nsTeam1RO, nsTeam1RW, nsTeam1_talkRO, nsTeam1_talkRW
26,487
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
mLine 3:
Line 3: − ACT I+ − SCENE I. Orchard of Oliver's house. − − Enter ORLANDO and ADAM − − ORLANDO − − As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion − bequeathed me by will but poor a thousand crowns, − and, as thou sayest, charged my brother, on his − blessing, to breed me well: and there begins my − sadness. My brother Jaques he keeps at school, and − report speaks goldenly of his profit: for my part, − he keeps me rustically at home, or, to speak more − properly, stays me here at home unkept; for call you − that keeping for a gentleman of my birth, that − differs not from the stalling of an ox? His horses − are bred better; for, besides that they are fair − with their feeding, they are taught their manage, − and to that end riders dearly hired: but I, his − brother, gain nothing under him but growth; for the − which his animals on his dunghills are as much − bound to him as I. Besides this nothing that he so − plentifully gives me, the something that nature gave − me his countenance seems to take from me: he lets − me feed with his hinds, bars me the place of a − brother, and, as much as in him lies, mines my − gentility with my education. This is it, Adam, that − grieves me; and the spirit of my father, which I − think is within me, begins to mutiny against this − servitude: I will no longer endure it, though yet I − know no wise remedy how to avoid it. − − ADAM − − Yonder comes my master, your brother. − − ORLANDO − − Go apart, Adam, and thou shalt hear how he will − shake me up. − − Enter OLIVER − − OLIVER − − Now, sir! what make you here? − − ORLANDO − − Nothing: I am not taught to make any thing. − − OLIVER − − What mar you then, sir? − − ORLANDO − − Marry, sir, I am helping you to mar that which God − made, a poor unworthy brother of yours, with idleness. − − OLIVER − − Marry, sir, be better employed, and be naught awhile. − − ORLANDO − − Shall I keep your hogs and eat husks with them? − What prodigal portion have I spent, that I should − come to such penury? − − OLIVER − − Know you where your are, sir? − − ORLANDO − − O, sir, very well; here in your orchard. − − OLIVER − − Know you before whom, sir? − − ORLANDO − − Ay, better than him I am before knows me. I know − you are my eldest brother; and, in the gentle − condition of blood, you should so know me. The − courtesy of nations allows you my better, in that − you are the first-born; but the same tradition − takes not away my blood, were there twenty brothers − betwixt us: I have as much of my father in me as − you; albeit, I confess, your coming before me is − nearer to his reverence. − − OLIVER − − What, boy! − − ORLANDO − − Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this. − − OLIVER − − Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain? − − ORLANDO − − I am no villain; I am the youngest son of Sir − Rowland de Boys; he was my father, and he is thrice − a villain that says such a father begot villains. − Wert thou not my brother, I would not take this hand − from thy throat till this other had pulled out thy − tongue for saying so: thou hast railed on thyself. − − ADAM − − Sweet masters, be patient: for your father's − remembrance, be at accord. − − OLIVER − − Let me go, I say. − − ORLANDO − − I will not, till I please: you shall hear me. My − father charged you in his will to give me good − education: you have trained me like a peasant, − obscuring and hiding from me all gentleman-like − qualities. The spirit of my father grows strong in − me, and I will no longer endure it: therefore allow − me such exercises as may become a gentleman, or − give me the poor allottery my father left me by − testament; with that I will go buy my fortunes. − − OLIVER − − And what wilt thou do? beg, when that is spent? − Well, sir, get you in: I will not long be troubled − with you; you shall have some part of your will: I − pray you, leave me. − − ORLANDO − − I will no further offend you than becomes me for my good. − − OLIVER − − Get you with him, you old dog. − − ADAM − − Is 'old dog' my reward? Most true, I have lost my − teeth in your service. God be with my old master! − he would not have spoke such a word. − − Exeunt ORLANDO and ADAM − − OLIVER − − Is it even so? begin you to grow upon me? I will − physic your rankness, and yet give no thousand − crowns neither. Holla, Dennis! − − Enter DENNIS − − DENNIS − − Calls your worship? − − OLIVER − − Was not Charles, the duke's wrestler, here to speak with me? − − DENNIS − − So please you, he is here at the door and importunes − access to you. − − OLIVER − − Call him in. − − Exit DENNIS − 'Twill be a good way; and to-morrow the wrestling is. − − Enter CHARLES − − CHARLES − − Good morrow to your worship. − − OLIVER − − Good Monsieur Charles, what's the new news at the − new court? − − CHARLES − − There's no news at the court, sir, but the old news: − that is, the old duke is banished by his younger − brother the new duke; and three or four loving lords − have put themselves into voluntary exile with him, − whose lands and revenues enrich the new duke; − therefore he gives them good leave to wander. − − OLIVER − − Can you tell if Rosalind, the duke's daughter, be − banished with her father? − − CHARLES − − O, no; for the duke's daughter, her cousin, so loves − her, being ever from their cradles bred together, − that she would have followed her exile, or have died − to stay behind her. She is at the court, and no − less beloved of her uncle than his own daughter; and − never two ladies loved as they do. − − OLIVER − − Where will the old duke live? − − CHARLES − − They say he is already in the forest of Arden, and − a many merry men with him; and there they live like − the old Robin Hood of England: they say many young − gentlemen flock to him every day, and fleet the time − carelessly, as they did in the golden world. − − OLIVER − − What, you wrestle to-morrow before the new duke? − − CHARLES − − Marry, do I, sir; and I came to acquaint you with a − matter. I am given, sir, secretly to understand − that your younger brother Orlando hath a disposition − to come in disguised against me to try a fall. − To-morrow, sir, I wrestle for my credit; and he that − escapes me without some broken limb shall acquit him − well. Your brother is but young and tender; and, − for your love, I would be loath to foil him, as I − must, for my own honour, if he come in: therefore, − out of my love to you, I came hither to acquaint you − withal, that either you might stay him from his − intendment or brook such disgrace well as he shall − run into, in that it is a thing of his own search − and altogether against my will. − − OLIVER − − Charles, I thank thee for thy love to me, which − thou shalt find I will most kindly requite. I had − myself notice of my brother's purpose herein and − have by underhand means laboured to dissuade him from − it, but he is resolute. I'll tell thee, Charles: − it is the stubbornest young fellow of France, full − of ambition, an envious emulator of every man's − good parts, a secret and villanous contriver against − me his natural brother: therefore use thy − discretion; I had as lief thou didst break his neck − as his finger. And thou wert best look to't; for if − thou dost him any slight disgrace or if he do not − mightily grace himself on thee, he will practise − against thee by poison, entrap thee by some − treacherous device and never leave thee till he − hath ta'en thy life by some indirect means or other; − for, I assure thee, and almost with tears I speak − it, there is not one so young and so villanous this − day living. I speak but brotherly of him; but − should I anatomize him to thee as he is, I must − blush and weep and thou must look pale and wonder. − − CHARLES − − I am heartily glad I came hither to you. If he come − to-morrow, I'll give him his payment: if ever he go − alone again, I'll never wrestle for prize more: and − so God keep your worship! − − OLIVER − − Farewell, good Charles. − − Exit CHARLES − Now will I stir this gamester: I hope I shall see − an end of him; for my soul, yet I know not why, − hates nothing more than he. Yet he's gentle, never − schooled and yet learned, full of noble device, of − all sorts enchantingly beloved, and indeed so much − in the heart of the world, and especially of my own − people, who best know him, that I am altogether − misprised: but it shall not be so long; this − wrestler shall clear all: nothing remains but that − I kindle the boy thither; which now I'll go about. − − Exit − − SCENE II. Lawn before the Duke's palace. − − Enter CELIA and ROSALIND − − CELIA − − I pray thee, Rosalind, sweet my coz, be merry. − − ROSALIND − − Dear Celia, I show more mirth than I am mistress of; − and would you yet I were merrier? Unless you could − teach me to forget a banished father, you must not − learn me how to remember any extraordinary pleasure. − − CELIA − − Herein I see thou lovest me not with the full weight − that I love thee. If my uncle, thy banished father, − had banished thy uncle, the duke my father, so thou − hadst been still with me, I could have taught my − love to take thy father for mine: so wouldst thou, − if the truth of thy love to me were so righteously − tempered as mine is to thee. − − ROSALIND − − Well, I will forget the condition of my estate, to − rejoice in yours. − − CELIA − − You know my father hath no child but I, nor none is − like to have: and, truly, when he dies, thou shalt − be his heir, for what he hath taken away from thy − father perforce, I will render thee again in − affection; by mine honour, I will; and when I break − that oath, let me turn monster: therefore, my − sweet Rose, my dear Rose, be merry. − − ROSALIND − − From henceforth I will, coz, and devise sports. Let − me see; what think you of falling in love? − − CELIA − − Marry, I prithee, do, to make sport withal: but − love no man in good earnest; nor no further in sport − neither than with safety of a pure blush thou mayst − in honour come off again. − − ROSALIND − − What shall be our sport, then? − − CELIA − − Let us sit and mock the good housewife Fortune from − her wheel, that her gifts may henceforth be bestowed equally. − − ROSALIND − − I would we could do so, for her benefits are − mightily misplaced, and the bountiful blind woman − doth most mistake in her gifts to women. − − CELIA − − 'Tis true; for those that she makes fair she scarce − makes honest, and those that she makes honest she − makes very ill-favouredly. − − ROSALIND − − Nay, now thou goest from Fortune's office to − Nature's: Fortune reigns in gifts of the world, − not in the lineaments of Nature. − − Enter TOUCHSTONE − − CELIA − − No? when Nature hath made a fair creature, may she − not by Fortune fall into the fire? Though Nature − hath given us wit to flout at Fortune, hath not − Fortune sent in this fool to cut off the argument? − − ROSALIND − − Indeed, there is Fortune too hard for Nature, when − Fortune makes Nature's natural the cutter-off of − Nature's wit. − − CELIA − − Peradventure this is not Fortune's work neither, but − Nature's; who perceiveth our natural wits too dull − to reason of such goddesses and hath sent this − natural for our whetstone; for always the dulness of − the fool is the whetstone of the wits. How now, − wit! whither wander you? − − TOUCHSTONE − − Mistress, you must come away to your father. − − CELIA − − Were you made the messenger? − − TOUCHSTONE − − No, by mine honour, but I was bid to come for you. − − ROSALIND − − Where learned you that oath, fool? − − TOUCHSTONE − − Of a certain knight that swore by his honour they − were good pancakes and swore by his honour the − mustard was naught: now I'll stand to it, the − pancakes were naught and the mustard was good, and − yet was not the knight forsworn. − − CELIA − − How prove you that, in the great heap of your − knowledge? − − ROSALIND − − Ay, marry, now unmuzzle your wisdom. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Stand you both forth now: stroke your chins, and − swear by your beards that I am a knave. − − CELIA − − By our beards, if we had them, thou art. − − TOUCHSTONE − − By my knavery, if I had it, then I were; but if you − swear by that that is not, you are not forsworn: no − more was this knight swearing by his honour, for he − never had any; or if he had, he had sworn it away − before ever he saw those pancakes or that mustard. − − CELIA − − Prithee, who is't that thou meanest? − − TOUCHSTONE − − One that old Frederick, your father, loves. − − CELIA − − My father's love is enough to honour him: enough! − speak no more of him; you'll be whipped for taxation − one of these days. − − TOUCHSTONE − − The more pity, that fools may not speak wisely what − wise men do foolishly. − − CELIA − − By my troth, thou sayest true; for since the little − wit that fools have was silenced, the little foolery − that wise men have makes a great show. Here comes − Monsieur Le Beau. − − ROSALIND − − With his mouth full of news. − − CELIA − − Which he will put on us, as pigeons feed their young. − − ROSALIND − − Then shall we be news-crammed. − − CELIA − − All the better; we shall be the more marketable. − − Enter LE BEAU − Bon jour, Monsieur Le Beau: what's the news? − − LE BEAU − − Fair princess, you have lost much good sport. − − CELIA − − Sport! of what colour? − − LE BEAU − − What colour, madam! how shall I answer you? − − ROSALIND − − As wit and fortune will. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Or as the Destinies decree. − − CELIA − − Well said: that was laid on with a trowel. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Nay, if I keep not my rank,-- − − ROSALIND − − Thou losest thy old smell. − − LE BEAU − − You amaze me, ladies: I would have told you of good − wrestling, which you have lost the sight of. − − ROSALIND − − You tell us the manner of the wrestling. − − LE BEAU − − I will tell you the beginning; and, if it please − your ladyships, you may see the end; for the best is − yet to do; and here, where you are, they are coming − to perform it. − − CELIA − − Well, the beginning, that is dead and buried. − − LE BEAU − − There comes an old man and his three sons,-- − − CELIA − − I could match this beginning with an old tale. − − LE BEAU − − Three proper young men, of excellent growth and presence. − − ROSALIND − − With bills on their necks, 'Be it known unto all men − by these presents.' − − LE BEAU − − The eldest of the three wrestled with Charles, the − duke's wrestler; which Charles in a moment threw him − and broke three of his ribs, that there is little − hope of life in him: so he served the second, and − so the third. Yonder they lie; the poor old man, − their father, making such pitiful dole over them − that all the beholders take his part with weeping. − − ROSALIND − − Alas! − − TOUCHSTONE − − But what is the sport, monsieur, that the ladies − have lost? − − LE BEAU − − Why, this that I speak of. