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Helena decides to tell Demetrius of Hermia's flight, in the hope that that would make him return to her. But Demetrius follows Hermia into the wood, and Helena follows him. So now all four lovers are in the wood at night - Lysander and Hermia, running away from Athens, Demetrius in pursuit of Hermia, and Helena following Demetrius.
Also in the wood that night is a group of tradesmen rehearsing a play which they want to perform at the Duke's wedding. Among them is Bottom the weaver, who is to play the role of Pyramus in their play.
The wood is also the haunt of fairies, led by their king Oberon, and their queen Titania. Oberon and Titania have quarrelled over a changeling child, an Indian prince whom Titania stole from his nurse after his mother's death. Oberon wants the child to be his pageboy, but Titania refuses to give him up.
Oberon is determined to have the child as his page, and resolves to have him by trickery if necessary. He calls Puck, a mischievous fairy, to fetch him a magic flower, a flower which maidens call Love-in-Idleness, and the juice of which, if 'on sleeping eyelids laid, will make man or woman madly dote upon the next live creature that it sees.' Puck flies off to find the flower. Oberon, waiting for his return, plans to make Titania fall in love with some creature of the forest, and while she is madly in love with it, to make her render up her page to him. Only then will he take the charm from off her sight - as he can do with another herb.
Just then Demetrius, followed by Helena, comes into that part of the wood where Oberon is waiting for Puck. Demetrius tells Helena that he loves her not, and so she should not pursue him. But Helena declares that she loves him, and begs him to let her follow him. Oberon decides to bring the two together.
A Midsummer Night's Dream cont'd...
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