ExeuntACTIVSCENEI。Theforest。EnterROSALIND,CELIA,andJAQUESJAQUESIprithee,prettyyouth,letmebebetteracquaintedwiththee。ROSALINDTheysayyouareamelancholyfellow。JAQUESIamso;Idoloveitbetterthanlaughing。ROSALINDThosethatareinextremityofeitherareabominablefellowsandbetraythemselvestoeverymoderncensureworsethandrunkards。JAQUESWhy,’tisgoodtobesadandsaynothing。ROSALINDWhythen,’tisgoodtobeapost。JAQUESIhaveneitherthescholar’smelancholy,whichisemulation,northemusician’s,whichisfantastical,northecourtier’s,whichisproud,northesoldier’s,whichisambitious,northelawyer’s,whichispolitic,northelady’s,whichisnice,northelover’s,whichisallthese:butitisamelancholyofmineown,compoundedofmanysimples,extractedfrommanyobjects,andindeedthesundry’scontemplationofmytravels,inwhichmyoftenruminationwrapsmemamosthumoroussadness。ROSALINDAtraveller!Bymyfaith,youhavegreatreasontobesad:Ifearyouhavesoldyourownlandstoseeothermen’s;then,tohaveseenmuchandtohavenothing,istohavericheyesandpoorhands。JAQUESYes,Ihavegainedmyexperience。ROSALINDAndyourexperiencemakesyousad:Ihadratherhaveafooltomakememerrythanexperiencetomakemesad;andtotravelforittoo!
EnterORLANDOORLANDOGooddayandhappiness,dearRosalind!JAQUESNay,then,Godbewi’you,anyoutalkinblankverse。
ExitROSALINDFarewell,MonsieurTraveller:lookyoulispandwearstrangesuits,disableallthebenefitsofyourowncountry,beoutoflovewithyournativityandalmostchideGodformakingyouthatcountenanceyouare,orIwillscarcethinkyouhaveswaminagondola。Why,hownow,Orlando!wherehaveyoubeenallthiswhile?Youalover!Anyouservemesuchanothertrick,nevercomeinmysightmore。ORLANDOMyfairRosalind,Icomewithinanhourofmypromise。ROSALINDBreakanhour’spromiseinlove!Hethatwilldivideaminuteintoathousandpartsandbreakbutapartofthethousandthpartofaminuteintheaffairsoflove,itmaybesaidofhimthatCupidhathclappedhimo’theshoulder,butI’llwarranthimheart-whole。ORLANDOPardonme,dearRosalind。ROSALINDNay,anyoubesotardy,comenomoreinmysight:I
hadasliefbewooedofasnail。ORLANDOOfasnail?ROSALINDAy,ofasnail;forthoughhecomesslowly,hecarrieshishouseonhishead;abetterjointure,Ithink,thanyoumakeawoman:besideshebringshisdestinywithhim。ORLANDOWhat’sthat?ROSALINDWhy,horns,whichsuchasyouarefaintobebeholdingtoyourwivesfor:buthecomesarmedinhisfortuneandpreventstheslanderofhiswife。ORLANDOVirtueisnohorn-maker;andmyRosalindisvirtuous。ROSALINDAndIamyourRosalind。CELIAItpleaseshimtocallyouso;buthehathaRosalindofabetterleerthanyou。ROSALINDCome,woome,woome,fornowIaminaholidayhumourandlikeenoughtoconsent。Whatwouldyousaytomenow,anIwereyourveryveryRosalind?ORLANDOIwouldkissbeforeIspoke。ROSALINDNay,youwerebetterspeakfirst,andwhenyouweregravelledforlackofmatter,youmighttakeoccasiontokiss。Verygoodorators,whentheyareout,theywillspit;andforloverslacking——Godwarnus!——matter,thecleanliestshiftistokiss。ORLANDOHowifthekissbedenied?ROSALINDThensheputsyoutoentreaty,andtherebeginsnewmatter。ORLANDOWhocouldbeout,beingbeforehisbelovedmistress?ROSALINDMarry,thatshouldyou,ifIwereyourmistress,orIshouldthinkmyhonestyrankerthanmywit。ORLANDOWhat,ofmysuit?ROSALINDNotoutofyourapparel,andyetoutofyoursuit。
AmnotIyourRosalind?ORLANDOItakesomejoytosayyouare,becauseIwouldbetalkingofher。ROSALINDWellinherpersonIsayIwillnothaveyou。ORLANDOTheninmineownpersonIdie。ROSALINDNo,faith,diebyattorney。Thepoorworldisalmostsixthousandyearsold,andinallthistimetherewasnotanymandiedinhisownperson,videlicit,inalove-cause。TroilushadhisbrainsdashedoutwithaGrecianclub;yethedidwhathecouldtodiebefore,andheisoneofthepatternsoflove。Leander,hewouldhavelivedmanyafairyear,thoughHerohadturnednun,ifithadnotbeenforahotmidsummernight;for,goodyouth,hewentbutforthtowashhimintheHellespontandbeingtakenwiththecrampwasdrownedandthefoolishcoronersofthatagefounditwas’HeroofSestos。’
Butthesearealllies:menhavediedfromtimetotimeandwormshaveeatenthem,butnotforlove。ORLANDOIwouldnothavemyrightRosalindofthismind,for,Iprotest,herfrownmightkillme。ROSALINDBythishand,itwillnotkillafly。
Butcome,nowIwillbeyourRosalindinamorecoming-ondisposition,andaskmewhatyouwill。Iwillgrantit。ORLANDOThenloveme,Rosalind。ROSALINDYes,faith,willI,FridaysandSaturdaysandall。ORLANDOAndwiltthouhaveme?ROSALINDAy,andtwentysuch。ORLANDOWhatsayestthou?ROSALINDAreyounotgood?ORLANDOIhopeso。ROSALINDWhythen,canonedesiretoomuchofagoodthing?
