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Theseus

Therefore, fair Hermia, question your desires,
Know of your youth, examine well your blood;
Whether, if you yield not to your father's choice,
You can endure the livery of a nun,
For aye to be in shady cloister mewed,
To live a barren sister all your life,
Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon.
Thrice blessed they that master so their blood,
To undergo such maiden pilgrimage;
But earthlier happy is the rose distilled
Than that which, withering on the virgin thorn,
Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness.

Egeus

Thou, thou, Lysander, thou hast given her rhymes,
And interchanged love tokens with my child.
Thou hast by moonlight at her window sung
With feigning voice verses of feigning love,
And stol’n the impression of her fantasy
With bracelets of thy hair, rings, gauds, conceits,
Knacks, trifles, nosegays, sweetmeats — messengers
Of strong prevailment in unhardened youth.
With cunning hast thou filched my daughter's heart,
Turned her obedience, which is due to me,
To stubborn harshness. And, my gracious duke,
[Enter Titania, Queen of Fairies, Bottom with the ass-head, and fairies Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mote, and Mustardseed]

Titania

Come sit down on this flower-strewn bed while I stroke your friendly cheeks, stick muskroses in your hair, and kiss your big, beautiful ears. 

Bottom

Where is Peaseblossom?

Peaseblossom

At your service. 

Bottom

Scratch my head, Peaseblossom. Where is Master Cobweb?

[Enter Quince, Snug, Bottom, Flute, Snout, and Starveling]

Bottom

Is everyone here?

Quince

Right on time. This is the perfect place for our rehearsal. This grass here will be our stage, and this stand of trees will be backstage, and we’ll rehearse the play just as we plan to perform it for the Duke. 

Bottom

Peter Quince?

Quince

What is it, Bottom, my good friend?

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