Athens — the duke's court and the four lovers

Athens, the palace of Theseus. Theseus and Hippolyta open the play discussing their wedding, four days off; the duke complains the moon "lingers my desires," Hippolyta replies that four nights "will quickly dream away the time." Egeus interrupts with a formal complaint against his daughter Hermia. He has chosen Demetrius for her; she refuses, in love with Lysander. Egeus demands the full penalty of Athenian law — death, or perpetual chastity in a convent. Theseus, courteous but firm, confirms the law and gives Hermia until his wedding day to choose.

The duke leaves with Egeus and Demetrius. Hermia and Lysander, alone, work out an escape. Lysander has an aunt seven leagues from Athens whose house lies outside the duke's jurisdiction; they will meet in the wood tomorrow night and run there. Lysander gives the play its most-quoted line on the subject he is about to disprove: "the course of true love never did run smooth." Helena enters in distress. She loves Demetrius, who once loved her, until he saw Hermia and abandoned her. Hermia and Lysander tell her the plan in the hope it will help her — once Hermia is gone, Demetrius's reasons to stay in Athens go with her.

Helena, alone, considers what to do. She speaks the play's clearest statement on love: "love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind." Reason has nothing to do with whom one loves; Demetrius is no more rational than she is. She decides to tell him about the elopement. The news will not make him love her — he will run after Hermia into the wood — but at least she will be following him. The first plot is in motion: four young Athenians moving toward the wood for reasons the wood is about to rearrange entirely.