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 Elena, who is in love with Demetrius, about this in the hope that Elena will be pleased by the escape of her rival for Demetrius’s heart. Elena, counting on Demetrius’ gratitude, tells him about the escape of his bride. As a result, all four - Hermia, Lysander, Helen and Demetrius - find themselves in the forest at a time when the king of fairies and elves Oberon decides to punish his wife Titania, who does not give him her Indian page. Oberon orders his servant Puck to smear the eyes of the sleeping Titania with magic juice, after she wakes up, she will fall in love with the first living creature who sees and forgets her Indian pet. There is magic juice in a flower that grew in the place where Cupid's arrow hit, bouncing off a chaste virgin.

Fairy

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

Fairy and Puck

Arthur Rackham - Fairy and Puck

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.
In my domain it is summer all year round.
And I love you. Come, my friend.
Elves will come running to you for services,
So that you can look for pearls in the seas
And sing when you're dozing on the flowers.
This is how I will cleanse your mortal frame,
That you, like a spirit, will soar above the earth.

Titania and Base

Alfred Fredericks - Foundation

Alfred Fredericks - Titania and the Skein (Base)

Alfred Fredericks - Titania and the Base

Edwin Landseer. Titania and Base

John Anster Fitzgerald. Titania and Base

Joseph Noel Paton. Titania and 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, Helen.

Oberon
(speaking)

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

Oberon, Titania and Hank (Base)

Titania

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

Oberon

Here he is, your gentle friend.

Oberon, Titania and Base

Alfred Fredericks - Titania, Oberon and Foundation

John Anster Fitzgerald - Oberon and Titania

William Blake. Oberon, Titania and Puck with dancing fairies

Alfred Fredericks - Theseus and Hippolyta

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

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

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

Oberon and Titania

Titania and Base

Hermia (played by Olivia de Havilland)

Elena (played by Jean Muir)

Of the modern adaptations of A Midsummer Night's Dream, I would like to 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. It is impossible to choose a better actress 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

"A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Midsummer's Night Dream.

CHARACTERS.

Theseus, Duke of Athens.

Aegeus, father of Hermia.

Lysander and Demetrius, in love with Hermia.

Philostratus, director of Theseus' festivities.

Pigva, carpenter.

Driller, carpenter.

Hank, weaver.

Dudka, trader of blowing bellows.

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.

Pok or good-natured Roben, elf.

Titania, queen of the Zlfs.

Sweet Pea, Cobweb, Moth, Mustard Seed - elves.

Pyramus, Thisby, Wall, Moonlight, Leo are the persons participating in the sideshow.

Elves accompanying Oberon and Titania. Courtiers of Theseus and Hippolyta.

Setting: Athens and its surrounding forest.

ACT ONE

Enter: Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostratus and retinue.

Theseus. Beautiful Hippolyta, the hour of our marriage is approaching quickly. After four blessed days, a new month begins. But old man, it seems to me that you kill unusually slowly; he delays the fulfillment of my desires, like a stepmother or a widow who delays for a long time to hand over her property to the young heir.

Hippolyta. The four nights will quickly consume the remaining four days, and the dreams of these four nights will help shorten the time. And when they pass, the new moon, bending in the sky like a silver arc, will see the night of our triumph.

Theseus. Go, Philostratus, inspire the youth of Athens and tell them to have fun. Yes, awaken in her a lively, playful spirit of fun. Sorrow is only fitting for funeral processions, and it, pale, is not a companion to our rejoicing (Philostratus to leave). I have wooed you, Hippolyta, with my sword; By insulting you, I gained your love. Now I want a different order for our marriage, that is, feasts, celebrations and celebrations.

Enter: Aegeus, Hermia, Lysander and Demetrius.

Aegean. I wish every happiness to Theseus, our glorious Duke.

Theseus. Thank you, dear Aegeus. What can you tell us again?

Aegean. With a soul filled with sadness, I came to you with a complaint about my daughter Hermia. Demetri, come closer. Sir, this man received my consent to marry her. Come too, Lysander. But this, my kindest duke, has completely bewitched my child. You, Lysander, gave her poems, exchanged pledges of love with her, sang songs under her window in the moonlight and promised her false love in a deceitful voice. You won her favor with wrists made from your hair, rings, trinkets, various nonsensical trinkets, flowers, delicacies. Thanks to these messengers, before whom tender youth cannot resist, you have insidiously stolen the heart of my daughter and turned into stubborn disobedience the obedience with which she is obliged to fulfill the will of her father. Therefore, good Duke, I ask you, if even here, in your presence, she refuses to marry Demetrius, let me use the old Athenian right. Since she is mine, I can dispose of her, and I dispose of her this way: I condemn her either to marry this man, or, according to the ancient law, which foresaw this case, to death.

Theseus. What do you say, Hermia? Dear girl, come to your senses. The father must be a god for you: he is the creator of your beauty. For him, you are the same as a wax or sculpted doll, which he is free to either keep intact or destroy. Demetrius is a completely worthy young man.

Hermia. And Lysander is also worthy.

Theseus. Let's put it this way. But, keeping in mind your father's wishes, preference should be given to the former.

Hermia. Why doesn’t my father want to look through my eyes?

Theseus. It is not he, but you who must look through the eyes of his prudence.

Hermia. Forgive me, Duke. What strength gives me courage and how much, by expressing my thoughts in such a presence, I can damage my modesty, I do not know. I ask your lordship to tell me: - if I refuse to marry Demetrius, what is the worst that can await me?

Theseus. Either death, or excommunication forever from the society of men. Therefore, beautiful Hermia, think. Take into account your youth and ask your blood thoroughly whether it is able, if you do not give in to your father’s wishes, to wear the clothes of a hermit forever. Think: you will be imprisoned forever in a gloomy monastery, where you will lead the life of a pathetic priestess, singing languid hymns to the cold, barren moon. Thrice blessed are those who are so able to curb their blood that they are able to go through their entire life as virgins. But, speaking from earthly terms, a plucked rose is happier than the one that, withering on a virgin stem, grows, lives and dies in lonely bliss.

Hermia. I, my lord, would rather agree to grow, live and die this way than to put my neck under a heavy yoke that I hate.

Theseus. I'll give you time to change your mind. On the next new moon, that is, on the day of my union with my beloved for eternal cohabitation, yes, on this very day, if you do not agree to marry Demetrius, be ready either to die for your disobedience to your father, or to sacrifice on the altar of Diana vow of eternal purity and solitude.

Demetrius. Listen to your father and the Duke, beautiful Hermia. And you, Lysander, also give up your absurd intention to interfere with my indisputable right.

Lysander. You, Demetrius, have gained the love of your father; marry him, if you want, and leave Hermia to me.

Aegean. Yes, stubborn Lysander, he has acquired my love and everything that is mine, this love transfers to him. The daughter is mine, and I transfer all my rights to her to Demetrius.

Lysander. I, my lord, come from no worse birth than he. I am as rich as him, but I love more than him. I am in all respects, if not superior, then equal to Demetrius; but, more importantly, I am loved by the beautiful Hermia. Why shouldn't I take advantage of my advantage? In his presence, I affirm that Demetrius courted Elena, Nadar’s daughter, captured her heart, and she, poor thing, loves to the point of adoration, simply idolizes this criminally fickle man.

Theseus. I admit, I heard about this and even wanted to talk with Demetrius about this matter, but, burdened with my own affairs, I still forgot to do it. Let's go, Demetri! Go too, Aegeus. Follow me, both of you. I have some secret instructions for both of you. And you, beautiful Hermia, if you do not want the law of Athens, which we are unable to soften, to condemn you to death or eternal loneliness, try to yield to the will of your father. Let's go, Hippolyta. How do you look at this, my dear? Demetrius and you, Aegeus, follow me too. I need to talk to you about something concerning our wedding, and then about something concerning yourself.

Aegean. We are going after you out of duty and out of desire (Leaves with Theseus, Hippolyta and Demetrius; a retinue follows them).

Lysander. Well, my love? How pale you are! Why did the roses on your cheeks fade so quickly?

Hermia. Probably from the lack of rain, which the storm that broke out in my eyes could always water them with.

Lysander. Alas, I have never known, either from books or from oral traditions, that the course of true love has ever been serene. Happiness is indignant at the difference in birth...

Hermia. Yes, woe is it when those placed too high are captivated by those placed too low.

Lysander. That's the difference in years...

Hermia. Woe is it when something too old wants to associate itself with something too young.

Lysander. It’s the need to obey someone else’s choice...

Hermia. Oh, if in love you have to submit to the choice of other people's eyes, this is absolute hell.

Lysander. Even if the choice turns out to be happy, happiness is threatened either by war, or death, or illness, making it instantaneous, like a sound, fleeting, like a shadow, brief, like a dream, and elusive, like lightning, opening the sky on a black night and, before you know it, to say: “Look,” the earth is again swallowed up by the merciless jaws of darkness. Yes, everything bright fades away too quickly.

Hermia. If those who sincerely love always encounter obstacles, then this is a predestination of fate. Let us learn to be patient with the obstacles we encounter, since these obstacles are commonplace, as inevitable with love as its ever-present companions - dreams and sighs, desires and tears.

Lysander. This is quite convincing, so listen, Hermia. I have an aunt, a childless widow with a large fortune - her house is seven miles from Athens - and she loves me as she loves the mother of her only son. There, dear Hermia, can I marry you, there the strict law of Athens is powerless. If you love me, quietly leave your father’s house tomorrow, and I will wait for you in a grove, only one mile distant from the city, in the same grove where I already met you once, when you and Elena celebrated the morning of May.

Hermia. Oh, my dear Lysander, I swear to you by the most merciless bow of Cupid, his best arrow with a golden tip, the artless doves of Venus, everything that binds souls and makes love happy, the fire that burned the queen of Carthage when she saw the sails of the lying Trojan running away from her; I swear by all the oaths ever broken by men, even more numerous, ever uttered by women, that tomorrow I will certainly be with you at the appointed place.

Lysander. Keep your promise, my dear. And here, look, is Elena.

Elena enters.

Hermia. Hello, beautiful Elena. Where are you going?

Elena. You say: beautiful? Take that word back. Demetri loves your beauty. O happy beauty! Your eyes are guiding stars, and the sweet sounds of your voice are more pleasant to him than the shepherd’s song of the lark when the fields turn green and the hawthorn blossoms. Disease is clingy, - oh, if only beauty were the same! I would be infected by yours, beautiful Hermia, I would not leave you a single step until my ears were infected with your voice, my eyes with your gaze, my tongue with the charming harmony of your speech. If the whole world belonged to me, I, with the exception of Demetrius, would give it all just to be transformed into you. Oh, teach me to look like you, teach me the sorcery with which you captured the heart of Demetrius!

Hermia. I turn away from him, but he still loves me.

Elena. Oh, if only your intractability would transfer this power to my smiles!

Hermia. I curse him, but he answers me with love.

Elena. Oh, that my prayers would arouse such affection in him!

Hermia. The more I hate him, the more he pursues me with his prayers.

Elena. The more I love him, the more he hates me,

Hiermia. It's his fault, Elena, not mine.

Elena. Not yours, but the fault of your beauty. Oh, why is it not my fault!

Hermia. Take comfort, he will no longer see my face: Lysander and I are fleeing from here. Until I saw Lysander, Athens seemed like paradise to me. How great is the power of my beloved when he turned heaven itself into hell!

Lysander. Elena, and we will reveal everything to you. Tomorrow night, when Phoebe sees her silvery face in the water mirror and clears the meadow with liquid diamonds, that is, at the hour that always covers the flight of lovers, we will leave Athens.

Hermia. And in that very grove in which you and I so often, resting on a bed of flowers, conveyed our sweet dreams to each other, we will meet with Lysander in order to turn our eyes away from Athens and look for new friends in a society alien to us. Farewell, dear friend of my childhood! Pray to the gods for us, and may they send you the happiness of your Demetrius. Keep your word, Lysander. Let us only make our eyes starve until tomorrow midnight and entrust them with abstinence from the sweet food of love (Leaves).

Lysander. I will hold back, my Hermia. Goodbye Elena! Let Demetrius also sigh for you, as you sigh for him (Leaves).

Elena. Oh, how much happier some are than others! In Athens they find that I am as good as she is, but what of this? Demetrius does not find this. He doesn't want to know what everyone knows except him. And just as he is deluded by the eyes of Hermia, so am I delusional by his perfections. Love can give beauty and dignity to even the most insignificant, crappy person. Love looks not with the eyes, but with the heart. That is why the winged Cupid is depicted as blind: love does not know how to reason; having wings but no eyes, she serves as an emblem of irreparable frivolity. That is why he so often makes mistakes in his choice and that is why he is called a child. Just as playful children often betray their given word in games, so the love child constantly betrays his vows. So Demetrius, until he saw Hermia, showered me with a hail of assurances that he exclusively belonged to me. But as soon as the warm ray of Hermia’s beauty touched this ice, it melted and crumbled into a whole stream of rain. I’ll go and tell him about the escape that Hermia is planning; tomorrow night he will chase her into the forest. It will be a great reward for me if he thanks me for this notice. At least I will ease my suffering by being there with him and returning from there with him (Leaves).

Same place. A room in Pigva's house.

Enter: Burav, Motok, Dudka, Snout, Pigwa and Otter.

Pigwa. Are all of us there?

Skein. It would be better for you to do a roll call for us first, everyone in general, and then one by one.

Pigwa. Here full list the names of those persons who throughout Athens are recognized as capable of playing in our sideshow in the presence of the Duke and Duchess on the night after their marriage.

Skein. First of all, kind Peter Pigwa, what is the play about? Then read the names of the actors, and then start assigning roles.

Pigwa. You see, our play is a most deplorable comedy; It depicts the death of Pyramus and Thisby.

Skein. It must be a great thing and a lot of fun! Now, dear Peter Pigva, roll call your actors according to the list. Gentlemen, stand in a row.

Pigwa. Answer the call. Nick Motok, weaver!

Skein. Here! Tell me what role is intended for me and continue.

Pigvl. You, Nick Motok, are assigned the role of Pyramus.

Skein. What is Pyramus? lover or tyrant?

Pigwa. A lover who kills himself for love in the purest way.

Skein. So, will this role require tears? If I play, listeners, take care of your eyes. I will make the stones move and in some way evoke everyone's sympathy. Now further. I am mainly strong in playing tyrant roles. I would play Hercules as a marvel, or any equally tearing and all-crushing role.