Come,sister,youshallbethepriestandmarryus。
Givemeyourhand,Orlando。Whatdoyousay,sister?ORLANDOPraythee,marryus。CELIAIcannotsaythewords。ROSALINDYoumustbegin,’Willyou,Orlando——’CELIAGoto。Willyou,Orlando,havetowifethisRosalind?ORLANDOIwill。ROSALINDAy,butwhen?ORLANDOWhynow;asfastasshecanmarryus。ROSALINDThenyoumustsay’Itakethee,Rosalind,forwife。’ORLANDOItakethee,Rosalind,forwife。ROSALINDImightaskyouforyourcommission;
butIdotakethee,Orlando,formyhusband:there’sagirlgoesbeforethepriest;andcertainlyawoman’sthoughtrunsbeforeheractions。ORLANDOSodoallthoughts;theyarewinged。ROSALINDNowtellmehowlongyouwouldhaveherafteryouhavepossessedher。ORLANDOForeverandaday。ROSALINDSay’aday,’withoutthe’ever。’No,no,Orlando;
menareAprilwhentheywoo,Decemberwhentheywed:
maidsareMaywhentheyaremaids,buttheskychangeswhentheyarewives。IwillbemorejealousoftheethanaBarbarycock-pigeonoverhishen,moreclamorousthanaparrotagainstrain,morenew-fangledthananape,moregiddyinmydesiresthanamonkey:Iwillweepfornothing,likeDianainthefountain,andIwilldothatwhenyouaredisposedtobemerry;Iwilllaughlikeahyen,andthatwhenthouartinclinedtosleep。ORLANDOButwillmyRosalinddoso?ROSALINDBymylife,shewilldoasIdo。ORLANDOO,butsheiswise。ROSALINDOrelseshecouldnothavethewittodothis:thewiser,thewaywarder:makethedoorsuponawoman’switanditwilloutatthecasement;shutthatand’twilloutatthekey-hole;stopthat,’twillflywiththesmokeoutatthechimney。ORLANDOAmanthathadawifewithsuchawit,hemightsay’Wit,whitherwilt?’ROSALINDNay,youmightkeepthatchequeforittillyoumetyourwife’switgoingtoyourneighbour’sbed。ORLANDOAndwhatwitcouldwithavetoexcusethat?ROSALINDMarry,tosayshecametoseekyouthere。
Youshallnevertakeherwithoutheranswer,unlessyoutakeherwithouthertongue。O,thatwomanthatcannotmakeherfaultherhusband’soccasion,lethernevernurseherchildherself,forshewillbreeditlikeafool!ORLANDOForthesetwohours,Rosalind,Iwillleavethee。ROSALINDAlas!dearlove,Icannotlacktheetwohours。ORLANDOImustattendthedukeatdinner:bytwoo’clockI
willbewiththeeagain。ROSALINDAy,goyourways,goyourways;Iknewwhatyouwouldprove:myfriendstoldmeasmuch,andI
thoughtnoless:thatflatteringtongueofyourswonme:’tisbutonecastaway,andso,come,death!Twoo’clockisyourhour?ORLANDOAy,sweetRosalind。ROSALINDBymytroth,andingoodearnest,andsoGodmendme,andbyallprettyoathsthatarenotdangerous,ifyoubreakonejotofyourpromiseorcomeoneminutebehindyourhour,Iwillthinkyouthemostpatheticalbreak-promiseandthemosthollowloverandthemostunworthyofheryoucallRosalindthatmaybechosenoutofthegrossbandoftheunfaithful:thereforebewaremycensureandkeepyourpromise。ORLANDOWithnolessreligionthanifthouwertindeedmyRosalind:soadieu。ROSALINDWell,Timeistheoldjusticethatexaminesallsuchoffenders,andletTimetry:adieu。
ExitORLANDOCELIAYouhavesimplymisusedoursexinyourlove-prate:
wemusthaveyourdoubletandhosepluckedoveryourhead,andshowtheworldwhatthebirdhathdonetoherownnest。ROSALINDOcoz,coz,coz,myprettylittlecoz,thatthoudidstknowhowmanyfathomdeepIaminlove!
Butitcannotbesounded:myaffectionhathanunknownbottom,likethebayofPortugal。CELIAOrrather,bottomless,thatasfastasyoupouraffectionin,itrunsout。ROSALINDNo,thatsamewickedbastardofVenusthatwasbegotofthought,conceivedofspleenandbornofmadness,thatblindrascallyboythatabuseseveryone’seyesbecausehisownareout,lethimbejudgehowdeepI
aminlove。I’lltellthee,Aliena,IcannotbeoutofthesightofOrlando:I’llgofindashadowandsightillhecome。CELIAAndI’llsleep。
ExeuntSCENEII。Theforest。EnterJAQUES,Lords,andForestersJAQUESWhichishethatkilledthedeer?ALordSir,itwasI。JAQUESLet’spresenthimtotheduke,likeaRomanconqueror;anditwoulddowelltosetthedeer’shornsuponhishead,forabranchofvictory。Haveyounosong,forester,forthispurpose?ForesterYes,sir。JAQUESSingit:’tisnomatterhowitbeintune,soitmakenoiseenough。
SONG。ForesterWhatshallhehavethatkill’dthedeer?
