As You Like It - Shakespeare

8/9/2019 As You Like It - Shakespeare

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The Pennsylvania State

Universitys Electronic ClassicsSeries

Senior Faculty Editor:

Jim Manis

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opportunity university.


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As You Like It by William Shakespeare, the Pennsylvania State University, Jim Manis,

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Copyright 1998 The Pennsylvania State University

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AS YOU LI KE ITby

William Shakespeare

(wr i t t en abou t 1599)

DRA MATI S PERSONAE

DUKE SENIOR: l iv ing in ban ishm en t .

DUKE FREDERICK: hi s broth er, an usurper of h i s do-

m i n i o n s .

AMIENS, JAQUES: lords att ending on th e banished duke.

LE BEAU: a cour t ie r a t t ending upon Freder ick .

CHARLES: wrest ler t o Frede rick.

OLIVER, ORLANDO, JAQUES (J AQUES DE BOYS): sons

of Sir Rowland de Boys.

ADAM DENNIS: servants to Oliver.

TOUCHSTONE: a clown.

SIR OLIVER MARTEXT: a vicar.

CORIN, SILVIUS: shepherds .

WILLIAM: a count ry fel low in love with Audrey.

A person represent ing HYMEN. (HYMEN)

ROSALIND: daugh t e r t o t h e ban i shed duke .

CELIA: dau ght er to Freder ick .

PHEBE: a sheph e rdes s.

AUDREY: a coun t ry wench .

Lords , pages , and a t tendants , &c.

(Forester, A Lord, First Lord, Second Lord, First Page

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and Second Page)

SCENE: Olivers h ou se; Du ke Frede ricks cou rt ; an d

the Forest of Arden.

ACT I

SCENE I: Orcha rd of Oli ve rs h ou se .

[Enter ORLANDO and ADAM. ]

ORLANDO: As I remem ber , Adam , it was up on t h

f a sh i on bequea t hed me by w i l l bu t poor a t housan

crowns , and, as thou sayes t , charged my brother , o

his b lessing, to breed me well : an d th ere begin s m

sadness . My b ro t h e r J aques he keeps a t s choo l, an

repor t speaks golden ly of h i s profi t : for my par t , hkeeps me rus t ica l ly a t home, or , to speak more prop

er ly , s tays me here a t home unkept ; for ca l l you tha

keep i ng fo r a gen t l eman o f my b i rt h , t h a t d i f fe r s no

f rom the s t a l ling of an ox? His horses are bred bet t e

for , bes ides tha t they are fa i r wi th the i r feeding, the

a r e t augh t t h e i r man age , and t o t h a t en d r ide r s dea r l

h i red : bu t I , h i s brot h e r, ga in n o t h i ng unde r h i m bugrowt h ; f o r t he whi ch h i s an i ma l s on h i s dungh i l

a r e a s much boun d t o h i m as I . Bes ides t h i s no t h i n

t ha t he so p l en t i f u l l y g i ves me , t he somet h i ng t ha

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As You Like I t Act I , scene i


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na t u re gave me h i s coun t enance s eems t o t ake f rom

me: he l e t s me f eed wi t h h i s h i nds , ba r s me t h e p l ace

o f a b r o t h e r , a n d , a s m u c h a s i n h i m l i e s , m i n e s

mygent i li ty with my educat ion. This is it , Adam, t h a t

gr ieves me; and the spi r i t of my fa ther , which I th ink

is wi thin me, begins to mut iny agains t th i s servi tude:I w il l no l onge r en dure i t , t hou gh ye t I know n o w ise

r emedy how t o avo i d i t .

ADAM: Yond er comes my ma ste r, your broth er .

ORLANDO: Go apa r t , Adam, and t h ou sha l t hea r how

he w il l shake me up .

[ Enter OLIVER. ]

OLIVER: Now, si r! wha t make you here ?

ORLANDO: Not h i ng : I am no t t au gh t t o make any

t h i n g .

OLIVER: Wha t mar you t hen , si r?

ORLANDO: Marry, s i r, I am he lping you to mar th at

whi ch God made , a poor unwor t hy b ro t he r o f your

wi th id leness .

OLIVER: Marry, s ir, be be t t er employed, an d be na ugh

awhile.

ORLANDO: Sha l l I keep your hogs and ea t h usks wi t

t h e m ? W h a t p r o d i g a l p o r t i o n h a v e I s p e n t , t h a t

s h o u l d

come t o such penury?

OLIVER: Know you where your are, s i r?

ORLANDO: O, s i r, very well ; he re in your orch ard.

OLIVER: Know you before whom , si r?

ORLANDO: Ay , be t t e r t han h i m I am be fo re know

me. I know you are my e ldes t brother ; and, in t he gen t l

condi t ion of b lood, you should so kn ow me. The cou

tesy of na t ions a l lows you my bet ter , in tha t you art he f i r s t - born ; bu t t he s ame t r ad i t i on t akes no t awa

my b lood , were t he r e t wen t y b ro t he r s be t w i x t us :

ha ve as much of my fa th er in m e as you; a lbe it , I con

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fess, your coming before me i s nearer to h i s reverence .

OLIVER: Wha t , boy!

ORLANDO: Come, come, e lder brot he r, you are too

young i n t h i s .

OLIVER: Wi lt t hou lay han ds on me, vi ll a in?

ORLANDO: I am no vi ll a in ; I am th e youn ges t son of Si r

Rowland de Boys; he was my father , and he is thr ice a

v i l l a i n t ha t s ays such a f a t he r bego t v i l l a i ns . Wer t

t h ou no t my b ro t he r , I wou l d no t t ake t h i s han d f rom

t hy t h roa t t i l l t h i s o t he r had pu l l ed ou t t hy t ongue

for saying so: th ou has t ra i led on thysel f .

ADAM: Sweet mas ters , be pa t ient : for your fa th er s

remembrance , be a t accord.

OLIVER: Let me go, I say.

ORLANDO: I wi ll not , t i ll I p lease : you shal l hea r me.

My fa th er charged you in h i s wil l to g ive me good ed u-

ca t i on : you have t r a i ned me l ike a peasan t , obscur i ng

an d hiding from me a ll gen t leman - l ike qual it i es . Th

spi r i t of my fa ther grows s t rong in me, and I wi l l n

longer en dure i t : t he refore a llow me such exerc i ses a

may become a gen t l eman , o r g ive me t h e poor a l lo t t e r

my f a t he r l e f t me by t e s t amen t ; w it h t h a t I w il l go bu

my fo rt un es .

OLIVER: And wha t w il t t h ou do? beg , when t ha t

spen t ? Well , s i r, get you in : I will not long be t rouble

with y ou; you shal l ha ve some par t of your wil l:

pray you, leave me.

ORLANDO: I wi ll no fu r t h e r o ff end you t h an become

me for my good.

OLIVER: Get you with h im, you old dog.

ADAM: Is old dog my reward? Most t ru e, I h ave los

my tee t h in your service . God be with my old mas te

he woul d no t have spoke such a word .

[ Exeun t ORLANDO an d A DAM. ]

OLIVER: I s i t even so? begin you to grow upon me ?

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wi l l phys i c your r ankness , and ye t g i ve no t housand

crowns ne i th er. Holla, Den n is!

[Enter DENNIS. ]

DENNIS: Cal ls you r worsh ip?

OLIVER: Was not Ch arles, t he d uk es wrest ler, here t o

speak w i t h me?

DENNIS: So p lease you , he is he r e a t t h e door and

i mpor t unes acces s t o you .

OLIVER: Call h im in .

[Exit DENNIS. ]

Twil l be a good way; and to-morrow the wrest l ing is .

[ Enter CHARLES. ]

CHARLES: Good morrow to your worship .

OLIVER: Good Mon sieur Cha rles, what s th e n ew ne ws at

t h e n e w c ou r t ?

CHARLES: Theres no news a t t he cour t , s ir, but t h

o ld news : t h a t i s, t he o l d duke i s ban i shed by h

younger b ro t he r t h e new duke ; and t h r ee o r four lov

ing lords have pu t t hem selves in t o volun tary exi le wi t

h i m , whose l ands and r evenues en r i ch t he new duketh erefore h e gives th em good leave to wander .

OLIVER: Can you t e l l i f Rosal ind , th e duke s daugh

t e r, be ban i shed w it h he r f a t he r ?

CHARLES: O, no; for th e du kes daugh te r, her cous in

so loves her , be ing ever f rom thei r c radles bred to

geth er, t ha t she would h ave followed her exi le , or hav

d i ed t o s t ay beh i nd he r. She i s a t t h e cour t , and n

l es s be loved o f he r unc l e t han h i s own d augh t e r ; an

never two ladies loved as they do.

OLIVER: Whe re wil l th e o ld duke l ive?

CHARLES: They say h e i s a l ready in t he fores t of Ardenand a many mer ry men w i t h h i m; and t he r e t hey l i v

l ike th e old Robin Hood of En gland: th ey say man

youn g gent lemen f lock to h im every day, and f lee t t h

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t ime care lessly, as t hey d id in t he golden world .

OLIVER: Wha t , you wres t le to-morrow before th e new

d u k e ?

CHARLES: Marry, do I, s ir ; and I came to acquaintyou with a mat ter . I am given , s ir, secre t ly to under -

s t and t h a t your youn ger b ro t h e r Or lando h a t h a d i spo-

s i t ion to come in d i sguised agains t me t o t ry a fa l l. To-

morrow, si r , I wrest le for my credi t ; and he that es-

capes me wi thout some broken l imb shal l acqui t h im

well . Your brother i s but you ng and t ender ; and, for

your love, I would be loath to foi l him, as I must , for

my own h onor , i f he come in : th erefore, out of my

l ove t o you , I came h i t he r t o acqua i n t you w i t ha l ,

t ha t e i t he r you mi gh t s t ay h i m f rom h i s i n t endment

or brook such di sgrace wel l as he shal l run in to , in

t ha t i t i s a t h i ng o f h i s own sea r ch and a l t oge t he r

agains t my wi l l.