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Thus men may grow wiser every day: it is the first − time that ever I heard breaking of ribs was sport − for ladies. − − CELIA − − Or I, I promise thee. − − ROSALIND − − But is there any else longs to see this broken music − in his sides? is there yet another dotes upon − rib-breaking? Shall we see this wrestling, cousin? − − LE BEAU − − You must, if you stay here; for here is the place − appointed for the wrestling, and they are ready to − perform it. − − CELIA − − Yonder, sure, they are coming: let us now stay and see it. − − Flourish. Enter DUKE FREDERICK, Lords, ORLANDO, CHARLES, and Attendants − − DUKE FREDERICK − − Come on: since the youth will not be entreated, his − own peril on his forwardness. − − ROSALIND − − Is yonder the man? − − LE BEAU − − Even he, madam. − − CELIA − − Alas, he is too young! yet he looks successfully. − − DUKE FREDERICK − − How now, daughter and cousin! are you crept hither − to see the wrestling? − − ROSALIND − − Ay, my liege, so please you give us leave. − − DUKE FREDERICK − − You will take little delight in it, I can tell you; − there is such odds in the man. In pity of the − challenger's youth I would fain dissuade him, but he − will not be entreated. Speak to him, ladies; see if − you can move him. − − CELIA − − Call him hither, good Monsieur Le Beau. − − DUKE FREDERICK − − Do so: I'll not be by. − − LE BEAU − − Monsieur the challenger, the princesses call for you. − − ORLANDO − − I attend them with all respect and duty. − − ROSALIND − − Young man, have you challenged Charles the wrestler? − − ORLANDO − − No, fair princess; he is the general challenger: I − come but in, as others do, to try with him the − strength of my youth. − − CELIA − − Young gentleman, your spirits are too bold for your − years. You have seen cruel proof of this man's − strength: if you saw yourself with your eyes or − knew yourself with your judgment, the fear of your − adventure would counsel you to a more equal − enterprise. We pray you, for your own sake, to − embrace your own safety and give over this attempt. − − ROSALIND − − Do, young sir; your reputation shall not therefore − be misprised: we will make it our suit to the duke − that the wrestling might not go forward. − − ORLANDO − − I beseech you, punish me not with your hard − thoughts; wherein I confess me much guilty, to deny − so fair and excellent ladies any thing. But let − your fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my − trial: wherein if I be foiled, there is but one − shamed that was never gracious; if killed, but one − dead that was willing to be so: I shall do my − friends no wrong, for I have none to lament me, the − world no injury, for in it I have nothing; only in − the world I fill up a place, which may be better − supplied when I have made it empty. − − ROSALIND − − The little strength that I have, I would it were with you. − − CELIA − − And mine, to eke out hers. − − ROSALIND − − Fare you well: pray heaven I be deceived in you! − − CELIA − − Your heart's desires be with you! − − CHARLES − − Come, where is this young gallant that is so − desirous to lie with his mother earth? − − ORLANDO − − Ready, sir; but his will hath in it a more modest working. − − DUKE FREDERICK − − You shall try but one fall. − − CHARLES − − No, I warrant your grace, you shall not entreat him − to a second, that have so mightily persuaded him − from a first. − − ORLANDO − − An you mean to mock me after, you should not have − mocked me before: but come your ways. − − ROSALIND − − Now Hercules be thy speed, young man! − − CELIA − − I would I were invisible, to catch the strong − fellow by the leg. − − They wrestle − − ROSALIND − − O excellent young man! − − CELIA − − If I had a thunderbolt in mine eye, I can tell who − should down. − − Shout. CHARLES is thrown − − DUKE FREDERICK − − No more, no more. − − ORLANDO − − Yes, I beseech your grace: I am not yet well breathed. − − DUKE FREDERICK − − How dost thou, Charles? − − LE BEAU − − He cannot speak, my lord. − − DUKE FREDERICK − − Bear him away. What is thy name, young man? − − ORLANDO − − Orlando, my liege; the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys. − − DUKE FREDERICK − − I would thou hadst been son to some man else: − The world esteem'd thy father honourable, − But I did find him still mine enemy: − Thou shouldst have better pleased me with this deed, − Hadst thou descended from another house. − But fare thee well; thou art a gallant youth: − I would thou hadst told me of another father. − − Exeunt DUKE FREDERICK, train, and LE BEAU − − CELIA − − Were I my father, coz, would I do this? − − ORLANDO − − I am more proud to be Sir Rowland's son, − His youngest son; and would not change that calling, − To be adopted heir to Frederick. − − ROSALIND − − My father loved Sir Rowland as his soul, − And all the world was of my father's mind: − Had I before known this young man his son, − I should have given him tears unto entreaties, − Ere he should thus have ventured. − − CELIA − − Gentle cousin, − Let us go thank him and encourage him: − My father's rough and envious disposition − Sticks me at heart. Sir, you have well deserved: − If you do keep your promises in love − But justly, as you have exceeded all promise, − Your mistress shall be happy. − − ROSALIND − − Gentleman, − − Giving him a chain from her neck − Wear this for me, one out of suits with fortune, − That could give more, but that her hand lacks means. − Shall we go, coz? − − CELIA − − Ay. Fare you well, fair gentleman. − − ORLANDO − − Can I not say, I thank you? My better parts − Are all thrown down, and that which here stands up − Is but a quintain, a mere lifeless block. − − ROSALIND − − He calls us back: my pride fell with my fortunes; − I'll ask him what he would. Did you call, sir? − Sir, you have wrestled well and overthrown − More than your enemies. − − CELIA − − Will you go, coz? − − ROSALIND − − Have with you. Fare you well. − − Exeunt ROSALIND and CELIA − − ORLANDO − − What passion hangs these weights upon my tongue? − I cannot speak to her, yet she urged conference. − O poor Orlando, thou art overthrown! − Or Charles or something weaker masters thee. − − Re-enter LE BEAU − − LE BEAU − − Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you − To leave this place. Albeit you have deserved − High commendation, true applause and love, − Yet such is now the duke's condition − That he misconstrues all that you have done. − The duke is humorous; what he is indeed, − More suits you to conceive than I to speak of. − − ORLANDO − − I thank you, sir: and, pray you, tell me this: − Which of the two was daughter of the duke − That here was at the wrestling? − − LE BEAU − − Neither his daughter, if we judge by manners; − But yet indeed the lesser is his daughter − The other is daughter to the banish'd duke, − And here detain'd by her usurping uncle, − To keep his daughter company; whose loves − Are dearer than the natural bond of sisters. − But I can tell you that of late this duke − Hath ta'en displeasure 'gainst his gentle niece, − Grounded upon no other argument − But that the people praise her for her virtues − And pity her for her good father's sake; − And, on my life, his malice 'gainst the lady − Will suddenly break forth. Sir, fare you well: − Hereafter, in a better world than this, − I shall desire more love and knowledge of you. − − ORLANDO − − I rest much bounden to you: fare you well. − − Exit LE BEAU − Thus must I from the smoke into the smother; − From tyrant duke unto a tyrant brother: − But heavenly Rosalind! − − Exit − − SCENE III. A room in the palace. − − Enter CELIA and ROSALIND − − CELIA − − Why, cousin! why, Rosalind! Cupid have mercy! not a word? − − ROSALIND − − Not one to throw at a dog. − − CELIA − − No, thy words are too precious to be cast away upon − curs; throw some of them at me; come, lame me with reasons. − − ROSALIND − − Then there were two cousins laid up; when the one − should be lamed with reasons and the other mad − without any. − − CELIA − − But is all this for your father? − − ROSALIND − − No, some of it is for my child's father. O, how − full of briers is this working-day world! − − CELIA − − They are but burs, cousin, thrown upon thee in − holiday foolery: if we walk not in the trodden − paths our very petticoats will catch them. − − ROSALIND − − I could shake them off my coat: these burs are in my heart. − − CELIA − − Hem them away. − − ROSALIND − − I would try, if I could cry 'hem' and have him. − − CELIA − − Come, come, wrestle with thy affections. − − ROSALIND − − O, they take the part of a better wrestler than myself! − − CELIA − − O, a good wish upon you! you will try in time, in − despite of a fall. But, turning these jests out of − service, let us talk in good earnest: is it − possible, on such a sudden, you should fall into so − strong a liking with old Sir Rowland's youngest son? − − ROSALIND − − The duke my father loved his father dearly. − − CELIA − − Doth it therefore ensue that you should love his son − dearly? By this kind of chase, I should hate him, − for my father hated his father dearly; yet I hate − not Orlando. − − ROSALIND − − No, faith, hate him not, for my sake. − − CELIA − − Why should I not? doth he not deserve well? − − ROSALIND − − Let me love him for that, and do you love him − because I do. Look, here comes the duke. − − CELIA − − With his eyes full of anger. − − Enter DUKE FREDERICK, with Lords − − DUKE FREDERICK − − Mistress, dispatch you with your safest haste − And get you from our court. − − ROSALIND − − Me, uncle? − − DUKE FREDERICK − − You, cousin − Within these ten days if that thou be'st found − So near our public court as twenty miles, − Thou diest for it. − − ROSALIND − − I do beseech your grace, − Let me the knowledge of my fault bear with me: − If with myself I hold intelligence − Or have acquaintance with mine own desires, − If that I do not dream or be not frantic,-- − As I do trust I am not--then, dear uncle, − Never so much as in a thought unborn − Did I offend your highness. − − DUKE FREDERICK − − Thus do all traitors: − If their purgation did consist in words, − They are as innocent as grace itself: − Let it suffice thee that I trust thee not. − − ROSALIND − − Yet your mistrust cannot make me a traitor: − Tell me whereon the likelihood depends. − − DUKE FREDERICK − − Thou art thy father's daughter; there's enough. − − ROSALIND − − So was I when your highness took his dukedom; − So was I when your highness banish'd him: − Treason is not inherited, my lord; − Or, if we did derive it from our friends, − What's that to me? my father was no traitor: − Then, good my liege, mistake me not so much − To think my poverty is treacherous. − − CELIA − − Dear sovereign, hear me speak. − − DUKE FREDERICK − − Ay, Celia; we stay'd her for your sake, − Else had she with her father ranged along. − − CELIA − − I did not then entreat to have her stay; − It was your pleasure and your own remorse: − I was too young that time to value her; − But now I know her: if she be a traitor, − Why so am I; we still have slept together, − Rose at an instant, learn'd, play'd, eat together, − And wheresoever we went, like Juno's swans, − Still we went coupled and inseparable. − − DUKE FREDERICK − − She is too subtle for thee; and her smoothness, − Her very silence and her patience − Speak to the people, and they pity her. − Thou art a fool: she robs thee of thy name; − And thou wilt show more bright and seem more virtuous − When she is gone. Then open not thy lips: − Firm and irrevocable is my doom − Which I have pass'd upon her; she is banish'd. − − CELIA − − Pronounce that sentence then on me, my liege: − I cannot live out of her company. − − DUKE FREDERICK − − You are a fool. You, niece, provide yourself: − If you outstay the time, upon mine honour, − And in the greatness of my word, you die. − − Exeunt DUKE FREDERICK and Lords − − CELIA − − O my poor Rosalind, whither wilt thou go? − Wilt thou change fathers? I will give thee mine. − I charge thee, be not thou more grieved than I am. − − ROSALIND − − I have more cause. − − CELIA − − Thou hast not, cousin; − Prithee be cheerful: know'st thou not, the duke − Hath banish'd me, his daughter? − − ROSALIND − − That he hath not. − − CELIA − − No, hath not? Rosalind lacks then the love − Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one: − Shall we be sunder'd? shall we part, sweet girl? − No: let my father seek another heir. − Therefore devise with me how we may fly, − Whither to go and what to bear with us; − And do not seek to take your change upon you, − To bear your griefs yourself and leave me out; − For, by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale, − Say what thou canst, I'll go along with thee. − − ROSALIND − − Why, whither shall we go? − − CELIA − − To seek my uncle in the forest of Arden. − − ROSALIND − − Alas, what danger will it be to us, − Maids as we are, to travel forth so far! − Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold. − − CELIA − − I'll put myself in poor and mean attire − And with a kind of umber smirch my face; − The like do you: so shall we pass along − And never stir assailants. − − ROSALIND − − Were it not better, − Because that I am more than common tall, − That I did suit me all points like a man? − A gallant curtle-axe upon my thigh, − A boar-spear in my hand; and--in my heart − Lie there what hidden woman's fear there will-- − We'll have a swashing and a martial outside, − As many other mannish cowards have − That do outface it with their semblances. − − CELIA − − What shall I call thee when thou art a man? − − ROSALIND − − I'll have no worse a name than Jove's own page; − And therefore look you call me Ganymede. − But what will you be call'd? − − CELIA − − Something that hath a reference to my state − No longer Celia, but Aliena. − − ROSALIND − − But, cousin, what if we assay'd to steal − The clownish fool out of your father's court? − Would he not be a comfort to our travel? − − CELIA − − He'll go along o'er the wide world with me; − Leave me alone to woo him. Let's away, − And get our jewels and our wealth together, − Devise the fittest time and safest way − To hide us from pursuit that will be made − After my flight. Now go we in content − To liberty and not to banishment. − − Exeunt − − ACT II − SCENE I. The Forest of Arden. − − Enter DUKE SENIOR, AMIENS, and two or three Lords, like foresters − − DUKE SENIOR − − Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile, − Hath not old custom made this life more sweet − Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods − More free from peril than the envious court? − Here feel we but the penalty of Adam, − The seasons' difference, as the icy fang − And churlish chiding of the winter's wind, − Which, when it bites and blows upon my body, − Even till I shrink with cold, I smile and say − 'This is no flattery: these are counsellors − That feelingly persuade me what I am.' − Sweet are the uses of adversity, − Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, − Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; − And this our life exempt from public haunt − Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, − Sermons in stones and good in every thing. − I would not change it. − − AMIENS − − Happy is your grace, − That can translate the stubbornness of fortune − Into so quiet and so sweet a style. − − DUKE SENIOR − − Come, shall we go and kill us venison? − And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, − Being native burghers of this desert city, − Should in their own confines with forked heads − Have their round haunches gored. − − First Lord − − Indeed, my lord, − The melancholy Jaques grieves at that, − And, in that kind, swears you do more usurp − Than doth your brother that hath banish'd you. − To-day my Lord of Amiens and myself − Did steal behind him as he lay along − Under an oak whose antique root peeps out − Upon the brook that brawls along this wood: − To the which place a poor sequester'd stag, − That from the hunter's aim had ta'en a hurt, − Did come to languish, and indeed, my lord, − The wretched animal heaved forth such groans − That their discharge did stretch his leathern coat − Almost to bursting, and the big round tears − Coursed one another down his innocent nose − In piteous chase; and thus the hairy fool − Much marked of the melancholy Jaques, − Stood on the extremest verge of the swift brook, − Augmenting it with tears. − − DUKE SENIOR − − But what said Jaques? − Did he not moralize this spectacle? − − First Lord − − O, yes, into a thousand similes. − First, for his weeping into the needless stream; − 'Poor deer,' quoth he, 'thou makest a testament − As worldlings do, giving thy sum of more − To that which had too much:' then, being there alone, − Left and abandon'd of his velvet friends, − ''Tis right:' quoth he; 'thus misery doth part − The flux of company:' anon a careless herd, − Full of the pasture, jumps along by him − And never stays to greet him; 'Ay' quoth Jaques, − 'Sweep on, you fat and greasy citizens; − 'Tis just the fashion: wherefore do you look − Upon that poor and broken bankrupt there?' − Thus most invectively he pierceth through − The body of the country, city, court, − Yea, and of this our life, swearing that we − Are mere usurpers, tyrants and what's worse, − To fright the animals and to kill them up − In their assign'd and native dwelling-place. − − DUKE SENIOR − − And did you leave him in this contemplation? − − Second Lord − − We did, my lord, weeping and commenting − Upon the sobbing deer. − − DUKE SENIOR − − Show me the place: − I love to cope him in these sullen fits, − For then he's full of matter. − − First Lord − − I'll bring you to him straight. − − Exeunt − − SCENE II. A room in the palace. − − Enter DUKE FREDERICK, with Lords − − DUKE FREDERICK − − Can it be possible that no man saw them? − It cannot be: some villains of my court − Are of consent and sufferance in this. − − First Lord − − I cannot hear of any that did see her. − The ladies, her attendants of her chamber, − Saw her abed, and in the morning early − They found the bed untreasured of their mistress. − − Second Lord − − My lord, the roynish clown, at whom so oft − Your grace was wont to laugh, is also missing. − Hisperia, the princess' gentlewoman, − Confesses that she secretly o'erheard − Your daughter and her cousin much commend − The parts and graces of the wrestler − That did but lately foil the sinewy Charles; − And she believes, wherever they are gone, − That youth is surely in their company. − − DUKE FREDERICK − − Send to his brother; fetch that gallant hither; − If he be absent, bring his brother to me; − I'll make him find him: do this suddenly, − And let not search and inquisition quail − To bring again these foolish runaways. − − Exeunt − − SCENE III. Before OLIVER'S house. − − Enter ORLANDO and ADAM, meeting − − ORLANDO − − Who's there? − − ADAM − − What, my young master? O, my gentle master! − O my sweet master! O you memory − Of old Sir Rowland! why, what make you here? − Why are you virtuous? why do people love you? − And wherefore are you gentle, strong and valiant? − Why would you be so fond to overcome − The bonny priser of the humorous duke? − Your praise is come too swiftly home before you. − Know you not, master, to some kind of men − Their graces serve them but as enemies? − No more do yours: your virtues, gentle master, − Are sanctified and holy traitors to you. − O, what a world is this, when what is comely − Envenoms him that bears it! − − ORLANDO − − Why, what's the matter? − − ADAM − − O unhappy youth! − Come not within these doors; within this roof − The enemy of all your graces lives: − Your brother--no, no brother; yet the son-- − Yet not the son, I will not call him son − Of him I was about to call his father-- − Hath heard your praises, and this night he means − To burn the lodging where you use to lie − And you within it: if he fail of that, − He will have other means to cut you off. − I overheard him and his practises. − This is no place; this house is but a butchery: − Abhor it, fear it, do not enter it. − − ORLANDO − − Why, whither, Adam, wouldst thou have me go? − − ADAM − − No matter whither, so you come not here. − − ORLANDO − − What, wouldst thou have me go and beg my food? − Or with a base and boisterous sword enforce − A thievish living on the common road? − This I must do, or know not what to do: − Yet this I will not do, do how I can; − I rather will subject me to the malice − Of a diverted blood and bloody brother. − − ADAM − − But do not so. I have five hundred crowns, − The thrifty hire I saved under your father, − Which I did store to be my foster-nurse − When service should in my old limbs lie lame − And unregarded age in corners thrown: − Take that, and He that doth the ravens feed, − Yea, providently caters for the sparrow, − Be comfort to my age! Here is the gold; − And all this I give you. Let me be your servant: − Though I look old, yet I am strong and lusty; − For in my youth I never did apply − Hot and rebellious liquors in my blood, − Nor did not with unbashful forehead woo − The means of weakness and debility; − Therefore my age is as a lusty winter, − Frosty, but kindly: let me go with you; − I'll do the service of a younger man − In all your business and necessities. − − ORLANDO − − O good old man, how well in thee appears − The constant service of the antique world, − When service sweat for duty, not for meed! − Thou art not for the fashion of these times, − Where none will sweat but for promotion, − And having that, do choke their service up − Even with the having: it is not so with thee. − But, poor old man, thou prunest a rotten tree, − That cannot so much as a blossom yield − In lieu of all thy pains and husbandry − But come thy ways; well go along together, − And ere we have thy youthful wages spent, − We'll light upon some settled low content. − − ADAM − − Master, go on, and I will follow thee, − To the last gasp, with truth and loyalty. − From seventeen years till now almost fourscore − Here lived I, but now live here no more. − At seventeen years many their fortunes seek; − But at fourscore it is too late a week: − Yet fortune cannot recompense me better − Than to die well and not my master's debtor. − − Exeunt − − SCENE IV. The Forest of Arden. − − Enter ROSALIND for Ganymede, CELIA for Aliena, and TOUCHSTONE − − ROSALIND − − O Jupiter, how weary are my spirits! − − TOUCHSTONE − − I care not for my spirits, if my legs were not weary. − − ROSALIND − − I could find in my heart to disgrace my man's − apparel and to cry like a woman; but I must comfort − the weaker vessel, as doublet and hose ought to show − itself courageous to petticoat: therefore courage, − good Aliena! − − CELIA − − I pray you, bear with me; I cannot go no further. − − TOUCHSTONE − − For my part, I had rather bear with you than bear − you; yet I should bear no cross if I did bear you, − for I think you have no money in your purse. − − ROSALIND − − Well, this is the forest of Arden. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Ay, now am I in Arden; the more fool I; when I was − at home, I was in a better place: but travellers − must be content. − − ROSALIND − − Ay, be so, good Touchstone. − − Enter CORIN and SILVIUS − Look you, who comes here; a young man and an old in − solemn talk. − − CORIN − − That is the way to make her scorn you still. − − SILVIUS − − O Corin, that thou knew'st how I do love her! − − CORIN − − I partly guess; for I have loved ere now. − − SILVIUS − − No, Corin, being old, thou canst not guess, − Though in thy youth thou wast as true a lover − As ever sigh'd upon a midnight pillow: − But if thy love were ever like to mine-- − As sure I think did never man love so-- − How many actions most ridiculous − Hast thou been drawn to by thy fantasy? − − CORIN − − Into a thousand that I have forgotten. − − SILVIUS − − O, thou didst then ne'er love so heartily! − If thou remember'st not the slightest folly − That ever love did make thee run into, − Thou hast not loved: − Or if thou hast not sat as I do now, − Wearying thy hearer in thy mistress' praise, − Thou hast not loved: − Or if thou hast not broke from company − Abruptly, as my passion now makes me, − Thou hast not loved. − O Phebe, Phebe, Phebe! − − Exit − − ROSALIND − − Alas, poor shepherd! searching of thy wound, − I have by hard adventure found mine own. − − TOUCHSTONE − − And I mine. I remember, when I was in love I broke − my sword upon a stone and bid him take that for − coming a-night to Jane Smile; and I remember the − kissing of her batlet and the cow's dugs that her − pretty chopt hands had milked; and I remember the − wooing of a peascod instead of her, from whom I took − two cods and, giving her them again, said with − weeping tears 'Wear these for my sake.' We that are − true lovers run into strange capers; but as all is − mortal in nature, so is all nature in love mortal in folly. − − ROSALIND − − Thou speakest wiser than thou art ware of. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Nay, I shall ne'er be ware of mine own wit till I − break my shins against it. − − ROSALIND − − Jove, Jove! this shepherd's passion − Is much upon my fashion. − − TOUCHSTONE − − And mine; but it grows something stale with me. − − CELIA − − I pray you, one of you question yond man − If he for gold will give us any food: − I faint almost to death. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Holla, you clown! − − ROSALIND − − Peace, fool: he's not thy kinsman. − − CORIN − − Who calls? − − TOUCHSTONE − − Your betters, sir. − − CORIN − − Else are they very wretched. − − ROSALIND − − Peace, I say. Good even to you, friend. − − CORIN − − And to you, gentle sir, and to you all. − − ROSALIND − − I prithee, shepherd, if that love or gold − Can in this desert place buy entertainment, − Bring us where we may rest ourselves and feed: − Here's a young maid with travel much oppress'd − And faints for succor. − − CORIN − − Fair sir, I pity her − And wish, for her sake more than for mine own, − My fortunes were more able to relieve her; − But I am shepherd to another man − And do not shear the fleeces that I graze: − My master is of churlish disposition − And little recks to find the way to heaven − By doing deeds of hospitality: − Besides, his cote, his flocks and bounds of feed − Are now on sale, and at our sheepcote now, − By reason of his absence, there is nothing − That you will feed on; but what is, come see. − And in my voice most welcome shall you be. − − ROSALIND − − What is he that shall buy his flock and pasture? − − CORIN − − That young swain that you saw here but erewhile, − That little cares for buying any thing. − − ROSALIND − − I pray thee, if it stand with honesty, − Buy thou the cottage, pasture and the flock, − And thou shalt have to pay for it of us. − − CELIA − − And we will mend thy wages. I like this place. − And willingly could waste my time in it. − − CORIN − − Assuredly the thing is to be sold: − Go with me: if you like upon report − The soil, the profit and this kind of life, − I will your very faithful feeder be − And buy it with your gold right suddenly. − − Exeunt − − SCENE V. The Forest. − − Enter AMIENS, JAQUES, and others − − SONG. − − AMIENS − − Under the greenwood tree − Who loves to lie with me, − And turn his merry note − Unto the sweet bird's throat, − Come hither, come hither, come hither: − Here shall he see No enemy − But winter and rough weather. − − JAQUES − − More, more, I prithee, more. − − AMIENS − − It will make you melancholy, Monsieur Jaques. − − JAQUES − − I thank it. More, I prithee, more. I can suck − melancholy out of a song, as a weasel sucks eggs. − More, I prithee, more. − − AMIENS − − My voice is ragged: I know I cannot please you. − − JAQUES − − I do not desire you to please me; I do desire you to − sing. Come, more; another stanzo: call you 'em stanzos? − − AMIENS − − What you will, Monsieur Jaques. − − JAQUES − − Nay, I care not for their names; they owe me − nothing. Will you sing? − − AMIENS − − More at your request than to please myself. − − JAQUES − − Well then, if ever I thank any man, I'll thank you; − but that they call compliment is like the encounter − of two dog-apes, and when a man thanks me heartily, − methinks I have given him a penny and he renders me − the beggarly thanks. Come, sing; and you that will − not, hold your tongues. − − AMIENS − − Well, I'll end the song. Sirs, cover the while; the − duke will drink under this tree. He hath been all − this day to look you. − − JAQUES − − And I have been all this day to avoid him. He is − too disputable for my company: I think of as many − matters as he, but I give heaven thanks and make no − boast of them. Come, warble, come. − SONG. − Who doth ambition shun − − All together here − And loves to live i' the sun, − Seeking the food he eats − And pleased with what he gets, − Come hither, come hither, come hither: − Here shall he see No enemy − But winter and rough weather. − − JAQUES − − I'll give you a verse to this note that I made − yesterday in despite of my invention. − − AMIENS − − And I'll sing it. − − JAQUES − − Thus it goes:-- − If it do come to pass − That any man turn ass, − Leaving his wealth and ease, − A stubborn will to please, − Ducdame, ducdame, ducdame: − Here shall he see − Gross fools as he, − An if he will come to me. − − AMIENS − − What's that 'ducdame'? − − JAQUES − − 'Tis a Greek invocation, to call fools into a − circle. I'll go sleep, if I can; if I cannot, I'll − rail against all the first-born of Egypt. − − AMIENS − − And I'll go seek the duke: his banquet is prepared. − − Exeunt severally − − SCENE VI. The forest. − − Enter ORLANDO and ADAM − − ADAM − − Dear master, I can go no further. O, I die for food! − Here lie I down, and measure out my grave. Farewell, − kind master. − − ORLANDO − − Why, how now, Adam! no greater heart in thee? Live − a little; comfort a little; cheer thyself a little. − If this uncouth forest yield any thing savage, I − will either be food for it or bring it for food to − thee. Thy conceit is nearer death than thy powers. − For my sake be comfortable; hold death awhile at − the arm's end: I will here be with thee presently; − and if I bring thee not something to eat, I will − give thee leave to die: but if thou diest before I − come, thou art a mocker of my labour. Well said! − thou lookest cheerly, and I'll be with thee quickly. − Yet thou liest in the bleak air: come, I will bear − thee to some shelter; and thou shalt not die for − lack of a dinner, if there live any thing in this − desert. Cheerly, good Adam! − − Exeunt − − SCENE VII. The forest. − − A table set out. Enter DUKE SENIOR, AMIENS, and Lords like outlaws − − DUKE SENIOR − − I think he be transform'd into a beast; − For I can no where find him like a man. − − First Lord − − My lord, he is but even now gone hence: − Here was he merry, hearing of a song. − − DUKE SENIOR − − If he, compact of jars, grow musical, − We shall have shortly discord in the spheres. − Go, seek him: tell him I would speak with him. − − Enter JAQUES − − First Lord − − He saves my labour by his own approach. − − DUKE SENIOR − − Why, how now, monsieur! what a life is this, − That your poor friends must woo your company? − What, you look merrily! − − JAQUES − − A fool, a fool! I met a fool i' the forest, − A motley fool; a miserable world! − As I do live by food, I met a fool − Who laid him down and bask'd him in the sun, − And rail'd on Lady Fortune in good terms, − In good set terms and yet a motley fool. − 'Good morrow, fool,' quoth I. 'No, sir,' quoth he, − 'Call me not fool till heaven hath sent me fortune:' − And then he drew a dial from his poke, − And, looking on it with lack-lustre eye, − Says very wisely, 'It is ten o'clock: − Thus we may see,' quoth he, 'how the world wags: − 'Tis but an hour ago since it was nine, − And after one hour more 'twill be eleven; − And so, from hour to hour, we ripe and ripe, − And then, from hour to hour, we rot and rot; − And thereby hangs a tale.' When I did hear − The motley fool thus moral on the time, − My lungs began to crow like chanticleer, − That fools should be so deep-contemplative, − And I did laugh sans intermission − An hour by his dial. O noble fool! − A worthy fool! Motley's the only wear. − − DUKE SENIOR − − What fool is this? − − JAQUES − − O worthy fool! One that hath been a courtier, − And says, if ladies be but young and fair, − They have the gift to know it: and in his brain, − Which is as dry as the remainder biscuit − After a voyage, he hath strange places cramm'd − With observation, the which he vents − In mangled forms. O that I were a fool! − I am ambitious for a motley coat. − − DUKE SENIOR − − Thou shalt have one. − − JAQUES − − It is my only suit; − Provided that you weed your better judgments − Of all opinion that grows rank in them − That I am wise. I must have liberty − Withal, as large a charter as the wind, − To blow on whom I please; for so fools have; − And they that are most galled with my folly, − They most must laugh. And why, sir, must they so? − The 'why' is plain as way to parish church: − He that a fool doth very wisely hit − Doth very foolishly, although he smart, − Not to seem senseless of the bob: if not, − The wise man's folly is anatomized − Even by the squandering glances of the fool. − Invest me in my motley; give me leave − To speak my mind, and I will through and through − Cleanse the foul body of the infected world, − If they will patiently receive my medicine. − − DUKE SENIOR − − Fie on thee! I can tell what thou wouldst do. − − JAQUES − − What, for a counter, would I do but good? − − DUKE SENIOR − − Most mischievous foul sin, in chiding sin: − For thou thyself hast been a libertine, − As sensual as the brutish sting itself; − And all the embossed sores and headed evils, − That thou with licence of free foot hast caught, − Wouldst thou disgorge into the general world. − − JAQUES − − Why, who cries out on pride, − That can therein tax any private party? − Doth it not flow as hugely as the sea, − Till that the weary very means do ebb? − What woman in the city do I name, − When that I say the city-woman bears − The cost of princes on unworthy shoulders? − Who can come in and say that I mean her, − When such a one as she such is her neighbour? − Or what is he of basest function − That says his bravery is not of my cost, − Thinking that I mean him, but therein suits − His folly to the mettle of my speech? − There then; how then? what then? Let me see wherein − My tongue hath wrong'd him: if it do him right, − Then he hath wrong'd himself; if he be free, − Why then my taxing like a wild-goose flies, − Unclaim'd of any man. But who comes here? − − Enter ORLANDO, with