Hisleatherskinandhornstowear。
Thensinghimhome;
TherestshallbearthisburdenTakethounoscorntowearthehorn;
Itwasacresterethouwastborn:
Thyfather’sfatherworeit,Andthyfatherboreit:
Thehorn,thehorn,thelustyhornIsnotathingtolaughtoscorn。
ExeuntSCENEIII。Theforest。EnterROSALINDandCELIAROSALINDHowsayyounow?Isitnotpasttwoo’clock?
andheremuchOrlando!CELIAIwarrantyou,withpureloveandtroubledbrain,hehathta’enhisbowandarrowsandisgoneforthtosleep。Look,whocomeshere。
EnterSILVIUSSILVIUSMyerrandistoyou,fairyouth;
MygentlePhebebidmegiveyouthis:
Iknownotthecontents;but,asIguessBythesternbrowandwaspishactionWhichshediduseasshewaswritingofit,Itbearsanangrytenor:pardonme:
Iambutasaguiltlessmessenger。ROSALINDPatienceherselfwouldstartleatthisletterAndplaytheswaggerer;bearthis,bearall:
ShesaysIamnotfair,thatIlackmanners;
Shecallsmeproud,andthatshecouldnotloveme,Weremanasrareasphoenix。’Od’smywill!
HerloveisnottheharethatIdohunt:
Whywritesshesotome?Well,shepherd,well,Thisisaletterofyourowndevice。SILVIUSNo,Iprotest,Iknownotthecontents:
Phebedidwriteit。ROSALINDCome,come,youareafoolAndturn’dintotheextremityoflove。
Isawherhand:shehasaleathernhand。
Afreestone-colour’dhand;IverilydidthinkThatheroldgloveswereon,but’twasherhands:
Shehasahuswife’shand;butthat’snomatter:
Isaysheneverdidinventthisletter;
Thisisaman’sinventionandhishand。SILVIUSSure,itishers。ROSALINDWhy,’tisaboisterousandacruelstyle。
Astylefor-challengers;why,shedefiesme,LikeTurktoChristian:women’sgentlebrainCouldnotdropforthsuchgiant-rudeinventionSuchEthiopewords,blackerintheireffectThanintheircountenance。Willyouheartheletter?SILVIUSSopleaseyou,forIneverheardityet;
YetheardtoomuchofPhebe’scruelty。ROSALINDShePhebesme:markhowthetyrantwrites。
ReadsArtthougodtoshepherdturn’d,Thatamaiden’shearthathburn’d?
Canawomanrailthus?SILVIUSCallyouthisrailing?ROSALIND[Reads]
Why,thygodheadlaidapart,Warr’stthouwithawoman’sheart?
Didyoueverhearsuchrailing?
Whilestheeyeofmandidwoome,Thatcoulddonovengeancetome。
Meaningmeabeast。
IfthescornofyourbrighteyneHavepowertoraisesuchloveinmine,Alack,inmewhatstrangeeffectWouldtheyworkinmildaspect!
Whilesyouchidme,Ididlove;
Howthenmightyourprayersmove!
HethatbringsthislovetotheeLittleknowsthisloveinme:
Andbyhimsealupthymind;
WhetherthatthyyouthandkindWillthefaithfuloffertakeOfmeandallthatIcanmake;
Orelsebyhimmylovedeny,AndthenI’llstudyhowtodie。SILVIUSCallyouthischiding?CELIAAlas,poorshepherd!ROSALINDDoyoupityhim?no,hedeservesnopity。
Wiltthoulovesuchawoman?What,tomaketheeaninstrumentandplayfalsestrainsuponthee!nottobeendured!Well,goyourwaytoher,forIseelovehathmadetheeatamesnake,andsaythistoher:thatifsheloveme,Ichargehertolovethee;ifshewillnot,Iwillneverhaveherunlessthouentreatforher。Ifyoubeatruelover,hence,andnotaword;forherecomesmorecompany。
ExitSILVIUS
EnterOLIVEROLIVERGoodmorrow,fairones:prayyou,ifyouknow,WhereinthepurlieusofthisforeststandsAsheep-cotefencedaboutwitholivetrees?CELIAWestofthisplace,downintheneighbourbottom:
TherankofosiersbythemurmuringstreamLeftonyourrighthandbringsyoutotheplace。
Butatthishourthehousedothkeepitself;
There’snonewithin。OLIVERIfthataneyemayprofitbyatongue,ThenshouldIknowyoubydescription;
Suchgarmentsandsuchyears:’Theboyisfair,Offemalefavour,andbestowshimselfLikearipesister:thewomanlowAndbrownerthanherbrother。’ArenotyouTheownerofthehouseIdidinquirefor?CELIAItisnoboast,beingask’d,tosayweare。OLIVEROrlandodothcommendhimtoyouboth,AndtothatyouthhecallshisRosalindHesendsthisbloodynapkin。Areyouhe?ROSALINDIam:whatmustweunderstandbythis?OLIVERSomeofmyshame;ifyouwillknowofmeWhatmanIam,andhow,andwhy,andwhereThishandkercherwasstain’d。CELIAIprayyou,tellit。OLIVERWhenlasttheyoungOrlandopartedfromyouHeleftapromisetoreturnagainWithinanhour,andpacingthroughtheforest,Chewingthefoodofsweetandbitterfancy,Lo,whatbefell!hethrewhiseyeaside,Andmarkwhatobjectdidpresentitself:
Underanoak,whoseboughsweremoss’dwithageAndhightopbaldwithdryantiquity,Awretchedraggedman,o’ergrownwithhair,Laysleepingonhisback:abouthisneckAgreenandgildedsnakehadwreatheditself,Whowithherheadnimbleinthreatsapproach’dTheopeningofhismouth;butsuddenly,SeeingOrlando,itunlink’ditself,AndwithindentedglidesdidslipawayIntoabush:underwhichbush’sshadeAlioness,withuddersalldrawndry,Laycouching,headonground,withcatlikewatch,Whenthatthesleepingmanshouldstir;for’tisTheroyaldispositionofthatbeastTopreyonnothingthatdothseemasdead:
Thisseen,OrlandodidapproachthemanAndfounditwashisbrother,hiselderbrother。CELIAO,Ihaveheardhimspeakofthatsamebrother;
AndhedidrenderhimthemostunnaturalThatlivedamongstmen。OLIVERAndwellhemightsodo,ForwellIknowhewasunnatural。ROSALINDBut,toOrlando:didheleavehimthere,Foodtothesuck’dandhungrylioness?OLIVERTwicedidheturnhisbackandpurposedso;
Butkindness,noblereverthanrevenge,Andnature,strongerthanhisjustoccasion,Madehimgivebattletothelioness,Whoquicklyfellbeforehim:inwhichhurtlingFrommiserableslumberIawaked。CELIAAreyouhisbrother?ROSALINDWastyouherescued?CELIAWas’tyouthatdidsooftcontrivetokillhim?OLIVER’TwasI;but’tisnotIIdonotshameTotellyouwhatIwas,sincemyconversionSosweetlytastes,beingthethingIam。ROSALINDBut,forthebloodynapkin?OLIVERByandby。
WhenfromthefirsttolastbetwixtustwoTearsourrecountmentshadmostkindlybathed,AshowIcameintothatdesertplace:——
Inbrief,heledmetothegentleduke,Whogavemefresharrayandentertainment,Committingmeuntomybrother’slove;
Wholedmeinstantlyuntohiscave,Therestripp’dhimself,andhereuponhisarmThelionesshadtornsomefleshaway,Whichallthiswhilehadbled;andnowhefaintedAndcried,infainting,uponRosalind。
Brief,Irecover’dhim,bounduphiswound;
And,aftersomesmallspace,beingstrongatheart,Hesentmehither,strangerasIam,Totellthisstory,thatyoumightexcuseHisbrokenpromise,andtogivethisnapkinDyedinhisblooduntotheshepherdyouthThatheinsportdothcallhisRosalind。
ROSALINDswoonsCELIAWhy,hownow,Ganymede!sweetGanymede!OLIVERManywillswoonwhentheydolookonblood。CELIAThereismoreinit。CousinGanymede!OLIVERLook,herecovers。ROSALINDIwouldIwereathome。CELIAWe’llleadyouthither。
Iprayyou,willyoutakehimbythearm?OLIVERBeofgoodcheer,youth:youaman!youlackaman’sheart。ROSALINDIdoso,Iconfessit。Ah,sirrah,abodywouldthinkthiswaswellcounterfeited!Iprayyou,tellyourbrotherhowwellIcounterfeited。Heigh-ho!OLIVERThiswasnotcounterfeit:thereistoogreattestimonyinyourcomplexionthatitwasapassionofearnest。ROSALINDCounterfeit,Iassureyou。OLIVERWellthen,takeagoodheartandcounterfeittobeaman。ROSALINDSoIdo:but,i’faith,Ishouldhavebeenawomanbyright。CELIACome,youlookpalerandpaler:prayyou,drawhomewards。Goodsir,gowithus。OLIVERThatwillI,forImustbearanswerbackHowyouexcusemybrother,Rosalind。ROSALINDIshalldevisesomething:but,Iprayyou,commendmycounterfeitingtohim。Willyougo?
ExeuntACTVSCENEI。Theforest。EnterTOUCHSTONEandAUDREYTOUCHSTONEWeshallfindatime,Audrey;patience,gentleAudrey。AUDREYFaith,thepriestwasgoodenough,foralltheoldgentleman’ssaying。TOUCHSTONEAmostwickedSirOliver,Audrey,amostvileMartext。But,Audrey,thereisayouthhereintheforestlaysclaimtoyou。AUDREYAy,Iknowwho’tis;hehathnointerestinmeintheworld:herecomesthemanyoumean。TOUCHSTONEItismeatanddrinktometoseeaclown:
bymytroth,wethathavegoodwitshavemuchtoanswerfor;weshallbeflouting;wecannothold。
EnterWILLIAMWILLIAMGoodeven,Audrey。AUDREYGodyegoodeven,William。WILLIAMAndgoodeventoyou,sir。TOUCHSTONEGoodeven,gentlefriend。Coverthyhead,coverthyhead;nay,prithee,becovered。Howoldareyou,friend?WILLIAMFiveandtwenty,sir。TOUCHSTONEAripeage。IsthynameWilliam?WILLIAMWilliam,sir。TOUCHSTONEAfairname。Wastborni’theforesthere?WILLIAMAy,sir,IthankGod。TOUCHSTONE’ThankGod;’agoodanswer。Artrich?WILLIAMFaith,sir,soso。TOUCHSTONE’Soso’isgood,verygood,veryexcellentgood;andyetitisnot;itisbutsoso。Artthouwise?WILLIAMAy,sir,Ihaveaprettywit。TOUCHSTONEWhy,thousayestwell。Idonowrememberasaying,’Thefooldoththinkheiswise,butthewisemanknowshimselftobeafool。’Theheathenphilosopher,whenhehadadesiretoeatagrape,wouldopenhislipswhenheputitintohismouth;
meaningtherebythatgrapesweremadetoeatandlipstoopen。Youdolovethismaid?WILLIAMIdo,sir。TOUCHSTONEGivemeyourhand。Artthoulearned?WILLIAMNo,sir。TOUCHSTONEThenlearnthisofme:tohave,istohave;foritisafigureinrhetoricthatdrink,beingpouredoutofacupintoaglass,byfillingtheonedothemptytheother;forallyourwritersdoconsentthatipseishe:now,youarenotipse,forIamhe。WILLIAMWhichhe,sir?TOUCHSTONEHe,sir,thatmustmarrythiswoman。Therefore,youclown,abandon,——whichisinthevulgarleave,——thesociety,——whichintheboorishiscompany,——ofthisfemale,——whichinthecommoniswoman;whichtogetheris,abandonthesocietyofthisfemale,or,clown,thouperishest;or,tothybetterunderstanding,diest;or,towitIkillthee,maketheeaway,translatethylifeintodeath,thylibertyintobondage:Iwilldealinpoisonwiththee,orinbastinado,orinsteel;Iwillbandywiththeeinfaction;Iwillo’erruntheewithpolicy;Iwillkilltheeahundredandfiftyways:
thereforetrembleanddepart。AUDREYDo,goodWilliam。WILLIAMGodrestyoumerry,sir。
ExitEnterCORINCORINOurmasterandmistressseeksyou;come,away,away!TOUCHSTONETrip,Audrey!trip,Audrey!Iattend,Iattend。
ExeuntSCENEII。Theforest。EnterORLANDOandOLIVERORLANDOIs’tpossiblethatonsolittleacquaintanceyoushouldlikeher?thatbutseeingyoushouldloveher?andlovingwoo?and,wooing,sheshouldgrant?andwillyoupersevertoenjoyher?OLIVERNeithercallthegiddinessofitinquestion,thepovertyofher,thesmallacquaintance,mysuddenwooing,norhersuddenconsenting;butsaywithme,IloveAliena;saywithherthatshelovesme;
consentwithboththatwemayenjoyeachother:
itshallbetoyourgood;formyfather’shouseandalltherevenuethatwasoldSirRowland’swillI
estateuponyou,andhereliveanddieashepherd。ORLANDOYouhavemyconsent。Letyourweddingbeto-morrow:
thitherwillIinvitethedukeandall’scontentedfollowers。GoyouandprepareAliena;forlookyou,herecomesmyRosalind。
EnterROSALINDROSALINDGodsaveyou,brother。OLIVERAndyou,fairsister。
ExitROSALINDO,mydearOrlando,howitgrievesmetoseetheewearthyheartinascarf!ORLANDOItismyarm。ROSALINDIthoughtthyhearthadbeenwoundedwiththeclawsofalion。ORLANDOWoundeditis,butwiththeeyesofalady。ROSALINDDidyourbrothertellyouhowIcounterfeitedtoswoonwhenheshowedmeyourhandkerchief?ORLANDOAy,andgreaterwondersthanthat。ROSALINDO,Iknowwhereyouare:nay,’tistrue:
therewasneveranythingsosuddenbutthefightoftworamsandCaesar’sthrasonicalbragof’Icame,saw,andovercame:’foryourbrotherandmysisternosoonermetbuttheylooked,nosoonerlookedbuttheyloved,nosoonerlovedbuttheysighed,nosoonersighedbuttheyaskedoneanotherthereason,nosoonerknewthereasonbuttheysoughttheremedy;
andinthesedegreeshavetheymadeapairofstairstomarriagewhichtheywillclimbincontinent,orelsebeincontinentbeforemarriage:theyareintheverywrathofloveandtheywilltogether;
clubscannotpartthem。ORLANDOTheyshallbemarriedto-morrow,andI
willbidtheduketothenuptial。But,O,howbitterathingitistolookintohappinessthroughanotherman’seyes!BysomuchthemoreshallIto-morrowbeattheheightofheart-heaviness,byhowmuchIshallthinkmybrotherhappyinhavingwhathewishesfor。ROSALINDWhythen,to-morrowIcannotserveyourturnforRosalind?ORLANDOIcanlivenolongerbythinking。ROSALINDIwillwearyyouthennolongerwithidletalking。
Knowofmethen,fornowIspeaktosomepurpose,thatIknowyouareagentlemanofgoodconceit:
I
speaknotthisthatyoushouldbearagoodopinionofmyknowledge,insomuchIsayIknowyouare;
