As You Like It

Act I

Scene I. Orchard of Oliver's House.

Enter Orlando and Adam.

Orl. As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion
1upon this fashion After this fashion.
bequeathed me by will but poor a thousand crowns, and,
2poor a thousand A poor thousand.
as thou sayest, charged my brother, on his blessing, to
3on his blessing On condition of receiving his blessing.
breed me well: and there begins my sadness. My brother
5Jaques he keeps at school, and report speaks goldenly of
his profit: for my part, he keeps me rustically at home,
6his profit How much he is profiting by his education.
or, to speak more properly, stays me here at home unkept;
7stays Detains.unkept Without proper food and clothing.
for call you that keeping for a gentleman of my birth,
that differs not from the stalling of an ox? His horses
10are bred better; for, besides that they are fair with their
feeding, they are taught their manage, and to that end
11manage Training.
riders dearly hired: but I, his brother, gain nothing
under him but growth; for the which his animals on his
dunghills are as much bound to him as I. Besides this
15nothing that he so plentifully gives me, the something
that nature gave me his countenance seems to take from
16countenance Here, his treatment of me.
me: he lets me feed with his hinds, bars me the place of
17hinds Peasants, servants.
a brother, and, as much as in him lies, mines my gentility
18mines Undermines.gentility Gentle birth.
with my education. This is it, Adam, that grieves me;
20and the spirit of my father, which I think is within me,
begins to mutiny against this servitude: I will no longer
endure it, though yet I know no wise remedy how to
avoid it.
Adam. Yonder comes my master, your brother.
25Orl. Go apart, Adam, and thou shalt hear how he
will shake me up.

Enter Oliver.

Oli. Now, sir! what make you here?
27what make you What are you doing.
Orl. Nothing: I am not taught to make any thing.
Oli. What mar you then, sir?
30Orl. Marry, sir, I am helping you to mar that which
God made, a poor unworthy brother of yours, with
idleness.
Oli. Marry, sir, be better employed, and be naught
33Marry A mild oath, from the name of the Virgin Mary.be naught Plague upon you!
awhile.
35Orl. Shall I keep your hogs and eat husks with
35–7An allusion to the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke xv.).
them? What prodigal portion have I spent, that I
should come to such penury?
Oli. Know you where you are, sir?
Orl. O, sir, very well: here in your orchard.
40Oli. Know you before whom, sir?
Orl. Ay, better than him I am before knows me. I
know you are my eldest brother; and, in the gentle
42–3in the gentle condition of blood Considering that you are of gentle (noble) birth.
condition of blood, you should so know me. The courtesy
of nations allows you my better, in that you are the
45first-born; but the same tradition takes not away my
45tradition Old custom of doing honour to the oldest son.
blood, were there twenty brothers betwixt us: I have
as much of my father in me as you; albeit, I confess,
your coming before me is nearer to his reverence.
48Your being older than I entitles you to more of the reverence shown to him.
Oli. What, boy!
49Oliver attempts to strike Orlando.
50Orl. Come, come, elder brother, you are too young
50–1too young in this Not my equal when it comes to a show of physical strength.
in this.
Oli. Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain?
52–3villain Oliver uses the word in the sense of "scoundrel." Orlando plays upon the word, and uses it with its original meaning of "serf," one who lives in a villa or farm.
Orl. I am no villain; I am the youngest son of Sir
Rowland de Boys; he was my father, and he is thrice a
55villain that says such a father begot villains. Wert thou
not my brother, I would not take this hand from thy
throat till this other had pulled out thy tongue for saying
so: thou hast railed on thyself.
58railed on thyself In saying that my father and yours begot villains.
Adam. Sweet masters, be patient: for your father's
59–60for your father's remembrance In respect to the memory of your father.
60remembrance, be at accord.
Oli. Let me go, I say.
Orl. I will not, till I please: you shall hear me. My
father charged you in his will to give me good education:
you have trained me like a peasant, obscuring and hiding
65from me all gentleman-like qualities. The spirit of my
65qualities Acquirements, accomplishments.
father grows strong in me, and I will no longer endure
it: therefore allow me such exercises as may become a
67exercises Means of improvement.
gentleman, or give me the poor allottery my father left
68allottery Portion.
me by testament; and with that I will go buy my
69testament Will.
70fortunes.
Oli. And what wilt thou do? beg, when that is
spent? Well sir, get you in: I will not long be troubled
with you; you shall have some part of your will: I pray
you, leave me.
75Orl. I will no further offend you than becomes me
for my good.
Oli. Get you with him, you old dog.
Adam. Is 'old dog' my reward? Most true, I have
lost my teeth in your service. God be with my old
80master! he would not have spoke such a word.

