Dispatch, I say, and find the forester.
[Exit an Attendant]
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 Cadmus111 once, When in a wood of Crete they bayed112 the bear With hounds of Sparta113; never did I hear Such gallant chiding114, 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.
THESEUS My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind118, So flewed, so sanded119, and their heads are hung With ears that sweep away the morning dew,
Crook-kneed and dewlapped like Thessalian121 bulls, Slow in pursuit, but matched in mouth122 like bells, Each under each. A cry more tuneable123
Was never hallowed to, nor cheered124 with horn, In Crete, in Sparta, nor in Thessaly;
Judge when you hear. But, soft126! What nymphs are these?
EGEUS My lord, this is my daughter here asleep, And this, Lysander, this Demetrius is,
This Helena, old Nedar's Helena.
I wonder of130 their being here together.
THESEUS No doubt they rose up early to observe
The rite of May, and hearing our intent,
Came here in grace of our solemnity133.
But speak, Egeus; is not this the day
That Hermia should give answer of her choice?
EGEUS It is, my lord.
THESEUS Go, bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns.
Horns and they wake. Shout within, they all start up.
Good morrow, friends. Saint Valentine138 is past.
Begin these woodbirds but to couple139 now?
LYSANDER Pardon, my lord.
They kneel
THESEUS I pray you all stand up.
They stand
I know you two are rival enemies.