neitherdoIlabourforagreateresteemthanmayinsomelittlemeasuredrawabelieffromyou,todoyourselfgoodandnottograceme。Believethen,ifyouplease,thatIcandostrangethings:Ihave,sinceIwasthreeyearold,conversedwithamagician,mostprofoundinhisartandyetnotdamnable。IfyoudoloveRosalindsoneartheheartasyourgesturecriesitout,whenyourbrothermarriesAliena,shallyoumarryher:Iknowintowhatstraitsoffortunesheisdriven;anditisnotimpossibletome,ifitappearnotinconvenienttoyou,tosetherbeforeyoureyestomorrowhumanassheisandwithoutanydanger。ORLANDOSpeakestthouinsobermeanings?ROSALINDBymylife,Ido;whichItenderdearly,thoughI
sayIamamagician。Therefore,putyouinyourbestarray:bidyourfriends;forifyouwillbemarriedto-morrow,youshall,andtoRosalind,ifyouwill。
EnterSILVIUSandPHEBE
Look,herecomesaloverofmineandaloverofhers。PHEBEYouth,youhavedonememuchungentleness,ToshowtheletterthatIwrittoyou。ROSALINDIcarenotifIhave:itismystudyToseemdespitefulandungentletoyou:
Youaretherefollowedbyafaithfulshepherd;
Lookuponhim,lovehim;heworshipsyou。PHEBEGoodshepherd,tellthisyouthwhat’tistolove。SILVIUSItistobeallmadeofsighsandtears;
AndsoamIforPhebe。PHEBEAndIforGanymede。ORLANDOAndIforRosalind。ROSALINDAndIfornowoman。SILVIUSItistobeallmadeoffaithandservice;
AndsoamIforPhebe。PHEBEAndIforGanymede。ORLANDOAndIforRosalind。ROSALINDAndIfornowoman。SILVIUSItistobeallmadeoffantasy,Allmadeofpassionandallmadeofwishes,Alladoration,duty,andobservance,Allhumbleness,allpatienceandimpatience,Allpurity,alltrial,allobservance;
AndsoamIforPhebe。PHEBEAndsoamIforGanymede。ORLANDOAndsoamIforRosalind。ROSALINDAndsoamIfornowoman。PHEBEIfthisbeso,whyblameyoumetoloveyou?SILVIUSIfthisbeso,whyblameyoumetoloveyou?ORLANDOIfthisbeso,whyblameyoumetoloveyou?ROSALINDWhodoyouspeakto,’Whyblameyoumetoloveyou?’ORLANDOToherthatisnothere,nordothnothear。ROSALINDPrayyou,nomoreofthis;’tislikethehowlingofIrishwolvesagainstthemoon。
ToSILVIUS
Iwillhelpyou,ifIcan:
ToPHEBE
Iwouldloveyou,ifIcould。To-morrowmeetmealltogether。
ToPHEBE
Iwillmarryyou,ifeverImarrywoman,andI’llbemarriedto-morrow:
ToORLANDO
Iwillsatisfyyou,ifeverIsatisfiedman,andyoushallbemarriedto-morrow:
ToSILVIUS
Iwillcontentyou,ifwhatpleasesyoucontentsyou,andyoushallbemarriedto-morrow。
ToORLANDO
AsyouloveRosalind,meet:
ToSILVIUS
asyoulovePhebe,meet:andasIlovenowoman,I’llmeet。Sofareyouwell:Ihaveleftyoucommands。SILVIUSI’llnotfail,ifIlive。PHEBENorI。ORLANDONorI。
ExeuntSCENEIII。Theforest。EnterTOUCHSTONEandAUDREYTOUCHSTONETo-morrowisthejoyfulday,Audrey;to-morrowwillwebemarried。AUDREYIdodesireitwithallmyheart;andI
hopeitisnodishonestdesiretodesiretobeawomanoftheworld。Herecomestwoofthebanishedduke’spages。
EntertwoPagesFirstPageWellmet,honestgentleman。TOUCHSTONEBymytroth,wellmet。Come,sit,sit,andasong。SecondPageWeareforyou:siti’themiddle。FirstPageShallweclapinto’troundly,withouthawkingorspittingorsayingwearehoarse,whicharetheonlyprologuestoabadvoice?SecondPageI’faith,i’faith;andbothinatune,liketwogipsiesonahorse。
SONG。
Itwasaloverandhislass,Withahey,andaho,andaheynonino,Thato’erthegreencorn-fielddidpassInthespringtime,theonlyprettyringtime,Whenbirdsdosing,heydingading,ding:
Sweetloverslovethespring。
Betweentheacresoftherye,Withahey,andaho,andaheynoninoTheseprettycountryfolkswouldlie,Inspringtime,&;c。
Thiscaroltheybeganthathour,Withahey,andaho,andaheynonino,HowthatalifewasbutaflowerInspringtime,&;c。
Andthereforetakethepresenttime,Withahey,andaho,andaheynonino;
ForloveiscrownedwiththeprimeInspringtime,&;c。TOUCHSTONETruly,younggentlemen,thoughtherewasnogreatmatterintheditty,yetthenotewasveryuntuneable。FirstPageYouaredeceived,sir:wekepttime,welostnotourtime。TOUCHSTONEBymytroth,yes;Icountitbuttimelosttohearsuchafoolishsong。Godbewi’you;andGodmendyourvoices!Come,Audrey。
ExeuntSCENEIV。Theforest。EnterDUKESENIOR,AMIENS,JAQUES,ORLANDO,OLIVER,andCELIADUKESENIORDostthoubelieve,Orlando,thattheboyCandoallthisthathehathpromised?ORLANDOIsometimesdobelieve,andsometimesdonot;
Asthosethatfeartheyhope,andknowtheyfear。
EnterROSALIND,SILVIUS,andPHEBEROSALINDPatienceoncemore,whilesourcompactisurged:
Yousay,ifIbringinyourRosalind,YouwillbestowheronOrlandohere?DUKESENIORThatwouldI,hadIkingdomstogivewithher。ROSALINDAndyousay,youwillhaveher,whenI
bringher?ORLANDOThatwouldI,wereIofallkingdomsking。ROSALINDYousay,you’llmarryme,ifIbewilling?PHEBEThatwillI,shouldIdiethehourafter。ROSALINDButifyoudorefusetomarryme,You’llgiveyourselftothismostfaithfulshepherd?PHEBESoisthebargain。ROSALINDYousay,thatyou’llhavePhebe,ifshewill?SILVIUSThoughtohaveheranddeathwerebothonething。ROSALINDIhavepromisedtomakeallthismattereven。