"Wild rocks, their shaking

The prison doors within me will be crushed.

From the shining chariot of Phoebus

The deeds of foolish fate will perish."

This is what is called beautiful and there is nothing more beautiful in the world! Now call out the names of the other actors. This is Eraklov’s technique, a purely tyrant’s technique. The lover speaks more plaintively.

Pigwa. Francis Dudka, bellows salesman.

Dudka. Peter Pigwa, I'm here.

Pigwa. You must take on the role of Thisby.

Dudka. What is Thisby? knight errant?

Pigwa. This is the girl with whom Pyramus is in love.

Dudka. No, do me a favor, don’t force me to play a woman: I’m already growing a beard.

Pigwa. It's okay, you can play her with a mask. You will have to speak as squeaky as possible.

Skein. And if you can hide your beard under a mask, let me play Thisbe too. I will speak in an amazingly thin voice. - Thisbe, Thisbe! - “Ah, Pyramus, my teasing lover! I am your teasing Thisbe, your teasing lover.”

Pigwa. No, no, you have to play Pyramus, and you Dudka, play Thisby.

Skein. OK then. Continue.

Pigwa. Roben Otter, tailor!

Otter. Here, Peter Pigva.

Pigwa. You, Roben Otter, will have to play Thisby's mother. Now Tom Snout, coppersmith.

Snout. Here, Peter Pigva.

Pigva. You will be the father of Pyramus, and I myself will be the father of Thisby. Burav, carpenter! Take on the role of a lion. It seems that all the roles in the play have been distributed.

Burav. So, have you already written the role of the lion? If it is written, give it to me now, because I have a terrible time learning it by heart.

Pigwa. You can play it without memorizing it, because all you have to do is roar.

Skein. Let me play the lion, I will roar so hard that I will make everyone listen to me. Yes, I will roar so that the Duke himself will say: “Let him roar again, let him roar.”

Pigwa. And if you roar too terribly, you will frighten both the duchess and her entourage so much that they themselves will scream. And this will be enough to hang us all.

All. How to outweigh us all? us, the sons of our mothers?

Skein. I agree, friends: if we frighten the ladies so much that they lose their heads, they, of course, will not be ashamed to hang us. But I will raise my voice to such a degree, I will roar so pleasantly that they will take me for a cooing dove. I will roar like a nightingale.

Pigwa. You cannot play any other role than Pyramus, because Pyramus is a man of good appearance, a man so handsome that you cannot find him better on the clearest summer day. He is an extremely kind man; therefore, willy-nilly, you must play Pyramus.

Skein. Okay, I'll try. What kind of beard will I have to wear for this role?

Pigwa. Whichever one you want.

Skein. I can grab her with a straw-colored beard, and with a dark orange, and with a crimson-red, and with a beard the color of a French head, that is, completely yellow.

Pigwa. But many French heads have no hair at all; therefore, you would probably have to play without a beard at all. Well, gentlemen, here are your roles. And I ask, convince and beg you to learn them by heart by tomorrow night, and then, by moonlight, meet with me in the palace forest, located one mile outside the city. There we will do a rehearsal. Because if we had met in the city, we would not have gotten rid of the crowd of curious people and our intention would have been revealed. In the meantime, I will make a list of everything that is missing for us to present. Please don't deceive me.

Skein. It will be both easier and more convenient for us to do a rehearsal there.

Pigwa. Try to distinguish yourself. Farewell. The meeting is scheduled at the Duke's oak tree.

Skein. Okay, it was not! (They leave).

ACT TWO.

Forest near Athens.

The Fairy enters on one side, and Pok on the other.

Pok. What's new, fairy? Where are you going?

Fairy. Over the mountains and down the valleys,

But to the thorny bushes

I flutter carefree

Running ahead of the moon.

To me, the fairy queen's servant,

Are not an obstacle

Not a thousand shady parks,

Neither fire nor river water.

And I serve her diligently,

Green meadow irrigated

Refreshing dew.

And I decorate it with flowers,

What fragrances are there all around?

They pour out tirelessly.

I need to collect a few drops of dew here and, like pearls, hang them on the ear of each letter. Farewell, most ignorant of all spirits, I have no time. Our queen, and with her all the elves, will now appear here.

Pok. And our king celebrates this night here. Be careful, queen, don’t show yourself to him, because he is terribly irritated and angry that the beautiful boy kidnapped from the Indian king is still in her retinue. She had never seen such a cute little thing before. Envious Oberon would like him to be his page and wander with him through the dense forests. She doesn’t want to give in for anything, crowns him with flowers and can’t stop looking at him. Because of this, wherever they now meet - in a grove, in a meadow, at a clear spring, in the shining of bright stars - they always have such a quarrel that all the elves crawl in fear into acorn cups and hide there.

Fairy. If your appearance and your whole appearance do not deceive me, you are a cunning, roguish spirit, called the prankster Robin. It’s you who scare the village girls, skim the cream from the milk, sometimes force the hand mill to work, prevent the sweating housewife from churning butter, sometimes prevent the drink from fermenting, lead the night wanderers astray and amuse themselves with their annoyance. For the one who calls you Gobgoblin or dear Pok, you work for glory and bring him all the luck. You are Pok, aren't you?

Pok. You were not mistaken, fairy: I am this cheerful night tramp. I amuse Oberon, make him smile when, imitating the neighing of a young mare, I inflate a fat stallion who has eaten peas. Sometimes, in the form of a baked apple, I climb into the gossip’s mug, and if she wants to drink, I hit her on the lips and spill beer over her withered chest. Even the wisest of aunts, telling the most deplorable of all stories, sometimes mistakes me for a tripod bench, but I slide out from under what she is sitting on, and she, flying upside down to the floor, shouts: “Ay! Ay!” and meanwhile the cough is choking her. Looking at this, the whole company dies with laughter, sneezes and swears that they have never seen anything funnier. Get out, though, here comes Oberon.

Fairy. My queen is coming too. Oh, if only he would get out of here soon!

Oberon enters on one side with his retinue, and Titania with hers on the other.

Oberon. Meeting you in the moonlight, adamant Titania, is far from a pleasant meeting.

Titania. Oh, envious Oberon is here. Fairies, run away from here! I renounce his company, just as I renounced his bed.

Oberon. Stop, crazy, willful wife! Am I not your husband?

Titania. If so, then I must be your wife. But I know that you secretly flew away from the land of fairies, spent whole days in the guise of Corin near the loving Felida, playing on a straw pipe and singing to her about your love. Why did you come here from the further reaches of India? To be present at the marriage with Theseus of your full-fledged Amazon, sporting buskins, your warlike beloved! You came here to give their bed joy and happiness.

Oberon. Aren’t you ashamed, Titania, to reproach me for my affection for Hippolyta, when I am well aware of your passion for Theseus? Was it not you who, on a starry night, took him away from Perigenia, which he had stolen, was it not you who forced him to break the oath given to the beauties Eglae, Ariadne and Antiope?

Titania. All this is just an invention inspired by jealousy. Not once since the very beginning of summer have we, neither on the hills, nor in the valleys, nor in the meadows, nor in the forests, nor near streams running along a rocky bed, nor near rivers bordered by reeds, nor on the outskirts of the sea washed by waves, have we ever succeeded to lead our round dances to the rustle of the wind, without you disturbing our fun with your absurd interference. As if in retaliation for the fact that they whistled in vain, the winds called up infectious fogs from the sea, which, falling to the ground, filled every river to such an extent that they all overflowed their banks. That is why the bull pulled his yoke in vain, and the farmer sweated in vain; the grain rotted, while still completely green and before the harvest. The hay rots in the meadows flooded with water, and the crows grow fat after gorging themselves on dead cattle. The idle furrows for village games were covered with silt. The paths winding through the luxurious greenery are also not visible, because no one tramples them. Mortals are deprived of even earthly amusements; not a single night is marked by either songs or games. That is why the ruler of the waters, the month, pale with anger, permeated the entire air with dampness, so that there would be no shortage of colds. This turmoil changes the very seasons of the year. Frost-whitened frosts fall on the heads of blooming scarlet roses, and the chin and icy crown of old winter, as if in mockery, are decorated with a fragrant wreath of summer blossoms. Spring, summer, fruit-rich autumn, harsh winter seem to have exchanged their usual attire. And the astonished world, although it gives birth to each of them, does not even now recognize which is which. And this whole string of evils is generated by our strife, we are their parents, their ancestors.

Oberon. All this comes from you and it’s up to you to fix everything. Why would Titania contradict her Oberon? And what am I asking of you? Just a tiny substitute boy so that I can take him as my page.

Titania. You'll have to come to terms with this. If you had offered me your entire magical country for this boy, I would not have given him to you even then. His mother was my priestess. As it often happened, fanned by the fragrant air of India, she served as my interlocutor, sat with me on the yellow sand of Neptune and followed with her eyes the merchants sailing on the waves and laughed, seeing how the sails seemed to swell and become completely pot-bellied from the voluptuous touch of the air. And she, imitating them - at that time she had long been pregnant with my young page - crawled on the ground, swaying beautifully and quietly, in order to get me various trinkets, and returned, as if from a long voyage, with rich goods. But she, having given birth to this child, being mortal, died. Out of love for her, I will raise her son and will not part with him because of love with her.

Oberon. How long do you intend to stay in this forest?

Titania. Perhaps until the end of Theseus's marriage festivities. Do you want to dance peacefully with us in the moonlight, enjoy our fun - or with us? If you don’t want to, avoid me, and I will avoid the areas you visit.

Oberon. Give me the boy and I will follow you.

Titania. Not for your entire magical kingdom. Let's get out of here, fairies. If I stay any longer, we will completely quarrel (Leaves with his retinue).

Oberon. Okay, go ahead. But you will not get out of this forest until I torture you thoroughly for this insult. Come to me, dear Pok! Do you remember how I once, sitting on a cape, listened to the singing of a siren riding on the back of a dolphin? She sang so euphoniously, so sweetly that even the raging sea calmed down from the sounds of her voice. And more than one star flew headlong out of its sphere just to listen to this singing.

Pok. I remember.

Oberon. At that very time I saw, but you could not see, how Cupid flew between the new moon and the earth, fully armed. He aimed at the beautiful Vestal Virgin who reigned in the west, and fired his arrow with such force that it seemed to be able to pierce a hundred thousand hearts. But I saw that the fiery arrow of young Cupid went out in the chaste rays of the humid month, and the royal priestess, not at all wounded, floated past in virginal thought. I, however, noticed where Cupid's arrow fell. She hit a small western flower, which was previously milky white, but now turned purple from a love wound. The girls call him "Inactive Love." Get me this flower, I showed you its herb once. Thanks to its juice, if it is applied to the eyelids closed in sleep, a man or woman will fall madly in love with the first living creature that catches his eye. Find me this flower and return here with it before the leviathan has time to swim only one mile.

Pok. I am capable of encircling the entire globe in about forty minutes (Exits).

Oberon. If I get the juice of this herb, I will take a moment when Titania falls asleep and smear it on her eyelids. The first thing that catches her eye after waking up - be it a lion, a bear, a wolf or an ox, a curious monkey or a fussy monkey - she will begin to pursue with her passionate love, and before I remove this spell from her eyes - what can I do? with another herb, I will force her to give up her page to me. But who is it coming here? I'm invisible. I'll overhear their conversation.

Demetrius enters, followed by Elena.

Demetrius. I don't love you, so stop stalking me. Where are Lysander and the beautiful Hermia? Because... she kills me, I will kill him. Did you say they took refuge in this forest? And I'm in it too. So I ended up in this forest and I’m angry because I can’t find my Hermia. Leave me, go away, stop following me

Elena. Oh, cruel magnet, you yourself attract me to yourself! And you do not attract iron, because my heart is true, like steel. Lose your attractive power, and I will lose the opportunity to follow you.

Demetrius. Am I seducing you, telling you that you are beautiful? On the contrary, I am telling the absolute truth that I don’t love you, I can’t love you.

Elena. That's why I love you even more. I'm your little dog. You see, Demetrius, the more you beat me, the more tenderly I will begin to caress you. Treat me like your little dog, push me away with your feet, beat me, neglect me, destroy me, but just allow me, unworthy, to follow you. What worse place in your love can I ask of you? Your treatment of me like a dog will be the greatest happiness for me.

Demetrius. Don't put my hatred to the test. I get sick when I see you.

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

Demetrius. You are terribly harming your good reputation by going out of town, giving yourself into the hands of a person who does not love you at all, and trusting the night, which is favorable to love affairs, the dirty suggestions inspired by solitude and deserted terrain.

Elena. Your virtues will serve as my guardian for this treasure. It’s not night for me when I can see your face, so I can’t believe at all that it’s night now. Moreover, this forest is not at all deserted, because my whole world is located in it. Who dares to say that I am alone when the whole world is looking at me here?

Demetrius. I will run away from you, hide in the bushes and leave you to be prey to the beasts.

Elena. Even the fiercest of beasts has a heart that is not as merciless as yours. Run away if you want, then only the legend will be distorted: Apollo runs, and Daphne chases him; the dove chases the hawk, the humble doe tries to catch the tiger. Effort is completely unnecessary when courage takes flight and cowardice runs after it.

Demetrius. I don’t want to listen to your reasoning anymore, let me go. Or, if you still persistently pursue me, know in advance that I will inflict a cruel insult on you right here in the forest.

Elena. Alas, in churches, in the city, and in the fields - you insult me everywhere. Be ashamed, Demetrius, your insults disgrace my sex. We are not men and cannot, like them, achieve love with weapons in our hands. We must be looked after, but we are not created for courtship. I am following you, at all costs, I, if I have to see death from a passionately beloved hand, hell itself will become paradise for me (Leaves with him.)

Oberon. Take comfort, nymph. Before he leaves this forest, you will run from him, and he will begin to pursue you with his love.

Pook is back.

Well, wanderer, did you get a flower?

Pok. Here he is.

