Theseus wonders how the lovers came to the wood, and says to the father of Hermia:
"But speak, Egeus; is not this the day
That Helena should give answer of her choice?"
Egeus:
Theseus:
"Go bid the huntsmen wake them with their horns.
(Expresses surprise at their situation.)
How comes this gentle concord in the world,
That hatred is so far from jealousy,
To sleep by hate, and fear no enmity."
The lovers are reconciled to their natural choice, and Theseus decides against the father:
"Egeus, I will overbear your will,
For in the temple by and by, with us
These couples shall eternally be knit."
Bottom wakes and tells his theatrical partners:
"I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say
what dream it was.
Man is but an ass, a patched fool.
Eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath
not seen, man's hand is not able to taste, his
tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report,
what my dream was!"