《仲夏夜之》該劇創(chuàng)作于16世紀90年代，正是英國歷史上伊麗莎白女王統(tǒng)治時期。這一時期政權相對鞏固，社會比較穩(wěn)定，資本主義經濟迅速發(fā)展，英國文藝復興運動和人文主義運動也進入繁榮昌盛階段。

　　第一幕第一場 (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.

　　在雅典有一條法律賦予市民權力，可以強迫他們的女兒嫁給他們所喜歡的人，因此如果女兒拒絕父親為她選的丈夫，依據(jù)這條法律，父親可以自行判她死刑。

　　Egeus: Hermia, you have to marry Demetrious, the best guy in the city.

　　荷米亞，你必須嫁給狄米崔斯，這城中最好的年輕人。

　　Hermia: I’m sorry, Dad! I can’t be his wife.

　　爸爸，抱歉。我不能成為他的妻子。

　　Egeus: Why do you refused to marry Demetrius? He is really a worthy gentleman!

　　你為什麼拒絕嫁給狄米崔斯呢?他是一個真正的紳士。

　　Hermia: But I don’t love him. I’ve fell in love with Lysander.

　　但是我不愛他。我已經愛上了萊賽德。

　　Egeus: Lysander? Is he better than Demetrious? No!

　　萊賽德?他會比狄米崔斯好嗎?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，狄米崔斯曾說過，他愛我的朋友——海倫娜，而這一個甜美女孩也深愛狄米崔斯。

　　Egeus: No matter what you say, I’ve decided to let you marry to Demetrious. I stick to do this! 不管你怎麼說!我已經決定讓你嫁給狄米崔斯了，我堅決這樣做。