his sword drawn − − ORLANDO − − Forbear, and eat no more. − − JAQUES − − Why, I have eat none yet. − − ORLANDO − − Nor shalt not, till necessity be served. − − JAQUES − − Of what kind should this cock come of? − − DUKE SENIOR − − Art thou thus bolden'd, man, by thy distress, − Or else a rude despiser of good manners, − That in civility thou seem'st so empty? − − ORLANDO − − You touch'd my vein at first: the thorny point − Of bare distress hath ta'en from me the show − Of smooth civility: yet am I inland bred − And know some nurture. But forbear, I say: − He dies that touches any of this fruit − Till I and my affairs are answered. − − JAQUES − − An you will not be answered with reason, I must die. − − DUKE SENIOR − − What would you have? Your gentleness shall force − More than your force move us to gentleness. − − ORLANDO − − I almost die for food; and let me have it. − − DUKE SENIOR − − Sit down and feed, and welcome to our table. − − ORLANDO − − Speak you so gently? Pardon me, I pray you: − I thought that all things had been savage here; − And therefore put I on the countenance − Of stern commandment. But whate'er you are − That in this desert inaccessible, − Under the shade of melancholy boughs, − Lose and neglect the creeping hours of time − If ever you have look'd on better days, − If ever been where bells have knoll'd to church, − If ever sat at any good man's feast, − If ever from your eyelids wiped a tear − And know what 'tis to pity and be pitied, − Let gentleness my strong enforcement be: − In the which hope I blush, and hide my sword. − − DUKE SENIOR − − True is it that we have seen better days, − And have with holy bell been knoll'd to church − And sat at good men's feasts and wiped our eyes − Of drops that sacred pity hath engender'd: − And therefore sit you down in gentleness − And take upon command what help we have − That to your wanting may be minister'd. − − ORLANDO − − Then but forbear your food a little while, − Whiles, like a doe, I go to find my fawn − And give it food. There is an old poor man, − Who after me hath many a weary step − Limp'd in pure love: till he be first sufficed, − Oppress'd with two weak evils, age and hunger, − I will not touch a bit. − − DUKE SENIOR − − Go find him out, − And we will nothing waste till you return. − − ORLANDO − − I thank ye; and be blest for your good comfort! − − Exit − − DUKE SENIOR − − Thou seest we are not all alone unhappy: − This wide and universal theatre − Presents more woeful pageants than the scene − Wherein we play in. − − JAQUES − − All the world's a stage, − And all the men and women merely players: − They have their exits and their entrances; − And one man in his time plays many parts, − His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, − Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms. − And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel − And shining morning face, creeping like snail − Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, − Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad − Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier, − Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard, − Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, − Seeking the bubble reputation − Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice, − In fair round belly with good capon lined, − With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, − Full of wise saws and modern instances; − And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts − Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon, − With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, − His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide − For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, − Turning again toward childish treble, pipes − And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, − That ends this strange eventful history, − Is second childishness and mere oblivion, − Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. − − Re-enter ORLANDO, with ADAM − − DUKE SENIOR − − Welcome. Set down your venerable burthen, − And let him feed. − − ORLANDO − − I thank you most for him. − − ADAM − − So had you need: − I scarce can speak to thank you for myself. − − DUKE SENIOR − − Welcome; fall to: I will not trouble you − As yet, to question you about your fortunes. − Give us some music; and, good cousin, sing. − SONG. − − AMIENS − − Blow, blow, thou winter wind. − Thou art not so unkind − As man's ingratitude; − Thy tooth is not so keen, − Because thou art not seen, − Although thy breath be rude. − Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly: − Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly: − Then, heigh-ho, the holly! − This life is most jolly. − Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, − That dost not bite so nigh − As benefits forgot: − Though thou the waters warp, − Thy sting is not so sharp − As friend remember'd not. − Heigh-ho! sing, & c. − − DUKE SENIOR − − If that you were the good Sir Rowland's son, − As you have whisper'd faithfully you were, − And as mine eye doth his effigies witness − Most truly limn'd and living in your face, − Be truly welcome hither: I am the duke − That loved your father: the residue of your fortune, − Go to my cave and tell me. Good old man, − Thou art right welcome as thy master is. − Support him by the arm. Give me your hand, − And let me all your fortunes understand. − − Exeunt − − ACT III − SCENE I. A room in the palace. − − Enter DUKE FREDERICK, Lords, and OLIVER − − DUKE FREDERICK − − Not see him since? Sir, sir, that cannot be: − But were I not the better part made mercy, − I should not seek an absent argument − Of my revenge, thou present. But look to it: − Find out thy brother, wheresoe'er he is; − Seek him with candle; bring him dead or living − Within this twelvemonth, or turn thou no more − To seek a living in our territory. − Thy lands and all things that thou dost call thine − Worth seizure do we seize into our hands, − Till thou canst quit thee by thy brothers mouth − Of what we think against thee. − − OLIVER − − O that your highness knew my heart in this! − I never loved my brother in my life. − − DUKE FREDERICK − − More villain thou. Well, push him out of doors; − And let my officers of such a nature − Make an extent upon his house and lands: − Do this expediently and turn him going. − − Exeunt − − SCENE II. The forest. − − Enter ORLANDO, with a paper − − ORLANDO − − Hang there, my verse, in witness of my love: − And thou, thrice-crowned queen of night, survey − With thy chaste eye, from thy pale sphere above, − Thy huntress' name that my full life doth sway. − O Rosalind! these trees shall be my books − And in their barks my thoughts I'll character; − That every eye which in this forest looks − Shall see thy virtue witness'd every where. − Run, run, Orlando; carve on every tree − The fair, the chaste and unexpressive she. − − Exit − − Enter CORIN and TOUCHSTONE − − CORIN − − And how like you this shepherd's life, Master Touchstone? − − TOUCHSTONE − − Truly, shepherd, in respect of itself, it is a good − life, but in respect that it is a shepherd's life, − it is naught. In respect that it is solitary, I − like it very well; but in respect that it is − private, it is a very vile life. Now, in respect it − is in the fields, it pleaseth me well; but in − respect it is not in the court, it is tedious. As − is it a spare life, look you, it fits my humour well; − but as there is no more plenty in it, it goes much − against my stomach. Hast any philosophy in thee, shepherd? − − CORIN − − No more but that I know the more one sickens the − worse at ease he is; and that he that wants money, − means and content is without three good friends; − that the property of rain is to wet and fire to − burn; that good pasture makes fat sheep, and that a − great cause of the night is lack of the sun; that − he that hath learned no wit by nature nor art may − complain of good breeding or comes of a very dull kindred. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Such a one is a natural philosopher. Wast ever in − court, shepherd? − − CORIN − − No, truly. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Then thou art damned. − − CORIN − − Nay, I hope. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Truly, thou art damned like an ill-roasted egg, all − on one side. − − CORIN − − For not being at court? Your reason. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Why, if thou never wast at court, thou never sawest − good manners; if thou never sawest good manners, − then thy manners must be wicked; and wickedness is − sin, and sin is damnation. Thou art in a parlous − state, shepherd. − − CORIN − − Not a whit, Touchstone: those that are good manners − at the court are as ridiculous in the country as the − behavior of the country is most mockable at the − court. You told me you salute not at the court, but − you kiss your hands: that courtesy would be − uncleanly, if courtiers were shepherds. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Instance, briefly; come, instance. − − CORIN − − Why, we are still handling our ewes, and their − fells, you know, are greasy. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Why, do not your courtier's hands sweat? and is not − the grease of a mutton as wholesome as the sweat of − a man? Shallow, shallow. A better instance, I say; come. − − CORIN − − Besides, our hands are hard. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Your lips will feel them the sooner. Shallow again. − A more sounder instance, come. − − CORIN − − And they are often tarred over with the surgery of − our sheep: and would you have us kiss tar? The − courtier's hands are perfumed with civet. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Most shallow man! thou worms-meat, in respect of a − good piece of flesh indeed! Learn of the wise, and − perpend: civet is of a baser birth than tar, the − very uncleanly flux of a cat. Mend the instance, shepherd. − − CORIN − − You have too courtly a wit for me: I'll rest. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Wilt thou rest damned? God help thee, shallow man! − God make incision in thee! thou art raw. − − CORIN − − Sir, I am a true labourer: I earn that I eat, get − that I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man's − happiness, glad of other men's good, content with my − harm, and the greatest of my pride is to see my ewes − graze and my lambs suck. − − TOUCHSTONE − − That is another simple sin in you, to bring the ewes − and the rams together and to offer to get your − living by the copulation of cattle; to be bawd to a − bell-wether, and to betray a she-lamb of a − twelvemonth to a crooked-pated, old, cuckoldly ram, − out of all reasonable match. If thou beest not − damned for this, the devil himself will have no − shepherds; I cannot see else how thou shouldst − 'scape. − − CORIN − − Here comes young Master Ganymede, my new mistress's brother. − − Enter ROSALIND, with a paper, reading − − ROSALIND − − From the east to western Ind, − No jewel is like Rosalind. − Her worth, being mounted on the wind, − Through all the world bears Rosalind. − All the pictures fairest lined − Are but black to Rosalind. − Let no fair be kept in mind − But the fair of Rosalind. − − TOUCHSTONE − − I'll rhyme you so eight years together, dinners and − suppers and sleeping-hours excepted: it is the − right butter-women's rank to market. − − ROSALIND − − Out, fool! − − TOUCHSTONE − − For a taste: − If a hart do lack a hind, − Let him seek out Rosalind. − If the cat will after kind, − So be sure will Rosalind. − Winter garments must be lined, − So must slender Rosalind. − They that reap must sheaf and bind; − Then to cart with Rosalind. − Sweetest nut hath sourest rind, − Such a nut is Rosalind. − He that sweetest rose will find − Must find love's prick and Rosalind. − This is the very false gallop of verses: why do you − infect yourself with them? − − ROSALIND − − Peace, you dull fool! I found them on a tree. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Truly, the tree yields bad fruit. − − ROSALIND − − I'll graff it with you, and then I shall graff it − with a medlar: then it will be the earliest fruit − i' the country; for you'll be rotten ere you be half − ripe, and that's the right virtue of the medlar. − − TOUCHSTONE − − You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the − forest judge. − − Enter CELIA, with a writing − − ROSALIND − − Peace! Here comes my sister, reading: stand aside. − − CELIA − − [Reads] − Why should this a desert be? − For it is unpeopled? No: − Tongues I'll hang on every tree, − That shall civil sayings show: − Some, how brief the life of man − Runs his erring pilgrimage, − That the stretching of a span − Buckles in his sum of age; − Some, of violated vows − 'Twixt the souls of friend and friend: − But upon the fairest boughs, − Or at every sentence end, − Will I Rosalinda write, − Teaching all that read to know − The quintessence of every sprite − Heaven would in little show. − Therefore Heaven Nature charged − That one body should be fill'd − With all graces wide-enlarged: − Nature presently distill'd − Helen's cheek, but not her heart, − Cleopatra's majesty, − Atalanta's better part, − Sad Lucretia's modesty. − Thus Rosalind of many parts − By heavenly synod was devised, − Of many faces, eyes and hearts, − To have the touches dearest prized. − Heaven would that she these gifts should have, − And I to live and die her slave. − − ROSALIND − − O most gentle pulpiter! what tedious homily of love − have you wearied your parishioners withal, and never − cried 'Have patience, good people!' − − CELIA − − How now! back, friends! Shepherd, go off a little. − Go with him, sirrah. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Come, shepherd, let us make an honourable retreat; − though not with bag and baggage, yet with scrip and scrippage. − − Exeunt CORIN and TOUCHSTONE − − CELIA − − Didst thou hear these verses? − − ROSALIND − − O, yes, I heard them all, and more too; for some of − them had in them more feet than the verses would bear. − − CELIA − − That's no matter: the feet might bear the verses. − − ROSALIND − − Ay, but the feet were lame and could not bear − themselves without the verse and therefore stood − lamely in the verse. − − CELIA − − But didst thou hear without wondering how thy name − should be hanged and carved upon these trees? − − ROSALIND − − I was seven of the nine days out of the wonder − before you came; for look here what I found on a − palm-tree. I was never so be-rhymed since − Pythagoras' time, that I was an Irish rat, which I − can hardly remember. − − CELIA − − Trow you who hath done this? − − ROSALIND − − Is it a man? − − CELIA − − And a chain, that you once wore, about his neck. − Change you colour? − − ROSALIND − − I prithee, who? − − CELIA − − O Lord, Lord! it is a hard matter for friends to − meet; but mountains may be removed with earthquakes − and so encounter. − − ROSALIND − − Nay, but who is it? − − CELIA − − Is it possible? − − ROSALIND − − Nay, I prithee now with most petitionary vehemence, − tell me who it is. − − CELIA − − O wonderful, wonderful, and most wonderful − wonderful! and yet again wonderful, and after that, − out of all hooping! − − ROSALIND − − Good my complexion! dost thou think, though I am − caparisoned like a man, I have a doublet and hose in − my disposition? One inch of delay more is a − South-sea of discovery; I prithee, tell me who is it − quickly, and speak apace. I would thou couldst − stammer, that thou mightst pour this concealed man − out of thy mouth, as wine comes out of a narrow- − mouthed bottle, either too much at once, or none at − all. I prithee, take the cork out of thy mouth that − may drink thy tidings. − − CELIA − − So you may put a man in your belly. − − ROSALIND − − Is he of God's making? What manner of man? Is his − head worth a hat, or his chin worth a beard? − − CELIA − − Nay, he hath but a little beard. − − ROSALIND − − Why, God will send more, if the man will be − thankful: let me stay the growth of his beard, if − thou delay me not the knowledge of his chin. − − CELIA − − It is young Orlando, that tripped up the wrestler's − heels and your heart both in an instant. − − ROSALIND − − Nay, but the devil take mocking: speak, sad brow and − true maid. − − CELIA − − I' faith, coz, 'tis he. − − ROSALIND − − Orlando? − − CELIA − − Orlando. − − ROSALIND − − Alas the day! what shall I do with my doublet and − hose? What did he when thou sawest him? What said − he? How looked