第一幕第一场 (城中) 口白：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。 Hermia: I won’t give my heart to the person who I never like. 我不愿把我的心交给一个我不曾喜欢的人。 Egeus: If you don’t marry Demetrious, I’ll use the ancient right of Athens, asking to put you to death according to our law! (下) 如果你不嫁给狄米崔斯，根据我们的法律，我将用雅典的古律法要求判你死刑。 Hermia: Oh! Please, please do not! My dear father! Don’t you love me any more? Don’t give me up, please! 喔，不要，请不要这麼做，亲爱的父亲，你不再爱我了...