Oberon. Let's. I know a corner of the shore, overgrown with wild cumin, capitula and swaying violets. It is almost like a tent, overshadowed by fragrant honeysuckle, fragrant roses and beautiful rose hips. There, lulled by games and round dance songs, Titania usually spends part of the night sleeping. There the snake sheds its motley skin, and this clothing is spacious enough for an elf. I will sprinkle the juice of this flower into her eyes and she will be filled with the most absurd fantasies. Take a particle of the flower, find a young man in the forest who is neglecting the love of a beautiful Athenian girl, and anoint his eyes with the juice, but only if the first thing he should see is her. Look, try to arrange it so that he falls in love with her even more than she falls in love with him, and come back to me before the first rooster.

Pok. Be calm, your servant will do everything as it should.

Another part of the forest.

Titania enters with her retinue.

Titania. Well, now dance in a circle to a magic song, then leave for a third of a minute. Let some kill the worms in the buds of roses; others fight with bats to get the skin from their membranous wings, and from this material to sew shirts for my little elves; let others drive away the restless owl, screaming all night, looking at our beautiful elves. Put me to sleep with singing, and then go off to fulfill your duties. Give me a rest.

1st fairy (singing).

Evil motley echidnas,

With forked tongues;

Harmful, creeping reptiles,

Peaceful sleep of our queen.

With our lullaby song,

Singing with us:

"Hush, Little Baby, Do not Say a Word!"

So that neither evil nor cunning spells

The queen was not touched,

And until the morning the magic dream

He caressed and caressed her.

Spiders, and thin-legged ones,

Why are you portraying mowers?

And shaggy-poisonous

Worms that crawl

On the ground with an inaudible tread,

Dream of the beautiful Titania,

1st fairy. Well, get out of here now! Everything is as it should be here. One of us, however, should remain and watch on the sidelines (The Fairy leaves. Titania sleeps. Oberon appears).

Oberon (squeezing the juice of a flower onto Titania's eyelids). Fall passionately in love with what you see immediately after waking up. Love then and languish. Be it a beaver, or a cat, or a bear, or a leopard, or a bristly boar, when you wake up, he will introduce himself to you as your beloved. Wake up when you dream something nasty (Exits. Lysander and Hermia appear).

Lysander. My beloved, you are tired of this wandering through the forest. I admit, I lost my way. If you wish, Hermia, we can rest. Let's wait here for a pleasant dawn.

Hermia. Be as you please, Lysander. Find yourself a bed, and I will lay my head on this hillock.

Lysander. The same bump will serve as a pillow for both of us. One heart, one bed, two breasts and one loyalty.

Hermia. No, good Lysander, I beg you, lie down, my dear, for now, far away, don’t lie so close.

Lysander. Oh, my beloved, understand this in the most innocent sense. Love must understand the words of love and treat him trustingly: I wanted to say that my heart is so closely connected with yours that they can be mistaken for one; that both our breasts are so bound by an oath that, although there are two of them, loyalty is still one. Therefore, do not refuse me a bed next to you. Believe, Hermia, this bed will not be desecrated by lies.

Hermia. You, Lysander, are great at playing with words.

Lysander. I would have showered terrible curses on my character and my pride if Hermia had decided to say that Lysander was lying.

Hermia. But, my dear, out of love and courtesy, still lie away. Such a temporary separation, required by modesty, can be very suitable for a virtuous young man and for a girl. Better lie down there, my good friend, and good night. May your love never change until the end of your dear life!

Lysander. "Amen, amen!" I answer this beautiful prayer. When my loyalty disappears, let life disappear too... I will lie here. May sleep help you find complete peace!

Hermia. Half of this desire is to close the eyelids of the one who expressed it (Both fall asleep).

Pok enters.

Pok. I walked around the entire forest and did not find the Athenian, in front of whose eyes I should experience the love power of this flower. What darkness, what silence! Who is this? He is wearing the clothes of an Athenian. It is, as my master said, that he neglects the Athenian girl. So she sleeps like the dead on the damp and dirty ground. She did not even dare to lie down next to this insensitive, heartless man. Wait, ignoramus, I’ll squeeze all these charms out of your eyes. Oh, love, when he wakes up, don’t let sleep close his eyelids, wake up when I’m gone. And I need to hurry to Oberon (Exits).

Demetrius stands up, followed by Elena.

Elena. Stop, dear Demetrius! It's better to kill me.

Demetrius. Leave me alone! Don't pester me like that.

Elena. And you will leave me in such darkness? Oh don't do this!

Demetrius. Stay here at your own risk. I want to go alone and I will leave (Runs away).

Elena. I was completely exhausted from this crazy chase. The more I beg, the less sympathy I see from him. Wherever you rest, Hermia, you are happy. She has wonderful, enchanting eyes. Why are they so light on her? Not from your own moisture of tears? If only this made mine shine even brighter, since they were much more often watered with this moisture. No, no, I must be as nasty as a bear; No wonder the animals that came my way rushed to the side out of fear. Therefore, it is not surprising that Demetrius runs away from me when I am so scary. How insidious and deceitful my mirror is when it assures me that I can compete with Hermia in beauty. Who is this? Lysander is on earth! Has he died or is he just sleeping? I don't see any blood or wound. Lysander, are you alive? Wake up!

Lysander (waking up). I’ll even go into the fire for you, Elena, you’re just like transparent. Nature shows its power, giving me the opportunity to see your heart through your chest. Where is Demetrius? And how worthy is the one who bears this disgusting name to die by my sword!

Elena. Don't say it, Lysander, don't say it! What do you care if he loves your Hermia? What do you make of this? After all, Hermia still loves you. Be pleased with this.

Lysander. Are you happy with Hermia? No, the miserable moments spent with her are boring to me. It’s not Hermia I love now, but Elena. Who wouldn't trade a crow for a dove? A person’s will is controlled by his mind, and his mind tells me that you are incomparably more worthy of love. Everything that grows is immature for the time being. So I was still too young, so I had not yet matured to reason. But now I have reached the full development of man, reason has become the leader of my will and leads me to your eyes, in which I see wonderful stories of love, read in the most luxurious book of love!

Elena. Why was I born? Why did she live to see such evil ridicule? What have I done to deserve your contempt? Isn’t it too bad that I never could and can’t get a tender look from Demetrius? And you still mock my misfortune. With such contemptuous courtship you offend me, you offend me cruelly. Goodbye. I confess, I thought you were much more noble. Surely, because a woman is rejected by one, she must be insulted by another (Leaves).

Lysander. She didn't see Hermia. Sleep, Gernia, sleep here and never approach Lysander again. Just as satiety with sweets gives rise to a terrible aversion to them in the stomach, or as heresies become hateful in the eyes of a person who has renounced them, especially when they have deceived him, so you, the culprit of my satiety, my heresy, be hated by everyone, but more so by me, than for anyone else. Let all my strength be directed towards love and devotion to Elena; I will be her slave (Exits).

Hermia (wakes up). Help, help me, Lysander! Drive away the snake that has crawled to my chest. Oh, have pity! Oh, what horrible dream! Look, Lysander: I’m trembling all over with fear. It seems to me that the snake is sucking out my heart, and you, looking at its cruel gluttony, sit quietly and just laugh. Lysander! How is he not there? Lysander, my lord! He doesn’t hear, he’s gone, not a word, not a sound! Oh, where are you? Call me if you hear! I beg you with love, respond! I almost fainted from fear. No! I see now that you are not nearby. Either I’ll find you right now, or I’ll die (Leaves).

ACT THREE.

Titania is sleeping. Enter: Pigwa, Burav, Osnova, Dudka, Snout and Otter.

The basis. Are we all on our face?

Pigwa. Everything, everything! And this is a nice place for our rehearsal. This green lawn will be our stage, the hawthorn bushes will be our dressing room, we will depict everything exactly as we will depict it later in front of the Duke.

The basis. Peter Pigva!

Pigwa. What do you want, restless weaver?

The basis. There is something in our comedy "Pyramus and Thisbe" that others will not like. Firstly, Pyramus is forced to draw a sword to kill himself; ladies cannot stand such sights. What do you say to this?

Snout. This, I swear by the Blessed Virgin, is truly terrifying.

Otter. I think it's suicide, when it's all over, we'll have to let him out.

The basis. No way! I figured out how to fix everything. Finish the prologue, and let this prologue hint that we will not cause any harm with our swords, that Pyramus is not really being killed; and for even greater reassurance, tell them that I, playing Pyramus, am not Pyramus at all, but the weaver Bottom. This will relieve the spectators of any fear.

Pigwa. Okay, let's write a prologue. Just how will we write it: six or eight-foot verses?

The basis. No, it’s better to add two feet, let there be eight of them, and he has eight feet.

Snout. Aren't the ladies afraid of the lion?

Otter. I'm afraid of this too. However, we'll see.

The basis. We, gentlemen, need to discuss all this thoroughly. God forbid you bring a lion into the company of ladies! This is a terrible thing, because there is not a single bird of prey more terrible than a lion, especially a living one. Therefore, we must take this consideration into account.

Snout. So let another prologue say that he is not a real lion.

The basis. No, it is necessary for the audience to know his name so that half of his face peeks out from behind the lion's neck. And if it is necessary to say something to correct this shortcoming, then it is precisely this: “Madam, or beautiful ladies, I would wish, or demand, or ask that you not be afraid, do not tremble, for I am with my life I am responsible for yours. If you think that I came here as a real lion, woe to me, great woe! No, I am the same creature, the same person, like everyone else! " Then let him identify himself by name and say directly that I am the carpenter Burav.

Pigwa. Great, that's what we'll do. But there are two more difficult things. First: how to introduce moonlight into a room? - you know that Pyramus and Fpsby meet in the light of the moon.

Burav. And the night during the performance of our comedy will be moonlit.

The basis. Give here a calendar, a calendar, and find out whether it will be a moonlit night or not!

Pigwa. Lunar.

The basis. If so, just leave the window open in the large room where our performance will take place, and the moon can shine through the window.

Pigwa. Perhaps so. Otherwise, let someone come in with a bundle of thorns and a lantern, and say that he came to portray a role or to represent the monthly light. But then there is another difficulty. We need a wall in the large room because, according to legend, Pyramus and Thisby talked through a crack in the wall.

Burav. Well, you can’t drag the wall into the room, what do you say to that, Osnova?

The basis. Well, someone can draw a wall. Just smear it a little to mark the wall with lime, clay or plaster, and let him hold his fingers like this. Through this gap Pyramus and Thisby will whisper to each other.

Pigwa. If this is settled, then everything is settled. Well, everyone born from the mother, let's sit down and start rehearsing. Pyramus, you should start. When you have spoken your role, go into these bushes. Let everyone do the same if their role requires it.

Pook enters and stops at the back of the stage.

Pok. What kind of ignoramuses are these, bawling so close to the bed of the beautiful queen? That's it, the show is getting ready! I will be a spectator and, if necessary, even an actor.

Pigwa. Speak, Pyramus! Thisby, come here!

Pyramus. The breath of suffocating flowers, you are weak...

Pigwa. Not suffocating, but fragrant.

Pyramus. The breath of fragrant flowers is unpleasant,

When compared to the breath of the wonderful Thisbee.

Wait a little

And I will return to you from there at the appointed time! (Leaves).

Pok. Of all the Pyramids in the world, has anyone seen anything like this? (Leaves after him).

Thisby. Now it's my turn?

Pigwa. Of course it's yours. You must understand that he is leaving to find out what voice he heard there, and will come back right away.

Thisby. The shining Pyramus, whose whiteness

You can argue with the lily and the rosy rose!

A brave young man, the sweetest of people

And faithful, like the most faithful mine that has never been explored,

What does it mean to be tired or to stumble,

I will meet with you at Nin’s grave.

Pigwa. At Nina's grave. Enough, my dear! It’s too early to tell you this; You answer Pyramus with these words. You speak your entire role in a row - both lines and everything else. Come in, Pyramus. Your line has already been said; It’s in the words: “does not know fatigue.”

(Pok and Base enter, with a donkey's head on their shoulders).

Thisby. Oh, faithful as the most faithful of horses,

Who never knows tiredness.

Pyramus. Only for you does Pyramus want to be like this.

Pigwa. Oh, this is terrible! monstrous! The evil spirits joke and joke with us here. Pray, gentlemen! Let's run, gentlemen! Help!

Everyone runs away in fear.

Pok. I'm behind you. I will chase you through swamps, through thickets, through thickets of thorny bushes. I will alternately take the form of a horse, then a dog, then a hog, then a headless bear, then fire, I will neigh, bark, grunt, roar and burn, like a horse, a dog, a hog, a bear and fire (Exits).

The basis. Why did they rush out of here as fast as they could? Is this a joke to scare me?

Snout returns.

Snout. Oh, Basis, what a transformation you have experienced! What do I see on your shoulders (Leaves)?

The basis. What do you see? You must be seeing a donkey's head on your own, right?

Pigwa is back.

Pigwa. Oh, Foundation, help, help you God! You are completely spoiled (Leaves).

The basis. I understand their cunning: they want to fool me and, if possible, scare me. But no matter what they do there, I won’t move from here. I’ll walk around here, belt out a song so everyone can hear that I’m not at all scared (Sings).

And a blackbird, with its beak pierced through,

And a cockerel with a short feather...

Titania (waking up). What cherub disturbs my sleep on a bed of flowers?

Sparrow or goldfinch,

Even the motley cuckoo

To whose impudent cry

It's rare that a husband won't respond

Objection: “You’re lying.”

Because, in fact, who would get involved with such a stupid bird, who would accuse the bird of lying, no matter how much it shouts “kuckoo!”

Titania. Please, handsome man, sing something else. Your voice completely enchanted my ears, and your image captivated my sight. At the first glance at you, the powerful charm of your charms makes me say against my will and even swear that I love you.

The basis. It seems, madam, that you have no solid reason for this. However, to tell the truth, reason and love rarely get along with each other at the present time. And it is very unfortunate if some helpful neighbor does not take the trouble to reconcile them among themselves. You see that I, too, am a master at making jokes on occasion.

Titania. You are as smart as you are beautiful.

The basis. Well no, not like that! I am neither one nor the other. If I were smart enough to get out of this forest, that would be quite enough for my personal use.

Titania. Oh, don't want to get out of here! Willy-nilly, you will stay here. I am a spirit, and not an unimportant one: in my domain there is eternal summer. And I love you, stay with me! I will give you elves to serve you. They will begin to find diamonds for you, deep bowels lands, will sing while you sleep on fresh flowers. I will make your mortal shell so thin and light that you too will begin to flutter like an airy spirit. Sweet Pea, Cobweb, Moth, Mustard Seed!

