While Titania sleeps soundly on one side of the stage, Hermia and Lysander enter on the other side. They do not see Titania, who is invisible to them.
As they had planned earlier, Hermia and Lysander are eloping. They are running away from Athens so that they can get married and live together.
However, the journey through the woods is a long one; and they have become tired. They decide to stop and rest; and Hermia, in maiden modesty, asks Lysander to sleep some distance away from her. She states that they should not sleep together until after they are married. Lysander complies and moves respectfully a little distance away from Hermia. Then the two of them fall asleep.
Meanwhile, Puck (or Robin Goodfellow) has been dutifully trying to fulfill King Oberon’s request to put the love potion on the eyes of Demetrius so that Demetrius will fall in love with Helena. As Robin enters the stage, he says the following:
Through the forest I have gone, But Athenian found I none
On whose eyes I might approve This flower’s force in stirring love. Night and silence. (72-76)
The reader should note that Robin speaks in couplets and in lines of seven syllables. His words are charming, light, and airy. There is a playfulness in his voice even though he is bothered that he has not yet found Demetrius. But then he sees Lysander sleeping a small distance away from Hermia.
Who is here?
Weeds of Athens he doth wear. This is he my master said Despisèd the Athenian maid –
And here the maiden, sleeping sound On the dank and dirty ground. (76-81)
The word weeds in this passage refers to clothes. Puck believes that Lysander is Demetrius because Lysander is the only man wearing Athenian clothing that Puck has seen. Although Puck usually enjoys making mischief, he is not doing so here. Puck is just trying to obey King Oberon’s orders. So, he puts the love potion on Lysander’s eyes. Puck makes an honest mistake, but that mistake will cause much confusion and comedy as the play proceeds.