he? Wherein went he? What makes − him here? Did he ask for me? Where remains he? − How parted he with thee? and when shalt thou see − him again? Answer me in one word. − − CELIA − − You must borrow me Gargantua's mouth first: 'tis a − word too great for any mouth of this age's size. To − say ay and no to these particulars is more than to − answer in a catechism. − − ROSALIND − − But doth he know that I am in this forest and in − man's apparel? Looks he as freshly as he did the − day he wrestled? − − CELIA − − It is as easy to count atomies as to resolve the − propositions of a lover; but take a taste of my − finding him, and relish it with good observance. − I found him under a tree, like a dropped acorn. − − ROSALIND − − It may well be called Jove's tree, when it drops − forth such fruit. − − CELIA − − Give me audience, good madam. − − ROSALIND − − Proceed. − − CELIA − − There lay he, stretched along, like a wounded knight. − − ROSALIND − − Though it be pity to see such a sight, it well − becomes the ground. − − CELIA − − Cry 'holla' to thy tongue, I prithee; it curvets − unseasonably. He was furnished like a hunter. − − ROSALIND − − O, ominous! he comes to kill my heart. − − CELIA − − I would sing my song without a burden: thou bringest − me out of tune. − − ROSALIND − − Do you not know I am a woman? when I think, I must − speak. Sweet, say on. − − CELIA − − You bring me out. Soft! comes he not here? − − Enter ORLANDO and JAQUES − − ROSALIND − − 'Tis he: slink by, and note him. − − JAQUES − − I thank you for your company; but, good faith, I had − as lief have been myself alone. − − ORLANDO − − And so had I; but yet, for fashion sake, I thank you − too for your society. − − JAQUES − − God be wi' you: let's meet as little as we can. − − ORLANDO − − I do desire we may be better strangers. − − JAQUES − − I pray you, mar no more trees with writing − love-songs in their barks. − − ORLANDO − − I pray you, mar no more of my verses with reading − them ill-favouredly. − − JAQUES − − Rosalind is your love's name? − − ORLANDO − − Yes, just. − − JAQUES − − I do not like her name. − − ORLANDO − − There was no thought of pleasing you when she was − christened. − − JAQUES − − What stature is she of? − − ORLANDO − − Just as high as my heart. − − JAQUES − − You are full of pretty answers. Have you not been − acquainted with goldsmiths' wives, and conned them − out of rings? − − ORLANDO − − Not so; but I answer you right painted cloth, from − whence you have studied your questions. − − JAQUES − − You have a nimble wit: I think 'twas made of − Atalanta's heels. Will you sit down with me? and − we two will rail against our mistress the world and − all our misery. − − ORLANDO − − I will chide no breather in the world but myself, − against whom I know most faults. − − JAQUES − − The worst fault you have is to be in love. − − ORLANDO − − 'Tis a fault I will not change for your best virtue. − I am weary of you. − − JAQUES − − By my troth, I was seeking for a fool when I found − you. − − ORLANDO − − He is drowned in the brook: look but in, and you − shall see him. − − JAQUES − − There I shall see mine own figure. − − ORLANDO − − Which I take to be either a fool or a cipher. − − JAQUES − − I'll tarry no longer with you: farewell, good − Signior Love. − − ORLANDO − − I am glad of your departure: adieu, good Monsieur − Melancholy. − − Exit JAQUES − − ROSALIND − − [Aside to CELIA] I will speak to him, like a saucy − lackey and under that habit play the knave with him. − Do you hear, forester? − − ORLANDO − − Very well: what would you? − − ROSALIND − − I pray you, what is't o'clock? − − ORLANDO − − You should ask me what time o' day: there's no clock − in the forest. − − ROSALIND − − Then there is no true lover in the forest; else − sighing every minute and groaning every hour would − detect the lazy foot of Time as well as a clock. − − ORLANDO − − And why not the swift foot of Time? had not that − been as proper? − − ROSALIND − − By no means, sir: Time travels in divers paces with − divers persons. I'll tell you who Time ambles − withal, who Time trots withal, who Time gallops − withal and who he stands still withal. − − ORLANDO − − I prithee, who doth he trot withal? − − ROSALIND − − Marry, he trots hard with a young maid between the − contract of her marriage and the day it is − solemnized: if the interim be but a se'nnight, − Time's pace is so hard that it seems the length of − seven year. − − ORLANDO − − Who ambles Time withal? − − ROSALIND − − With a priest that lacks Latin and a rich man that − hath not the gout, for the one sleeps easily because − he cannot study, and the other lives merrily because − he feels no pain, the one lacking the burden of lean − and wasteful learning, the other knowing no burden − of heavy tedious penury; these Time ambles withal. − − ORLANDO − − Who doth he gallop withal? − − ROSALIND − − With a thief to the gallows, for though he go as − softly as foot can fall, he thinks himself too soon there. − − ORLANDO − − Who stays it still withal? − − ROSALIND − − With lawyers in the vacation, for they sleep between − term and term and then they perceive not how Time moves. − − ORLANDO − − Where dwell you, pretty youth? − − ROSALIND − − With this shepherdess, my sister; here in the − skirts of the forest, like fringe upon a petticoat. − − ORLANDO − − Are you native of this place? − − ROSALIND − − As the cony that you see dwell where she is kindled. − − ORLANDO − − Your accent is something finer than you could − purchase in so removed a dwelling. − − ROSALIND − − I have been told so of many: but indeed an old − religious uncle of mine taught me to speak, who was − in his youth an inland man; one that knew courtship − too well, for there he fell in love. I have heard − him read many lectures against it, and I thank God − I am not a woman, to be touched with so many − giddy offences as he hath generally taxed their − whole sex withal. − − ORLANDO − − Can you remember any of the principal evils that he − laid to the charge of women? − − ROSALIND − − There were none principal; they were all like one − another as half-pence are, every one fault seeming − monstrous till his fellow fault came to match it. − − ORLANDO − − I prithee, recount some of them. − − ROSALIND − − No, I will not cast away my physic but on those that − are sick. There is a man haunts the forest, that − abuses our young plants with carving 'Rosalind' on − their barks; hangs odes upon hawthorns and elegies − on brambles, all, forsooth, deifying the name of − Rosalind: if I could meet that fancy-monger I would − give him some good counsel, for he seems to have the − quotidian of love upon him. − − ORLANDO − − I am he that is so love-shaked: I pray you tell me − your remedy. − − ROSALIND − − There is none of my uncle's marks upon you: he − taught me how to know a man in love; in which cage − of rushes I am sure you are not prisoner. − − ORLANDO − − What were his marks? − − ROSALIND − − A lean cheek, which you have not, a blue eye and − sunken, which you have not, an unquestionable − spirit, which you have not, a beard neglected, − which you have not; but I pardon you for that, for − simply your having in beard is a younger brother's − revenue: then your hose should be ungartered, your − bonnet unbanded, your sleeve unbuttoned, your shoe − untied and every thing about you demonstrating a − careless desolation; but you are no such man; you − are rather point-device in your accoutrements as − loving yourself than seeming the lover of any other. − − ORLANDO − − Fair youth, I would I could make thee believe I love. − − ROSALIND − − Me believe it! you may as soon make her that you − love believe it; which, I warrant, she is apter to − do than to confess she does: that is one of the − points in the which women still give the lie to − their consciences. But, in good sooth, are you he − that hangs the verses on the trees, wherein Rosalind − is so admired? − − ORLANDO − − I swear to thee, youth, by the white hand of − Rosalind, I am that he, that unfortunate he. − − ROSALIND − − But are you so much in love as your rhymes speak? − − ORLANDO − − Neither rhyme nor reason can express how much. − − ROSALIND − − Love is merely a madness, and, I tell you, deserves − as well a dark house and a whip as madmen do: and − the reason why they are not so punished and cured − is, that the lunacy is so ordinary that the whippers − are in love too. Yet I profess curing it by counsel. − − ORLANDO − − Did you ever cure any so? − − ROSALIND − − Yes, one, and in this manner. He was to imagine me − his love, his mistress; and I set him every day to − woo me: at which time would I, being but a moonish − youth, grieve, be effeminate, changeable, longing − and liking, proud, fantastical, apish, shallow, − inconstant, full of tears, full of smiles, for every − passion something and for no passion truly any − thing, as boys and women are for the most part − cattle of this colour; would now like him, now loathe − him; then entertain him, then forswear him; now weep − for him, then spit at him; that I drave my suitor − from his mad humour of love to a living humour of − madness; which was, to forswear the full stream of − the world, and to live in a nook merely monastic. − And thus I cured him; and this way will I take upon − me to wash your liver as clean as a sound sheep's − heart, that there shall not be one spot of love in't. − − ORLANDO − − I would not be cured, youth. − − ROSALIND − − I would cure you, if you would but call me Rosalind − and come every day to my cote and woo me. − − ORLANDO − − Now, by the faith of my love, I will: tell me − where it is. − − ROSALIND − − Go with me to it and I'll show it you and by the way − you shall tell me where in the forest you live. − Will you go? − − ORLANDO − − With all my heart, good youth. − − ROSALIND − − Nay you must call me Rosalind. Come, sister, will you go? − − Exeunt − − SCENE III. The forest. − − Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY; JAQUES behind − − TOUCHSTONE − − Come apace, good Audrey: I will fetch up your − goats, Audrey. And how, Audrey? am I the man yet? − doth my simple feature content you? − − AUDREY − − Your features! Lord warrant us! what features! − − TOUCHSTONE − − I am here with thee and thy goats, as the most − capricious poet, honest Ovid, was among the Goths. − − JAQUES − − [Aside] O knowledge ill-inhabited, worse than Jove − in a thatched house! − − TOUCHSTONE − − When a man's verses cannot be understood, nor a − man's good wit seconded with the forward child − Understanding, it strikes a man more dead than a − great reckoning in a little room. Truly, I would − the gods had made thee poetical. − − AUDREY − − I do not know what 'poetical' is: is it honest in − deed and word? is it a true thing? − − TOUCHSTONE − − No, truly; for the truest poetry is the most − feigning; and lovers are given to poetry, and what − they swear in poetry may be said as lovers they do feign. − − AUDREY − − Do you wish then that the gods had made me poetical? − − TOUCHSTONE − − I do, truly; for thou swearest to me thou art − honest: now, if thou wert a poet, I might have some − hope thou didst feign. − − AUDREY − − Would you not have me honest? − − TOUCHSTONE − − No, truly, unless thou wert hard-favoured; for − honesty coupled to beauty is to have honey a sauce to sugar. − − JAQUES − − [Aside] A material fool! − − AUDREY − − Well, I am not fair; and therefore I pray the gods − make me honest. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Truly, and to cast away honesty upon a foul slut − were to put good meat into an unclean dish. − − AUDREY − − I am not a slut, though I thank the gods I am foul. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Well, praised be the gods for thy foulness! − sluttishness may come hereafter. But be it as it may − be, I will marry thee, and to that end I have been − with Sir Oliver Martext, the vicar of the next − village, who hath promised to meet me in this place − of the forest and to couple us. − − JAQUES − − [Aside] I would fain see this meeting. − − AUDREY − − Well, the gods give us joy! − − TOUCHSTONE − − Amen. A man may, if he were of a fearful heart, − stagger in this attempt; for here we have no temple − but the wood, no assembly but horn-beasts. But what − though? C ourage! As horns are odious, they are − necessary. It is said, 'many a man knows no end of − his goods:' right; many a man has good horns, and − knows no end of them. Well, that is the dowry of − his wife; 'tis none of his own getting. Horns? − Even so. Poor men alone? No, no; the noblest deer − hath them as huge as the rascal. Is the single man − therefore blessed? No: as a walled town is more − worthier than a village, so is the forehead of a − married man more honourable than the bare brow of a − bachelor; and by how much defence is better than no − skill, by so much is a horn more precious than to − want. Here comes Sir Oliver. − − Enter SIR OLIVER MARTEXT − Sir Oliver Martext, you are well met: will you − dispatch us here under this tree, or shall we go − with you to your chapel? − − SIR OLIVER MARTEXT − − Is there none here to give the woman? − − TOUCHSTONE − − I will not take her on gift of any man. − − SIR OLIVER MARTEXT − − Truly, she must be given, or the marriage is not lawful. − − JAQUES − − [Advancing] − Proceed, proceed I'll give her. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Good even, good Master What-ye-call't: how do you, − sir? You are very well met: God 'ild you for your − last company: I am very glad to see you: even a − toy in hand here, sir: nay, pray be covered. − − JAQUES − − Will you be married, motley? − − TOUCHSTONE − − As the ox hath his bow, sir, the horse his curb and − the falcon her bells, so man hath his desires; and − as pigeons bill, so wedlock would be nibbling. − − JAQUES − − And will you, being a man of your breeding, be − married under a bush like a beggar? Get you to − church, and have a good priest that can tell you − what marriage is: this fellow will but join you − together as they join wainscot; then one of you will − prove a shrunk panel and, like green timber, warp, warp. − − TOUCHSTONE − − [Aside] I am not in the mind but I were better to be − married of him than of another: for he is not like − to marry me well; and not being well married, it − will be a good excuse for me hereafter to leave my wife. − − JAQUES − − Go thou with me, and let me counsel thee. − − TOUCHSTONE − − 'Come, sweet Audrey: − We must be married, or we must live in bawdry. − Farewell, good Master Oliver: not,-- − O sweet Oliver, − O brave Oliver, − Leave me not behind thee: but,-- − Wind away, − Begone, I say, − I will not to wedding with thee. − − Exeunt JAQUES, TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY − − SIR OLIVER MARTEXT − − 'Tis no matter: ne'er a fantastical knave of them − all shall flout me out of my calling. − − Exit − − SCENE IV. The forest. − − Enter ROSALIND and CELIA − − ROSALIND − − Never talk to me; I will weep. − − CELIA − − Do, I prithee; but yet have the grace to consider − that tears do not become a man. − − ROSALIND − − But have I not cause to weep? − − CELIA − − As good cause as one would desire; therefore weep. − − ROSALIND − − His very hair is of the dissembling colour. − − CELIA − − Something browner than Judas's marry, his kisses are − Judas's own children. − − ROSALIND − − I' faith, his hair is of a good colour. − − CELIA − − An excellent colour: your chestnut was ever the only colour. − − ROSALIND − − And his kissing is as full of sanctity as the touch − of holy bread. − − CELIA − − He hath bought a pair of cast lips of Diana: a nun − of winter's sisterhood kisses not more religiously; − the very ice of chastity is in them. − − ROSALIND − − But why did he swear he would come this morning, and − comes not? − − CELIA − − Nay, certainly, there is no truth in him. − − ROSALIND − − Do you think so? − − CELIA − − Yes; I think he is not a pick-purse nor a − horse-stealer, but for his verity in love, I do − think him as concave as a covered goblet or a − worm-eaten nut. − − ROSALIND − − Not true in love? − − CELIA − − Yes, when he is in; but I think he is not in. − − ROSALIND − − You have heard him swear downright he was. − − CELIA − − 'Was' is not 'is:' besides, the oath of a lover is − no stronger than the word of a tapster; they are − both the confirmer of false reckonings. He attends − here in the forest on the duke your father. − − ROSALIND − − I met the duke yesterday and had much question with − him: he asked me of what parentage I was; I told − him, of as good as he; so he laughed and let me go. − But what talk we of fathers, when there is such a − man as Orlando? − − CELIA − − O, that's a brave man! he writes brave verses, − speaks brave words, swears brave oaths and breaks − them bravely, quite traverse, athwart the heart of − his lover; as a puisny tilter, that spurs his horse − but on one side, breaks his staff like a noble − goose: but all's brave that youth mounts and folly − guides. Who comes here? − − Enter CORIN − − CORIN − − Mistress and master, you have oft inquired − After the shepherd that complain'd of love, − Who you saw sitting by me on the turf, − Praising the proud disdainful shepherdess − That was his mistress. − − CELIA − − Well, and what of him? − − CORIN − − If you will see a pageant truly play'd, − Between the pale complexion of true love − And the red glow of scorn and proud disdain, − Go hence a little and I shall conduct you, − If you will mark it. − − ROSALIND − − O, come, let us remove: − The sight of lovers feedeth those in love. − Bring us to this sight, and you shall say − I'll prove a busy actor in their play. − − Exeunt − − SCENE V. Another part of the forest. − − Enter SILVIUS and PHEBE − − SILVIUS − − Sweet Phebe, do not scorn me; do not, Phebe; − Say that you love me not, but say not so − In bitterness. The common executioner, − Whose heart the accustom'd sight of death makes hard, − Falls not the axe upon the humbled neck − But first begs pardon: will you sterner be − Than he that dies and lives by bloody drops? − − Enter ROSALIND, CELIA, and CORIN, behind − − PHEBE − − I would not be thy executioner: − I fly thee, for I would not injure thee. − Thou tell'st me there is murder in mine eye: − 'Tis pretty, sure, and very probable, − That eyes, that are the frail'st and softest things, − Who shut their coward gates on atomies, − Should be call'd tyrants, butchers, murderers! − Now I do frown on thee with all my heart; − And if mine eyes can wound, now let them kill thee: − Now counterfeit to swoon; why now fall down; − Or if thou canst not, O, for shame, for shame, − Lie not, to say mine eyes are murderers! − Now show the wound mine eye hath made in thee: − Scratch thee but with a pin, and there remains − Some scar of it; lean but upon a rush, − The cicatrice and capable impressure − Thy palm some moment keeps; but now mine eyes, − Which I have darted at thee, hurt thee not, − Nor, I am sure, there is no force in eyes − That can do hurt. − − SILVIUS − − O dear Phebe, − If ever,--as that ever may be near,-- − You meet in some fresh cheek the power of fancy, − Then shall you know the wounds invisible − That love's keen arrows make. − − PHEBE − − But till that time − Come not thou near me: and when that time comes, − Afflict me with thy mocks, pity me not; − As till that time I shall not pity thee. − − ROSALIND − − And why, I pray you? Who might be your mother, − That you insult, exult, and all at once, − Over the wretched? What though you have no beauty,-- − As, by my faith, I see no more in you − Than without candle may go dark to bed-- − Must you be therefore proud and pitiless? − Why, what means this? Why do you look on me? − I see no more in you than in the ordinary − Of nature's sale-work. 'Od's my little life, − I think she means to tangle my eyes too! − No, faith, proud mistress, hope not after it: − 'Tis not your inky brows, your black silk hair, − Your bugle eyeballs, nor your cheek of cream, − That can entame my spirits to your worship. − You foolish shepherd, wherefore do you follow her, − Like foggy south puffing with wind and rain? − You are a thousand times a properer man − Than she a woman: 'tis such fools as you − That makes the world full of ill-favour'd children: − 'Tis not her glass, but you, that flatters her; − And out of you she sees herself more proper − Than any of her lineaments can show her. − But, mistress, know yourself: down on your knees, − And thank heaven, fasting, for a good man's love: − For I must tell you friendly in your ear, − Sell when you can: you are not for all markets: − Cry the man mercy; love him; take his offer: − Foul is most foul, being foul to be a scoffer. − So take her to thee, shepherd: fare you well. − − PHEBE − − Sweet youth, I pray you, chide a year together: − I had rather hear you chide than this man woo. − − ROSALIND − − He's fallen in love with your foulness and she'll − fall in love with my anger. If it be so, as fast as − she answers thee with frowning looks, I'll sauce her − with bitter words. Why look you so upon me? − − PHEBE − − For no ill will I bear you. − − ROSALIND − − I pray you, do not fall in love with me, − For I am falser than vows made in wine: − Besides, I like you not. If you will know my house, − 'Tis at the tuft of olives here hard by. − Will you go, sister? Shepherd, ply her hard. − Come, sister. Shepherdess, look on him better, − And be not proud: though all the world could see, − None could be so abused in sight as he. − Come, to our flock. − − Exeunt ROSALIND, CELIA and CORIN − − PHEBE − − Dead Shepherd, now I find thy saw of might, − 'Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?' − − SILVIUS − − Sweet Phebe,-- − − PHEBE − − Ha, what say'st thou, Silvius? − − SILVIUS − − Sweet Phebe, pity me. − − PHEBE − − Why, I am sorry for thee, gentle Silvius. − − SILVIUS − − Wherever sorrow is, relief would be: − If you do sorrow at my grief in love, − By giving love your sorrow and my grief − Were both extermined. − − PHEBE − − Thou hast my love: is not that neighbourly? − − SILVIUS − − I would have you. − − PHEBE − − Why, that were covetousness. − Silvius, the time was that I hated thee, − And yet it is not that I bear thee love; − But since that thou canst talk of love so well, − Thy company, which erst was irksome to me, − I will endure, and I'll employ thee too: − But do not look for further recompense − Than thine own gladness that thou art employ'd. − − SILVIUS − − So holy and so perfect is my love, − And I in such a poverty of grace, − That I shall think it a most plenteous crop − To glean the broken ears after the man − That the main harvest reaps: loose now and then − A scatter'd smile, and that I'll live upon. − − PHEBE − − Know'st now the youth that spoke to me erewhile? − − SILVIUS − − Not very well, but I have met him oft; − And he hath bought the cottage and the bounds − That the old carlot once was master of. − − PHEBE − − Think not I love him, though I ask for him: − 'Tis but a peevish boy; yet he talks well; − But what care I for words? yet words do well − When he that speaks them pleases those that hear. − It is a pretty youth: not very pretty: − But, sure, he's proud, and yet his pride becomes him: − He'll make a proper man: the best thing in him − Is his complexion; and faster than his tongue − Did make offence his eye did heal it up. − He is not very tall; yet for his years he's tall: − His leg is but so so; and yet 'tis well: − There was a pretty redness in his lip, − A little riper and more lusty red − Than that mix'd in his cheek; 'twas just the difference − Between the constant red and mingled damask. − There be some women, Silvius, had they mark'd him − In parcels as I did, would have gone near − To fall in love with him; but, for my part, − I love him not nor hate him not; and yet − I have more cause to hate him than to love him: − For what had he to do to chide at me? − He said mine eyes were black and my hair black: − And, now I am remember'd, scorn'd at me: − I marvel why I answer'd not again: − But that's all one; omittance is no quittance. − I'll write to him a very taunting letter, − And thou shalt bear it: wilt thou, Silvius? − − SILVIUS − − Phebe, with all my heart. − − PHEBE − − I'll write it straight; − The matter's in my head and in my heart: − I will be bitter with him and passing short. − Go with me, Silvius. − − Exeunt − − ACT IV − SCENE I. The forest. − − Enter ROSALIND, CELIA, and JAQUES − − JAQUES − − I prithee, pretty youth, let me be better acquainted − with thee. − − ROSALIND − − They say you are a melancholy fellow. − − JAQUES − − I am so; I do love it better than laughing. − − ROSALIND − − Those that are in extremity of either are abominable − fellows and betray themselves to every modern − censure worse than drunkards. − − JAQUES − − Why, 'tis good to be sad and say nothing. − − ROSALIND − − Why then, 'tis good to be a post. − − JAQUES − − I have neither the scholar's melancholy, which is − emulation, nor the musician's, which is fantastical, − nor the courtier's, which is proud, nor the − soldier's, which is ambitious, nor the lawyer's, − which is politic, nor the lady's, which is nice, nor − the lover's, which is all these: but it is a − melancholy of mine own, compounded of many simples, − extracted from many objects, and indeed the sundry's − contemplation of my travels, in which my often − rumination wraps me m a most humorous sadness. − − ROSALIND − − A traveller! By my faith, you have great reason to − be sad: I fear you have sold your own lands to see − other men's; then, to have seen much and to have − nothing, is to have rich eyes and poor hands. − − JAQUES − − Yes, I have gained my experience. − − ROSALIND − − And your experience makes you sad: I had rather have − a fool to make me merry than experience to make me − sad; and to travel for it too! − − Enter ORLANDO − − ORLANDO − − Good day and happiness, dear Rosalind! − − JAQUES − − Nay, then, God be wi' you, an you talk in blank verse. − − Exit − − ROSALIND − − Farewell, Monsieur Traveller: look you lisp and − wear strange suits, disable all the benefits of your − own country, be out of love with your nativity and − almost chide God for making you that countenance you − are, or I will scarce think you have swam in a − gondola. Why, how now, Orlando! where have you been − all this while? You a lover! An you serve me such − another trick, never come in my sight more. − − ORLANDO − − My fair Rosalind, I come within an hour of my promise. − − ROSALIND − − Break an hour's promise in love! He that will − divide a minute into a thousand parts and break but − a part of the thousandth part of a minute in the − affairs of love, it may be said of him that Cupid − hath clapped him o' the shoulder, but I'll warrant − him heart-whole. − − ORLANDO − − Pardon me, dear Rosalind. − − ROSALIND − − Nay, an you be so tardy, come no more in my sight: I − had as lief be wooed of a snail. − − ORLANDO − − Of a snail? − − ROSALIND − − Ay, of a snail; for though he comes slowly, he − carries his house on his head; a better jointure, − I think, than you make a woman: besides he brings − his destiny with him. − − ORLANDO − − What's that? − − ROSALIND − − Why, horns, which such as you are fain to be − beholding to your wives for: but he comes armed in − his fortune and prevents the slander of his wife. − − ORLANDO − − Virtue is no horn-maker; and my Rosalind is virtuous. − − ROSALIND − − And I am your Rosalind. − − CELIA − − It pleases him to call you so; but he hath a − Rosalind of a better leer than you. − − ROSALIND − − Come, woo me, woo me, for now I am in a holiday − humour and like enough to consent. What would you − say to me now, an I were your very very Rosalind? − − ORLANDO − − I would kiss before I spoke. − − ROSALIND − − Nay, you were better speak first, and when you were − gravelled for lack of matter, you might take − occasion to kiss. Very good orators, when they are − out, they will spit; and for lovers lacking--God − warn us!--matter, the cleanliest shift is to kiss. − − ORLANDO − − How if the kiss be denied? − − ROSALIND − − Then she puts you to entreaty, and there begins new matter. − − ORLANDO − − Who could be out, being before his beloved mistress? − − ROSALIND − − Marry, that should you, if I were your mistress, or − I should think my honesty ranker than my wit. − − ORLANDO − − What, of my suit? − − ROSALIND − − Not out of your apparel, and yet out of your suit. − Am not I your Rosalind? − − ORLANDO − − I take some joy to say you are, because I would be − talking of her. − − ROSALIND − − Well in her person I say I will not have you. − − ORLANDO − − Then in mine own person I die. − − ROSALIND − − No, faith, die by attorney. The poor world is − almost six thousand years old, and in all this time − there was not any man died in his own person, − videlicit, in a love-cause. Troilus had his brains − dashed out with a Grecian club; yet he did what he − could to die before, and he is one of the patterns − of love. Leander, he would have lived many a fair − year, though Hero had turned nun, if it had not been − for a hot midsummer night; for, good youth, he went − but forth to wash him in the Hellespont and being − taken with the cramp was drowned and the foolish − coroners of that age found it was 'Hero of Sestos.' − But these are all lies: men have died from time to − time and worms have eaten them, but not for love. − − ORLANDO − − I would not have my right Rosalind of this mind, − for, I protest, her frown might kill me. − − ROSALIND − − By this hand, it will not kill a fly. But come, now − I will be your Rosalind in a more coming-on − disposition, and ask me what you will. I will grant − it. − − ORLANDO − − Then love me, Rosalind. − − ROSALIND − − Yes, faith, will I, Fridays and Saturdays and all. − − ORLANDO − − And wilt thou have me? − − ROSALIND − − Ay, and twenty such. − − ORLANDO − − What sayest thou? − − ROSALIND − − Are you not good? − − ORLANDO − − I hope so. − − ROSALIND − − Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing? − Come, sister, you shall be the priest and marry us. − Give me your hand, Orlando. What do you say, sister? − − ORLANDO − − Pray thee, marry us. − − CELIA − − I cannot say the words. − − ROSALIND − − You must begin, 'Will you, Orlando--' − − CELIA − − Go to. Will you, Orlando, have to wife this Rosalind? − − ORLANDO − − I will. − − ROSALIND − − Ay, but when? − − ORLANDO − − Why now; as fast as she can marry us. − − ROSALIND − − Then you must say 'I take thee, Rosalind, for wife.' − − ORLANDO − − I take thee, Rosalind, for wife. − − ROSALIND − − I might ask you for your commission; but I do take − thee, Orlando, for my husband: there's a girl goes − before the priest; and certainly a woman's thought − runs before her actions. − − ORLANDO − − So do all thoughts; they are winged. − − ROSALIND − − Now tell me how long you would have her after you − have possessed her. − − ORLANDO − − For ever and a day. − − ROSALIND − − Say 'a day,' without the 'ever.' No, no, Orlando; − men are April when they woo, December when they wed: − maids are May when they are maids, but the sky − changes when they are wives. I will be more jealous − of thee than a Barbary cock-pigeon over his hen, − more clamorous than a parrot against rain, more − new-fangled than an ape, more giddy in my desires − than a monkey: I will weep for nothing, like Diana − in the fountain, and I will do that when you are − disposed to be merry; I will laugh like a hyen, and − that when thou art inclined to sleep. − − ORLANDO − − But will my Rosalind do so? − − ROSALIND − − By my life, she will do as I do. − − ORLANDO − − O, but she is wise. − − ROSALIND − − Or else she could not have the wit to do this: the − wiser, the waywarder: make the doors upon a woman's − wit and it will out at the casement; shut that and − 'twill out at the key-hole; stop that, 'twill fly − with the smoke out at the chimney. − − ORLANDO − − A man that had a wife with such a wit, he might say − 'Wit, whither wilt?' − − ROSALIND − − Nay, you might keep that cheque for it till you met − your wife's wit going to your neighbour's bed. − − ORLANDO − − And what wit could wit have to excuse that? − − ROSALIND − − Marry, to say she came to seek you there. You shall − never take her without her answer, unless you take − her without her tongue. O, that woman that cannot − make her fault her husband's occasion, let her − never nurse her child herself, for she will breed − it like a fool! − − ORLANDO − − For these two hours, Rosalind, I will leave thee. − − ROSALIND − − Alas! dear love, I cannot lack thee two hours. − − ORLANDO − − I must attend the duke at dinner: by two o'clock I − will be with thee again. − − ROSALIND − − Ay, go your ways, go your ways; I knew what you − would prove: my friends told me as much, and I − thought no less: that flattering tongue of yours − won me: 'tis but one cast away, and so, come, − death! Two o'clock is your hour? − − ORLANDO − − Ay, sweet Rosalind. − − ROSALIND − − By my troth, and in good earnest, and so God mend − me, and by all pretty oaths that are not dangerous, − if you break one jot of your promise