OLIVER: Char les , I th ank t hee for th y love to me, whichth ou shal t f ind I wil l most k ind ly requi te . I ha d mysel f

no t i ce o f my b ro t h e r s purpose he r e i n an d h ave by un -

de rhan d mean s labored t o d i ssuade h i m f rom i t , bu t h e

is resolut e. I l l te l l th ee, Ch arles: i t is th e stu bborn es

young fe l low of France , fu l l of ambi t ion, an enviou

e m u l a t o r o f e v e r y m a n s g o o d p a r t s , a s e c r e t a n

v i l l anous con t r i ve r aga i ns t me h i s na t u r a l b ro t he

therefore use thy di scre t ion; I had as l i e f thou dids

break hi s neck as h i s f inger . And t hou wer t bes t lootot ; for if th ou d os t h im any s l ight d i sgrace or if he d

not might i ly grace himsel f on thee , he wi l l prac t ic

aga ins t t hee by po i son , en t r ap t hee by some t r eache

ous dev ice and n eve r leave t h ee t i ll he h a t h t a en t h

l ife by some indi rec t mean s or o t her ; for, I assure t hee

and a l mos t w i t h t ea r s I speak i t , t he r e i s no t one s

young and so vi l l anous th i s day l iv ing. I speak bu

bro t he r l y o f h i m; bu t sh ou l d I ana t omi ze h i m t o t h e

as he i s , I mus t b l ush and weep and t hou mus t l oo

pale and wonder.

CHARLES: I am hear t i ly g lad I came hi th er to you.

he come to-m orrow, Il l give h im h is paym en t : i f eve

he go a lone again , I l l never wres t le for pr ize more

an d so God keep your worship!

OLIVER: Farewell, good Charles.

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[Exit CHARLES. ]

Now wil l I s t i r th is gam est er : I h ope I sh al l see an

end of h im; for my soul , ye t I know not why, ha tes

not hin g more than he . Yet he s gent le , never schooled

a n d y e t l e a r n e d , f u l l o f n o b l e d e v i c e , o f a l l s o r t se n c h a n t i n g l y b e l o v e d , a n d i n d e e d s o m u c h i n t h e

hear t of the wor ld , and especia l ly of my own people ,

who bes t know h i m, t ha t I am a l t oge t he r mi sp r i s ed :

but i t sha l l not be so long; th i s wres t ler shal l c lear

a l l: no t h i ng r ema ins bu t t h a t I k i nd l e t h e boy t h i t he r ;

which now I l l go about .

[ Exit. ]

SCENE II: Law n be fo re the Duk e s palace .

[Enter CELIA and ROSALIND. ]

CELIA: I pray th ee, Rosal ind, sweet my coz, be merry.

ROSALIND: Dear Cel ia , I show more mir th t h an I am

mis t ress of ; an d would you yet I were merr ier? Un-

less you could teach me to forget a banished fa the

y o u m u s t n o t l e a r n m e h o w t o r e m e m b e r a n y e x

t r ao rd i na ry p l easu re .

CELIA: Here i n I s ee t hou l oves t me no t w i t h t he fu

weight t ha t I love th ee . I f my un cle , th y banishefa t he r , had ban i shed t hy unc l e , t he duke my f a t he

so t hou h ads t been s t i l l w it h me , I cou l d have t augh

my love t o t ake t h y fa t h e r fo r mine : so woul dst t hou

i f t h e t r u t h o f t hy l ove t o me were so ri gh t eous ly t em

pered a s mine i s t o t h ee .

ROSALIND: Wel l , I wi ll forget t he con di t ion of m

es ta te , to re jo ice in yours .

CELIA: You kn ow my fa th er ha t h n o chi ld but I , no

non e is l ike to have: and, t ru ly, when he dies , th o

sha l t be h i s he i r, f o r wha t he h a t h t aken away f rom t h

fa ther per force , I wi l l render thee again in af fec t ion

by mine honor , I wi l l ; and when I break tha t oa th , l e

me tu rn monst er : th erefore , my sweet Rose , my deaRose, be merry.

ROSALIND: From hen ceforth I wil l, coz , and devis

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spor t s . Let m e see ; what t h in k you of fa ll in g in love?

CELIA: Marry, I pr i the e , do, to make spor t wi tha l : but

l ove no man i n good ea rnes t ; no r no fu r t h e r in spor t

ne i t he r t han w i t h s a f e t y o f a pure b l ush t hou mays t

in honor come of f again .

ROSALIND: Wha t sha l l be our spor t , t h en?

CELIA: Let us s i t and mock the good hou sewife For -

t une f rom he r whee l , t ha t he r g i f t s may hence fo r t h

be bes towed equal ly .

ROSALIND: I would we could do so , for he r benef i t s a re

might i ly misplaced, and th e boun t i fu l b l ind woman dot h

mos t mi s t ake i n h e r g if t s t o women .

CELIA: Tis t ru e; for th ose th at sh e mak es fair she scarce

m a k e s h o n e s t , a n d t h o s e t h a t s h e m a k e s h o n e s t s h e

makes very i l l - favoredly .

ROSALIND: Nay, now th ou goest f rom Fort un es of-

f ice to Natu res : For tu ne re igns in g i f t s of th e wor ld ,

no t i n t h e l ineamen t s o f Na t u re .

[ Enter TOUCHSTONE. ]

CELIA: No? when Natu re ha th made a fa ir c rea t ur

may she not by For tune fa l l in to the f i re? Though Na

t u re ha t h g i ven us w i t t o f l ou t a t For t une , ha t h no

For t une s en t i n t h i s foo l t o cu t o f f t he a rgument ?

ROSALIND: Indeed, th ere is For tu ne too h ard for Na

tu re , when For tu ne make s Natu res na t ura l the cut ter

off of Nat ur es wit.

CELIA: Peradventu re th i s i s not For tu nes work n ei the

but Natu res ; who p erce iveth our n a t ura l wit s t oo du

t o r eason o f such goddesses and h a t h s en t t h i s na t u r a

for our whe ts t one ; for a lways th e duln ess of th e fool

th e whet s tone of th e wit s . How now, wit ! whi th e

wander you?

TOUCHSTONE: Mis t ress , you mu st come away to you

fa t he r .

CELIA: Were you made th e messenger?

TOUCHSTONE: No, by mine hono r, but I was bid to com

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for you.

ROSALIND: Where lea rned you t h a t oa t h , foo l?

TOUCHSTONE: Of a cer ta in kn ight th a t swore by hi s

h o n o r t h e y w e r e g o o d p a n c a k e s a n d s w o r e b y h i shon or t h e mus t a rd was nau gh t : now Il l s t and t o i t ,

t h e pancakes were naugh t and t he mu s t a rd was good ,

and ye t was no t t he kn i gh t f o r sworn .

CELIA: How prove you t h a t , in t h e g rea t heap o f your

knowl edge?

ROSALIND: Ay, marry, now un muzzle you r wisdom.

TOUCHSTONE: St an d you bo t h for t h now: s t r oke your

chins , and swear by your beards tha t I am a knave .

CELIA: By our bea rds , i f we had t h em, t h ou a r t .

TOUCHSTONE: By my knavery, i f I had i t , the n I were ;b u t i f y o u s w e a r b y t h a t t h a t i s n o t , y o u a r e n o t

forsworn: no more was th i s kn ight swear ing by hi s

honor , f o r he neve r had any ; o r i f he had , he had

sworn i t away before ever he saw those pancakes o

t h a t m u s t a rd .

CELIA: Pr ith ee , who i st th a t th ou meanes t?

TOUCHSTONE: One t h a t o l d Frede r ick , your fa t hel oves .

CELIA: My fa t h e r s l o ve is e n o u g h t o h o n o r h i m

enough! speak no more of h im; you l l be whipped fo

t axa t i on on e o f t h ese days.

TOUCHSTONE: The more pi ty, th a t fools may not spea

wisely what wise men do fool ishly.

CELIA: By my t ro th , th ou sayes t t ru e ; for s ince th

l i t t l e wi t tha t fools have was s i l enced, the l i t t l e foo

e ry t ha t w i se men h ave makes a gr ea t show. Her

comes Monsieur Le Beau.

ROSALIND: Wi th h i s mou th ful l of ne ws.

CELIA: Which h e wil l put on us , as p igeon s feed th e

y o u n g .

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ROSALIND: The n sha l l we be ne ws-cramme d.

CELIA: Al l th e be t t er ; we shal l be th e more market -

able .

[Ent er LE BEAU. ]

Bon jou r, Mon sieur Le Beau : wh at s th e news?

LE BEAU: Fai r pr incess , you h ave los t mu ch good spor t .

CELIA: Sport! of wha t color?

LE BEAU: Wh at color, mad am! how shal l I an swer you?

ROSALIND: As wi t and for tun e wil l.

TOUCHSTONE: Or as the Dest inies decree.

CELIA: Well said: t h at was laid on with a t rowel .

TOUCHSTONE: Nay, i f I keep n ot my ran k,

ROSALIND: Thou loses t th y old smel l.

LE BEAU: You am aze me, ladies: I would have to ld yo

of good wres t l ing, which you have los t the s ight of .

ROSALIND: You te l l us the ma nn er of th e wres t l ing

LE BEAU: I wi ll t e l l you t he begin nin g; and, i f it p leasyour l adysh i ps , you may see t he end ; f o r t he bes t i

ye t t o do ; and h e re , where you a r e , t h ey a r e comi ng t

per form i t .

CELIA: Wel l, the beginn ing, tha t i s dead and bu r ied

LE BEAU: Th e r e co m e s a n o l d m a n a n d h i s t h r e

s o n s ,

CELIA: I could mat ch th i s beginn ing wi th an old ta l

LE BEAU: Three proper youn g men, of excel lent growt

and presence .

ROSALIND: With bi l ls on t h eir n ecks, Be it kn owun to a l l men by th ese presents .