Keepyouyourword,Oduke,togiveyourdaughter;
Youyours,Orlando,toreceivehisdaughter:
Keepyourword,Phebe,thatyou’llmarryme,Orelserefusingme,towedthisshepherd:
Keepyourword,Silvius,thatyou’llmarryher。
Ifsherefuseme:andfromhenceIgo,Tomakethesedoubtsalleven。
ExeuntROSALINDandCELIADUKESENIORIdorememberinthisshepherdboySomelivelytouchesofmydaughter’sfavour。ORLANDOMylord,thefirsttimethatIeversawhimMethoughthewasabrothertoyourdaughter:
But,mygoodlord,thisboyisforest-born,Andhathbeentutor’dintherudimentsOfmanydesperatestudiesbyhisuncle,Whomhereportstobeagreatmagician,Obscuredinthecircleofthisforest。
EnterTOUCHSTONEandAUDREYJAQUESThereis,sure,anotherfloodtoward,andthesecouplesarecomingtotheark。Herecomesapairofverystrangebeasts,whichinalltonguesarecalledfools。TOUCHSTONESalutationandgreetingtoyouall!JAQUESGoodmylord,bidhimwelcome:thisisthemotley-mindedgentlemanthatIhavesooftenmetintheforest:hehathbeenacourtier,heswears。TOUCHSTONEIfanymandoubtthat,lethimputmetomypurgation。Ihavetrodameasure;Ihaveflatteredalady;Ihavebeenpoliticwithmyfriend,smoothwithmineenemy;Ihaveundonethreetailors;
Ihavehadfourquarrels,andliketohavefoughtone。JAQUESAndhowwasthatta’enup?TOUCHSTONEFaith,wemet,andfoundthequarrelwasupontheseventhcause。JAQUESHowseventhcause?Goodmylord,likethisfellow。DUKESENIORIlikehimverywell。TOUCHSTONEGod’ildyou,sir;Idesireyouofthelike。I
pressinhere,sir,amongsttherestofthecountrycopulatives,toswearandtoforswear:accordingasmarriagebindsandbloodbreaks:apoorvirgin,sir,anill-favouredthing,sir,butmineown;
apoorhumourofmine,sir,totakethatthatnomanelsewill:richhonestydwellslikeamiser,sir,inapoorhouse;asyourpearlinyourfouloyster。DUKESENIORBymyfaith,heisveryswiftandsententious。TOUCHSTONEAccordingtothefool’sbolt,sir,andsuchdulcetdiseases。JAQUESBut,fortheseventhcause;howdidyoufindthequarrelontheseventhcause?TOUCHSTONEUponalieseventimesremoved:——bearyourbodymoreseeming,Audrey:——asthus,sir。Ididdislikethecutofacertaincourtier’sbeard:hesentmeword,ifIsaidhisbeardwasnotcutwell,hewasintheminditwas:thisiscalledtheRetortCourteous。
IfIsenthimwordagain’itwasnotwellcut,’
hewouldsendmeword,hecutittopleasehimself:
thisiscalledtheQuipModest。Ifagain’itwasnotwellcut,’hedisabledmyjudgment:thisiscalledtheReplyChurlish。Ifagain’itwasnotwellcut,’hewouldanswer,Ispakenottrue:
thisiscalledtheReproofValiant。Ifagain’itwasnotwellcut,’hewouldsayIlied:thisiscalledtheCounter-chequeQuarrelsome:andsototheLieCircumstantialandtheLieDirect。JAQUESAndhowoftdidyousayhisbeardwasnotwellcut?TOUCHSTONEIdurstgonofurtherthantheLieCircumstantial,norhedurstnotgivemetheLieDirect;andsowemeasuredswordsandparted。JAQUESCanyounominateinordernowthedegreesofthelie?TOUCHSTONEOsir,wequarrelinprint,bythebook;
asyouhavebooksforgoodmanners:Iwillnameyouthedegrees。
Thefirst,theRetortCourteous;thesecond,theQuipModest;thethird,theReplyChurlish;thefourth,theReproofValiant;thefifth,theCounterchequeQuarrelsome;thesixth,theLiewithCircumstance;theseventh,theLieDirect。AlltheseyoumayavoidbuttheLieDirect;andyoumayavoidthattoo,withanIf。Iknewwhensevenjusticescouldnottakeupaquarrel,butwhenthepartiesweremetthemselves,oneofthemthoughtbutofanIf,as,’Ifyousaidso,thenIsaidso;’
andtheyshookhandsandsworebrothers。YourIfistheonlypeacemaker;muchvirtueinIf。JAQUESIsnotthisararefellow,mylord?he’sasgoodatanythingandyetafool。DUKESENIORHeuseshisfollylikeastalking-horseandunderthepresentationofthatheshootshiswit。
EnterHYMEN,ROSALIND,andCELIA
StillMusicHYMENThenistheremirthinheaven,WhenearthlythingsmadeevenAtonetogether。
Goodduke,receivethydaughterHymenfromheavenbroughther,Yea,broughtherhither,ThatthoumightstjoinherhandwithhisWhoseheartwithinhisbosomis。ROSALIND[ToDUKESENIOR]ToyouIgivemyself,forIamyours。
ToORLANDO
ToyouIgivemyself,forIamyours。DUKESENIORIftherebetruthinsight,youaremydaughter。ORLANDOIftherebetruthinsight,youaremyRosalind。PHEBEIfsightandshapebetrue,Whythen,myloveadieu!ROSALINDI’llhavenofather,ifyoubenothe:
I’llhavenohusband,ifyoubenothe:
Norne’erwedwoman,ifyoubenotshe。HYMENPeace,ho!Ibarconfusion:
’TisImustmakeconclusionOfthesemoststrangeevents:
Here’seightthatmusttakehandsTojoininHymen’sbands,Iftruthholdstruecontents。
Youandyounocrossshallpart:
YouandyouareheartinheartYoutohislovemustaccord,Orhaveawomantoyourlord:
Youandyouaresuretogether,Asthewintertofoulweather。
Whilesawedlock-hymnwesing,Feedyourselveswithquestioning;
Thatreasonwondermaydiminish,Howthuswemet,andthesethingsfinish。
SONG。
WeddingisgreatJuno’scrown:
Oblessedbondofboardandbed!
