The book a "Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare begins in the city of Athens where Thesus, the duke of Athens is getting ready for his upcoming wedding with the queen of the amazons, Hyppolyta. Though Thesus is restless and cannot wait to be wed he sends out his Master of Revels, Philostrate, to "stir up the Athenian youth to merriment" so that Thesus and Hyppolta will have something to pass the next four days with before their marriage.

Thesus makes a promise to Hyppolyta that their marriage would be triumphant and honorable for they had met on the battle field. "Egeus, a citizen of Athens, strides into the room, followed by his daughter Hemia and the Athenian youths Lysander and Demetrius." Egeus has come to see Thesus for he has a complaint with his daughter, "although Egeus has promised her in marriage to Demetrius, who loves her...