Theseus decides that she must obey her father or suffer death, or enter a convent, excluded from the world forever.
Theseus reasons with Hermia thus:
"If you yield not to your father's choice,
Whether 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 fair 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!"
This sentiment was cheered heartily by the great forest audience, and "Queen Bess" led the applause!
Lysander pleaded his own case for the heart of Hermia, and sighing, says:
"Ah, me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth!"
Hermia and Helena compare notes and wonder at the perversity of their respective lovers.
Hermia says:
"The more I hate Demetrius, the more he follows
me;"
And Helena says: