_The._ Either to die the death, or to abjure 65 For ever the society of men. 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; 70 For aye to be in shady cloister mew’d, 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; 75 But earthlier happy is the rose distill’d, Than that which, withering on the virgin thorn, Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness. _Her._ So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, Ere I will yield my virgin patent up 80 Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke My soul consents not to give sovereignty. _The._ Take time to pause; and, by the next new moon,— The sealing-day betwixt my love and me, For everlasting bond of fellowship,— 85 Upon that day either prepare to die For disobedience to your father’s will, Or else to wed Demetrius, as he would; Or on Diana’s altar to protest For aye austerity and single life. 90 _Dem._ Relent, sweet Hermia: and, Lysander, yield Thy crazed title to my certain right. _Lys._ You have her father’s love, Demetrius; Let me have Hermia’s: do you marry him. _Ege._ Scornful Lysander! true, he hath my love, 95 And what is mine my love shall render him. And she is mine, and all my right of her I do estate unto Demetrius. _Lys._ I am, my lord, as well derived as he, As well possess’d; my love is more than his; 100 My fortunes every way as fairly rank’d, If not with vantage, as Demetrius’; And, which is more than all these boasts can be, I am beloved of beauteous Hermia: Why should not I then prosecute my right? 105 Demetrius, I’ll avouch it to his head, Made love to Nedar’s daughter, Helena, And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes, Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry, Upon this spotted and inconstant man. 110 _The._ I must confess that I have heard so much, And with Demetrius thought to have spoke thereof; But, being over-full of self-affairs, My mind did lose it. But, Demetrius, come; And come, Egeus; you shall go with me, 115 I have some private schooling for you both. For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself To fit your fancies to your father’s will; Or else the law of Athens yields you up,— Which by no means we may extenuate,— 120 To death, or to a vow of single life. Come, my Hippolyta: what cheer, my love? Demetrius and Egeus, go along: I must employ you in some business Against our nuptial, and confer with you 125 Of something nearly that concerns yourselves.