LE BEAU: The e ldes t of th e th ree wrest led wi th Char le

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th e du kes wrest ler ; which Cha r les in a mom en t t hrew

hi m and b roke t h r ee o f h i s r i bs , t ha t t he r e i s l i t t l e

hop e of l ife in h im: so he served th e second , and so

th e th i rd . Yonder they l ie ; th e poor o ld man, th e i r

f a t he r , mak i ng such p i t i f u l do l e ove r t hem t ha t a l l

t h e beho l de r s t ake h i s pa r t w i t h weep i ng .

ROSALIND: Alas!

TOUCHSTONE: But what i s th e spor t , monsieur , th a t

t h e l ad ie s have l os t ?

LE BEAU: Why, th i s th a t I speak of .

TOUCHSTONE: Thu s men m ay grow wiser every day:

i t i s the f i r s t t ime tha t ever I heard breaking of r ibs

was sport for ladies.

CELIA: Or I , I promise th ee.

ROSALIND: Bu t i s t he r e any e ls e longs t o see t h i sb roken mus i c i n h i s s ides? i s t h e r e ye t ano t h e r do t e s

upo n r ib-breaking? Shal l we see th i s wres t l ing, cous in?

LE BEAU: You must , i f you s tay he re ; for here i s th

p l ace appo i n t ed fo r t he wres t li ng , and t hey a r e r ead

to per form i t .

CELIA: Yonde r, sure , th ey are coming: l e t us no

s t ay and see i t .

[Flou rish . Ent er DUKE FREDERICK, Lords, ORLANDO

CHARLES, and Attendants . ]

DUKE FREDERICK: Come on: s ince the yout h wil l no

be ent rea ted, h i s own per i l on hi s forwardness .

ROSALIND: I s yonde r t h e man?

LE BEAU: Even he , madam .

CELIA: Alas , he i s too youn g! ye t he looks succes

ful ly.

DUKE FREDERICK: How now, dau gh t e r and cous ina r e you c r ep t h i t h e r t o s ee t h e wrest l ing?

ROSALIND: Ay, my l iege, so please you give us leav

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DUKE FREDERICK: You wil l t ake l i t t le del igh t in i t , I can

t e l l you ; t he r e i s such odds in t he man . I n p i t y o f t h e

chal lenger s youth I would fa in d i ssuade him, but he

wil l not be en t rea t ed. Speak t o h im, ladies ; see i f you

can move h i m.

CELIA: Cal l h im hi t he r, good Monsieu r Le Beau .

DUKE FREDERICK: Do so: Ill n ot be by.

LE BEAU: Monsieu r th e ch al len ger, th e princesses cal l

for you.

ORLANDO: I a t t end t h em wit h a l l r e spec t and du t y .

ROSALIND: Youn g man , h ave you chal lenged Ch arles

t h e wres t le r ?

ORLANDO: No, fa i r pr incess ; he i s th e genera l chal -

l enge r : I come bu t i n , a s o t h e r s do , t o t r y wi t h h i m

t he s t r eng t h o f my you t h .

CELIA: Youn g gent lema n , your spi r it s a re too bold

for your yea rs. You h ave seen cruel proof of th is ma n s

s t ren gth : i f you saw yourse l f with your eyes or kne

your se lf w it h your j udgment , t h e f ea r o f your adven

tu re would counsel you t o a more equal ent erpr i se. W

pray you , f o r your own sake , t o embrace your ow

sa fe t y an d g i ve ove r t h i s a t t empt .

ROSALIND: Do, youn g s ir ; your reput a t ion shal l no

th erefore be mispr i sed: we wi ll make i t our sui t t

t he duke t ha t t he wres t l i ng mi gh t no t go fo rward .

ORLANDO: I beseech you , pun i sh me no t w it h you

hard thoughts ; where in I confess me much gui l ty , t

deny so fa i r and excel lent l adies any th ing. But l e

your fa i r eyes and gent le wishes go wi th me to m

tr ia l : where in i f I be fo iled , the re is but on e shame

t ha t was neve r g r ac i ous ; i f k i l l ed , bu t one dead t ha

was will ing to be so: I sha l l do my fr iend s no wrong

for I have none to lament me, the wor ld no in jury

for in i t I have nothing; only in the wor ld I f i l l up

place, which may be bet t er suppl ied when I have mad

i t empty.

ROSALIND: The l it t le s t rength th a t I have , I would

were wi th you.

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CELIA: And mi ne , t o eke ou t h e r s .

ROSALIND: Fare you well : pray heaven I be deceived

i n you!

CELIA: You r heart s desires be with yo u!

CHARLES: Come, where i s th i s youn g gallant t ha t i s so

des irous t o l i e w it h h i s mot h e r ea r t h?

ORLANDO: Ready, s ir ; bu t h is will h at h in i t a more

modes t work i ng .

DUKE FREDERICK: You sh al l t ry but on e fal l .

CHARLES: No, I war rant you r grace , you shal l not

en t r ea t h i m t o a s econd , t ha t have so mi gh t i l y pe r -

suaded him f rom a f i r s t .

ORLANDO: An you mean to mock me after , you shou ld

no t h ave mocked me be fo re : bu t come your ways.

ROSALIND: Now Hercules be th y speed, youn g man!

CELIA: I would I were invis ib le , to ca tch t he s t rong

fe l low by the leg .

[They wrestle. ]

ROSALIND: O excel len t young man!

CELIA: I f I had a th un derbol t in mine eye , I can te

who shou l d down.

[ Shou t. CHARLES is th rown . ]

DUKE FREDERICK: No more, no more.

ORLANDO: Yes, I beseech you r grace: I am not ye

wel l brea thed.

DUKE FREDERICK: How dos t th ou, Cha r les?

LE BEAU: He can not speak , my lord .

DUKE FREDERICK: Bear h im away. Wha t is th y na my o u n g m a n ?

ORLANDO: Or lando, my l iege; th e youn ges t son of S

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Rowlan d d e Boys.

DUKE FREDERICK: I wou ld t hou h ads t been son t o

some man e l s e :

The wor ld es teemd thy fa ther honorable ,

But I d id f ind him s t i l l mine enemy:Thou shou l ds t have be t t e r p l eased me w it h t h i s deed ,

Hads t t hou descended f rom ano t he r house .

B u t f a r e t hee we l l ; t hou a r t a ga l l an t you t h :

I would thou hads t to ld me of another fa ther .

[Exeunt DUKE FREDERICK, train, and LE BEAU. ]

CELIA: Were I my fath er , coz, would I do th is?

ORLANDO: I am more pro ud t o be Sir Rowland s son ,

H is younges t son ; and would no t change t ha t ca ll ing ,

To be adopted heir to Frederick.

ROSALIND: My fath er loved Sir Rowland a s his soul ,

And al l th e world was of my fath ers mind :Had I be fo re known t h i s young man h i s son ,

I shou l d have g i ven h i m t ea r s un t o en t r ea t i e s ,

Ere he shou l d t hus have ven t u r ed .

CELIA: Gen tle cousin,

Le t us go t h ank h i m and encourage h i m:

My fa th er s rough an d en vious di spos it ion

Sticks me at hea rt . Sir, you h ave well deserved :

I f you do keep your promises in love

But just ly, as you have exceeded al l promise,Your m istress sha l l be h app y.

ROSALIND: Gent leman,

[ Giving him a chain from her neck. ]

Wear th i s for me, one out of sui t s wi th for tune ,

That could give more , but tha t her hand lacks means

Shal l we go, coz?

CELIA: Ay. Fare you well, fair gent leman

ORLANDO: Can I not say, I th an k you? My bett er parts

Are a ll t h rown down, an d t h a t wh i ch he r e s t an ds up

Is but a quinta in , a mere l i fe less b lock.

ROSALIND: He cal ls us back: my pride fel l with my

for tunes ;

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Il l ask h im what h e would. Did you cal l , s i r?

Sir , you have wrest led well and overthrown

More t h an your enem i es.

CELIA: Will you go, coz?

ROSALIND: Have with you. Fare you well .

[Exeunt ROSALIND and CELIA . ]

ORLANDO: What passion han gs th ese weight s upon my

t o n g u e ?

I cannot speak to her , ye t she urged conference .

O poor Or lando, thou ar t over thrown!

Or Char les or something weaker mas ters thee .

[Re -e n t er LE BEAU. ]

LE BEAU: Good sir, I do in fr ien dsh ip counsel you

To leave th is place. Albei t you h ave deserved

High commendat ion, t rue applause and love ,Yet such is now th e du kes condit ion

Tha t he mi scons t rues a ll t h a t you have done .

The d uke i s hu morous ; wha t he i s i ndeed ,

More sui t s you t o conceive than I to speak of .

ORLANDO: I th ank you, sir: and, pray you, tell me th is:

Whi ch o f t he t wo was daugh t e r o f t h e duke

Tha t he r e was a t t he wrest l ing?

LE BEAU: Neith er his dau ght er, if we judge by man ners;

Bu t ye t i ndeed t h e l e sse r is h i s daugh t e r

The o t he r i s daugh t e r t o t h e ban i sh d duk e ,

And here de ta ind by her usurping uncle ,

To keep hi s dau ght er company; whose loves

Are dea re r t han t h e n a t u r a l bond o f s is t e r s .

Bu t I can t e ll you t h a t o f l a t e t h i s duke

Hath taen di spleasure ga ins t h i s gen t le n iece ,

Grounded up on n o o t he r a rgument

But t h a t t he peop l e p r a is e he r f o r he r v ir t ues

And pi ty h er for her good fa th er s sake;

And , on my l i fe , h i s mal ice ga ins t th e lady

Will sudde n ly break fort h . Sir, fare you well :

Hereaf ter, in a be t ter wor ld t ha n t h i s ,

I sha l l des i re more love an d kn owledge of you.

ORLANDO: I rest much boun den t o you: fare you well .

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[Exit LE BEAU. ]

Thu s mus t I fr om t he smoke i n t o t he smot h e r ;

Fr o m t y r an t d u k e u n t o a t y r an t b r ot h e r :

But heavenly Rosal ind!

[ Exit. ]

SCENE III: A room in th e pa lace.

[Enter CELIA and ROSALIND. ]

CELIA: Why, cous in ! why, Rosal ind ! Cup id h ave

mercy! not a word?

ROSALIND: Not one t o t h row a t a dog .

CELIA: No , t hy words a r e t oo p r ec ious t o be cas t

away upon cur s ; t h row some o f t hem a t me ; come ,

l ame me w i t h r easons .

ROSALIND: The n th ere were two cous ins la id up; when

t he one shou l d be l amed w i t h r easons and t he o t he

mad w it hou t an y.

CELIA: But i s a ll th i s for your fa th er?

ROSALIND: No, some of it is for my ch ilds fat he r. Ohow ful l of br iers is this working-day world!

CELIA: They a r e bu t bu r s , cous in , t h rown upon t he

i n ho l iday fool e ry : i f we wa l k no t i n t h e t r odde

pa t h s our ve ry pe t t i coa t s w il l ca t ch t hem.

ROSALIND: I could shake them of f my coat : th es

burs are in my hear t .

CELIA: Hem them away.

ROSALIND: I wou ld t ry, if I could cry he m an d h av

h i m .

CELIA: Come, come, wrest le with t hy affect ions.

ROSALIND: O, they take th e par t of a be t t er wres t le

t han myse l f !

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CELIA: O, a good wish up on you ! you will t ry in t ime,

in despi te of a fa l l. But , tu rning th ese jes t s out of

service , le t u s t a lk in good earn es t : i s i t poss ible , on

such a sudden, you should fa l l in to so s t rong a l ik ing

with old Sir Rowlands youngest son?

ROSALIND: The d uke my fa ther loved h i s fa ther dear ly.

CELIA: Dot h i t t h e r e fo r e ensue t h a t you shou l d love

his son dear ly? By th i s k ind of chase , I shou ld hat e

h i m, fo r my f a t he r ha t ed h i s fa t he r dea r l y ; ye t I ha t e

not Or lando.

ROSALIND: No, fa i th , ha t e h im not , for my sake .

CELIA: Why should I not ? doth h e not deserve well?

ROSALIND: Let me love him for th a t , an d do you love

him because I do. Look, here comes the du ke.

CELIA: With h is eyes ful l of an ger.

[ Enter DUKE FREDERICK, with Lords . ]

DUKE FREDERICK: Mist ress , d ispatch you wi th you r

safest h as te

And get you f rom our cour t .

ROSALIND: Me, un cle?

DUKE FREDERICK: You , cou si

Wi t h i n t hese t en days i f t ha t t h ou be s t f ound

So near our publ ic cour t as twenty mi les ,

Thou dies t for i t .

ROSALIND: I do beseech your grace ,

Le t m e t h e kn owledge o f my f au l t bea r w it h me :

I f wi th mysel f I hold in t e l ligence

Or have acquaint an ce with mine own d es i res ,

I f t h a t I do no t d r eam or be no t f r an t i c ,

As I do t r us t I am n o t t h en , dea r un c le ,

Never so much a s in a t h ough t un born

Did I of fen d you r h ighn ess .

DUKE FREDERICK: Th us do al l t ra i torI f the i r purgat ion did cons i s t in words ,

The y are as inn ocent as grace it se l f :

Le t i t su f fi ce t h ee t h a t I t r us t t h ee no t .

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ROSALIND: Yet your mistrust cann ot make me a t rator:

Tel l me whereon th e l ike lihood dep end s .

DUKE FREDERICK: Thou ar t thy fa th er s dau ght er ;

t h e r e s en ough .

ROSALIND: So was I when your highn ess took his duke-

dom;

So was I when your h ighness banishd him:

Treason i s not inher i ted , my lord;

Or, i f we did derive i t f rom our fr iends,

Wha t s tha t to me? my fa th er was no t ra itor :

Then, good my l iege , mis take me not so much

To th ink my pover ty i s t reacherous .

CELIA: Dear sovere ign, hea r me speak.

DUKE FREDERICK: Ay, Celia; we st ayd her for your sake,

El se h ad she w it h he r f a t h e r r anged a l ong .

CELIA: I d id n o t t h e n e n t r e a t t o h a v e h e r st a y ;I t was your p leasure and your own remorse :

I was t oo young t ha t t i me t o va l ue he r ;

But now I know her : i f she be a t ra i tor,

Why so am I; we st i l l have slept together ,

Rose a t an ins tant , l earnd , p layd , ea t toget her ,

And wheresoever we went , l ike J un os swans ,

St i l l we went coupled and inseparable .

DUKE FREDERICK: She i s t oo sub t l e fo r t hee ; and hes m o o t h n e s s ,

Her very s i l ence and her pa t ience

Speak t o t he peop l e , and t hey p i t y he r .

Thou ar t a fool: she robs th ee of th y name;

And thou wilt show more bright and seem more virtuou

When sh e is gone . Then op en not t hy lips :

Firm and i rrevocable is my doom

Which I have passd upon her; she is banishd.

CELIA: Pronoun ce t h a t s en t en ce t hen on me , my li eg

I cannot l ive out of her company.

DUKE FREDERICK: You are a fool. You , n iece, provid

y o u r s e l f :

I f you ou t s t ay t he t i me , upon mi ne honor ,And in the grea tness of my word, you die .

[ Exeunt DUKE FREDERICK and Lords . ]

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CELIA: O my poor Rosal ind , whi th er wil t th ou go?

Wilt th ou chan ge fa th ers? I wil l g ive th ee mine .

I cha rge t hee , be no t t hou more g r i eved t han I am.

ROSALIND: I ha ve more cause .

CELIA: Thou has t no t , cousi n ;

Pri t hee be chee r fu l : knows t t h ou no t , t he duk e

Ha t h ban i sh d me , h i s daugh t e r ?

ROSALIND: Th a t h e h a t h n o t .

CELIA: No, ha th n ot? Rosal ind lacks th en th e love

Wh i ch t e a ch e t h t h e e t h a t t h o u a n d I am o n e :

Shal l we be sun derd? sha l l we part , sweet gir l?

No: le t my fa t her seek anoth er he i r.

Therefore devise with me how we may f ly,

Whi t h e r t o go and wh a t t o bea r wi t h u s ;

And do n o t s eek t o t ake your chan ge upon you ,

To bear your griefs yourself and leave me out ;

For, by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale,Say wha t t hou cans t , I l l go a long wi th t he e .

ROSALIND: Why, whit he r sha l l we go?

CELIA: To seek my uncle in t he forest of Arden .

ROSALIND: Alas, what dan ger wi ll i t be to us ,

Maids as we are, to t ravel for th so far!

B eau t y p rovoke t h t h i eves soone r t han go l d .

CELIA: I l l pu t mysel f in poor and mean a t t i re

And wi th a k ind of umber smirch my face;

The l ike do you: so sha l l we pass a long

And never s t i r assa i lant s .

ROSALIND: Were i t not be t t er,

Because t ha t I am more t h an common t a l l,

That I d id sui t me a l l point s l ike a man?

A gal lant cur t le -axe upon my thigh,

A boa r -spea r in my han d ; and i n my hea r t

Lie there what h idden womans fear there wi l l

Wel l have a swashing and a mart ial outside,

As many other mannish cowards have

That do out face i t wi th the i r semblances .

CELIA: Wha t sh a ll I ca ll t h ee when t h ou a r t a man?

ROSALIND: I l l h ave no worse a nam e th an J oves

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own page ;

And therefore look you cal l me Ganymede.

But what wil l you be cal l d?

CELIA: Somet h i ng t h a t ha t h a re f e rence t o my s t a t e

No longer Cel ia, but Aliena.

ROSALIND: But , cous in , what i f we assayd to s te a l

The c lownish fool out of your fa ther s cour t?

Would he not be a comfor t to our t ravel?

CELIA: Hel l go along oer th e wide world with m e;

Leave me alone t o woo him. Let s away,

And get our j ewels and our weal th together ,

Devise the f i t t es t t ime and safes t way

To hide us f rom pursui t tha t wi l l be made

Afte r my fl ight . Now go we in cont en t

To l iber ty and not to banishment .

[ Exeunt . ]

ACT II

SCENE I: Th e Fore s t of Arde n .

[Enter DUKE SENIOR, AMIENS, and two or three Lordslike foresters. ]

DUKE SENIOR: Now, my co-mat es and broth ers in exile

Ha t h n o t o l d cus t om m ade t h i s li fe more swee t

Than t ha t o f pa in t ed pomp? Are no t t hese woods

More f ree f rom per i l than the envious cour t?

Here fee l we but the penal ty of Adam,The seasons difference, as the icy fang

And chur l i sh chiding of the winter s wind,

Which, when i t b i tes and blows upon my body,

Even t i l l I shr ink with cold , I smi le and say

Th is is n o f lat t ery: t h ese are coun sel lors

That fee l ingly persuade me what I am.

Sweet are the uses of adversi ty,

Whi ch , l ike t he t oad , u g ly an d venomou s ,

Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;

And th i s our l i fe exempt f rom publ ic haunt

Fi nds t ongu es in t r ees, books in t he runn i ng b rooks

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Sermons i n s t ones an d good i n eve ry t h i ng .

I wou l d no t change i t .

AMIENS: Happy is your grace,

Tha t can t r ans l a t e t he s t ubbornnes s o f f o r t une

Into so quie t and so sweet a s ty le .

DUKE SENIOR: Come, sha l l we go an d ki l l us venison ?

And yet i t i rks me the poor dappled fools ,

Being nat ive burghers of th i s deser t c i ty ,

Shou l d i n t he i r own conf ines w i t h fo rked h eads

Have t he i r r ound haunches gored .

First Lord : Indeed, my lord ,

The me l ancho l y J aques g r i eves a t t ha t ,

And , i n t ha t k i nd , swea r s you do more usurp

Than do t h your b rot h e r t ha t ha t h ban i sh d you .