Four elves enter: Sweet Pea, Gossamer, Moth and Mustard Seed.

1st elf. I'm here!

2nd elf. And I!

3rd elf. N I!

4th elf. And I!

All. Where do you want us to fly?

Titania. Be kind to this gentleman and kind to him; flutter, jump around him during his walks, feed him apricots, purple grapes, green figs and mulberries, steal their bags for him, take wax from wild bees from their legs for candles and light these candles with the fiery eyes of fireflies and illuminate my path with them sweet when he goes to sleep and when he wakes up. Open the painted wings of butterflies and with them ward off the rays of the month from its sleepy eyelids. Hail him, elves!

1st elf. Hello mortal!

2nd elf. And mine!

3rd elf. And mine!

4th elf. And mine!

The basis. I am sincerely grateful to you, dear elf. Your name, most respected?

1st elf. Cobweb.

The basis. I am very glad, dear Mr. Web, to get to know you briefly. If I cut my finger, I dare to come straight to you. What about yours, most respected?

2nd elf. Sweet pea.

The basis. I ask you, kind Mr. Sweet Pea, to put in a good word for me with Lady Peel, your mother, and Mr. Pod, your father. I’m very glad to get to know you briefly. I also ask you to tell me your name?

3rd elf. Mustard Seed.

The basis. I know your condescension, dear Mr. Mustard Seed, I know it very well. This vile giant roast beef has devoured many gentlemen like you. Believe me, meeting you more than once squeezed tears from my eyes. I am very glad, dear Mustard Seed, to get to know you even briefly.

Titania. Serve him as your master. Take him to my gazebo. The moon looks somehow tearful, and if she cries, then every little flower cries, grieving for someone’s lost chastity. Wrap the tongue of my beloved in chains and lead him in complete silence.

Another part of the forest.

Oberon enters

Oberon. I’m curious to know if Titania has woken up and who is the creature that should have first caught her eye and with whom she should have fallen madly in love.

Pok enters.

Here is my messenger. Well, prankster, what pranks have you done in this magical forest?

Pok. My queen fell in love with a monster. While, not far from here, she was fast asleep in a gazebo dedicated to her, several ragged, unwashed artisans, who worked in Athenian shops for their daily bread, gathered and began to rehearse a comedy that they planned to present on the day of the wedding of the great Theseus. Having spoken his monologue, the most brainless of these idiots, the most worthless of all this bastard, who represented Pyramus in their play, went into the bushes, and I, taking advantage of this opportunity, turned his head into that of a donkey. Immediately then he had to answer Thisbe, and he again appeared on the stage. Here, like wild geese who have seen a crawling hunter, or like red-headed jackdaws that suddenly fly up with a cry, divide into separate squads and, like madmen, cut through the air, all the comrades, seeing Pyramus playing the role, rushed away from him and, knocking each other off their feet, They shouted: “robbery!” and began to call on one of the Athenian residents to help them. Their head is already weak, and now, out of strong fear, having completely lost it, they have weaponized even soulless objects against themselves; thorns and briars tear their clothes, one’s sleeve is torn off, another’s hat is torn off, constantly depriving the cowards of something, who did not even think of resisting. So, having filled them with insane fear, I drove them away from here, keeping here only one loafer, on whose shoulders I placed a donkey’s head. And then it happened that Titania woke up and immediately fell in love with the donkey.

Oberon. Everything turned out better than I expected. Did you wet the eyelids of the Athenian with love juice, as I ordered you?

Pok. This is done too. I found him sleeping; an Athenian woman lay not far from him; he will certainly see her when he wakes up.

Enter: Demetrius and Hermia.

Oberon. Let's step aside. Is this the same Athenian?

Pok. The woman is the same, but the man is not the same.

Demetri: Oh, why are you pushing away the one who loves you so much? You can only speak evil like that with your worst enemy.

Hermia. I only scold you, while you, perhaps, deserve even worse, because I am afraid that you have given me a reason to curse. If while Lysander was sleeping, you killed him and thereby plunged into blood up to your knees, plunge into it even deeper, kill me too. The sun itself was not as faithful to the day as it was to me. Would he have left the sleeping Hermia? I would rather believe that it is possible to drill through the entire globe and that the month, in order to annoy its brother the midday sun, will slip through this hole to the antipodes. You certainly killed Lysander: only a murderer can look so deathly, so fiercely.

Demetrius. As the murdered man looks, so do I, pierced through and through by your merciless cruelty. You, murderer, look as bright and clear as that brilliant Venus in the sky.

Hermia. This will not help my Lysander. Where is he? Oh, good Demetrius, return it to me!

Demetrius. I would rather give his corpse to my dogs.

Hermia. Get away from me, dog! away, dog! You have brought me beyond the limits of virgin patience. So did you kill him? Be removed from the list of people forever! Oh, at least once tell the truth, tell it for me at least. Not daring to look at him while he was awake, you killed him in his sleep. Oh, what a feat! Snakes and vipers are capable of such a valiant feat. And the viper did it because it had never stung anyone with its forked tongue.

Demetrius. You vent your anger over a mistake. I am not stained with Lysander's blood and, as far as I know, he is not dead at all.

Hermia. Repeat to me, I beg you, that he is healthy and unharmed.

Demetrius. What would be the benefit to me if I could even say this?

Hermia. The benefit is that you would never see me again; I hate your presence! Whether Lysander is alive or dead, don’t expect anything from me (Exits).

Demetrius. It's no use chasing after her when she's in such a frenzied mood; so I'll rest here for a bit. The severity of grief is increased by the debt that the insolvent debtor-dream did not pay him. Therefore, if I settle down to wait for him here, he, perhaps, will pay me at least a fraction of this debt (Lies down and falls asleep).

Oberon. What have you done! You made a most inadmissible mistake by actually squeezing love juice into your eyes loving person. Your mistake will inevitably turn true love into false love, but will not make false love true.

Pok. Fate turned out to be stronger than me. She is to blame: after all, for every lover there are invariably a million traitors, breaking one oath after another.

Oberon. Run faster than the wind through the entire forest and find Helen of Athens. She, poor and pale, was completely sick from love, sighs of love drove the blood from her face. Lure her here with some deception, and in the meantime I will charm the eyes of the young man for her arrival.

Pok. Run Run! Look, I'm flying faster than an arrow shot by a Tatar (Runs away).

Oberon. The juice of the crimson flower wounded by Cupid's arrow, penetrate into his eyes. Let, when he sees a girl in love with him, she will shine for him as brightly as Venus in the sky. When you wake up and she is near you, ask her for healing.

Pook is back.

Pok. The ruler of our magical country, Elena is close, and with her is the young man who led me into error. He prays that she loves him. Let's admire their crazy comedy. Oh, how stupid mortals can be!

Oberon. Let's step aside. Their conversation will wake up Demetri.

Pok. And then two people will begin to look after her at once. This will be fun! This kind of confusion is my passion!

Enter: Lysander and Helen.

Lysander. Why do you think that I am only trying to mock your love? Has mockery or contempt ever been expressed in tears? Look: I cry when I swear my love to you. And oaths born in this way already testify to their sincerity. With such a guarantee of sincerity, how can my love for you seem like contempt?

Elena. You are showing your cunning more and more. When truth kills truth, what could be more terrible than such a hellishly sacred struggle? Your assurances must apply to Hermia. Do you really want to leave her? Try to find out the weight of an oath with the help of an oath, and you will learn nothing. If you put your vows to her in one cup, and your vows to me in another, they will all turn out to be of the same weight, all as lightweight as fairy tales.

Lysander. I was crazy when I swore to her.

Elena. In my opinion, leaving her, you are now insane.

Lysander. Demetri loves her, but not you.

Demetrius (waking up). Oh, Elena! goddess! nymph! perfection! deity! To what, oh my love, will I compare your wonderful eyes? The very crystals next to them appear cloudy. Oh, how charmingly ripe are those two cherries that make up your lips! Even pure frozen whiteness, even blown by the eastern winds, the snow on the high Taurus becomes blacker than a raven when you raise your hand. Oh, let me kiss this queen of purest whiteness, this seal of bliss!

Elena. What vileness! Oh hell! I see that you have conspired to insult me for fun; I know that you both hate me, but that’s not enough for you, you still have to mock me. You look like people, but if you were really people, you wouldn’t treat a decent girl like that, you wouldn’t assure her, you wouldn’t swear your love for her, you wouldn’t exaggerate my merits when I’m quite sure that you hate me . You competed in challenging Hermia's love: and now you compete in mocking Helen. What a wonderful feat indeed, what a valiant deed to bring tears to the eyes of the poor girl through ridicule! Not a single decent person would want to insult a girl like that, would not make her, poor thing, lose her patience - and all this for the sake of fun alone.

Lysander. You are cruel, Demetri. Stop being like that. After all, you love Hermia. You yourself know this, I know it too, and with all my soul, with all my heart, I cede to you my share in Hermia’s love. Give me your love of Elena, whom I love now, whom I will love to death.

Elena. Never have scoffers wasted so many unnecessary words!

Demetrius. Leave your Hermia with you, Lysander, I don’t need her anymore. If I ever loved her, all that love has passed. My heart only stayed with her temporarily, but now it has returned to its real home, to Elena, to stay there forever.

Lysander. This is not true, Elena.

Demetrius. Do not slander a conscience that you yourself do not know, or you will pay dearly for it. Look, your lover is coming here. You care about her, not Elena.

Hermia enters.

Hermia. Dark night, which deprives the eyes of the ability to see, increases the sensitivity of the ear; weakening vision, it instead strengthens the power of hearing. I didn’t look for you with my eyes, Lysander. Rumor - great gratitude to him for this - brought me here to the sound of your voice. But why did you leave me so mercilessly?

Lysander. Why stay for someone whom love urges to leave?

Hermia. What kind of love could make Lysander leave me?

Lysander. Lysander's love, which did not allow him to stay, was love for the beautiful Helen, who absorbs the night more powerfully than all these fiery points, all these eyes of the sky. Why are you looking for me? Didn’t you realize, when you saw that I was gone, that it was the hatred I had for you that made me leave you?

Hermia. This can't be true! You don't say what you mean.

Elena. And she! And she is also in conspiracy with them. I see now: all three of you conspired to play this feigned comedy in order to mock me. Treacherous Hermia, the most shameless of all Athenian girls! And you are in a conspiracy, and you agreed to mock me so vilely, along with them! Are all the dreams that we confided to each other, all the vows of sister to sister, all the hours that we spent together, the hours that made us scold fleeting time for separating us, is all this really forgotten - both school friendship and childhood innocence? ? Like two skillful goddesses, Hermia, with our needles we created the same flower in the same pattern, sitting on the same pillow, both singing the same song in the same tone, as if our hands , hearts, voices and thoughts belonged not to two beings, but to one. So we grew, like a double cherry, seemingly divided, but despite this division, still forming one whole. Like two berries on one stem loving each other, we were two bodies, but one heart. We were like two heraldic shields, crowned with one helmet and belonging to only one person. And you, having entered into an alliance with men, want to break our old love in order to mock your poor friend. No, women and friendship don't do that! For this, just like me, our entire gender will be indignant at you, although I am the only one offended.

Hermia. I am surprised by your angry speech. It’s not me who’s mocking you, it seems, you’re mocking me.

Elena. Didn't you persuade Lysander to persecute me in mockery, to extol my eyes, my beauty? Didn’t you force another, who was in love with you, just now, like a dog, pushing me away with his foot, to call me a goddess, a nymph, divine, incomparable, priceless, heavenly? Why does he say this to the one he hates? Why does Lysander renounce his love for you, which is still so strong, and impose it on me? Because you taught him, and he does it with your consent. Or am I not as beautiful as you, not as charming, not as happy, but on the contrary, terribly unhappy, because I love myself, but am not mutually loved; This is such suffering that it should not cause ridicule.

Hermia. I don't understand what you mean by this.

Elena. Oh, keep pretending to be upset and serious, keep making faces at me behind my back and exchanging signs with each other! Continue this lovely task! This buffoonery, played out so successfully, will be transferred to the tablets of the chronicles. If only you had at least a spark of compassion, nobility or knowledge of decency, you would not have made me the subject of such fun! Farewell! I am partly to blame for this; but death or separation will soon correct everything.

Lysander. Wait, dear Elena, listen to my excuse. Oh, lovely Elena, my love, my life, my soul!

Elena. Wonderful!

Hermia. My dear, stop mocking her like that.

Demetrius. If she doesn’t beg, I will force her to obey.

Lysander. Your power will have as little effect on me as her requests. Your threats are as powerless as her pleas are weak. Elena, I love you! I swear on my life that I love you! I swear by what I am ready to lose in order to prove that the one who dares to say that I don’t love you is lying.

Demetrius. And I say that I love you more than he is capable of loving.

Lysander. If you say so, draw your sword and prove the truth of your words.

Demetrius. This minute; let's go.

Hermia. What does all of this mean?

Lyazander. Be gone, Ethiopian!

Demetrius. Full, full! You are only struggling for show, you are just pretending that you want to follow me. In fact, you won't go because you're a coward.

Lysander. Get away from me, cat, burdock! Let go, you rubbish, or I'll throw you away like a snake.

Hermia. Why did you treat me so harshly? Why, dear, have you changed so cruelly?

Lysander. Am I your darling? Away, a black tatar, away, away, a disgusting potion! away, deadly poison!

Hermia. Are you kidding!

Elena. He jokes just like you.

Lysander. Demetrius, I will keep my word to you.

Demetrius. I wish I had stronger proof, because I see how even weak bonds can hold you. I don't believe your word.

Lysander. What do you want: for me to hit her, wound her, kill her? Although I hate her, I still won’t do such harm to her.

Hermia. What evil could be stronger for me than your hatred?! You hate me? For what? Oh gods, what is this news, my dear? Am I not Hermia? aren't you Lysander? I am still as good as I was. Just last night you still loved me. And yet he quit on the same night. Why did you leave me? Oh, don't let this happen, gods! Isn't this all a joke?

Lysander. Not at all, I swear on my life. I say this so that I will never see you again. Therefore, abandon all hopes, all questions; nothing could be more certain. I hate you and I love Elena, not joking at all.

Hermia. Oh, woe! Insidious snake! A worm eating flowers! Thief of my love, why did you sneak up at night and steal my lover’s heart from me, Elena?