[Exeunt Orlando and Adam.

Oli. Is it even so? begin you to grow upon me? I
81grow upon me To grow troublesome.
will physic your rankness, and yet give no thousand
82physic your rankness Cure you of your impudence. "Rankness" literally means coarseness due to overgrowth.
crowns neither. Holla, Dennis!

Enter Dennis.

Den. Calls your worship?
85Oli. Was not Charles, the duke's wrestler, here to
speak with me?
Den. So please you, he is here at the door and
87So please you If it please you.
importunes access to you.
88importunes access Begs to be admitted.
Oli. Call him in. [Exit Dennis.] 'Twill be a good way;
90and to-morrow the wrestling is.

Enter Charles.

Cha. Good morrow to your worship.
Oli. Good Monsieur Charles, what's the new news at
the new court?
Cha. There's no news at the court, sir, but the old
95news: that is, the old duke is banished by his younger
brother the new duke; and three or four loving lords
have put themselves into voluntary exile with him,
whose lands and revenues enrich the new duke; there-
fore he gives them good leave to wander.
99to wander To go into exile.
100Oli. Can you tell if Rosalind, the duke's daughter, be
banished with her father?
Cha. O, no; for the duke's daughter, her cousin, so
loves her, being ever from their cradles bred together,
that she would have followed her exile, or have died to
105stay behind her. She is at the court, and no less beloved
of her uncle than his own daughter; and never two
ladies loved as they do.
Oli. Where will the old duke live?
Cha. They say he is already in the forest of Arden,
109the forest of Arden See Introduction, p. xi.
110and a many merry men with him; and there they live
110a many A multitude of.
like the old Robin Hood of England: they say many
111Robin Hood A famous outlaw, who is supposed to have lived in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, in the thirteenth century.
young gentlemen flock to him every day, and fleet the
112–3fleet the time carelessly Pass the time swiftly and free from care.
time carelessly, as they did in the golden world.
113the golden world The golden age when peace and plenty reigned on the earth.
Oli. What, you wrestle to-morrow before the new
115duke?
Cha. Marry, do I, sir; and I came to acquaint you
with a matter. I am given, sir, secretly to understand
that your younger brother Orlando hath a disposition to
118hath a disposition Is disposed, or inclined.
come in disguised against me to try a fall. To-morrow,
119try a fall Try to throw me, to see which one of the wrestlers would fall.
120sir, I wrestle for my credit; and he that escapes me
120my credit My reputation.
without some broken limb shall acquit him well. Your
brother is but young and tender; and, for your love, I
would be loath to foil him, as I must, for my own
123to foil him To defeat him.
honour, if he come in: therefore, out of my love to you,
125I came hither to acquaint you withal, that either you
125withal Furthermore.
might stay him from his intendment or brook such
126intendment Intention, design.brook Endure.
disgrace well as he shall run into, in that it is a thing of
his own search and altogether against my will.
Oli. Charles, I thank thee for thy love to me, which
130thou shalt find I will most kindly requite. I had myself
notice of my brother's purpose herein and have by
131herein With regard to this.
underhand means laboured to dissuade him from it, but
132underhand Secret.
he is resolute. I'll tell thee, Charles: it is the stubbornest
133it Used to express contempt.
young fellow of France, full of ambition, an envious
134–5envious emulator Malicious rival.
135emulator of every man's good parts, a secret and villainous
parts Accomplishments.
contriver against me his natural brother: therefore use
136contriver Plotter.natural brother Brother by birth.
thy discretion; I had as lief thou didst break his neck as
137I had as lief I should be as glad. The verb "had" is subjunctive, and the sentence, if expanded, would read something like this, "I should regard (have) the breaking of his neck as willingly (lief) as the breaking of his finger."
his finger. And thou wert best look to 't; for if thou
138thou wert best It would be best for thee. This is no doubt a corruption of the construction "You were best," meaning "It were (would) be best for you," in which you is in the dative case.
dost him any slight disgrace, or if he do not mightily
140grace himself on thee, he will practise against thee by
140grace himself on thee Gain honour at your expense.practise Plot.
poison, entrap thee by some treacherous device and never
leave thee till he hath ta'en thy life by some indirect
means or other; for, I assure thee, and almost with tears
I speak it, there is not one so young and so villainous this
145day living. I speak but brotherly of him; but should I
anatomize him to thee as he is, I must blush and weep,
146anatomize Show his faults in detail.
and thou must look pale and wonder.
Cha. I am heartily glad I came hither to you. If he
come to-morrow, I'll give him his payment: if ever he go
149payment Punishment.
150alone again, I'll never wrestle for prize more: and, so,
God keep your worship!
Oli. Farewell, good Charles. [Exit Charles.] Now will I
stir this gamester: I hope I shall see an end of him;
153this gamester This spirited youth. The word expresses contempt.
for my soul, yet I know not why, hates nothing more
155than he. Yet he's gentle, never schooled and yet learned,
155gentle Showing good breeding.
full of noble device, of all sorts enchantingly beloved,
156of all sorts By all classes of people.
and indeed so much in the heart of the world, and
157in the heart of the world In the affections of the people.
especially of my own people, who best know him, that I
am altogether misprised: but it shall not be so long; this
159misprised Underrated.
160wrestler shall clear all: nothing remains but that I kindle
160–1kindle the boy thither Spur him on to take part in the wrestling.
the boy thither; which now I'll go about. [Exit.

Scene II. Lawn before the Duke's palace.

Enter Celia and Rosalind.

Cel. I pray thee, Rosalind, sweet my coz, be merry.
Ros. Dear Celia, I show more mirth than I am
2–3am mistress of Really feel.
mistress of; and would you yet I were merrier? Unless
you could teach me to forget a banished father, you
5must not learn me how to remember any extraordinary
5learn Teach.
pleasure.
Cel. Herein I see thou lovest me not with the full
weight that I love thee. If my uncle, thy banished
father, had banished thy uncle, the duke my father, so
9so If.
10thou hadst been still with me, I could have taught my
love to take thy father for mine: so wouldst thou, if the
11–3If your love for me were of the same fine quality as mine is for you.
truth of thy love to me were so righteously tempered as
mine is to thee.
Ros. Well, I will forget the condition of my estate,
14the condition of my estate The condition of my affairs.
15to rejoice in yours.
Cel. You know my father hath no child but I, nor
none is like to have: and, truly, when he dies, thou shalt
be his heir, for what he hath taken away from thy father
perforce, I will render thee again in affection; by mine
19perforce By main force.render thee again in affection Give back because of my love to you.
20honour, I will; and when I break that oath, let me turn
monster: therefore, my sweet Rose, my dear Rose, be
merry.
Ros. From henceforth I will, coz, and devise sports.
Let me see; what think you of falling in love?
25Cel. Marry, I prithee, do, to make sport withal: but
25prithee Pray thee.
love no man in good earnest; nor no further in sport
neither than with safety of a pure blush thou mayst in
27with safety of a pure blush With a pure blush in which there is no harm.
honour come off again.
Ros. What shall be our sport, then?
30Cel. Let us sit and mock the good housewife Fortune
30–2Fortune is represented as turning a wheel, which is the symbol of uncertainty since it turns so easily. When Celia speaks of her as a "good housewife" she is ironical.
from her wheel, that her gifts may henceforth be
bestowed equally.
Ros. I would we could do so, for her benefits are
mightily misplaced, and the bountiful blind woman doth
35most mistake in her gifts to women.
Cel. 'Tis true; for those that she makes fair she
scarce makes honest, and those that she makes honest
she makes very ill-favouredly.
38ill-favouredly Plain, homely in appearance.
Ros. Nay, now thou goest from Fortune's office to
39office Work, duties.
40Nature's: Fortune reigns in gifts of the world, not in
40–1Fortune gives worldly success; she has nothing to do with the human features.
the lineaments of Nature.