To-day my Lord of Amiens and myself

Did s tea l behind him as he lay a long

Under an oak whose an t i que roo t peeps ou t

Upon t he b rook t ha t b r awl s a l ong t h i s wood :To the which place a poor seques ter d s tag ,

Tha t f rom t he hu n t e r s a im h ad t a en a h ur t ,

Did come to languish , and indeed, my lord ,

The wret ched an i ma l heaved fo rt h such g roans

That the i r d i scharge did s t re tch hi s l ea thern coat

A l mos t t o bur s t i ng , and t he b i g round t ea r s

C our sed one ano t he r down h i s i nnocen t nose

In p i t eous chase ; and t hus t he ha i ry foo l

Much marked o f t he me l ancho l y J aques ,S t ood on t he ex t r emes t ve rge o f t he sw i f t b rook ,

Augmen t i ng i t w i t h t ea r s .

DUKE SENIOR: But what sa id Jaque s

Did he not moral ize th i s spectac le?

First Lord : O, yes, int o a th ousan d similes.

Fi r s t , for h i s weeping in to the needless s t ream;

Poor deer , quoth he, thou makest a testament

As worldl ings do, giving thy sum of more

To tha t which had too much : t hen , be ing th ere a lon

Lef t an d aban don d of h i s ve lvet f r ien ds ,

Tis r ight : qu ot h h e; th us misery dot h pa rt

The f lux of comp any : ano n a careless herd,

Ful l of the pas ture , jumps a long by himAnd never s t ays to g reet h im; Ay quot h Jaq ue s,

Sweep on , you fa t an d greasy c i t i zens ;

Tis just t h e fashion : whe refore do you look

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Up o n t h a t p o o r a n d b r ok e n b a n k r u p t t h e r e?

Thu s mos t i nvect i ve ly h e p i e r ce t h t h rough

The body of the count ry , c i ty , cour t ,

Yea, an d of th is our l ife, swearing t h at we

Are mere usu rpers, tyran ts an d wh at s worse,

To f r ight the animals and to k i l l them upIn the i r ass ignd and nat ive dwel l ing-place .

DUKE SENIOR: And d i d you l eave h i m in t h i s con-

t e m p l a t i o n ?

Second Lord : We did, my lord, weep ing and com-

m e n t i n g

Upon the sobbing deer .

DUKE SENIOR: Show me th e place :

I love to cope him in these sul len f i t s ,

For t he n he s ful l of mat t er .

First Lord : I l l br ing you to h im s t ra ight .

[ Exeunt . ]

SCENE II: A room in th e p alace .

[Enter DUKE FREDERICK, with Lords. ]

DUKE FREDERICK: Can i t be possible th a t n o man sa

t h e m ?I t can not be : some vil la ins of my cour t

Are of consent and suf ferance in th i s .

First Lord : I canno t h ea r of any t h a t d i d see he r.

The ladies , her a t tendants of her chamber ,

Saw he r abed , and i n t h e morn i ng ea r l y

They found t he bed un t r easured o f t he i r m i s t r e s s .

Second Lord : My lord, th e roynish clown, at who m so o

Your g race was wont to lau gh , is also missing.

Hisper ia , the pr incess gent lewoman,

Confesses tha t she secre t ly oerheard

Your dau ght er and he r cous in mu ch commen d

The par t s and graces of the wres t ler

That d id but l a te ly fo i l the s inewy Char les ;And she bel ieves , wherever they are gone,

That youth i s sure ly in the i r company.

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DUKE FREDERICK: Send t o h is b ro t her; fe t ch t ha t gal -

la n t h i t h e r ;

I f he be absen t , b r i ng h i s b ro t he r t o me ;

Il l ma ke him f ind h im: do th is sudden ly,

And l e t no t s ea rch an d i nqu i s it i on qua i l

To bring again these fool ish runaways.

[ Exeunt . ]

SCENE III: Be f ore OLIVERS ho u se.

[ Ent er ORLANDO an d ADAM, m eet in g . ]

ORLANDO: Wh os th ere?

ADAM: What , my young master? O, my gent le master!

O my sweet m ast er! O you memory

Of old Sir Rowland! why, wha t m ake you h ere?

Why are you vir tuou s? why do peop le love you?

And wherefore are you gent le , s t rong and val iant?

Why would you be so fond to overcomeThe bonny pr i ser of the humorous duke?

You r praise is come t oo swif t ly hom e before you .

Know you not , mas ter , to some kind of men

The i r graces serve th em bu t as en emies?

No more do you rs: your vir tu es, gen t le maste r,

Are sanct i f i ed and holy t ra i tors to you.

O, what a wor ld i s th i s , when what i s comely

Envenoms h i m t ha t bea r s i t !

ORLANDO: Why, what s th e mat t er?

ADAM: O un happy you t h !

Come not wi thin these doors ; wi th in th i s roof

The enemy of al l your graces l ives:

Your b ro t he r no, n o b ro t he r ; ye t t he son

Yet not th e son , I wi ll not ca ll h im son

Of him I was about to ca l l h i s fa ther

Hat h hea rd your p r a i s e s , and t h i s n i gh t he means

To burn the lodging where you use to l i e

And you wi th in it : i f he fa i l of th a t ,

He wi l l have other means to cut you of f .

I overheard him and hi s prac t ices .

This i s no place; th i s house i s but a butchery:

Abhor i t , f ea r it , do n o t en t e r i t .

ORLANDO: Why, whi t her , Adam , woulds t th ou have

me go?

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ADAM: No mat t er whi t her , so you come not h ere .

ORLANDO: Wha t , wou l ds t t hou have me go and beg

my food?

Or wi th a base and bois terous sword enforce

A t h i ev ish l iv ing on t h e common road?Thi s I mus t do , o r know no t wha t t o do :

Yet th is I will not do, do h ow I can ;

I ra ther wi l l subjec t me to the mal ice

Of a diverted blood and bloody brother .

ADAM: But do no t so . I have fi ve hun dred crowns ,

The thr i f ty h i re I saved under your fa ther ,

Which I d id s tore to be my fos ter -nurse

When service should in my old l imbs l ie lame

And unrega rded age i n co rne r s t h rown:

Take t h a t , and He t h a t do t h t he r avens f eed ,

Yea, provident ly cate rs for t he sparrow,

Be comfort to my age! Here is th e gold;

And a l l th i s I g ive you. Let me be your servant :

Though I l ook o l d , ye t I am s t rong and l us t y ;For in my youth I never d id apply

Hot and rebel l ious l iquors in my blood,

Nor did not wi th unbashful forehead woo

The m ean s of weakn ess and deb i li ty ;

Therefore my age is as a lusty winter ,

Fros ty, but k indly: le t me go with you;

I l l do the service of a younger man

In a l l your bus iness and necess i t i es .

ORLANDO: O good old man , how wel l in th ee appear

The cons tant service of the ant ique wor ld ,

When service sweat for duty , not for meed!

Thou a r t no t f o r t he f a sh i on o f t hese t i mes ,

Where none wi l l sweat but for promot ion,

And hav i ng t h a t , do ch oke t h e i r s e rvi ce up

Even with t he ha ving: i t is not so with t hee .

B u t , poor o l d man , t hou p runes t a r o t t en t r ee ,

That cannot so much as a b lossom yie ld

In l i eu of a l l thy pains and husbandry

But come thy ways ; wel l go a long together ,

And ere we have thy youthful wages spent ,

Wel l l ight upon some set t led low content .

ADAM: Mast er , go on, an d I will fol low the e,To the las t gasp, wi th t ru th and loyal ty .

From seventeen years t i l l now a lmost fourscore

Here l ived I , but now l ive here no more.

26

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At seven t een yea r s many t he i r fo r t un es s eek ;

But a t fourscore i t i s too la te a week:

Ye t f or t un e canno t r ecompense me be t t e r

Tha n to d ie well and not my mast er s debtor .

[ Exeunt . ]

SCENE IV: Th e Fore st o f Arde n .

[Enter ROSALIND for Ganymede, CELIA for Aliena,

and TOUCHSTONE. ]

ROSALIND: O Ju pi te r, how weary are my spir its!

TOUCHSTONE: I care not for my spi r i t s , i f my legs

were not weary.

ROSALIND: I could find in my hear t t o d i sgrace my

mans appare l and to cry l ike a woman; but I must

comfor t t he weake r ves sel , a s doub le t an d h ose ough t

to show it se l f courageous to pe t t i coat : th erefore cour -age, good Aliena!

CELIA: I p r a y yo u , b e a r w it h m e ; I c a n n o t g o n o

fur ther .

TOUCHSTONE: For my par t , I had ra th er bear with yo

th an bear you; ye t I shou ld bear no cross i f I d id bea

you, for I th ink you have no money in your purse .

ROSALIND: Well , th is is t he forest of Arden .

TOUCHSTONE: Ay, n ow am I in Arden; t he mo re fool

when I was a t home , I was i n a be t t e r p l ace : bu

t r ave l l e r s mus t be con t en t .

ROSALIND: Ay, be so, good Touch ston e.

[ Enter CORIN and SILVIUS. ]

Look you , who comes he r e ; a young man and an o l

i n so l emn t a l k .

CORIN: That i s th e way to make h er scorn you s t i ll

SILVIUS: O Corin , th at t h ou kn ewst how I do lov

h e r !

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CORIN: I part ly gu ess; for I h ave loved ere now.

SILVIUS: No, Cor in , be ing old , th ou cans t n ot gue ss,

Though i n t hy you t h t hou wast a s t r ue a l ove r

As ever s ighd upon a midnight p i l low:

But i f thy love were ever l ike to mineAs sure I th ink did never man love so

How many ac t ions most r id iculous

Has t t hou been d r awn t o by t hy f an t a sy?

CORIN: I n t o a t h o u s an d t h a t I h a v e f or go t t e n .

SILVIUS: O, thou dids t th en n eer love so hear t i ly!

I f th ou remem bers t n ot t he s l ightes t fo lly

Tha t eve r l ove d i d make t hee run i n t o ,

Thou has t no t l oved :

Or i f thou has t not sa t as I do now,

Wearying thy hearer in thy mistress praise,

Thou has t no t l oved :

Or i f thou has t not broke f rom company

Abrupt ly , as my pass ion now makes me,Thou has t no t l oved .

O Phebe, Phebe, Phebe!

[ Exit. ]

ROSALIND: Alas, poor sheph erd! searching of thy

w o u n d ,

I have by ha rd adven t u re found mi ne own.

