《仲夏夜之》该剧创作于16世纪90年代，正是英国历史上伊丽莎白女王统治时期。这一时期政权相对巩固，社会比较稳定，资本主义经济迅速发展，英国文艺复兴运动和人文主义运动也进入繁荣昌盛阶段。
第一幕第一场 (城中)
旁白：There was a law in the city of Athens which gave to its citizens the power of forcing their daughters to marry whomever they pleased. For if a daughter refused to marry the man her father had chosen to be her husband, the father might by thus law cause her to be put to death.
在雅典有一条法律赋予市民权力，可以强迫他们的女儿嫁给他们所喜欢的人，因此如果女儿拒绝父亲为她选的丈夫，依据这条法律，父亲可以自行判她死刑。
Egeus: Hermia, you have to marry Demetrious, the best guy in the city.
荷米亚，你必须嫁给狄米崔斯，这城中最好的年轻人。
Hermia: I’m sorry, Dad! I can’t be his wife.
爸爸，抱歉。我不能成为他的妻子。
Egeus: Why do you refused to marry Demetrius? He is really a worthy gentleman!
你为什麼拒绝嫁给狄米崔斯呢?他是一个真正的绅士。
Hermia: But I don’t love him. I’ve fell in love with Lysander.
但是我不爱他。我已经爱上了莱赛德。
Egeus: Lysander? Is he better than Demetrious? No!
莱赛德?他会比狄米崔斯好吗?不!
Hermia: Oh! Dad! Demettrious had ever said that he love my friend, Helena, and she, a sweet lady also love him deeply.
喔!爸爸，狄米崔斯曾说过，他爱我的朋友——海伦娜，而这一个甜美女孩也深爱狄米崔斯。
Egeus: No matter what you say, I’ve decided to let you marry to Demetrious. I stick to do this! 不管你怎麼说!我已经决定让你嫁给狄米崔斯了，我坚决这样做。
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