or come one − minute behind your hour, I will think you the most − pathetical break-promise and the most hollow lover − and the most unworthy of her you call Rosalind that − may be chosen out of the gross band of the − unfaithful: therefore beware my censure and keep − your promise. − − ORLANDO − − With no less religion than if thou wert indeed my − Rosalind: so adieu. − − ROSALIND − − Well, Time is the old justice that examines all such − offenders, and let Time try: adieu. − − Exit ORLANDO − − CELIA − − You have simply misused our sex in your love-prate: − we must have your doublet and hose plucked over your − head, and show the world what the bird hath done to − her own nest. − − ROSALIND − − O coz, coz, coz, my pretty little coz, that thou − didst know how many fathom deep I am in love! But − it cannot be sounded: my affection hath an unknown − bottom, like the bay of Portugal. − − CELIA − − Or rather, bottomless, that as fast as you pour − affection in, it runs out. − − ROSALIND − − No, that same wicked bastard of Venus that was begot − of thought, conceived of spleen and born of madness, − that blind rascally boy that abuses every one's eyes − because his own are out, let him be judge how deep I − am in love. I'll tell thee, Aliena, I cannot be out − of the sight of Orlando: I'll go find a shadow and − sigh till he come. − − CELIA − − And I'll sleep. − − Exeunt − − SCENE II. The forest. − − Enter JAQUES, Lords, and Foresters − − JAQUES − − Which is he that killed the deer? − − A Lord − − Sir, it was I. − − JAQUES − − Let's present him to the duke, like a Roman − conqueror; and it would do well to set the deer's − horns upon his head, for a branch of victory. Have − you no song, forester, for this purpose? − − Forester − − Yes, sir. − − JAQUES − − Sing it: 'tis no matter how it be in tune, so it − make noise enough. − SONG. − − Forester − − What shall he have that kill'd the deer? − His leather skin and horns to wear. − Then sing him home; − − The rest shall bear this burden − Take thou no scorn to wear the horn; − It was a crest ere thou wast born: − Thy father's father wore it, − And thy father bore it: − The horn, the horn, the lusty horn − Is not a thing to laugh to scorn. − − Exeunt − − SCENE III. The forest. − − Enter ROSALIND and CELIA − − ROSALIND − − How say you now? Is it not past two o'clock? and − here much Orlando! − − CELIA − − I warrant you, with pure love and troubled brain, he − hath ta'en his bow and arrows and is gone forth to − sleep. Look, who comes here. − − Enter SILVIUS − − SILVIUS − − My errand is to you, fair youth; − My gentle Phebe bid me give you this: − I know not the contents; but, as I guess − By the stern brow and waspish action − Which she did use as she was writing of it, − It bears an angry tenor: pardon me: − I am but as a guiltless messenger. − − ROSALIND − − Patience herself would startle at this letter − And play the swaggerer; bear this, bear all: − She says I am not fair, that I lack manners; − She calls me proud, and that she could not love me, − Were man as rare as phoenix. 'Od's my will! − Her love is not the hare that I do hunt: − Why writes she so to me? Well, shepherd, well, − This is a letter of your own device. − − SILVIUS − − No, I protest, I know not the contents: − Phebe did write it. − − ROSALIND − − Come, come, you are a fool − And turn'd into the extremity of love. − I saw her hand: she has a leathern hand. − A freestone-colour'd hand; I verily did think − That her old gloves were on, but 'twas her hands: − She has a huswife's hand; but that's no matter: − I say she never did invent this letter; − This is a man's invention and his hand. − − SILVIUS − − Sure, it is hers. − − ROSALIND − − Why, 'tis a boisterous and a cruel style. − A style for-challengers; why, she defies me, − Like Turk to Christian: women's gentle brain − Could not drop forth such giant-rude invention − Such Ethiope words, blacker in their effect − Than in their countenance. Will you hear the letter? − − SILVIUS − − So please you, for I never heard it yet; − Yet heard too much of Phebe's cruelty. − − ROSALIND − − She Phebes me: mark how the tyrant writes. − − Reads − Art thou god to shepherd turn'd, − That a maiden's heart hath burn'd? − Can a woman rail thus? − − SILVIUS − − Call you this railing? − − ROSALIND − − [Reads] − Why, thy godhead laid apart, − Warr'st thou with a woman's heart? − Did you ever hear such railing? − Whiles the eye of man did woo me, − That could do no vengeance to me. − Meaning me a beast. − If the scorn of your bright eyne − Have power to raise such love in mine, − Alack, in me what strange effect − Would they work in mild aspect! − Whiles you chid me, I did love; − How then might your prayers move! − He that brings this love to thee − Little knows this love in me: − And by him seal up thy mind; − Whether that thy youth and kind − Will the faithful offer take − Of me and all that I can make; − Or else by him my love deny, − And then I'll study how to die. − − SILVIUS − − Call you this chiding? − − CELIA − − Alas, poor shepherd! − − ROSALIND − − Do you pity him? no, he deserves no pity. Wilt − thou love such a woman? What, to make thee an − instrument and play false strains upon thee! not to − be endured! Well, go your way to her, for I see − love hath made thee a tame snake, and say this to − her: that if she love me, I charge her to love − thee; if she will not, I will never have her unless − thou entreat for her. If you be a true lover, − hence, and not a word; for here comes more company. − − Exit SILVIUS − − Enter OLIVER − − OLIVER − − Good morrow, fair ones: pray you, if you know, − Where in the purlieus of this forest stands − A sheep-cote fenced about with olive trees? − − CELIA − − West of this place, down in the neighbour bottom: − The rank of osiers by the murmuring stream − Left on your right hand brings you to the place. − But at this hour the house doth keep itself; − There's none within. − − OLIVER − − If that an eye may profit by a tongue, − Then should I know you by description; − Such garments and such years: 'The boy is fair, − Of female favour, and bestows himself − Like a ripe sister: the woman low − And browner than her brother.' Are not you − The owner of the house I did inquire for? − − CELIA − − It is no boast, being ask'd, to say we are. − − OLIVER − − Orlando doth commend him to you both, − And to that youth he calls his Rosalind − He sends this bloody napkin. Are you he? − − ROSALIND − − I am: what must we understand by this? − − OLIVER − − Some of my shame; if you will know of me − What man I am, and how, and why, and where − This handkercher was stain'd. − − CELIA − − I pray you, tell it. − − OLIVER − − When last the young Orlando parted from you − He left a promise to return again − Within an hour, and pacing through the forest, − Chewing the food of sweet and bitter fancy, − Lo, what befell! he threw his eye aside, − And mark what object did present itself: − Under an oak, whose boughs were moss'd with age − And high top bald with dry antiquity, − A wretched ragged man, o'ergrown with hair, − Lay sleeping on his back: about his neck − A green and gilded snake had wreathed itself, − Who with her head nimble in threats approach'd − The opening of his mouth; but suddenly, − Seeing Orlando, it unlink'd itself, − And with indented glides did slip away − Into a bush: under which bush's shade − A lioness, with udders all drawn dry, − Lay couching, head on ground, with catlike watch, − When that the sleeping man should stir; for 'tis − The royal disposition of that beast − To prey on nothing that doth seem as dead: − This seen, Orlando did approach the man − And found it was his brother, his elder brother. − − CELIA − − O, I have heard him speak of that same brother; − And he did render him the most unnatural − That lived amongst men. − − OLIVER − − And well he might so do, − For well I know he was unnatural. − − ROSALIND − − But, to Orlando: did he leave him there, − Food to the suck'd and hungry lioness? − − OLIVER − − Twice did he turn his back and purposed so; − But kindness, nobler ever than revenge, − And nature, stronger than his just occasion, − Made him give battle to the lioness, − Who quickly fell before him: in which hurtling − From miserable slumber I awaked. − − CELIA − − Are you his brother? − − ROSALIND − − Wast you he rescued? − − CELIA − − Was't you that did so oft contrive to kill him? − − OLIVER − − 'Twas I; but 'tis not I I do not shame − To tell you what I was, since my conversion − So sweetly tastes, being the thing I am. − − ROSALIND − − But, for the bloody napkin? − − OLIVER − − By and by. − When from the first to last betwixt us two − Tears our recountments had most kindly bathed, − As how I came into that desert place:-- − In brief, he led me to the gentle duke, − Who gave me fresh array and entertainment, − Committing me unto my brother's love; − Who led me instantly unto his cave, − There stripp'd himself, and here upon his arm − The lioness had torn some flesh away, − Which all this while had bled; and now he fainted − And cried, in fainting, upon Rosalind. − Brief, I recover'd him, bound up his wound; − And, after some small space, being strong at heart, − He sent me hither, stranger as I am, − To tell this story, that you might excuse − His broken promise, and to give this napkin − Dyed in his blood unto the shepherd youth − That he in sport doth call his Rosalind. − − ROSALIND swoons − − CELIA − − Why, how now, Ganymede! sweet Ganymede! − − OLIVER − − Many will swoon when they do look on blood. − − CELIA − − There is more in it. Cousin Ganymede! − − OLIVER − − Look, he recovers. − − ROSALIND − − I would I were at home. − − CELIA − − We'll lead you thither. − I pray you, will you take him by the arm? − − OLIVER − − Be of good cheer, youth: you a man! you lack a − man's heart. − − ROSALIND − − I do so, I confess it. Ah, sirrah, a body would − think this was well counterfeited! I pray you, tell − your brother how well I counterfeited. Heigh-ho! − − OLIVER − − This was not counterfeit: there is too great − testimony in your complexion that it was a passion − of earnest. − − ROSALIND − − Counterfeit, I assure you. − − OLIVER − − Well then, take a good heart and counterfeit to be a man. − − ROSALIND − − So I do: but, i' faith, I should have been a woman by right. − − CELIA − − Come, you look paler and paler: pray you, draw − homewards. Good sir, go with us. − − OLIVER − − That will I, for I must bear answer back − How you excuse my brother, Rosalind. − − ROSALIND − − I shall devise something: but, I pray you, commend − my counterfeiting to him. Will you go? − − Exeunt − − ACT V − SCENE I. The forest. − − Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY − − TOUCHSTONE − − We shall find a time, Audrey; patience, gentle Audrey. − − AUDREY − − Faith, the priest was good enough, for all the old − gentleman's saying. − − TOUCHSTONE − − A most wicked Sir Oliver, Audrey, a most vile − Martext. But, Audrey, there is a youth here in the − forest lays claim to you. − − AUDREY − − Ay, I know who 'tis; he hath no interest in me in − the world: here comes the man you mean. − − TOUCHSTONE − − It is meat and drink to me to see a clown: by my − troth, we that have good wits have much to answer − for; we shall be flouting; we cannot hold. − − Enter WILLIAM − − WILLIAM − − Good even, Audrey. − − AUDREY − − God ye good even, William. − − WILLIAM − − And good even to you, sir. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Good even, gentle friend. Cover thy head, cover thy − head; nay, prithee, be covered. How old are you, friend? − − WILLIAM − − Five and twenty, sir. − − TOUCHSTONE − − A ripe age. Is thy name William? − − WILLIAM − − William, sir. − − TOUCHSTONE − − A fair name. Wast born i' the forest here? − − WILLIAM − − Ay, sir, I thank God. − − TOUCHSTONE − − 'Thank God;' a good answer. Art rich? − − WILLIAM − − Faith, sir, so so. − − TOUCHSTONE − − 'So so' is good, very good, very excellent good; and − yet it is not; it is but so so. Art thou wise? − − WILLIAM − − Ay, sir, I have a pretty wit. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Why, thou sayest well. I do now remember a saying, − 'The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man − knows himself to be a fool.' The heathen − philosopher, when he had a desire to eat a grape, − would open his lips when he put it into his mouth; − meaning thereby that grapes were made to eat and − lips to open. You do love this maid? − − WILLIAM − − I do, sir. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Give me your hand. Art thou learned? − − WILLIAM − − No, sir. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Then learn this of me: to have, is to have; for it − is a figure in rhetoric that drink, being poured out − of a cup into a glass, by filling the one doth empty − the other; for all your writers do consent that ipse − is he: now, you are not ipse, for I am he. − − WILLIAM − − Which he, sir? − − TOUCHSTONE − − He, sir, that must marry this woman. Therefore, you − clown, abandon,--which is in the vulgar leave,--the − society,--which in the boorish is company,--of this − female,--which in the common is woman; which − together is, abandon the society of this female, or, − clown, thou perishest; or, to thy better − understanding, diest; or, to wit I kill thee, make − thee away, translate thy life into death, thy − liberty into bondage: I will deal in poison with − thee, or in bastinado, or in steel; I will bandy − with thee in faction; I will o'errun thee with − policy; I will kill thee a hundred and fifty ways: − therefore tremble and depart. − − AUDREY − − Do, good William. − − WILLIAM − − God rest you merry, sir. − − Exit − − Enter CORIN − − CORIN − − Our master and mistress seeks you; come, away, away! − − TOUCHSTONE − − Trip, Audrey! trip, Audrey! I attend, I attend. − − Exeunt − − SCENE II. The forest. − − Enter ORLANDO and OLIVER − − ORLANDO − − Is't possible that on so little acquaintance you − should like her? that but seeing you should love − her? and loving woo? and, wooing, she should − grant? and will you persever to enjoy her? − − OLIVER − − Neither call the giddiness of it in question, the − poverty of her, the small acquaintance, my sudden − wooing, nor her sudden consenting; but say with me, − I love Aliena; say with her that she loves me; − consent with both that we may enjoy each other: it − shall be to your good; for my father's house and all − the revenue that was old Sir Rowland's will I − estate upon you, and here live and die a shepherd. − − ORLANDO − − You have my consent. Let your wedding be to-morrow: − thither will I invite the duke and all's contented − followers. Go you and prepare Aliena; for look − you, here comes my Rosalind. − − Enter ROSALIND − − ROSALIND − − God save you, brother. − − OLIVER − − And you, fair sister. − − Exit − − ROSALIND − − O, my dear Orlando, how it grieves me to see thee − wear thy heart in a scarf! − − ORLANDO − − It is my arm. − − ROSALIND − − I thought thy heart had been wounded with the claws − of a lion. − − ORLANDO − − Wounded it is, but with the eyes of a lady. − − ROSALIND − − Did your brother tell you how I counterfeited to − swoon when he showed me your handkerchief? − − ORLANDO − − Ay, and greater wonders than that. − − ROSALIND − − O, I know where you are: nay, 'tis true: there was − never any thing so sudden but the fight of two rams − and Caesar's thrasonical brag of 'I came, saw, and − overcame:' for your brother and my sister no sooner − met but they looked, no sooner looked but they − loved, no sooner loved but they sighed, no sooner − sighed but they asked one another the reason, no − sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy; − and in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs − to marriage which they will climb incontinent, or − else be incontinent before marriage: they are in − the very wrath of love and they will together; clubs − cannot part them. − − ORLANDO − − They shall be married to-morrow, and I will bid the − duke to the nuptial. But, O, how bitter a thing it − is to look into happiness through another man's − eyes! By so much the more shall I to-morrow be at − the height of heart-heaviness, by how much I shall − think my brother happy in having what he wishes for. − − ROSALIND − − Why then, to-morrow I cannot serve your turn for Rosalind? − − ORLANDO − − I can live no longer by thinking. − − ROSALIND − − I will weary you then no longer with idle talking. − Know of me then, for now I speak to some purpose, − that I know you are a gentleman of good conceit: I − speak