TOUCHSTONE: And I mine . I remember , when I wa

in love I broke my sword upon a s tone and bid him

t a k e t h a t f o r c o m i n g a - n i g h t t o J a n e S m i l e ; a n d

r e m e m b e r t h e k i s s i n g o f h e r b a t l e t a n d t h e c o w

d u g s t h a t h e r p r e t t y c h o p t h a n d s h a d m i l k e d ; a n d

remember t he wooi ng o f a peascod i ns t ead o f he r

f r o m w h o m I t o o k t w o c o d s a n d , g i v i n g h e r t h e m

aga i n , s a i d w i t h weep i ng t ea r s Wear t hese fo r m

sake. We th a t a re t ru e lovers run in to s t ra nge ca

pers ; but as a l l i s mor ta l in na ture , so i s a l l na ture i

love mortal in fol ly.

ROSALIND: Thou speakest wiser than t hou ar t ware o

TOUCHSTONE: Nay, I sh all neer be ware of min e owwi t t i l l I break my shins agains t i t .

ROSALIND: Jove, Jove! t h is shep he rds passion

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I s much u pon my f a sh i on .

TOUCHSTONE: And m i ne ; bu t i t g rows somet h i ng s t a le

wi th me.

CELIA: I p r ay you , one o f you ques t i on yond manIf he for gold wil l give us any food:

I f a i n t a l mos t t o dea t h .

TOUCHSTONE: Holla, you clown!

ROSALIND: Peace, fool : he s not th y kinsm an .

CORIN: Wh o calls?

TOUCHSTONE: You r bet t ers, sir.

CORIN: Else are th ey very wretche d.

ROSALIND: Peace, I say. Good even to you , fr ien d.

CORIN: And t o you, gent le s ir, and to you a l l .

ROSALIND: I pr i the e , sheph erd, if th a t love or gold

Can i n t h i s dese r t p l ace buy en t e r t a i nment ,

Br ing us where we may res t ourse lves and feed:

Heres a young maid wi th t ravel much oppressd

And faints for succor.

CORIN: Fair sir, I pit y h erAnd w ish , f o r he r s ake more t h an fo r mine own,

My for tunes were more able to re l ieve her ;

B u t I am shephe rd t o ano t he r man

And do no t shea r t h e f leeces t h a t I g r aze :

My master is of churl ish disposi t ion

And l it t l e r ecks t o f i nd t he way t o h eaven

By doing deeds of hospi ta l i ty :

Besides, his cote, his f locks and bounds of feed

Are now on sa le , and a t our sheepcote now,

By reason of h i s absence , there i s nothing

That you wi l l feed on; but what i s , come see .

And in my voice most welcome shal l you be.

ROSALIND: Wha t i s h e th a t shal l buy hi s flock and

p a s t u r e ?

CORIN: Tha t youn g swa in t h a t you saw he re bu t

erewhi le ,

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That l i t t l e cares for buying any th ing.

ROSALIND: I pray thee , if i t st an d with h ones t y,

B uy t hou t he co t t age , pas t u r e and t he f l ock ,

And t hou sha l t have t o pay fo r i t o f us .

CELIA: And we wil l men d th y wages. I l ike th is place.

And wil l ingly could waste my t ime in i t .

CORIN: Assuredly th e th ing is to be sold:

Go with me: i f you l ike upon repor t

The soi l , the profi t and this kind of l i fe,

I wil l your very fai thful feeder be

And buy i t wi th your gold r ight suddenly .

[ Exeunt . ]

SCENE V: Th e Fore s t .

[Enter AMIENS, JAQUES, and others.]

SONG.

AMIENS: Under th e greenwood t ree

Who loves to l ie wi th me,

And t u rn h i s mer ry no t e

Unto the sweet b i rds throat ,

Come hi ther , come hi ther , come hi ther :

Here shal l he see

No enemyBut w in t e r and rough wea t he r .

JAQUES: More, more, I pr i th ee, more.

AMIENS: I t w il l m a k e yo u m e l a n c h o l y, Mo n s i e u

J a q u e s .

JAQUES: I th an k it . More , I pr i thee , more . I can suc

mel ancho l y ou t o f a song , a s a wease l sucks eggs

More, I pr i thee, more.

AMIENS: My voice is ragged: I kn ow I cann ot p leas

y o u .

JAQUES: I do not d es i re you to p lease me; I do des ire you to s ing. Come, more; anot her stan zo: ca

you em s tanzos?

30

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AMIENS: Wha t you wi ll , Mon sieur Jaqu es .

JAQUES: Nay, I care not for the i r names; they owe

me noth ing. Wi ll you sing?

AMIENS: More a t your reques t t han to p lease myself .

JAQUES: Wel l th en , i f ever I tha nk a ny man , I l l th an k

y o u ; b u t t h a t t h e y c a l l c o m p l i m e n t i s l i k e t h e e n -

coun t e r o f t wo dog-apes , and when a man t hanks me

hea r t i l y , me t h i nks I have g i ven h i m a penny and he

renders me the beggar ly thanks . Come, s ing; and you

t ha t w i l l no t , ho l d your t ongues .

AMIENS: Well , I l l end t he son g. Sirs , cover th e while;

t h e duke w il l d r ink u nde r t h i s t r ee . He ha t h been a l l

t h i s day t o l ook you .

JAQUES: An d I ha ve been a l l th i s day to avoid him.

He i s too di sputa ble for my company: I th ink of as

m a n y m a t t e r s a s h e , b u t I g i v e h e a v e n t h a n k s a n dmake no boas t of th em. Come, warble , come.

SONG.

Who do t h ambi t i on shun

[All t oget h er here. ]

And loves to l ive i the sun,

Seek i ng t he food he ea t s

And p l eased w i t h wha t he ge t s ,

Come hi ther , come hi ther , come hi ther :

Here shal l he see

No enemy

But w in t e r and rough wea t he r .

JAQUES: I l l g ive you a verse to th i s no te t ha t I mad

yes terday in despi te of my invent ion.

AMIENS: And Ill sing it .

JAQUES: Th us i t goes:

If i t do come to pass

Tha t any man t u rn a s s ,

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As You Like I t Act I I scene vi


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Leaving h i s weal th an d ease ,

A stu bborn wil l to p lease ,

Ducdame, ducdame, ducdame:

Here shal l he see

Gross fools as he,

An if he wil l come to me.

AMIENS: Wh at s th at du cdam e?

JAQUES: Tis a Greek in vocat ion, t o cal l fools in to a

circle. Ill go slee p, if I can ; if I can no t , Ill rail again st

a l l the f i r s t -born of Egypt .

AMIENS: And I l l go seek th e duk e: h i s ban quet i s

p r e p a r e d .

[Exeunt severally . ]

SCENE VI: Th e f ore st .

[Enter ORLANDO and ADAM.]

ADAM: Dear mast er , I can go no furt her . O, I die for

f o o d !

Here l ie I down, an d measure ou t my grave . Farewel

kind master .

ORLANDO: Why, how now, Adam ! no great er hea rt i

thee? Live a l i t t l e ; comfor t a l i t t l e ; cheer thyse l f

l i t t l e . I f th i s uncouth fores t y ie ld any th ing savage , wi l l e i ther be food for i t or br ing i t for food to thee

Thy concei t i s nearer death than thy powers . For m

sake be comfor table ; hold death awhi le a t the arm

en d: I wil l he re be with th ee present ly ; an d i f I br in

t hee no t somet h i ng t o ea t , I w i l l g i ve t hee l eave t

d ie : but i f thou dies t before I come, th ou ar t a mocke

of my labor. Well said! th ou lookest chee rly, and I

be wi th th ee qu ickly. Yet th ou l i es t in t he bleak a i

come, I wi l l bear thee to some shel ter ; and thou sha

not d ie for l ack of a d inner , i f there l ive any th ing i

th is desert . Chee rly, good Adam !

[ Exeunt . ]

SCENE VII: Th e fo re s t.

[A t able set ou t . En t er DUKE SENIOR, AMIENS, an d

Lo rd s li k e ou t la ws. ]

As You Like I t Act I I , scene v i

As You Like I t Act I I , scene vi i


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DUKE SENIOR: I th ink he be t ran sformd in to a beas t ;

For I can n o where f ind h im like a man .

First Lord : My lo rd , he is bu t even n ow gone hen ce :

Here was he merry, hearing of a song.

DUKE SENIOR: If he, comp act of jars, grow musical ,

We shal l have shor t ly d i scord in the spheres .

Go, seek him: te l l h im I would speak with him.

[Enter JAQUES. ]

First Lord : He saves my labor by h is own app roach.

DUKE SENIOR: Why, how now, mon sieur! wha t a life is

t h i s ,

That your poor f r iends must woo your company?

What , you look merr i ly!

JAQUES: A fool , a fool! I me t a fool i th e forest ,

A motley fool ; a miserable world!As I do l ive by food, I met a fool

Who la id h im down and baskd him in the sun,

And ra i ld on Lady For tun e in good t erms,

In good se t t e rms and ye t a mot l ey foo l.

Goo d m orrow, fool, qu ot h I. No, sir, qu ot h h e,

Cal l me n ot fool t i l l he aven h ath sent me for tu ne :

And then he drew a dia l f rom his poke,

And, looking on i t wi th lack- lus t re eye ,

Says very wisely, It is ten oclock:Thus we may see, quoth he, how the world wags:

Tis but an hour ago since i t was nine,

And af ter one hour more twi l l be e leven;

And so , f rom hour to hour , we r ipe and r ipe ,

And t hen , f rom hou r t o hou r, we rot an d ro t ;

And t he reby han gs a tale. When I did hear

The mot ley fool thus moral on the t ime,

My lungs began to crow l ike chant icleer ,

That fools should be so deep-contempla t ive ,

And I d id laugh sans in termiss ion

An h ou r by his dial . O n oble fool!

A wort hy fool! Mot leys t he on ly wear.

DUKE SENIOR: Wh at fool is th is?