’TisHymenpeopleseverytown;
Highwedlockthenbehonoured:
Honour,highhonourandrenown,ToHymen,godofeverytown!DUKESENIOROmydearniece,welcomethouarttome!
Evendaughter,welcome,innolessdegree。PHEBEIwillnoteatmyword,nowthouartmine;
Thyfaithmyfancytotheedothcombine。
EnterJAQUESDEBOYSJAQUESDEBOYSLetmehaveaudienceforawordortwo:
IamthesecondsonofoldSirRowland,Thatbringthesetidingstothisfairassembly。
DukeFrederick,hearinghowthateverydayMenofgreatworthresortedtothisforest,Address’damightypower;whichwereonfoot,Inhisownconduct,purposelytotakeHisbrotherhereandputhimtothesword:
Andtotheskirtsofthiswildwoodhecame;
Wheremeetingwithanoldreligiousman,Aftersomequestionwithhim,wasconvertedBothfromhisenterpriseandfromtheworld,Hiscrownbequeathingtohisbanish’dbrother,AndalltheirlandsrestoredtothemagainThatwerewithhimexiled。Thistobetrue,Idoengagemylife。DUKESENIORWelcome,youngman;
Thouoffer’stfairlytothybrothers’wedding:
Toonehislandswithheld,andtotheotherAlanditselfatlarge,apotentdukedom。
First,inthisforest,letusdothoseendsThatherewerewellbegunandwellbegot:
Andafter,everyofthishappynumberThathaveenduredshrewddaysandnightswithusShallsharethegoodofourreturnedfortune,Accordingtothemeasureoftheirstates。
Meantime,forgetthisnew-fall’ndignityAndfallintoourrusticrevelry。
Play,music!Andyou,bridesandbridegroomsall,Withmeasureheap’dinjoy,tothemeasuresfall。JAQUESSir,byyourpatience。IfIheardyourightly,ThedukehathputonareligiouslifeAndthrownintoneglectthepompouscourt?JAQUESDEBOYSHehath。JAQUESTohimwillI:outoftheseconvertitesThereismuchmattertobeheardandlearn’d。
ToDUKESENIOR
YoutoyourformerhonourIbequeath;
Yourpatienceandyourvirtuewelldeservesit:
ToORLANDO
Youtoalovethatyourtruefaithdothmerit:
ToOLIVER
Youtoyourlandandloveandgreatallies:
ToSILVIUS
Youtoalongandwell-deservedbed:
ToTOUCHSTONE
Andyoutowrangling;forthylovingvoyageIsbutfortwomonthsvictuall’d。So,toyourpleasures:
Iamforotherthanfordancingmeasures。DUKESENIORStay,Jaques,stay。JAQUESToseenopastimeIwhatyouwouldhaveI’llstaytoknowatyourabandon’dcave。
ExitDUKESENIORProceed,proceed:wewillbegintheserites,Aswedotrustthey’llend,intruedelights。
AdanceEPILOGUEROSALINDItisnotthefashiontoseetheladytheepilogue;
butitisnomoreunhandsomethantoseethelordtheprologue。Ifitbetruethatgoodwineneedsnobush,’tistruethatagoodplayneedsnoepilogue;yettogoodwinetheydousegoodbushes,andgoodplaysprovethebetterbythehelpofgoodepilogues。WhatacaseamIinthen,thatamneitheragoodepiloguenorcannotinsinuatewithyouinthebehalfofagoodplay!Iamnotfurnishedlikeabeggar,thereforetobegwillnotbecomeme:mywayistoconjureyou;andI’llbeginwiththewomen。Ichargeyou,Owomen,fortheloveyoubeartomen,tolikeasmuchofthisplayaspleaseyou:andIchargeyou,Omen,fortheloveyoubeartowomen——asIperceivebyyoursimpering,noneofyouhatesthem——thatbetweenyouandthewomentheplaymayplease。IfIwereawomanI
wouldkissasmanyofyouashadbeardsthatpleasedme,complexionsthatlikedmeandbreathsthatI
defiednot:and,Iamsure,asmanyashavegoodbeardsorgoodfacesorsweetbreathswill,formykindoffer,whenImakecurtsy,bidmefarewell。