Enter Touchstone.

Cel. No? when Nature hath made a fair creature,
42No? Does she not?
may she not by Fortune fall into the fire? Though
Nature hath given us wit to flout at Fortune, hath not
44wit to flout at Fortune Cleverness to mock at Fortune.
45Fortune sent in this fool to cut off the argument?
Ros. Indeed, there is Fortune too hard for Nature,
when Fortune makes Nature's natural the cutter-off of
47Nature's natural One who is by nature a fool (natural).
Nature's wit.
Cel. Peradventure this is not Fortune's work neither,
50but Nature's; who perceiveth our natural wit too dull
to reason of such goddesses and hath sent this natural
for our whetstone; for always the dulness of the fool is
the whetstone of the wits. How now, wit! whither
wander you?
55Touch. Mistress, you must come away to your father.
Cel. Were you made the messenger?
Touch. No, by mine honour, but I was bid to come
for you.
Ros. Where learned you that oath fool?
60Touch. Of a certain knight that swore by his honour
they were good pancakes, and swore by his honour the
mustard was naught: now I'll stand to it, the pancakes
62naught No good.stand to it Maintain.
were naught and the mustard was good, and yet was not
63–4was not forsworn Did not break his oath.
the knight forsworn.
65Cel. How prove you that, in the great heap of your
knowledge?
Ros. Ay, marry, now unmuzzle your wisdom.
Touch. Stand you both forth now: stroke your chins,
and swear by your beards that I am a knave.
70Cel. By our beards, if we had them, thou art.
Touch. By my knavery, if I had it, then I were; but
if you swear by that that is not, you are not forsworn:
no more was this knight, swearing by his honour, for he
never had any; or if he had, he had sworn it away
75before ever he saw those pancakes or that mustard.
Cel. Prithee, who is 't that thou meanest?
Touch. One that old Frederick, your father, loves.
77old Frederick Touchstone uses the word "old" in a familiar sense.
Cel. My father's love is enough to honour him:
enough! speak no more of him; you'll be whipped for
80taxation one of these days.
80taxation Your satirical speeches.
Touch. The more pity, that fools may not speak
wisely what wise men do foolishly.
Cel. By my troth, thou sayest true; for since the
83By my troth Truly.
little wit that fools have was silenced, the little foolery
84silenced This is probably a reference to some new restriction that had been put upon the theatres.
85that wise men have makes a great show. Here comes
Monsieur Le Beau.
Ros. With his mouth full of news.
Cel. Which he will put on us, as pigeons feed their
88put on us Deliver or announce to us.
young.
90Ros. Then shall we be news-crammed.
Cel. All the better; we shall be the more marketable.
91marketable Being crammed with food they will be fatter or plumper and hence more ready for market.

Enter Le Beau.