JAQUES: O worth y fool! One th at ha th been a court ie

And says, i f ladies be but young and fair ,

They h ave t he g i ft t o kn ow it : and i n h i s b r a in ,

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As You Like I t Act I I , scene v i i



34/88

Which i s as dry as t he remaind er b i scui t

Af ter a voyage, he ha th s t range places crammd

Wi t h obse rva t i on , t h e whi ch he ven t s

In man gled forms. O th a t I were a fool !

I am ambi t ious for a mot ley coat .

DUKE SENIOR: Thou shal t have one .

JAQUES: I t i s my only sui t ;

P rov i ded t ha t you weed your be t t e r j udgment s

Of a l l opinion tha t grows rank in them

Tha t I am wise . I must h ave liber ty

Withal , as l a rge a char ter as the wind,

To blow on whom I please; for so fools have;

And they tha t a re most ga l led wi th my fol ly ,

They most must l augh . And why, s ir, must th ey so?

The why is plain as way to parish church:

He tha t a fool doth very wise ly hi t

Doth very fool i shly , a l though he smar t ,

Not to seem senseless of th e bob: i f not ,

The wise mans fol ly is anatomizedEven by the squander ing glances of the fool .

Inves t me in my mot ley; g ive me leave

To speak my mind, and I wi l l through and through

Cleanse t h e foul body of th e infec ted wor ld ,

If they wil l pat ient ly receive my medicine.

DUKE SENIOR: Fie on th ee! I can tell what t hou woulds

d o .

JAQUES: What , for a count er, would I do but good?

DUKE SENIOR: Most mischievous foul sin , in chiding sin

For thou thysel f has t been a l iber t ine ,

As sensual as the brut i sh s t ing i t se l f ;

And a l l the embossed sores and headed evi l s ,

Tha t t h ou w i t h l icense o f fr ee foo t h as t caugh t ,

Woulds t thou di sgorge in to the genera l wor ld .

JAQUES: Why, who cr ies out on pride,

Tha t can t he r e in t ax any p r iva t e pa r t y?

Doth i t not f low as hugely as the sea ,

Ti l l tha t the weary very means do ebb?

What woman i n t h e c it y do I n ame ,

When t ha t I s ay t he c i t y -woman bea r sThe cos t of pr inces on unwor thy shoulders?

Who can come in and say t ha t I mean h e r,

When such a on e a s she such i s he r n e i ghbor?

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Or what i s he of bases t fun ct ion

That says h i s bravery i s not of my cos t ,

Th i nk i ng t ha t I mean h i m, bu t t he r e i n su i t s

His fo l ly to the met t le of my speech?

There t hen ; how t hen ? wha t t h en? Le t me see where i n

My tongu e hat h wrongd him: i f i t do h im r ight ,Then he hath wrongd himsel f ; i f he be f ree ,

Why then my taxing l ike a wild-goose f l ies ,

Unclaimd of any man . But wh o comes here?

[Enter ORLANDO, with his sword drawn . ]

ORLANDO: Forbear, and ea t no more .

JAQUES: Why, I h ave ea t non e yet .

ORLANDO: Nor sha l t not , t i ll n ecess ity be served.

JAQUES: Of what k ind shou ld th i s cock come of?

DUKE SENIOR: Ar t th ou th us bolden d, man, by th yd i s t r e s s ,

Or e l se a rude despiser of good manners ,

That in c iv i l i ty thou seems t so empty?

ORLANDO: You tou chd my vein at f i rs t : th e th orny

po i n t

Of bare d i st ress ha th ta en f rom me t he show

Of smooth c ivi li ty : ye t am I in lan d bred

And kn ow some nur t ure . But forbear, I say:

He dies tha t touches any of th i s f ru i tTi l l I and my affairs are answered.

JAQUES: An you wil l not be an swered with reason ,

must d ie .

DUKE SENIOR: What wou ld you have? You r gen t leness

shal l force

More t han your fo r ce move us t o gen t l enes s .

ORLANDO: I a lmost d ie for food; an d le t me h ave it

DUKE SENIOR: Sit down and feed, and welcome to our

t ab l e .

ORLANDO: Speak you so gent ly? Pardon me, I pray youI t hough t t ha t a l l t h i ngs had been savage he r e ;

An d t h e r e fo r e p u t I o n t h e c o u n t e n a n c e

Of s tern comman dmen t . But wha teer you are

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Tha t in th i s deser t inaccess ible ,

Under t he shade o f me l ancho l y boughs ,

Lose and neg l ect t h e c r eep ing hour s o f t i me

If ever you have lookd on bet ter days ,

I f ever been where be l ls have k no l ld t o chu rch,

I f ever sa t a t any good m an s feas t ,I f ever f rom your eyel ids wiped a t ear

And know what t i s to p i ty and be pi t i ed ,

Let gent leness my s t rong enforcement be :

In the which hope I b lush, and hide my sword.

DUKE SENIOR: True is it that we have seen better days,

And have wi th holy bel l been knol l d to church

And sa t a t good mens feas t s and wiped our eyes

Of drops tha t sacred pity h a th en gen der d:

And t he r e fo r e s i t you down i n gen t l enes s

And t ake upon command wha t he l p we have

That to your want ing may be minis ter d .

ORLANDO: Then but forbear your food a l it t le whi le ,

Whiles, l ike a doe, I go to f ind my fawnAnd give it food. There i s an old poor man ,

Who a f t e r me h a t h many a wea ry s t ep

Limpd in pu re love: t i l l h e be f irs t suff iced,

Oppressd with two weak evi ls , age and hunger ,

I wi l l not touch a b i t .

DUKE SENIOR: Go f ind him out ,

And we wi l l nothing was te t i l l you re turn .

ORLANDO: I th ank ye; and be blest for your good com-

fort!

[ Exit. ]

DUKE SENIOR: Thou seest we are not all alone unh appy

This wide and universa l thea t re

Presen t s more woefu l pagean t s t han t he s cene

Wherein we play in .

JAQUES: All t he worlds a st age,

And a l l t h e men and women m ere ly p l aye rs :

They have t he i r ex i t s and t he i r en t r ances ;

And one man in h i s t ime plays many par t s ,

His ac t s be in g seven ages . At f ir s t th e infan t ,Mewl ing and puking in the nurses arms.

And then the whining school -boy, wi th h i s sa tchel

And shining morning face , c reeping l ike snai l

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Unwil lingly to school . And the n th e lover,

Sighing l ike furnace, with a woeful bal lad

Made to h is mist ress eyeb row. The n a soldier,

Fu l l o f s t r ange oa t hs and bea rded l i ke t he pa rd ,

Jea lous in honor , sudden and quick in quar re l ,

Seek i ng t he bubb l e r epu t a t i onEven in t he cannon s mout h . And t hen t he j us t i ce ,

In fa i r round bel ly wi th good capon l ined,

Wi th eyes severe and beard of formal cut ,

Ful l of wise saws and modern ins tances ;

And so he plays h i s par t . The s ix th age shi f t s

In t o t he l ean and s l i ppe r d pan t a l oon ,

Wi th spectac les on nose and pouch on s ide ,

His youthful hose, wel l saved, a world too wideFor h i s shrunk shank; and hi s b ig manly voice ,

Turning again toward chi ld i sh t reble , p ipes

And wh ist les in h i s soun d. Las t scene of a l l,

That ends th i s s t range event ful h i s tory ,

I s second chi ld i shness and mere obl iv ion,

Sans tee th , sans eyes , sans tas te , sans everything.

[Re -e n t er ORLANDO, wit h ADAM. ]

DUKE SENIOR: Welcome. Set down your ven erable

b u r t h e n ,

And le t h im feed.

ORLANDO: I t h ank you most f or h i m .

ADAM: So had you need :I scarce can speak to thank you for mysel f .

DUKE SENIOR: Welcome; fall to: I will no t trou ble you

As ye t , t o ques t i on you abou t your fo r t unes .

Give us some music ; and, good cous in , s ing.

SONG.

AMIENS: Blow, blow, thou wint er wind.

Thou a r t no t so unk i nd

As mans ingra t i tude;

Thy t oo t h i s no t so keen ,

B ecause t hou a r t no t s een ,

A l t hough t hy b r ea t h be rude .

He igh-ho! s ing , he i gh-ho! un t o t h e g r eenho l l y :

Most f r i endsh ip i s fe igning, m ost loving mer

fo l l y :

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Then , he i gh-ho , t he ho l ly !

This life is most jolly.

Freeze , f reeze , thou bi t t e r sky,

Tha t dos t n o t b i t e so n i gh

As benef i t s forgot :

Though t hou t he wa t e r s warp ,Thy s t ing i s not so sharp

As f r iend rememberd not .

Heigh-h o! s ing, &c.

DUKE SENIOR: If th at you were th e good Sir Rowlands

son,

As you have whisperd fai thful ly you were,

And as mine eye doth hi s e f f ig ies wi tnessMost t ruly l imnd and l iving in your face,

Be t r u l y we l come h i t h e r : I am t h e duke

That loved your fa th er : th e res idue of your for tu ne ,

Go to my cave an d tel l me. Good old man ,

Thou ar t r ight welcome as thy mas ter i s .

Suppor t h i m by t he a rm. Gi ve me your han d ,

And l e t me a l l your fo r t unes unde r s t and .

[ Exeunt . ]

ACT III

SCENE I: A room in th e pa lace.

[Enter DUKE FREDERICK, Lords, and OLIVER. ]

DUKE FREDERICK: Not see him since? Sir, sir, tha t cann o

be:

But were I not the be t ter par t made mercy,

I shou l d no t s eek an absen t a rgument

Of my revenge, th ou present . But look to i t :

Find out thy brother , wheresoeer he i s ;Seek him wi th candle ; br ing him dead or l iv ing

Wi t h i n t h i s t we l vemont h , o r t u rn t hou no more

To seek a l iving in our terr i tory.

Thy l ands and a l l t h i ngs t ha t t hou dos t ca ll t h i ne

Worth se izure do we se ize in to our hands ,

Ti l l thou cans t qui t thee by thy brothers mouth

Of what we th ink agains t thee .

