As the fairies exit one side of the stage, Duke Theseus, along with Egeus, Hippolyta, and others, enters from the other side. The Duke and the others are hunting out in the woods. But before they get too far, they come to the spot where the four lovers are fast asleep.
Theseus then recalls that this very day is also the one in which Hermia must make her decision about marrying Demetrius (lines 132-33). Theseus commands his men to awaken the four lovers, and then he specifically asks Lysander and Demetrius how two men who are rivals can be sleeping peacefully next to each other.
Both Lysander and Demetrius are rather confused about that point as well, but Lysander attempts to explain that he and Hermia had planned to elope (lines 148-50). As soon as Egeus hears this about his daughter, he interrupts Lysander and asks Duke Theseus to have Lysander arrested.
Fortunately, Demetrius defends Lysander before Duke Theseus has a chance to respond. Demetrius explains that he had followed Hermia in the woods in order to stop the elopement. Yet, for reasons which he does not quite understand, he has had a change of heart:
But, my lord, I wot not by what power –
But by some power it is – my love to Hermia, Melted as the snow, seems to me now
As the remembrance of an idle gaud Which in my childhood I did dote upon, And all the faith, the virtue of my heart, The object and pleasure of mine eye
Is only Helena. To her, my lord, Was I betrothed ere I saw Hermia.
But like in sickness did I loathe this food; But as in health come to my natural taste, Now I do wish it, love it, long for it,
And will forever more be true to it. (161-73)
Demetrius does not know (the word wot means know) why he has changed his mind, but he realizes that the change is for the best. Demetrius, in a simile, compares his feelings for Hermia to a child’s feelings for a favorite toy (suggested by the word gaud). The child may devote all of his feelings to the toy; but when he grows up, the toy is no longer important to him. Thus, Demetrius suggests that his love for Hermia was immature. He has now grown past those immature feelings of infatuation.
Demetrius admits that he was engaged to Helena before he started pursuing Hermia; and he uses another simile to explain his feelings about Helena. Demetrius explains that a person who is feeling sick may not like the taste of his favorite food. But after he becomes well, that person will then go back to eating and enjoying his favorite food once again. Demetrius is implying that he was experiencing a sort of illness when he turned away from Helena (his favorite dish). But now he is well again, and once more desires Helena. The power of Oberon’s magic thus cured Demetrius.
Duke Theseus quickly renders a decision in the matter regarding Hermia. He realizes that all has worked out among the lovers without the need of his interference, and his own joyous feelings because of his own upcoming wedding wisely move him to share that joy with the four lovers. So, the Duke advises Egeus to drop his complaint against Lysander. Moreover, the Duke commands that instead of just one wedding on that day, there shall be three. The Duke and his group then exit. The four lovers are left on the stage – happy but still confused.
The four lovers are still in a daze and wonder if even the Duke’s appearance was real. Lysander is fairly certain that the Duke’s appearance was not part of the dream, and the four lovers return to Athens.