Bon jour, Monsieur Le Beau: what's the news?
Le Beau. Fair princess, you have lost much good
sport.
95Cel. Sport! of what colour?
95colour Nature, character.
Le Beau. What colour, madam! how shall I answer
you?
Ros. As wit and fortune will.
Touch. Or as the destinies decree.
100Cel. Well said: that was laid on with a trowel.
100laid on with a trowel Said clumsily, without delicacy.
Touch. Nay, if I keep not my rank,—
101if I keep not my rank If I am not allowed to finish my sentence in an orderly way.
Ros. Thou losest thy old smell.
102Rosalind puns on the word "rank," and uses it in the sense of "unpleasant odour."
Le Beau. You amaze me, ladies: I would have told
you of good wrestling, which you have lost the sight of.
105Ros. Yet tell us the manner of the wrestling.
Le Beau. I will tell you the beginning; and, if it
please your ladyships, you may see the end; for the best
is yet to do; and here, where you are, they are coming
to perform it.
110Cel. Well, the beginning, that is dead and buried.
110dead and buried A thing of the past.
Le Beau. There comes an old man and his three
sons,—
Cel. I could match this beginning with an old tale.
113This is the way the old tales usually begin.
Le Beau. Three proper young men, of excellent
114proper Handsome.
115growth and presence.
115presence Appearance.
Ros. With bills on their necks, 'Be it known unto all
men by these presents.'
116–7these presents The young men would carry their bills, or halberds, on their shoulders (necks). But Rosalind plays upon the word "bills," and uses it in the sense of "public notices," which usually began with the legal phrase, "Be it known unto all men by these presents." There is a further play upon the word "presents" (presence).117these presents These words which are before you; these words which are present. Presents is an adjective modifying these. French adjectives take the plural form to agree with a plural noun or pronoun, and in this legal phrase the adjective present is written in the plural also.
Le Beau. The eldest of the three wrestled with
Charles, the duke's wrestler; which Charles in a moment
120threw him and broke three of his ribs, that there is little
hope of life in him: so he served the second, and so the
third. Yonder they lie; the poor old man, their father,
making such pitiful dole over them that all the beholders
123dole Lamentation.
take his part with weeping.
125Ros. Alas!
Touch. But what is the sport, monsieur, that the
ladies have lost?
Le Beau. Why, this that I speak of.
Touch. Thus men may grow wiser every day: it is
130the first time that ever I heard breaking of ribs was
sport for ladies.
Cel. Or I, I promise thee.
132promise Assure.
Ros. But is there any else longs to see this broken
133–4broken music Broken ribs, which would make a sound when breaking. According to another explanation, certain instruments were made in sets of four which harmonized with one another, and when instruments belonging to different sets were played together they were said to make "broken music."
music in his sides? is there yet another dotes upon
135rib-breaking? Shall we see this wrestling, cousin?
Le Beau. You must, if you stay here; for here is the
place appointed for the wrestling, and they are ready to
perform it.
Cel. Yonder, sure, they are coming: let us now stay
140and see it.

Flourish. Enter Duke Frederick, Lords, Orlando, Charles, and Attendants.