OLIVER: O t h a t your h i ghnes s knew my hea r t in t h i

I never loved my brother in my l i fe.

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DUKE FREDERICK: More vi llain tho u. Well , push h im

out of doors ;

And le t my of f icers of such a na ture

Make an ex t en t upon h i s house and l ands :

Do t h i s exped i en t l y and t u rn h i m go i ng .

[ Exeunt . ]

SCENE II: Th e f ore st .

[Enter ORLANDO, with a paper. ]

ORLANDO: Hang th ere, my verse, in witn ess of my love:

And t hou , t h r i ce - c rowned queen o f n i gh t , su rvey

With thy chas te eye , f rom thy pale sphere above,

Thy hunt ress name tha t my ful l l i fe doth sway.

O Rosal ind! t he se t rees sha l l be my books

And in the i r barks my thoughts I l l charac ter ;

That every eye which in th i s fores t looks

Shal l see thy vir tue witnessd every where.

Run, run, Or lando; carve on every t reeThe fa i r , the chas te and unexpress ive she .

[ Exit. ]

[ Enter CORIN and TOUCHSTONE. ]

CORIN: And h ow like you th is she ph erds li fe, Mast e

Touchs t one?

TOUCHSTONE: Truly, sheph erd, in respect of i tself ,

i s a good li fe , but in respect t ha t i t i s a shephe rd

l ife , i t i s n augh t . In respect th a t i t i s sol it a ry , I l ik

i t very wel l ; but in respect tha t i t i s pr iva te , i t i s

very vi le l ife. Now, in respect i t is in t he f ields,

p l ease t h me we ll ; bu t i n r e spect i t i s no t i n t h e cour

i t is tediou s. As is i t a spare l i fe, look you , i t f i ts m

humor we l l ; bu t a s t he r e i s no more p l en t y i n i t , i

goes much agains t my s tomach. Has t any phi losophi n t hee , shephe rd?

CORIN: No more but th at I know th e more one sickens th

worse at ease he is; and that he that wants money, mean

and content is without three good friends; that the prop

erty of rain is to wet and fire to burn; that good pastur

makes fat sheep, and that a great cause of the night is lacof the sun; that he that hath learned no wit by nature no

art m ay complain of good breeding or comes of a very du

kindred.

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TOUCHSTONE: Such a one is a nat ural phi losoph er. Wast

eve r in cour t , shephe rd?

CORIN: No, t ru ly.

TOUCHSTONE: Th e n t h o u a r t d a m n e d .

CORIN: Nay, I h op e.

TOUCHSTONE: Tr u l y, t h o u a r t d a m n e d l ik e a n i ll -

roas ted egg, a l l on one s ide .

CORIN: For not being at court ? You r reason .

TOUCHSTONE: Why, i f th ou never was t a t cour t , thou

neve r s awest good man ner s ; if t h ou n eve r sawest good

man ner s, t h en t hy man ner s mus t be w icked ; and w ick-

ednes s is si n , and s in i s damn a t i on . Thou a r t i n a

pa r l ous s t a t e , shephe rd .

CORIN: Not a whi t , Touchs ton e: th ose th a t a re goodman ner s a t t he cour t a r e a s r id i cu l ous in t he coun t ry

as t he beh av io r o f t h e coun t ry i s most mockab l e a t t h e

cour t . You to ld me you sa lute n ot a t th e cour t , but

you ki ss your han ds : th a t cour te sy would be uncleanl

i f cour t ie rs were sheph erds .

TOUCHSTONE: Inst an ce, br ief ly; come, insta nce.

CORIN: Why, we are st i l l ha ndl ing our ewes , and t he

fel ls , you know, are greasy.

TOUCHSTONE: Why, do not your court iers han ds sweat

and i s no t t he g r ease o f a mut t on a s who l esome a

th e sweat of a man ? Shal low, sha l low. A bet te r in

stance, I say; come.

CORIN: Bes ides , our han ds are h ard .

TOUCHSTONE: You r l ips wi ll fee l t he m th e soone

Shal low again. A more sounder instance, come.

CORIN: And t h ey a re o ft en t a r r ed ove r w it h t he su

gery of our sheep: an d would you have us k i ss t a r

The cour t ie r s ha nd s are per fume d wi th c ive t .

TOUCHSTONE: Most shal low man ! th ou worms-mea

in respect of a good piece of fl esh indeed ! Learn of th

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wise , and pe rpend : c ive t i s of a baser b i r th t han tar ,

t h e ve ry unc l ean l y f lux o f a ca t . Mend t he i ns t an ce ,

shephe rd .

CORIN: You h ave too cou rt ly a wit for me: Il l rest .

TOUCHSTONE: Wi lt thou res t damn ed? God help th ee ,

sha l low man ! God make inc i si on in t h ee ! t h ou a r t

raw.

CORIN: Sir, I am a t rue laborer: I earn t ha t I ea t , ge t

th a t I wear, owe no m an h ate , en vy no man s happ i -

ness , g lad of o ther men s good, cont ent wi th my h arm,

and the grea tes t of my pr ide i s to see my ewes grazeand my lambs suck.

TOUCHSTONE: Th at i s an oth er s imple sin in you, to

b r i ng t he ewes and t he r ams t oge t he r and t o o f f e r t o

g e t y o u r l i v i n g b y t h e c o p u l a t i o n o f c a t t l e ; t o b e

bawd to a be l l -wether , and to be t ray a she- lamb of a

t we l vemont h t o a c rooked-pa t ed , o l d , cucko l d ly r am,ou t o f a ll r ea sonab l e ma t ch . I f t h ou bees t no t damn ed

for th i s , the devi l h imsel f wi l l have no shepherds ; I

cann ot see e l se how th ou shou lds t scape .

CORIN: Here comes young Master Gan ymede , my ne

mistresss brother .

[Enter ROSALIND, with a paper, reading . ]

ROSALIND: From t h e eas t t o west e rn Ind ,

No jewel is l ike Rosalind.

Her wor t h , be i ng mount ed on t he w i nd ,

Through a l l the wor ld bears Rosal ind.

Al l the p ic tures fa i res t l ined

Are but b lack to Rosal ind.

Let no fa i r be kept in mind

But th e fa i r of Rosal ind .

TOUCHSTONE: Il l rhym e you so eight ye ars toge th e

d i nne r s and suppe r s and s leep i ng-hour s excep t ed :

i s t h e r igh t bu t t e r -womens r ank t o marke t .

ROSALIND: Out , fool!

TOUCHSTONE: For a t as t e :I f a ha r t do l ack a h i nd ,

Let h im seek out Rosal ind .

I f th e ca t wi l l a f ter k in d,

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So be su re wil l Rosal ind.

Wi n t e r ga rmen t s mus t be l i ned ,

So must s lender Rosal ind.

They t ha t r eap mus t shea f and b i nd ;

Then to car t wi th Rosal ind.

Swee t es t nu t ha t h soures t r i nd ,

Such a nut i s Rosal ind.

He tha t sweetes t rose wi l l f ind

Must f ind loves pr ick and Rosal ind.

Th is is t he very false gal lop of verses: why do you

i n fect your se lf w it h t h em?

ROSALIND: Peace, you dul l fool! I found th em on a

tree.

TOUCHSTONE: Truly, th e t ree yields bad frui t .

ROSALIND: I l l g r a f f i t w it h you , an d t h en I sha l l

graf f i t wi th a medlar : th en i t wil l be th e ear li es t

f ru i t i th e coun t ry; for youl l be ro t t en ere you b e

ha l f r ipe , and t ha t s th e r ight v i r tue of the med lar.

TOUCHSTONE: You h ave sa id; but wh eth er wise ly or no,

l e t t h e fo re s t j udge .

[ Enter CELIA, with a writing . ]

ROSALIND: Peace ! Here comes my s i s t e r , r ead i ng

s tand as ide .

CELIA: [Re ads . ]

Why should t his a desert be?For it is unpeopled? No:Tongues Ill hang on every t ree,That shall civil sayings show:Some, how brief t he life of man

Runs his err ing pilgrimage,That t he st ret ching of a spanBuckles in his sum of age;Some, of violat ed vowsTwixt t he souls of fr iend and fr iend:But upon t he fairest boughs,

Or at every sent ence end,Will I Rosalinda writ e,Teaching all t hat read t o know

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The quint essence of every sprit eHeaven would in lit t le show.Therefore Heaven Nat ure chargedThat one body should be f illdWit h all graces wide-enlarged:Nat ure present ly dist illdHelens cheek, but not her heart ,Cleopat ras majest y,At alant as bet t er part ,Sad Lucret ias modest y.Thus Rosalind of many part sBy heavenly synod was devised,Of many faces, eyes and heart s,To have t he t ouches dearest prized.Heaven would t hat she t hese gift s should have,And I t o live and die her slave.

ROSALIND: O m o s t g e n t l e p u l p i t e r ! w h a t t e d i o u shomi l y o f l ove have you wear i ed your pa r i sh i one r s

wi thal , and never cr ied Have pat ience , good people!

CELIA: How now! back, f r ien ds! Sheph erd, go of f a

l it t l e . Go wi th him, s i r rah .

TOUCHSTONE: Come, sheph erd, le t us make an honor

ab l e r e t r ea t ; t hough no t w i t h bag and baggage , ye

wi th scr ip and scr ippage .

[Exeu n t CORIN an d TOUCHSTONE. ]

CELIA: Dids t th ou hear th ese verses?

ROSALIND: O, yes , I heard th em al l, and more too

f o r s o m e o f t h e m h a d i n t h e m m o r e f e e t t h a n t h

verses would bear .

CELIA: Tha t s no ma t t e r : t h e f ee t mi gh t bea r t h

ve r ses .

ROSALIND: Ay, but t he fee t were lame and could no

bea r t hem se lves wi t hou t t h e ve r se and t h e r e fo r e s t oo

lamely in the verse .

CELIA: Bu t d i dst t hou hea r wi t hou t wonder i ng ho

th y name should be hanged and carved upon th ese t rees

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ROSALIND: I was s

As You Like It - Shakespeare

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