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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 4Scene 1
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Crete and Sparta
Mythological Reference
Act 4,
Scene 1
Lines 103-118

An explanation of Hippolyta’s reference to Crete and Sparta in Act 4, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Theseus

Go, one of you, find out the forester.
For now our observation is performed,
And since we have the vanguard of the day,
My love shall hear the music of my hounds.
Uncouple in the western valley; let them go.
Dispatch, I say, and find the forester.
[Exit servant]
We will, fair Queen, up to the mountain's top,
And mark the musical confusion
Of hounds and echo in conjunction.

Hippolyta

I was with Hercules and Cadmus once
When in a wood of Crete they bayed the bear
With hounds of Sparta. Never did I hear
Such gallant chiding, for besides, the groves,
The skies, the fountains, every region near
Seemed all one mutual cry. I never heard
So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.

The island of Crete and the Greek city of Sparta were famous in ancient myths for their hunting dogs.