Elena. Better and better! You have neither modesty, nor girlish shyness, nor a spark of modesty. Is it really so pleasant for you to tear such reproaches from my humble lips? Shame, shame, you pretender, you doll on springs!

Hermia. Am I a spring doll? Why? So that's what it all means! Now understand. She made him notice her height and mine and captivated him with her tall height. You grew up so much in his favor because I am so small, that I am completely a dwarf. But a luxurious maypole, no matter how small I am - yes, no matter how small I am - I’m still not so small that I can’t reach your eyes with my nails.

Elena. Although you, gentlemen, mock me, I beg you, do not let her get into a fight. I’m not at all angry, I’m not grumpy, and due to my timidity I’m quite a girl. Don't let her beat me. You may think that I will get along with her, since she is somewhat shorter than me.

Hermia. Lower! Again! Do you hear?

Elena. Dear Hermia, don't be so cruel. I have always loved you, Hermia, I have always kept your secrets, I have never cheated on you. Only this time, out of love for Demetrius, I told him about your flight to this forest. He rushed after you, and I followed him out of love. But he drove me out of here, threatened to beat me, trample me under his feet, even kill me. And now, if you let me go, I will return with my madness back to Athens and will no longer follow you. Let me go! You see how simple-minded and stupid I am.

Hermia. Go! Who is holding you back?

Elena. My stupid heart that I leave here.

Hermia. With Lysander?

Elena. With Demetrius.

Lysander. Don't be afraid, Elena, she won't touch you.

Demetrius. Of course, my dear, she won’t touch her, even though you were on the same page with her.

Elena. Probably, when she gets angry, she becomes terribly perky and grumpy; She always got into fights at school too. Although she is small, she is terribly hot-tempered.

Hermia. Small again! Everything is small, but small! Why do you allow her to mock me like that? Let me go to her!

Lysander. Get out of here, dwarf! There's the ugly one, made from grass that interferes with children's growth! Be gone, glass bead, ungrown acorn!

Demetrius. You are already too helpful to a woman who disdains your services. Leave her alone; Don’t you dare talk about Elena, don’t you dare defend, because you will pay dearly if you show even a shadow of love for her!

Lysander. Now that she doesn't hold me back, follow me if you dare. Let's see who has more rights to Elena, you or me!

Demetrius. Behind you? No, I’ll walk next to you (They leave).

Hermia. All this, madam, is your business. Stay here, don't go!

Elena. I don’t trust you and I don’t want to stay any longer in your disgusting company. To fight, your arms are quicker than mine, but to escape, my legs are longer (Runs away).

Hermia. I don’t know what to say from surprise (Runs away after Elena).

Oberon. This is where your mistakes led. This may be one of your eternal mistakes, or perhaps a deliberate disgrace.

Pok. Believe me, king of disembodied spirits, I was mistaken. You said that I recognize him by his Athenian clothes, and the mistake is not my fault. If I splashed the juice of a flower on the eyelids of the Athenian, I was even glad of it, because their quarrel was very funny.

Oberon. You see, lovers are looking for a place to fight. Hurry up. Thicken the shadow of night yet; Now, cover the starry sky with black fog, like Acheron, and separate the furious rivals so that they cannot meet. Teasing with evil ridicule, first Demetrius in the voice of Lysander, then Lysander in the voice of Demetrius, distract them from each other until the lead legs and heavy wings of the bat bring sleep to their eyelids, this master of imitating death. Then, before Lysander’s eyes, squeeze this plant; the juice from it has the power to destroy all visual illusions and restore the eyes to their normal ability to see. When they wake up, all the confusion will seem like a dream, a ghostly vision, and the lovers will return back to Athens, having concluded an alliance with each other, inviolable until death. And while you are busy with this, I will go to the queen and ask her for her Indian boy; I will then destroy the spell that chains her love to the monster, and then peace will reign between everyone.

Pok. We, my magical lord, need to end all this quickly, because the fast dragons of the night are already cutting through the clouds and the harbinger of Aurora has already appeared, with the approach of which all the shadows wandering here and there are running home to the cemetery. All the damned souls buried at the crossroads and in the waters have already laid down on their wormy beds. Out of fear that the day would not see their shame, they voluntarily expelled themselves from the confines of daylight and doomed themselves forever to the impenetrable darkness of the night.

Oberon. But we are souls of a different kind: I often played with the favorite of the Morning and, like a forester, I can wander through the groves even at that moment when the eastern, fiery-red gates open and throw their wonderful, blessed rays onto Neptune, gilding his salty, green waves . But still, let’s hurry up and finish everything before dawn (Exits).

Pok. In villages and cities

Everyone is afraid of me.

I will lead you like the blind

And there I am and here.

Yes, drive, joke Goblin,

Now there are them, now there.

One is already on its way here!

Lysander enters.

Lysander. Where are you, perky Demetrius? Respond!

Pok. Here, you scoundrel! My sword is drawn, I'm ready! Where are you?

Lysander. I'll be near you in no time.

Lock. So hurry to the place more quickly than I (Lysander leaves, as if following the voice).

Demetrius enters.

Demetrius. Hey-hey, Lysander, answer again! Speak, you fugitive, speak, you coward, where have you run away to! speak! Hidden somewhere in a bush? So where have you been hiding?

Pok. A coward who exalts his courage to the very stars, you must be telling the bushes that you want to fight, but you yourself are not. Come out, scoundrel, come out, boy! I'll beat you off with a rod. To draw a sword against you is simply to disgrace yourself.

Demetrius. Are you here?

Pok. Come after me. This is not the place to test our courage (Exits).

Lysander returns.

Lysander. He keeps ahead and keeps calling me. I reached the place from where he called, but there was no trace of him. The scoundrel is a foot lighter than me. No matter how fast I chased after him, he ran away from me even faster. And so I somehow found myself on a terribly rutted road. I'll rest here. Oh, bright day, come soon (Lies down). As soon as your grayish light appears in the sky, I will find Demetrius and take revenge on him (Falls asleep).

Pook and Demetri return.

Pok. Hey-hey, coward! Why aren't you going?

Demetrius. Wait for me if you have the courage to do so. You keep running away from me, you keep changing places, not daring to stop anywhere and look me straight in the face. Where are you now?

Pok. Come here! I'm here.

Demetrius. Will not go. You seem to be laughing at me, but you will pay me dearly for this if I manage to see your face in the moonlight. Now go your way. Fatigue makes me measure my height on this cold bed. But wait for me at dawn (Lies down and falls asleep).

Elena enters.

Elena. Oh, night, oh, endlessly boring, long, tedious night! reduce your hours. Light up a ray of joy in the east, so that I can return to Athens in daylight and leave here those to whom I, poor thing, am so disgusted. Sleep, which sometimes closes even the lids dejected by sadness, will steal me away from myself for a while (Lies down and falls asleep).

Pok. There are only three here for now; we need one more - two people of each gender will make four! And here she comes, excited and sad. Cupid is a trickster when he drives poor women to such madness.

Hermia enters.

Hermia. I have never been so tired, never been so sad; Weak from the dew, scratched by the thorns of the thorns, I not only cannot walk, but even crawl further. My legs don't obey my will. I'll rest here until dawn. Oh heavens, save Lysander if the opponents actually fight! (Lies down and falls asleep).

Pok. Lie on the ground and sleep soundly. And your eyes, gentle lover, I will heal with this remedy (Squeezes plant juice onto Lysander’s eyes). When you wake up, you will continue to admire the eyes of your former lover. Thus, with your awakening, the well-known village saying will be justified, that to each his own: when Jack has Jenny, everything will go his way, and when a man has his mare again, everything will be fine (Pook leaves and the others sleep).

ACT FOUR.

Enter: accompanied by elves, Titania and Base. Behind them is Oberon, remaining invisible in the depths.

Titania. Come here, sit on this bed strewn with flowers. I will stroke your lovely cheeks, cover your smooth, soft head with roses, and kiss, my joy, your wonderful, long ears.

The basis. Where's Sweet Pea?

Sweet pea. Here.

The basis. Scratch my head, pretty flower. Where is Mr. Web?

Cobweb. Here.

The basis. Mr. Cobweb, dearest sir, take your weapon, kill for me that red-sided bee that sat on the top of the thistle, and bring me, my kindest, her honey bag. However, my dear, you shouldn’t get too excited in this matter: be careful that the bag doesn’t burst. I would be very sorry if you, most honorable gentleman, got dirty with a fragrant honey bag. Where is the Mustard Seed?

Mustard Seed. Here.

The basis. Your paw, Mustard Seed! Yes, please, leave your ceremonies, kindest Seed.

Mustard Seed. What do you want?

The basis. Nothing special. Just help Mr. Web scratch my head. However, my friend, it seems to me that I need to go to the barber, because my face, it seems to me, is overgrown with hair, and even though I’m an ass, I’m so sensitive that whenever a hair tickles me, just scratch me.

Titania. Would you like, my dear, to listen to music?

The basis. My ears are quite developed for music. Let me have the key and the tongs.

Titania. Tell me, my treasure, would you like to eat?

The basis. Well, a measure of oats, perhaps, would not be superfluous for me; I would gladly chew some good dry oats. Yes, I wouldn’t refuse a bundle of hay; Nothing in the world compares to good fragrant hay.

Titania. My agile elf will get you fresh nuts from the squirrel’s nest.

The basis. I'd rather have a handful or two of dry peas. But, I ask you, order your servants not to disturb me in any way, because I feel an instant urge to sleep.

Titania. Go to sleep. And I will wrap my arms around your neck. Elves, go away, leave us alone for a while. So the pavilion entwines the fragrant goat leaf, so the effeminate ivy decorates the rough joints of the elm with rings. Oh, how I love you! How much I am fascinated by you (falls asleep).

Pok enters.

Oberon (stepping forward). Here, dear Robin! Do you see this lovely picture? I'm already starting to regret driving her into such madness. Some time ago I met her behind this forest. She was collecting fragrant herbs for this disgusting oaf. I attacked her and began to scold her for why she had removed his fur-covered temples with a wreath of fresh fragrant flowers. And that same dew that usually trembles on the blossoms, like precious oriental pearls, now trembled in the cups of flowers, like tears mourning their own humiliation. When I got angry and scolded long enough, and she humbly began to beg for leniency, I demanded a substitute boy from her, and she immediately gave him up to me, ordered her elf to take him to my magical country and hide him there in the gazebo. Now, having obtained the boy, I will cure her eyes of their nasty illness. And you, Pok, take off his magic head from this Athenian fool, so that, waking up, like everyone else, he can, like them, return to Athens, imagining that all the events of this night were seen in a disturbing dream. But first I must disappoint the fairy queen. - Be what you were, and see as you saw before. Diana's flower has such a beneficial effect against Cupid's flower. Wake up, my Titania, my dear queen!

Titania. Oh, my husband, what a dream I had! I dreamed that I fell in love with a donkey.

Oberon. Your love lies here.

Titania. How could this happen? Oh, how his face disgusts me now!

Oberon. Calm down. Robin, take his head off. Veli, Titania, play music. Lull the feelings of these five people more soundly than an ordinary dream.

Titania. Let the music play, soporific music.

Pok. When you wake up, look with your own stupid eyes.

Oberon. Yes, let the music play. Give me your hands, my queen. May the earth on which they sleep sway! Now we have made peace and tomorrow at midnight we will solemnly dance in the palace of Duke Theseus and promise him a blessing in view of the most beautiful offspring. Together with Theseus and full of joy, these two pairs of faithful lovers will be united in marriage.

Pok. Stop, my lord. I hear the song of the morning lark.

Oberon. If so, my queen, let us rush beyond the shadow of the night in gloomy silence and fly around the globe faster than the moon.

Titania. Let's fly. During the flight, you will tell me how it happened that I found myself sleeping on the ground among these mortals (Leaving).

The sounds of trumpets are heard behind the stage. Theseus, Hippolyta and Aegeus with their retinue appear.

Theseus. Since all the rituals have been completed and the day has already begun, let someone go and find the forester. Instead of music, we will treat my beloved to barking dogs. Release them from the pack in the western valley. Well, be quicker! Find, I say, the forester. And we, lovely queen, will climb to the top of the hill and listen from there to how the dog’s voices merge with the echo into a harmonious combination.

Hippolyta. I was once with Herculeius and Cadmus when they were poisoning a bear in the Cretan forest with Spartan dogs. I have never seen such wonderful persecution. Not only the forest, but also the heavens, and the streams, and everything around seemed to turn into one continuous yelp. I have never heard such musical discord, such a caressing din.

Theseus. My dogs are also of the Spartan breed. Their snouts and spots are the same wide, their ears are moistened with morning dew, the same long arched legs and the same dewlaps as those of the bulls of Thessaly. Let's say their running is not so fast, but their voices are matched like bells. Never in Crete, nor in Sparta, nor in Thessaly, has a more euphonious yapping been caused by hustle and horns. Judge for yourself when you hear it. But what is it? What kind of nymphs?

Aegean. This, my lord, firstly, is my daughter sleeping here, and this is Lysander, this is Demetrius, this is Elena, the daughter of old Nadar. I'm surprised how they could have ended up here all together.

Theseus. They probably got up so early to perform the May rituals and, having learned about our intention, came here to decorate our celebration. However, tell me Aegeus, it seems that today Hermia should announce who her choice is?

Aegean. Yes, today, my lord.

Theseus. Tell the hunters to wake them up with the sounds of their horns. (Behind the scene there are sounds of horns and screams. Demetrius, Lysander, Hermia and Helena wake up and jump up). Good morning, friends! It must be Valentine's Day because even the birds of this forest are starting to pair up.

Lysander (Together with the others kneels before Theseus). Sorry, sir!

Theseus. I ask you all to stand up. I know that you are two rival enemies here. How did a secret miraculous agreement suddenly come to light? Has hatred disappeared, removing jealousy and allowing enemies to sleep nearby without fear of any hostile action?

Lysander. I will answer you, sir, still completely foggy, not knowing whether I am still half asleep or completely awake. But I swear that I cannot say for sure how I ended up here, and precisely because I would like to tell you the absolute truth. Yes, now I remember. I came here with Hermia. We wanted to flee from Athens to a country where Athenian law could not persecute us.

Aegean. Enough, my lord; This is enough. I ask for legal punishment, yes, legal. They wanted to run away and thus deprive you, Demetrius, of your wife, and me of my consent for her to be your wife.

Demetrius. The beautiful Elena told me, my lord, about their intention to flee, to take refuge in this forest, and in a frantic frenzy I chased them here. And Elena, out of love for me, followed me. But here, my lord, by some force unknown to me - and there was no doubt that there was such a force here - all my love for Hermia melted like snow, turned, as it were, into a memory of some insignificant amusement about which I was raving in childhood. Now all my love, all the ardor of my heart is given to Elena alone - the only object that serves as joy for my eyes. Before I saw Hermia, I loved her, but, as if I was sick, I felt an aversion to such food; Now, as a convalescent, my natural taste has returned to me. I love her, I desire her, I thirst for her and I will forever be faithful to her!

Theseus. Young lovers, what a happy meeting this is for you! You will tell us everything in detail later. Hey, I will not fulfill your desire, because both of these couples will immediately unite with us in the temple with eternal bonds. And since the morning is already drawing to a close, we will postpone the hunt. Let's all go to Athens. The celebration of the marriage of three women and three men will be very solemn. Let's go, Inpolita (Leaves with Hippolyta, followed by Aegeus and his retinue).

Demetrius. All this is as vague and vague as distant mountains turned into clouds.

Hermia. It seems to me that I see everything with different eyes, everything is double.

Elena. Same with me. It seems to me that Demetrius is like a diamond I found: he is both mine and not mine.

Demetrius. Are you convinced that we are completely awake? It seems to me as if we are still sleeping and continuing to dream. Was the Duke really here and ordered us to follow him?

Hermia. He was, and my father was with him.

Elena. And Hippolyta.

Lysander. Yes, and he ordered us to follow him to the temple.

Demetrius. And so, if we wake up, we go after him. Dear, we will tell each other everything that we dreamed (They leave).

Foundation (waking up). When it's my turn, call and I will answer. After all, I have to say after the words: “Most beautiful Pyramus...” Hey you! Peter Pigva! Dudka is a seller of blowing bellows! Copper Snout! Otter! What are they! Everyone ran away, and they left me here sleeping. Oh, what a wonderful dream I had! I had such a dream that it is beyond the power of the human mind to tell what kind of dream it was. Anyone who would try to explain this dream would turn out to be an ass. I dreamed that I was... and I dreamed that I had... But let him be considered a striped buffoon who dares to say what exactly I had, as it seemed to me. The eye of man has not heard, the ear of man has not seen, the hand of man is incapable of sniffing, his tongue is incapable of understanding, his heart is incapable of telling what kind of wondrous dream this was. I will persuade Pigva to make a ballad out of this dream, and it will be called: “The Dream of the Foundation,” because there is no basis in it, and at the very end of our comedy I will sing it in front of the Duke. Otherwise, I’d better sing it when Thisby dies, it will turn out much more pleasant (Exits).

Athens. A room in Pigva's house.

Enter Pigwa, Dudka, Snout and Otter.

Pigwa. Did you send for the Basis? Has he returned home?

Otter. Nobody knows where he went. He must have been kidnapped, it couldn't be otherwise.

Dudka. And if he doesn’t return, goodbye to our comedy! After all, she won’t go then, she can’t go.

Pigwa. No way. In all of Athens, except for him, there is not a person capable of playing Pyramus.

Dudka. No, not because, but only on the basis that in all of Athens there is no more idle person than him.

Pigwa. Yes, and he is the most beautiful of himself. And judging by the pleasant sound of his voice, he is a real lover.

Dudka. Say: the most capable person, because what kind of lover is he? Completely worthless!

Burav enters.

Burav. Gentlemen, the Duke returns from the temple; two or three more gentlemen and two or three ladies were married there. If our comedy had gone well, we would all have gone public.

Dudka. Oh, my dear friend the Foundation! By his stupidity he lost as much as twelve pence of his lifetime income; because he did not lose six pence: the Duke would not want to reward the person portraying Pyramus with only six pence a day. Hang me if he didn't deserve them! Sixpence a day for Pyramus or nothing.

Enter the Base.

The basis. Where are you, my fellows? Where are you, my dear friends?

Pigwa. Oh, what a valiant day! oh, what a happiest hour!

The basis. Gentlemen, I can tell you real miracles. Just don't ask me what it is, because let me tell you, I'm not a real Athenian. I will tell you in detail everything that happened, word by word.

Pigwa. So tell me, dear weaver.

The basis. Not a word about myself. All I have to tell you is that the Duke dined. Take all your outfits, tie good ribbons to your beards, new ribbons to your dancing shoes and go to the palace now. Yes, let everyone confirm their role, since our representation is permitted and given preference over all others. In any case, make sure that Thisbe’s underwear is clean, and that the one who begins to portray a lion; I didn’t even think of trimming my claws, because they would have to fulfill the function of the lion’s claws. And also, my dear actors, do not eat onions or garlic, because it is necessary for our breath to be pleasant. So I'm sure we'll hear them say: "an enjoyable, very enjoyable comedy!" Not another word. Let's go! Let's go! (Leave)

ACT FIVE

Athens. A room in Theseus' palace.

Enter: Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostratus, nobles and retinue.

Hippolyta.. How strange, my dear Tezoi, everything that the couples in love told us!

Theseus. Yes, more strange than true. I never believed either old fairy tales or various miracles produced by magic. Lovers, like crazy people, have such a vibrant brain, and their creative imagination is so strong that they even see things that a cold mind can never imagine. Madmen, lovers and poets are embodiments of the imagination. One person sees such an abyss of demons that it cannot fit even in a spacious hell - this is a madman. The lover, who is just as crazy, sees Elena’s beauty on the gypsy’s face. The poet's eyes, rotating in graceful dreams, look now from heaven to earth, now from earth to heaven. Just as the imagination of poets gives flesh and blood to unknown creatures, their pen gives a certain image to ethereal dreams and indicates a certain place and name to the non-existent floating in the air. These are the quirks of the imagination, which, if we need to invent some kind of joy, will also invent a messenger bringing joyful news. If they need to come up with some out-of-the-ordinary fear, it’s as easy for them as mistaking a bush for a bear at night.

Hippolyta. However, everything that they told us about the events of the previous night, about the simultaneous change in their affection, was not just a play of the imagination; on the contrary, it is quite real. In any case, all this is strange and causes involuntary surprise.

Enter: Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia and Helena.

Theseus. Here are our lovers, cheerful and joyful. May joy, my dear friends, joy and eternally young love never disappear from your hearts.

Lysander. May these joys remain even more true to your royal walks, your table and your bed.

Theseus. Now let's see what masks and what dances will help us while away the three-hour eternity that separates dinner from going to bed. Where is the usual manager of our amusements? What fun has he prepared for us? Wouldn't he entertain us with some kind of performance to speed up the pace of the painfully slow running clock? Call Philostratus!

Philostrat. I am here, mighty Theseus.

Theseus. Tell me, what kind of entertainment have you prepared for this evening, what kind of masks, what kind of music? How can we deceive lazy time, if not with some kind of fun?

Philostrat. Here is a list of prepared treats. Decide, my lord, which of them you would like to see first (Gives a list).

Theseus (Reading). An Athenian eunuch will sing to the sound of a harp about the battle with the Centaurs! No need. I, in order to magnify the glory of my relative Hercules, have already told it to my beloved. "A riot of drunken bacchantes, furiously tearing apart a Thracian singer." Old. This was presented to me when I returned victoriously from Thebes for the last time. "Three times three muses, mourning the death of learning, recently died in poverty." This is some kind of caustic and ticklish satire, not at all suitable for a wedding celebration. "A sadly cheerful and boringly short scene of young Pyramus with his beloved Thisby. Fun of a very tragic nature." Sad and cheerful - it’s the same as hot ice and boiling snow. How to reconcile such a contradiction?

Philostrat. There are no more than ten words in the entire play, so I don’t know a more concise play. But, my lord, even these ten words make it too long, so it is boring. In it, not a single word stands in its place, just as there is not a single actor who is in any way suitable for his role. It is tragic, sir, and it really is, because in it Pyramus kills himself. When I watched the play at rehearsal, I admit that tears came to my eyes, such cheerful tears that even the loudest laughter had never caused.

Theseus. Who are the actors?

Philostrat. People here in Athens, earning their food with calloused hands - until now they have never worked with their minds - have depressed their memory, not accustomed to such work, with this play, and all this is for your triumph.

Theseus. We'll take a look at that.

Philostrat. No, my lord, she is not worthy of you. I listened to the whole thing, it’s vulgarity, the greatest vulgarity. The opportunity to amuse you exists only in their intention. They learned it with terrible difficulty, with terrible efforts - everything to please you.

Theseus. I want to watch it. Nothing offered by simplicity and zeal can be unworthy of me. Go call them. And you, my dears, sit down (Philostratus leaves).

Hippolyta. I don’t like to see how pathetic mediocrity is exhausted and how the most diligent efforts perish.

Theseus. My dear, you won’t see anything like that here.

Hippolyta. Yes, Philostratus said that actors don’t understand anything about this matter.

Theseus. We will thank you even more generously for nothing; we will be amused by the condescension towards their mistakes. After all, what poor zeal fails to achieve must be rewarded not for its merits, but for the intention to please to the best of one’s ability. In various places, great scientists began to greet my arrival with prepared speeches. And I, when from the very first words they turned pale, began to tremble, stopped in the middle of a sentence, lowered their voices in fear, accustomed to making speeches, and finally fell silent, not even reaching a greeting - believe me, my dear, I saw a greeting precisely in this silence, understood the modesty of timid zeal as well as the crackling phrases of impudently bold eloquence. The fewer words the better. Silent affection and simplicity speak to my heart more powerfully than any eloquence.

Philostratus returns.

Philostrat. If you wish, sir, the prologue is ready.

Theseus. Let them appear.

With the sound of trumpets and as a prologue, Pigva enters.

Prologue. If we do not please you, it will be because of our strongest desire, that is, it is not that we do not want to please you; on the contrary, it is our strongest desire; That's why we came. Showing you my art is the true beginning of our end. Let's go; We came here not to annoy you, but to do what you wanted, to cheer you up, so that you would not regret being here; the actors are ready, and from their performance you will probably learn everything you are destined to learn.

Theseus. This guy doesn't stop at punctuation.

Lysander. He grabbed his prologue like a wild foal, not accustomed to any obstacles in the form of periods and commas. This, sir, is excellent proof that it is not enough to just speak, that you must also speak with meaning.

Hippolyta. In fact, he played his prologue like a child playing a pipe: there is sound, but there is no sense.

Theseus. His speech was like an untwisted chain - it was not broken, but still it was not useful. What's next?

Enter: Pirale and Thisby; behind him is the Wall, Moonlight and Lion.

Prologue. Dear spectators, you may be amazed at such a spectacle, but be amazed until the truth explains everything to you. If you want to know, this guy is Pyramus, and this despicable person is Thisby. It's right. But this dolt, smeared with clay and lime, should represent a wall, that very treacherous wall that separates young lovers, and through the wall, through the crack in which the lovers are happy to even whisper, and this can hardly surprise anyone. This same one, with a lantern, with a dog and with a bundle of brushwood, is moonlight, because, if you want to know, the lovers did not consider it reprehensible to meet in the moonlight at Nin’s grave. And here is this terrible beast that frightened, or rather frightened, faithful Thisby, when she was returning home alone at night. While running, she dropped her veil, and the vile lion did not stain it with his bloody mouth, however, soon Pyramus, a handsome and stately young man, appears and finds the veil of his supposedly slain and faithful Thisby. He bravely pierces his cruelly seething chest with a cruelly deadly blade, and Thisby, who was waiting for him under the shadow of the mulberry tree, snatches her dagger and dies. Everything else will be told to you in detail by other actors, like Leo, Moonlight, Wall and two lovers (Leaves with Pyramus, with Thisbe, Lion, Moonlight and Wall).

Theseus. I wait in surprise for the lion to speak.

Demetrius. There is no need, sir, to be surprised that Leo can speak when so many donkeys are speaking.

Snout. In this very thing, I, called the Snout, must, it seems to me, depict a wall, that is, just such a wall that you would think that there is a crack, a crevice or a door in it, through which lovers often secretly whisper. This clay, this lime and this stone show that I am that very wall, but to the right and left is the very crack through which such timid lovers as Pyramus and Thisby must whisper.

Theseus. How can you wish that hairy clay could speak better?

Demetrius. Never, sir, have I heard the Wall speak so eloquently.

Theseus. Here Pyramus approaches the wall. Quiet!

Pyramus enters.

Pyramus. O night, with fiercely keen eyes! O night, whose blackness cannot equal any other blackness! O night, which happens everywhere where there is no bottom! Alas, alas, oh night, oh night, I'm afraid that Thisby has forgotten her promise to me, And you, wall, dear love wall, standing between my land and her father's land, show me your crack so that our eyes can look through it ( The wall extends his hand and spreads his fingers). I thank these helpers. May Jupiter protect you for this... But what am I seeing? I don't see you, Thisby! Oh, ill-fated wall through which bliss is not visible. May all your stones be cursed for such deception!

Theseus. The offended wall will also probably respond with a curse.

Pyramus. No, sir, this in no way befits her. But the words... must be spoken by Thisby, now her way out. And I should look for her with my eyes through the wall. You will see, everything will be exactly as I said. Here she comes.

Thisby enters.

Thisby. O wall, how often have you listened to my lamentations that you are separating me from my handsome Pyramus! How many times have my cherry-like lips kissed your stones, but they were only stones bound with hair and clay.

Thisby. My love! Cause I believe that you are my love.

Pyramus. Believe what you want, but I am still your beloved, always faithful to you, like Limander.

Fisvi. And I am faithful, like Elena, until fate ends my days.

Pyramus. Not even Shafal was as loyal to Procrusus as I am to you.

Thisby. And I like you to Procrusus Shafal.

Pyramus. Oh, kiss me through the crack of this hateful wall

Thisby. I kiss, but not you, but the crack in the wall.

Pyramus. If you want, we will meet now at Nin’s grave.

Thisby. Dead or alive, I will definitely come there.

Wall. I, the Wall, have now played my role, and since the role is played, the Wall leaves (Leaves with Pyramus and Thisbe).

Theseus. So the wall that separated neighbors from each other no longer exists?

Demetrius. How can she not exist, sir, when she has ears?

Hippolyta. I've never heard such nonsense before.

Theseus. The best of such works still needs to be seasoned with imagination, and it is the same imagination that makes even the worst of them bearable.

Hippolyta. Then it will no longer be their merit, but yours.

Theseus. If we have no worse opinion of them than they have of themselves, then they can be mistaken for excellent actors. But then two noble beasts enter: the moon and the lion.

Enter Lion and Moonlight.

A lion. You, spectators, whose tender hearts are frightened when a mouse runs across the floor, perhaps now you will tremble and tremble when a ferocious lion begins to roar in wild rage. So know that this is me, a gentle carpenter named Burav, and although I have the skin of a lion, I don’t even look like a lioness. If I had come here like a lion in all his ferocity, I would probably have had a bad time.

Theseus. A very well-bred animal and very conscientious.

Demetrius. I've never seen anything better.

Lysander. In terms of courage, this lion is a real fox.

Theseus. And a goose according to prudence.

Demetrius. Not quite so, my lord: his courage cannot stand his prudence, and the fox often carries off the goose.

Theseus. I am convinced that his prudence cannot stand his courage, because a goose does not carry away a fox. But let’s leave all this to his discretion and listen to what the month has to say.

Moonlight. “This horned lantern represents the month.”

Demetrius. Then he would have horns on his forehead,

Theseus. This is not a young month, so its horns are invisible.

Moonlight.

"This horned lantern depicts the month,

Now I’m portraying a man myself,

Such as is happening at this moment in the month."

Theseus. Of all the other mistakes, this is the biggest one. Then the person should have been put in a lantern. How else will he turn out to be a person in the month?

Demetrius. He is afraid of the candle lit in the lantern. You see how it's already burnt out.

Hippolyta. I'm bored with this month, I'm looking forward to the next one.

Theseus. Judging by the weak light of his prudence, one must assume that damage has already come for him. But out of politeness and fairness we must wait for the continuation.

Lysander. Keep going, month!

Moonlight. This lantern is a month; that's all I have to tell you; I am the man in the month, and this bundle is my bundle; the dog is my dog.

Demetrius. All this should be in the lantern, because it is in the month. However, be quiet! Here comes Thisby.

Thisby enters.

Thisby. Here is the grave of old Nin. Where is my beloved?

A lion. Ooo! (Roars; Thisby runs away).

Demetrius. The lion roared perfectly.

Theseus. And Thisby also ran away well.

Hippolyta. The month was also brilliant. The month, indeed, shines with great dexterity.

(Lion tears Thisby's cloak and leaves).

Theseus. The lion tore her apart perfectly.

Demetrius. And here comes Pyramus.

Lysander. And the lion disappears.

Pyramus enters.

Pyramus. Thank you, dear month, for your sunshine; I thank you that you shine so brightly, because with your gracious, golden, sparkling rays I hope to be rewarded with the sight of my most faithful Thisby... But stop! Oh God! Look, poor knight, what a terrible grief this is! Oh viewers, is that all you are? Is such a misfortune possible? Oh, my dear duckling, my treasure, your beautiful cloak is covered in blood! O draw near, fierce furies! Come, come, O Parks! Yes, come and cut the yarn! Destroy, crush, cut, kill!

Theseus. Such despair caused by the death of another being could be almost touching.

Hippolyta. Damn my heart if I don't feel moved!

Pyramus. O nature, why didst thou create lions, when the lion of the south deprived my treasure of all its blooming charm? She surpasses... no, no, she surpassed all the women who ever lived, loved, captivated and looked around so cheerfully! Come, servants, and destroy me. Oh, sword, strike Pyramus right in the left side, where the heart beats. This is how I die! yes, yes, yes! Now I'm dead. Now my soul has flown away! She's already in heaven! The tongue is silent, the gaze is fading! Month, run! Now sleep, my eyes, sleep, sleep, sleep! (Dies. Moonlight leaves).

Demetrius. What kind of eyes are there when he himself only has one point, because there is no one with him.

Lysander. No, he is less than a point because he is dead, therefore nothing. Theseus, with the help of a doctor, he can still recover and turn out to be an ass.

Hippolyta. Was it a month before Thisby returned and found her lover?

Theseus. She will find him by the light of the stars. Her despair will end the play (Thisby enters).

Hippolyta. I hope that her despair, mourning such a Pyramus, will not last too long.

Demetrius. A speck of dust on the scales will show who is better: he as a man, or she as a woman.

Lysander. She had already seen him with her beautiful eyes.

Demetrius. And here is the tenderness of lamentation.

Fisvi. My love is sleeping. How did he die, my little dove? O Pyramus, arise! Oh speak, speak! Why are you so numb? Died! Died! So the broom will cover your wonderful eyes? These lily lips, this scarlet nose, these onion-like yellow cheeks... all this has faded, faded! Moan, lovers, moan! A leek had never been as green as his eyes. Come, three sisters, to me, come and stain your milky-white hands with my blood, when you have already cut off his life with your scissors. Come on, language! Not a word more! Come, my faithful sword, come, blade, and pierce my chest! Farewell, friends! This is how Thisby ends up. Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye! (Dies).

Theseus. Lev and Moonlight remained to bury the deceased.

Demetrius. And with them there is also the Wall.

Pyramus. No, honestly, there is no longer a wall between the domains of both fathers. Now would you like to listen to the epilogue or look at Bergamasco? It will be performed by two from our company.

Theseus. Please, no epilogue is needed. Your play will do without him, since it does not need an apology at all: everyone has died and there is no one for it to scold and there is nothing for it. Now, if the person who wrote the play played Pyramus and hanged himself with Thisby’s garter, it would be a glorious tragedy. This is how she is, however, now, and what’s more, she’s played beautifully. Do Bergamasco, but there’s no need for an epilogue

The iron tongue of midnight has already struck twelve times. Hurry up, lovers in bed; The magical hour of the spirits has arrived. I'm afraid that next morning we will sleep the same way we stayed awake all night. No matter how well this play went, it perfectly deceived the slowly flowing time. So, in bed, dear friends. For two more weeks we will celebrate, while away the nights with feasts and new amusements (They leave).

Pok enters.

Pok. Now is the hour when the hungry lion roars, the wolf howls for a month, and the plowman who has worked hard during the day sleeps peacefully and snores. Now burning brands are smoldering in the hearths, while one owl with its ominous cry reminds the patient of the shroud. Now is the time of night when the graves open wide and let their inhabitants wander along the paths of the cemeteries. But we, the elves, as if running from the sun into the darkness behind Hecate, are now rejoicing. Not a single mouse will disturb our beloved home. I was sent ahead with a broom to sweep the dust out the door.

Oberon and Titania enter with their retinues.

Oberon. flickering light

The lights are dying down

Let it illuminate

The whole magnificent palace.

You elves are like birds

Flying through the branches

Repeat after me

Playful tune.

Titania. Holding hands, repeat his every word, and with these harmonic sounds we will consecrate the inviolability of this place for evil.

Singing and dancing.

Oberon. Now, elves, while it is not yet quite dawn, disperse to your shelters; We will go to the newlyweds’ beds and bless them. Whatever comes from them will always be happy; all three couples will be faithful in their love; the hand of nature will not leave on their children’s bodies any ugly moles, no pimples, no skin cracks that cause such disgust at the moment of the child’s birth. Sprinkled with beneficial dew, scatter, elves. Visit each of the chambers, bless each of them, so that unchanging peace will forever reign throughout the palace, and the owner of the palace will prosper. Hurry, don’t hesitate, and by dawn you will all gather with me (Leaves with Titania and the elves).

Pok. If we, the spirits, did not manage to please you, then imagine that everything can be corrected, that everything you saw was just a dream. Be kind, respectable spectators, to this trifle, as to a dream; don't scold him, and we will improve. I assure you of this as an honest Pok, and if this does not turn out to be the case, call me a liar. So, good night to you all, and if you, friends, make me happy with handshakes, and you will see that I will prove my gratitude by correcting myself (Exits).

DREAM ON LID'S NIGHT.

The time of composition of this play, says Gervinus, which was probably written in honor of the marriage of some high-ranking couple, is considered to be 1594-96. The wedding of Theseus is the outer focus of the play, around which clowns, elves and artisans gather. Jaune, for his part, points to Spenser's poem "The Tears of the Muses", which is alluded to in the play and which appeared in 1591, which shows that the comedy was written after that year. Then, in one place in Titania’s speech there is a hint of weather abnormalities that were noticed in 1593-1594, which gives reason to conclude that the comedy appeared around this time.

Page 153. The action of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” takes place in a grove neighboring Athens, says François Hugo, but the night preceding Midsummer, that is, June 24, was in England, in the time of Shakespeare, primarily of a fantastic nature . It was on this night, at the hour of the birth of John the Baptist, that people went into the forests to look for the famous color of fern, which supposedly had the property of making a person invisible. Fairies, led by their queen, and demons, led by Satan, entered into real battles to obtain this enchanted flower. It is absolutely clear that the author chose this magical night and forest for the escape of lovers and for the whimsical and charming inventions of northern mythology, which he so powerfully and so poetically wove into human life and passions.”

Page 159. In the time of Shakespeare, craft guilds still occupied a fairly prominent place in English folk drama. They had their own patrons, in honor of which mysteries were played, conveying the life and miracles of each of these cartridges. Sometimes the guilds united and performed some large play on a theme drawn from the Old Testament or the New Testament, as the Passion of the Lord is now performed in Ammergau.

Page 162. Pock, or, as he is properly called, Roben Goodfellow, literally translated, is none other than the German “faithful servant Ruprecht.” It's great that in German there remains a word derived from this name: “Rupel”, which alone can correspond English word"clown", expressing the role that Pook plays in Shakespeare. The belief in elves, which was more widespread in Scandinavia than in England, took, in turn, much more vibrant forms in Scotland and England than in Germany. In particular, Robin Goodfellow was the darling of the popular imagination of the 13th century, and with his name, like with the name of “Eulenspiegel” in Germany and “Brownie” in Russia, all cunning tricks were connected. Stories about them already in 1584 are mentioned in the book "Discoveries of Witshcraft". Nash in his book "Terrors of the Night" says that all the funny tricks of "Robin, the elves, the fairies of our time" are performed at night. Tarleton's book "News out of Purgatory" also mentions that Robin was remarkable for his cheerful antics. Then, in one folk book, known even before the appearance of A Midsummer Night's Dream and printed in 1628, different peoples legends about Poke.

Page 162. "The boy kidnapped from the Indian king." The people loved to talk about the elves, that they kidnapped baptized little children and in their place put their own grimy, ugly, noisy and restless children in the cradles. To get rid of such an obnoxious screamer, you just have to scare him well or take him to a crossroads and leave him there overnight - the elves will certainly take pity on him and return the child they kidnapped.

Page 163. The name of the king of the elves "Oberon" is an adaptation in the French style: Alberon or Alberich, a dwarf elf who early appears in ancient Germanic poems. Oberon appears in Guyon de Bordeaux's novel, and this work was translated into English by Lord Bernes in 1579.

Page 164. All England in 1593 and 1594 suffered from those spontaneous disturbances which Shakespeare relates here, and which pious people attributed to the wrath of God. Streep's Annals, says François Hugo, contains an extract from a sermon King wrote on the subject. The coincidence of the words of the poet and the venerable preacher caught the eye of all commentators on Shakespeare, and it was on the basis of these words that Malon attributed the time of creation of “The Dream” to 1594.

Page 165. François Hugo notes that a very interesting story is connected with Oberon’s words about the Vestal Virgin who reigned in the West. The Earl of Lecheyster gave festivities in honor of Elizabeth at Kenilworth Castle in July 1575. A mythological play was performed on the lake in front of the queen. "Triton disguised as a siren" and "Arion on the back of a dolphin" took part in this interlude and sang a song composed by Leicester himself in honor of the high-ranking visitor. Elizabeth was very grateful for this poetic greeting from the owner, redoubled her attention to him and agreed to stay with him for eighteen days. This mercy was so great that everyone saw in Leicester a lover preparing to become a husband. This was confirmed even more by the interruption of negotiations about the wedding with the Duke of Alençon. At the same time, rumors began to circulate about the intrigue of the almighty favorite with the Countess of Essex. One of those around him dared to speak loudly about this connection. He bore the same surname as Shakespeare's mother and was called Edward Arden. Leicester took revenge for his words by hanging him, accusing him of a Catholic conspiracy. But his words had their effect: the planned marriage of Leicester with Elizabeth did not take place, Essex himself soon died, as they said, from poison, and Lady Essex, having become a widow, turned into Lady Leicester. Oberon Poku's story seems to hint at these events. In general, in the play there are many allusions to the Kenilworth festivities, which Shakespeare could see personally as a twelve-year-old boy. In this case, Tick suggests that Shakespeare played the role of “echo” in the pastoral on the lake; Walter Scott, making an anachronism, ascribes that Elizabeth greeted the poet with his own poems; Francois Hugo suggests that the Stradford butcher John Shakespeare, going to the festivities, took his son there too...

Page 173. “He will say straight out that I am a carpenter Burav.” These words allude to one incident of the Kenilworth festivities. During the performance on the lake, a certain Gerry Goldingham was supposed to portray Arion on the back of a dolphin; During the performance, he felt that his voice was very hoarse and became extremely unpleasant, then he tore his costume and began to swear that he was not Arion at all, but simply honest Gerry Goldingham. This unexpected prank amused everyone, including the queen.

Page 175 "Poke and Base with a donkey's head on their shoulders." Albertus Magnus, in his secrets, communicates the means of turning a man's head into an ass's: "Si vis quod caput hominis assimiletur capiti asini, sume de semine aselli, et unge haminis in capite, et sic apparebit." Reginald Scott in his "Messages on Magic" in the XIX chapter gives more detailed recipe to achieve the same result: “Spread,” he says, explaining how the ointment is prepared, “with this mixture on the heads of those present, and they will look like donkeys and horses.”

Page 185. "Luxurious Maypole." This is how Shakespeare's contemporary Stebbs (an ardent Puritan) talks about the holiday of May 1st in his “Anatomie of Abuses,” published in 1585. “On the night of May 1st, all residents of cities and villages go to the fields and forests, where spend the whole night in various amusements and return from there with green branches in their hands. But the most important of all that they bring home with them is the maypole, which they bring with great honor, and this is how it is: they take 20-30 pairs of oxen , of which each has a bouquet of flowers tied to the ends of his horns, and on these oxen they bring home a maypole entwined with flowers and herbs, tied with ribbons from top to bottom, and sometimes painted with various colors; two or three hundred people, men, women and children, follow behind the tree, and, having brought it home and decorated its tops with flags and scarves, they strew the ground around it with flowers, and entwine its very trunk with green garlands; then, like true demons, they begin to feast, dance and have fun around that tree.”

Page 192. "It must be Valentine's Day, because even the birds are starting to pair up." According to popular belief, it was believed that birds begin to mate on St. Valentine's Day. Valentina.

Page 202. A man in the month was visible not only in the opinion of the people, but also in the opinion learned people. He was seen accompanied by a dog and with a bundle of brushwood over his shoulders. Scientists of that time differed only on the question of who this man was. According to some theologians, this man was none other than the good-natured Isaac, carrying brushwood to the altar on which his father was supposed to sacrifice him. But the more orthodox shepherds rejected this opinion and, with divine books in their hands, argued that Abraham and Isaac, as righteous people, were in the bosom of the Lord. In their opinion, the man in the moon is the sinner mentioned in the book of Numbers, who, despite the commandment to rest on the seventh day, collected dead wood on Saturday. This belief must have been popular in England, as it is mentioned in an old 14th-century poem attributed to Chaucer. There is also a dark legend. Creature, visible to people for thousands of years on the night luminary, there is none other than Cain, expelled by the Lord’s curse from the earth and becoming the “eternal Jew of the moon.” This opinion was widespread in Italy and is mentioned in Dante.

Page 205. Oberon speaks of birthmarks. By folk beliefs not all of them have the same meaning. Birthmarks that are visible to a person himself bring him misfortune, and those that are invisible to him, on the contrary, bring happiness.

CHARACTERS Theseus, Duke of Athens. Aegeus, father of Hermia. Lysander) lovers of Hermia. Demetrius Philostratus, entertainment manager at the court of Theseus Pigva, carpenter. Gentle, carpenter. Warp, weaver. Dudka, bellows repairman. Snout, coppersmith. Hungry tailor. Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus. Hermia, in love with Lysander. Helena, in love with Demetrius. Oberon, king of fairies and elves. Titania, queen of fairies and elves. Peck, or Good Little Robin, a little elf. Sweet Pea | Cobweb | Moth) elves. Mustard Seed | Fairies and elves, submissive to Oberon and Titania, retinue. The scene is Athens and the forest nearby. ACT I SCENE 1 Athens, Theseus's palace. Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Philostratus and retinue. Theseus the Beautiful, our wedding hour is getting closer: Four happy days - a new month will be brought 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 eats up the income of young men. Hippolyta Four days will quickly drown in night; Four nights in dreams will disappear so quickly... And the crescent moon - a bow of silver, Stretched in the sky - will illuminate the Night of our wedding! Theseus Philostratus, go! Stir 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 the feast. Philostratus leaves. Theseus I got you with the sword, Hippolyta; I achieved your love by threats, But I will celebrate the wedding in a different way: Solemnly, and cheerfully, and magnificently! Enter Aegeus, Hermia, Lysander and Demetrius. Aegeus Be happy, our glorious Duke Theseus! Theseus Thank you, Aegeus! What do you say? Aegeus I am upset, with a complaint to you About Hermia - yes, about my own daughter! - Demetri, come! - My sir, 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, exchanged pledges of love with her, under her windows in the moonlight, feignedly sang love a feigned song! To captivate her heart, you used Bracelets, hair rings, candies, Flowers, trinkets, trinkets - everything that is sweet to inexperienced youth! By deceit you stole her love, you turned obedience due to your father into evil stubbornness! - So if She is with you, my lord, does not give her consent to Demetrius, I appeal to the ancient Athenian law: Since my daughter is mine, I can completely dispose of her; and I decided: Demetrius Or - as provided by law In such cases - immediate death! 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 are a wax mold cast by Him; He has the right to leave it or break it. Demetrius is a completely worthy person. Hermia Lysander is mine too. THESEUS Yes, by himself; But if your father is not for him, then that means he is more worthy. Hermia How I wish my father could look through my eyes! Theseus No! Quickly your eyes must obey his judgment. HERMIA Forgive me, your lordship, I beg you. I myself don’t know where I found the courage, And whether it’s possible, without offending modesty, to speak so freely in front of everyone. But I conjure, let me find out: What is the worst thing that will happen to me, When I don’t marry Demetrius? Theseus What? Death! Or renunciation forever From the society of men. That's why, O Hermia, check yourself. Think: You are young... You ask your soul, When you go against your father's will: Are you capable of putting on the outfit of a nun, To be forever imprisoned in a monastery, To live your whole life as a barren nun And sadly 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, dissolved in incense, is happier than the one that blooms on an innocent bush, lives, dies - all alone! Hermia So I bloom, and live, and die, I want to give it to him sooner than my maiden rights! My soul does not want to submit to his yoke. THESEUS Think about it, Hermia! On the day of the new moon (On the day that will connect me with my love in an eternal partnership) You must be ready: either to die For violating your father’s will, Or to marry the one he chose, Or to take a vow of celibacy and a harsh life forever at the altar of Diana. Demetrius Soften, O Hermia! - And you, Lysander, yield to my undeniable rights. Lysander Demetrius, since your father loves you so much, give me your daughter, and marry him yourself! Aegean the impudent mocker! Yes, the love of a father - Behind him and with her is everything that I own. But my daughter is mine, and I give all rights over her to Demetrius in full! Lysander But, sir, I am equal to him in birth 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 am loved by the beautiful Hermia! Why should I renounce my rights? Demetrius - yes, I’ll tell him to his face - I was in love with Helen, the daughter of Nedar. She was attracted to him. Tender Elena madly loves the fickle, idolizes the empty man! THESEUS Frankly, I heard something about this and even thought about talking to him; But, busy with the most important matters, I forgot about it. - 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 subordinate Your dreams to the wishes of your father, Otherwise the Athenian law (Which we cannot change) will betray you to death or to eternal celibacy. - Well, Hippolyta... What, my love? Let's go... - Demetrius and Aegeus follow me. I will instruct you to arrange something for the solemn day and talk about what concerns both of you. Aegeus We are always happy to fulfill our duty. Theseus, Hippolyta, Aegeus, Demetrius and their retinue leave. Lysander Well, my love? How pale are the cheeks! How quickly the roses suddenly withered on them! Hermia Is it not because there is no rain, which is easy to get from the storm of my eyes. Lysander Alas! I have never heard or read, whether in history or a fairy tale, that the path of true love might be smooth. But - or the difference in origin... Hermia Oh woe! For the superior to be captivated by the inferior!.. Lysander Or the difference in age... Hermia O mockery! Being too old for a young bride! Lysander Or the choice of relatives and friends... Hermia O agony! But how can you love someone else's choice? Lysander And if the choice is good for everyone - war, Illness or death always threaten love And make it, like a sound, instantaneous, Like a shadow, fleeting and, like a dream, short. So lightning, flashing in the darkness of the night, 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 suffering is inevitable for lovers and this is the law of fate, So let us be patient in trials: After all, this is for ordinary love a cross, fitting for it - dreams, longings, tears, Desires, dreams - the retinue of unhappy love! Lysander Yes, you're right... But, Hermia, listen: I have an aunt. She is a widow, rich, and childless. He lives about seven miles from here. So: she loves me like a son! There, Hermia, we can get married. The cruel laws of Athens will not find us there. If you really love me, you should secretly leave the house tomorrow night. In the forest, three miles from Athens, in the place where I met you and Elena (you came to perform rituals on a May morning, remember?), I will wait for you. HERMIA O my Lysander! I swear by the strongest bow of Cupid, His best, golden arrow, the purity of Venus's doves, the fire into which Dido threw herself, When the Trojan raised the sails, - everything with which love binds the heavens, the darkness of men's oaths, godlessly broken (in which it is impossible for women to catch up with them), I swear: in the forest you indicated, I will be tomorrow night, my dear! Elena enters. Lysander You will keep your oath... But look - Helen! Hermia Hello! Where are you going, my beautiful friend? Elena the beautiful? Oh, don't joke in vain. Your beauty captivates Demetrius, Lucky One! Your gaze shines for him Brighter than the stars, your voice is sweeter, Than a lark's song among the fields... If beauty were a clinging disease - I would get infected from you, my friend! I would have stealthily taken from you the sparkle of your eyes and the tenderness of your sweet speech... If the whole world were mine - I would sooner take Demetrius for myself; own everything else! But teach me: by what art of Demetrius have you mastered the feeling? Hermia I frown - he loves more and more. Elena Such power - if only my smile! Hermia I swear to him - the flame in him is only brighter! Elena Oh, if only I could soften him with entreaties! Hermia The tougher I am, the more gentle he is with me! Elena The more tender I am, the harder he is with me! HERMIA His madness is not my fault. Elena Your beauty! Oh, be mine, wine! Hermia I will not meet him again: do not suffer. We will leave this region forever! While I lived here, not knowing love, Athens seemed better to me than paradise... And now - love! Why is she good, When is she free to make hell out of heaven? Lysander Elena, friend, I will reveal everything to you: Tomorrow on the night, as soon as Phoebe sees Her silvery face in the river mirror, The reeds are strewn with liquid pearls, - At the hour that protects lovers’ secrets, We will leave with her from the city gates. Hermia In the forest, where often, lying among the flowers, We shared girlish dreams, My Lysander must meet me, And we will leave our native city, Looking for other friends, another 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. (Exits.) Elena How happy one is at the expense of the other! In Athens I am equal in beauty to her... So what? He is blind to my beauty: He 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 base things and transforming vices into valor And choosing not with the eyes but with the heart: For this reason they portray her as blind. It is difficult for her to reconcile with common sense. Without eyes - and wings: a symbol of reckless haste!.. Her name is child; After all, it’s easy to deceive her by joking. And just as the boys swear in the game, So deception is easy for her and she doesn’t care. Until he was captured by Hermia, he swore to me with a hail of oaths 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’ll probably go into the forest at night; And if I receive gratitude, I will pay dearly for it. But in my melancholy and this is a lot - With him there is a road to the forest and from the forest! (Exits.) SCENE 2 Athens. A room in a hut. Enter Pigva, Milyaga, Osnova, Dudka, Snout and Zamorysh. Pigva Is our whole company assembled? Basis You better do a roll call: call us all on the list. Pigva Here is a list with the names of everyone who was found more or less suitable to present our interlude before the Duke and Duchess on the evening of their wedding day. The Basis 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! Pigva Correct! Our play is “A pitiful comedy and a very cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe.” The basis is an excellent thing, I assure you, and a great one! Well, kind Peter Pigva, now call all the actors on the list. Citizens, line up! Pigva Answer the call!.. Nick Basis! The basis is there! Name my role and continue the roll call. Pigva You, Nick Basis, have been targeted for Pyramus. Basics What is Pyramus? Lover or Villain? Pigwa A lover who valiantly kills himself because of love. Base Aha! 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! A roar will be heard, the blows of the fighters - And the bolt of the Cruel dungeon will collapse. And Fib, the bright god, Far and high, Will change the evil fate From his chariot! What was it like? Great, huh? Well, call other actors. Here was the manner of Hercules, the character of a villain; lover - much more tear-jerking. Pigva Francis Dudka, bellows repairman. Dudka Yes, Peter Pigva! Pigwa You must take on the role of Thisbe. Dudka And who will Thisbe be? Knight Errant? Pigva No, this is the lady with whom Pyramus is in love. Dudka No, I honor you, don’t force me to play a woman: my beard is growing! Pigwa means nothing; you can play in a mask and you will squeak in the thinnest voice. Base A! If you can play in a mask, let me play Thisbe for you too: I can speak in a monstrously thin voice. “Yours, yours... Ah, Pyramus, my dear lover! I am your Thisbe dear, I am your dear lady!” Pigwa No! No! You must play Pyramus, and you, Dudka, must play Thisbe. Basics Okay. Go ahead! Pigwa Robin Zamorysh, tailor! There is a runt, Peter Pigva! Pigwa Hungry, you will play Thisbe's mother. - Thomas Snout, coppersmith! Snout Yes, Peter Pigva! Pigva You are the father of Pyramus. I will play Feasbin's father. - Gentleman, carpenter, you get the role of Leo. Well, I hope that the play is selling well here. Gentleman Have you rewritten the role of Leo? You will give it to me now, otherwise my memory is very slow for learning. Pigva There’s nothing to learn here, and this is how you’ll play: you’ll just have to growl. Basis Let me play Leo for you too! I will roar so much that your heart will rejoice; I will growl so much that the Duke himself will definitely say: “Come on, let him growl some more, let him growl some more!” "Pigva Well, if you growl so terribly, you will probably frighten the duchess and all the ladies to death; they will also scream, and that will be enough for us all to be hanged! All Yes, yes, they will hang every last one of us! Basis This is me with I agree with you, friends, that if we intimidate the ladies, they won’t come up with anything better than to hang us all up. But I will be able to change my voice in such a way that I will roar tenderly, like your little dove; I will roar to you, like your nightingale! Pigva You cannot play any role except Pyramus, because Pyramus is a handsome fellow, just such a real man in the prime of his years, a first-class man, well-bred, with manners, well, in a word, exactly like you... All you have to do is play Pyramus. Basis Okay, I agree, I'll take the role. And what kind of beard should I play it with? Pigva Yes, whatever you want. Basis Okay. I'll introduce him to you with a straw-colored beard. Or is it better with an orange-brown one? Or a purple one -red? Or maybe the color of the French crown - pure yellow? Pigva Some French crowns have no hair at all, and you will have to play with a bare face... - Well, citizens, here are your roles, and I ask you, I beg you and I conjure you - to memorize them by tomorrow evening. And in the evening come to the palace forest, one mile from the city: there we will arrange a rehearsal in the moonlight. Otherwise, if we gather in the city, they will get wind of this and blurt out our idea. In the meantime, I'll make a list of the props we need for the play. And I ask you - do not let me down. Basis We will definitely come. There it will be possible to rehearse, as they say, more unceremoniously, more freely. Try not to lose face! Until then, stay healthy! Pigva Meeting - at the ducal oak. Basics Okay. Even if you hang yourself, stay where you are. They leave.