not this that you should bear a good opinion − of my knowledge, insomuch I say I know you are; − neither do I labour for a greater esteem than may in − some little measure draw a belief from you, to do − yourself good and not to grace me. Believe then, if − you please, that I can do strange things: I have, − since I was three year old, conversed with a − magician, most profound in his art and yet not − damnable. If you do love Rosalind so near the heart − as your gesture cries it out, when your brother − marries Aliena, shall you marry her: I know into − what straits of fortune she is driven; and it is − not impossible to me, if it appear not inconvenient − to you, to set her before your eyes tomorrow human − as she is and without any danger. − − ORLANDO − − Speakest thou in sober meanings? − − ROSALIND − − By my life, I do; which I tender dearly, though I − say I am a magician. Therefore, put you in your − best array: bid your friends; for if you will be − married to-morrow, you shall, and to Rosalind, if you will. − − Enter SILVIUS and PHEBE − Look, here comes a lover of mine and a lover of hers. − − PHEBE − − Youth, you have done me much ungentleness, − To show the letter that I writ to you. − − ROSALIND − − I care not if I have: it is my study − To seem despiteful and ungentle to you: − You are there followed by a faithful shepherd; − Look upon him, love him; he worships you. − − PHEBE − − Good shepherd, tell this youth what 'tis to love. − − SILVIUS − − It is to be all made of sighs and tears; − And so am I for Phebe. − − PHEBE − − And I for Ganymede. − − ORLANDO − − And I for Rosalind. − − ROSALIND − − And I for no woman. − − SILVIUS − − It is to be all made of faith and service; − And so am I for Phebe. − − PHEBE − − And I for Ganymede. − − ORLANDO − − And I for Rosalind. − − ROSALIND − − And I for no woman. − − SILVIUS − − It is to be all made of fantasy, − All made of passion and all made of wishes, − All adoration, duty, and observance, − All humbleness, all patience and impatience, − All purity, all trial, all observance; − And so am I for Phebe. − − PHEBE − − And so am I for Ganymede. − − ORLANDO − − And so am I for Rosalind. − − ROSALIND − − And so am I for no woman. − − PHEBE − − If this be so, why blame you me to love you? − − SILVIUS − − If this be so, why blame you me to love you? − − ORLANDO − − If this be so, why blame you me to love you? − − ROSALIND − − Who do you speak to, 'Why blame you me to love you?' − − ORLANDO − − To her that is not here, nor doth not hear. − − ROSALIND − − Pray you, no more of this; 'tis like the howling − of Irish wolves against the moon. − − To SILVIUS − I will help you, if I can: − − To PHEBE − I would love you, if I could. To-morrow meet me all together. − − To PHEBE − I will marry you, if ever I marry woman, and I'll be − married to-morrow: − − To ORLANDO − I will satisfy you, if ever I satisfied man, and you − shall be married to-morrow: − − To SILVIUS − I will content you, if what pleases you contents − you, and you shall be married to-morrow. − − To ORLANDO − As you love Rosalind, meet: − − To SILVIUS − as you love Phebe, meet: and as I love no woman, − I'll meet. So fare you well: I have left you commands. − − SILVIUS − − I'll not fail, if I live. − − PHEBE − − Nor I. − − ORLANDO − − Nor I. − − Exeunt − − SCENE III. The forest. − − Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY − − TOUCHSTONE − − To-morrow is the joyful day, Audrey; to-morrow will − we be married. − − AUDREY − − I do desire it with all my heart; and I hope it is − no dishonest desire to desire to be a woman of the − world. Here comes two of the banished duke's pages. − − Enter two Pages − − First Page − − Well met, honest gentleman. − − TOUCHSTONE − − By my troth, well met. Come, sit, sit, and a song. − − Second Page − − We are for you: sit i' the middle. − − First Page − − Shall we clap into't roundly, without hawking or − spitting or saying we are hoarse, which are the only − prologues to a bad voice? − − Second Page − − I'faith, i'faith; and both in a tune, like two − gipsies on a horse. − SONG. − It was a lover and his lass, − With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, − That o'er the green corn-field did pass − In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, − When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding: − Sweet lovers love the spring. − Between the acres of the rye, − With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino − These pretty country folks would lie, − In spring time, & c. − This carol they began that hour, − With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, − How that a life was but a flower − In spring time, & c. − And therefore take the present time, − With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino; − For love is crowned with the prime − In spring time, & c. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Truly, young gentlemen, though there was no great − matter in the ditty, yet the note was very − untuneable. − − First Page − − You are deceived, sir: we kept time, we lost not our time. − − TOUCHSTONE − − By my troth, yes; I count it but time lost to hear − such a foolish song. God be wi' you; and God mend − your voices! Come, Audrey. − − Exeunt − − SCENE IV. The forest. − − Enter DUKE SENIOR, AMIENS, JAQUES, ORLANDO, OLIVER, and CELIA − − DUKE SENIOR − − Dost thou believe, Orlando, that the boy − Can do all this that he hath promised? − − ORLANDO − − I sometimes do believe, and sometimes do not; − As those that fear they hope, and know they fear. − − Enter ROSALIND, SILVIUS, and PHEBE − − ROSALIND − − Patience once more, whiles our compact is urged: − You say, if I bring in your Rosalind, − You will bestow her on Orlando here? − − DUKE SENIOR − − That would I, had I kingdoms to give with her. − − ROSALIND − − And you say, you will have her, when I bring her? − − ORLANDO − − That would I, were I of all kingdoms king. − − ROSALIND − − You say, you'll marry me, if I be willing? − − PHEBE − − That will I, should I die the hour after. − − ROSALIND − − But if you do refuse to marry me, − You'll give yourself to this most faithful shepherd? − − PHEBE − − So is the bargain. − − ROSALIND − − You say, that you'll have Phebe, if she will? − − SILVIUS − − Though to have her and death were both one thing. − − ROSALIND − − I have promised to make all this matter even. − Keep you your word, O duke, to give your daughter; − You yours, Orlando, to receive his daughter: − Keep your word, Phebe, that you'll marry me, − Or else refusing me, to wed this shepherd: − Keep your word, Silvius, that you'll marry her. − If she refuse me: and from hence I go, − To make these doubts all even. − − Exeunt ROSALIND and CELIA − − DUKE SENIOR − − I do remember in this shepherd boy − Some lively touches of my daughter's favour. − − ORLANDO − − My lord, the first time that I ever saw him − Methought he was a brother to your daughter: − But, my good lord, this boy is forest-born, − And hath been tutor'd in the rudiments − Of many desperate studies by his uncle, − Whom he reports to be a great magician, − Obscured in the circle of this forest. − − Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY − − JAQUES − − There is, sure, another flood toward, and these − couples are coming to the ark. Here comes a pair of − very strange beasts, which in all tongues are called fools. − − TOUCHSTONE − − Salutation and greeting to you all! − − JAQUES − − Good my lord, bid him welcome: this is the − motley-minded gentleman that I have so often met in − the forest: he hath been a courtier, he swears. − − TOUCHSTONE − − If any man doubt that, let him put me to my − purgation. I have trod a measure; I have flattered − a lady; I have been politic with my friend, smooth − with mine enemy; I have undone three tailors; I have − had four quarrels, and like to have fought one. − − JAQUES − − And how was that ta'en up? − − TOUCHSTONE − − Faith, we met, and found the quarrel was upon the − seventh cause. − − JAQUES − − How seventh cause? Good my lord, like this fellow. − − DUKE SENIOR − − I like him very well. − − TOUCHSTONE − − God 'ild you, sir; I desire you of the like. I − press in here, sir, amongst the rest of the country − copulatives, to swear and to forswear: according as − marriage binds and blood breaks: a poor virgin, − sir, an ill-favoured thing, sir, but mine own; a poor − humour of mine, sir, to take that that no man else − will: rich honesty dwells like a miser, sir, in a − poor house; as your pearl in your foul oyster. − − DUKE SENIOR − − By my faith, he is very swift and sententious. − − TOUCHSTONE − − According to the fool's bolt, sir, and such dulcet diseases. − − JAQUES − − But, for the seventh cause; how did you find the − quarrel on the seventh cause? − − TOUCHSTONE − − Upon a lie seven times removed:--bear your body more − seeming, Audrey:--as thus, sir. I did dislike the − cut of a certain courtier's beard: he sent me word, − if I said his beard was not cut well, he was in the − mind it was: this is called the Retort Courteous. − If I sent him word again 'it was not well cut,' he − would send me word, he cut it to please himself: − this is called the Quip Modest. If again 'it was − not well cut,' he disabled my judgment: this is − called the Reply Churlish. If again 'it was not − well cut,' he would answer, I spake not true: this − is called the Reproof Valiant. If again 'it was not − well cut,' he would say I lied: this is called the − Counter-cheque Quarrelsome: and so to the Lie − Circumstantial and the Lie Direct. − − JAQUES − − And how oft did you say his beard was not well cut? − − TOUCHSTONE − − I durst go no further than the Lie Circumstantial, − nor he durst not give me the Lie Direct; and so we − measured swords and parted. − − JAQUES − − Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie? − − TOUCHSTONE − − O sir, we quarrel in print, by the book; as you have − books for good manners: I will name you the degrees. − The first, the Retort Courteous; the second, the − Quip Modest; the third, the Reply Churlish; the − fourth, the Reproof Valiant; the fifth, the − Countercheque Quarrelsome; the sixth, the Lie with − Circumstance; the seventh, the Lie Direct. All − these you may avoid but the Lie Direct; and you may − avoid that too, with an If. I knew when seven − justices could not take up a quarrel, but when the − parties were met themselves, one of them thought but − of an If, as, 'If you said so, then I said so;' and − they shook hands and swore brothers. Your If is the − only peacemaker; much virtue in If. − − JAQUES − − Is not this a rare fellow, my lord? he's as good at − any thing and yet a fool. − − DUKE SENIOR − − He uses his folly like a stalking-horse and under − the presentation of that he shoots his wit. − − Enter HYMEN, ROSALIND, and CELIA − − Still Music − − HYMEN − − Then is there mirth in heaven, − When earthly things made even − Atone together. − Good duke, receive thy daughter − Hymen from heaven brought her, − Yea, brought her hither, − That thou mightst join her hand with his − Whose heart within his bosom is. − − ROSALIND − − [To DUKE SENIOR] To you I give myself, for I am yours. − − To ORLANDO − To you I give myself, for I am yours. − − DUKE SENIOR − − If there be truth in sight, you are my daughter. − − ORLANDO − − If there be truth in sight, you are my Rosalind. − − PHEBE − − If sight and shape be true, − Why then, my love adieu! − − ROSALIND − − I'll have no father, if you be not he: − I'll have no husband, if you be not he: − Nor ne'er wed woman, if you be not she. − − HYMEN − − Peace, ho! I bar confusion: − 'Tis I must make conclusion − Of these most strange events: − Here's eight that must take hands − To join in Hymen's bands, − If truth holds true contents. − You and you no cross shall part: − You and you are heart in heart − You to his love must accord, − Or have a woman to your lord: − You and you are sure together, − As the winter to foul weather. − Whiles a wedlock-hymn we sing, − Feed yourselves with questioning; − That reason wonder may diminish, − How thus we met, and these things finish. − SONG. − Wedding is great Juno's crown: − O blessed bond of board and bed! − 'Tis Hymen peoples every town; − High wedlock then be honoured: − Honour, high honour and renown, − To Hymen, god of every town! − − DUKE SENIOR − − O my dear niece, welcome thou art to me! − Even daughter, welcome, in no less degree. − − PHEBE − − I will not eat my word, now thou art mine; − Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine. − − Enter JAQUES DE BOYS − − JAQUES DE BOYS − − Let me have audience for a word or two: − I am the second son of old Sir Rowland, − That bring these tidings to this fair assembly. − Duke Frederick, hearing how that every day − Men of great worth resorted to this forest, − Address'd a mighty power; which were on foot, − In his own conduct, purposely to take − His brother here and put him to the sword: − And to the skirts of this wild wood he came; − Where meeting with an old religious man, − After some question with him, was converted − Both from his enterprise and from the world, − His crown bequeathing to his banish'd brother, − And all their lands restored to them again − That were with him exiled. This to be true, − I do engage my life. − − DUKE SENIOR − − Welcome, young man; − Thou offer'st fairly to thy brothers' wedding: − To one his lands withheld, and to the other − A land itself at large, a potent dukedom. − First, in this forest, let us do those ends − That here were well begun and well begot: − And after, every of this happy number − That have endured shrewd days and nights with us − Shall share the good of our returned fortune, − According to the measure of their states. − Meantime, forget this new-fall'n dignity − And fall into our rustic revelry. − Play, music! And you, brides and bridegrooms all, − With measure heap'd in joy, to the measures fall. − − JAQUES − − Sir, by your patience. If I heard you rightly, − The duke hath put on a religious life − And thrown into neglect the pompous court? − − JAQUES DE BOYS − − He hath. − − JAQUES − − To him will I : out of these convertites − There is much matter to be heard and learn'd. − − To DUKE SENIOR − You to your former honour I bequeath; − Your patience and your virtue well deserves it: − − To ORLANDO − You to a love that your true faith doth merit: − − To OLIVER − You to your land and love and great allies: − − To SILVIUS − You to a long and well-deserved bed: − − To TOUCHSTONE − And you to wrangling; for thy loving voyage − Is but for two months victuall'd. So, to your pleasures: − I am for other than for dancing measures. − − DUKE SENIOR − − Stay, Jaques, stay. − − JAQUES − − To see no pastime I what you would have − I'll stay to know at your abandon'd cave. − − Exit − − DUKE SENIOR − − Proceed, proceed: we will begin these rites, − As we do trust they'll end, in true delights. − − A dance − EPILOGUE − − ROSALIND − − It is not the fashion to see the lady the epilogue; − but it is no more unhandsome than to see the lord − the prologue. If it be true that good wine needs − no bush, 'tis true that a good play needs no − epilogue; yet to good wine they do use good bushes, − and good plays prove the better by the help of good − epilogues. What a case am I in then, that am − neither a good epilogue nor cannot insinuate with − you in the behalf of a good play! I am not − furnished like a beggar, therefore to beg will not − become me: my way is to conjure you; and I'll begin − with the women. I charge you, O women, for the love − you bear to men, to like as much of this play as − please you: and I charge you, O men, for the love − you bear to women--as I perceive by your simpering, − none of you hates them--that between you and the − women the play may please. If I were a woman I − would kiss as many of you as had beards that pleased − me, complexions that liked me and breaths that I − defied not: and, I am sure, as many as have good − beards or good faces or sweet breaths will, for my − kind offer, when I make curtsy, bid me farewell. − − Exeunt
Reverted edits by RobSmith to last version by SpeakerOfTheDead
In a famous use of the word "quotidian" (meaning every day), the character Rosalind states that love-struck Orlando "seems to have the quotidian of love upon him."
In a famous use of the word "quotidian" (meaning every day), the character Rosalind states that love-struck Orlando "seems to have the quotidian of love upon him."
For the full text of the play, please see [[As You Like It/text| here]].
[[category:plays]]
[[category:plays]]