Duke F. Come on: since the youth will not be
entreated, his own peril on his forwardness.
142entreated Dissuaded.his own peril on his forwardness If he insists on wrestling, he must do so at his own peril.
Ros. Is yonder the man?
Le Beau. Even he, madam.
145Cel. Alas, he is too young! yet he looks successfully.
145successfully As if he would be successful.
Duke F. How now, daughter and cousin! are you
146cousin Relative; in this case, niece.
crept hither to see the wrestling?
Ros. Ay, my liege, so please you give us leave.
Duke F. You will take little delight in it, I can tell
150you; there is such odds in the men. In pity of the
challenger's youth I would fain dissuade him, but he
will not be entreated. Speak to him, ladies; see if you
can move him.
Cel. Call him hither, good Monsieur Le Beau.
155Duke F. Do so: I'll not be by.
Le Beau. Monsieur the challenger, the princess calls
for you.
Orl. I attend them with all respect and duty.
Ros. Young man, have you challenged Charles the
160wrestler?
Orl. No, fair princess; he is the general challenger:
I come but in, as others do, to try with him the strength
of my youth.
Cel. Young gentleman, your spirits are too bold for
165your years. You have seen cruel proof of this man's
strength: if you saw yourself with your eyes or knew
166knew yourself with your judgment Used your reason in considering yourself and your chances.
yourself with your judgment, the fear of your adven-
ture would counsel you to a more equal enterprise. We
pray you, for your own sake, to embrace your own safety
170and give over this attempt.
Ros. Do, young sir; your reputation shall not there-
fore be misprised: we will make it our suit to the duke
171misprised Undervalued.
that the wrestling might not go forward.
Orl. I beseech you, punish me not with your hard
175thoughts; wherein I confess me much guilty, to deny so
174wherein The grammatical construction is loose. No doubt Orlando means "Punish me not with your hard thoughts regarding my conduct, concerning which (wherein) I feel guilty, since I have to deny you anything."
fair and excellent ladies any thing. But let your fair
eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my trial: wherein
if I be foiled, there is but one shamed that was never
gracious; if killed, but one dead that is willing to be so:
178gracious Looked upon with favour.
180I shall do my friends no wrong, for I have none to
lament me, the world no injury, for in it I have nothing;
only in the world I fill up a place, which may be better
supplied when I have made it empty.
Ros. The little strength that I have, I would it were
185with you.
Cel. And mine, to eke out hers.
185eke out Add to.
Ros. Fare you well: pray heaven I be deceived in
you!
Cel. Your heart's desires be with you!
190Cha. Come, where is this young gallant that is so
desirous to lie with his mother earth?
191–2His wishes are more modest.
Orl. Ready, sir; but his will hath in it a more modest
working.
Duke F. You shall try but one fall.
193one fall One bout.
195Cha. No, I warrant your grace, you shall not entreat
him to a second, that have so mightily persuaded him
from a first.
Orl. You mean to mock me after; you should not
have mocked me before: but come your ways.
198come your ways Come along.
200Ros. Now Hercules be thy speed, young man!
199Hercules The Greek hero who typifies strength.be thy speed Give thee success.
Cel. I would I were invisible, to catch the strong
fellow by the leg. [They wrestle.
Ros. O excellent young man!
Cel. If I had a thunderbolt in mine eye, I can tell
205who should down. [Shout. Charles is thrown.
205–6am not well-breathed Have not put forth my full strength.
Duke F. No more, no more.
Orl. Yes, I beseech your grace: I am not yet well
breathed.
Duke F. How dost thou, Charles?
210Le Beau. He cannot speak, my lord.
Duke F. Bear him away. What is thy name, young
man?
Orl. Orlando, my liege; the youngest son of Sir
Rowland de Boys.
215Duke F. I would thou hadst been son to some man else:
The world esteem'd thy father honourable,
But I did find him still mine enemy:
216still Always.
Thou shouldst have better pleased me with this deed,
Hadst thou descended from another house.
220But fare thee well; thou art a gallant youth:
I would thou hadst told me of another father.

[Exeunt Duke Frederick, train, and Le Beau.

Cel. Were I my father, coz, would I do this?
Orl. I am more proud to be Sir Rowland's son,
His youngest son; and would not change that calling,
223calling Name.
225To be adopted heir to Frederick.
Ros. My father loved Sir Rowland as his soul,
And all the world was of my father's mind:
Had I before known this young man his son,
I should have given him tears unto entreaties,
230Ere he should thus have ventured.
Cel. Gentle cousin,
Let us go thank him and encourage him:
My father's rough and envious disposition
231envious Malicious.
Sticks me at heart. Sir, you have well deserved:
If you do keep your promises in love
235But justly, as you have exceeded all promise,
234justly Exactly.
Your mistress shall be happy.
Ros. Gentleman,

[Giving him a chain from her neck.

Wear this for me, one out of suits with fortune,
236out of suits Out of favour. The idea may be that she is not wearing the livery (suit) of fortune, or else that fortune will not grant what she asks (her suits).
That could give more, but that her hand lacks means.
237could give more Would willingly give more.
Shall we go, coz?
Cel. Ay. Fare you well, fair gentleman.
240Orl. Can I not say, I thank you? My better parts
239my better parts My better qualities.
Are all thrown down, and that which here stands up
Is but a quintain, a mere lifeless block.
241quintain The wooden figure of a man. Tilting at the quintain was formerly a popular sport in England. The quintain consisted of an upright post with a crosspiece which revolved on a pivot. At one end, or arm, of the crosspiece was the wooden figure of a man, generally painted to represent a Saracen. At the other end was a bag of sand or of flour. The tilter, riding at full speed on horseback, aimed to strike the figure full in the face with his lance and at the same time to escape being struck by the bag as it swung around on the pivot.
Ros. He calls us back: my pride fell with my for-
tunes;
245I'll ask him what he would. