A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (sogno di una notte di mezz'estate)

THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY

-THESEUS, Duke of Athens

-HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed (fidanzata) to Theseus

-EGEUS, an old man, father to Hermia

-LYSANDER, young gentleman , in love with Hermia

-DEMETRIUS, young gentleman , in love with Hermia

-PHILOSTRATE, master of the revels to Theseus (maestro delle cerimonie di Teseo)

-HERMIA, (short and dark) , daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander

-HELENA (tall and fair=bella), in love with Demetrius

-PETER QUINCE, a carpenter (falegname)

-NICK BOTTOM, a weaver (tessitore)

-FRANCIS FLUTE, a bellows-mender (aggiustamantici)

-TOM SNOUT, a tinker (calderaio)

-ROBIN STARVELING, a tailor (sarto)

-SNUG, a joiner (falegname addetto alle congiunture)

-OBERON, King of the Faires (fate)

-TITANIA, Queen of the Faires

-ROBIN GOODFELLOW, THE PUCK (folletto maligno)

-PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARDSEED, faires

ACT I, SCENE ONE

The hall in the palace of Duke Theseus.On one side a small platform with two chairs of state; on the other side a hearth (focolare); at the back doors to right and left, the wall between them opening out into a lobby (corridoio).

CHARACTERS (PERSONAGGI)=Theseus, ippolyta, Egeus, Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, Helena.

[Theseus and Hippolyta enter and take their seats, followed by Philostrate and attendants].

THESEUS:Now fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour draws on apace (arriva in fretta): four happy days bring (portano) in another moon: but O, methinks (penso) how slow this old moon wanes (cala)!She lingers (attarda) my desires, like to a step-dame (matrigna), or a dowager (vedova nubile), long withering (inaridita) out (da) a young man's revenue (entrata).

HIPPOLYTA:Four days will quickly steep (immergono) themselves in night:

Four nights will quickly dream away the time:and then the moon, like to a silver bow (arco d'argento) new-bent (appena teso) in heaven (cielo), shall behold (contemplerà) the night of our solemnities.

THESEUS:Go, Philostrate,stir up (solleva) the Athenian youth (gioventù) to merriments (allegria), awake (risveglia) the pert (vivace) and nimble (agile) spirit of mirth (allegria), turn (ricaccia) melancholy (malinconia) forth (innanzi) to funerals:the pale (pallido) companion (comno) is not for our pomp.[PHILOSTRATE bows (si inchina) and departs].

Hippolyta, I wooed (corteggiai) thee (te) with my sword (spada), and won thy (tuo) love doing thee injuries:but I will wed (sposerò) thee in another key (chiave), with pomp (cortei), with triumph, and with revelling (divertimento).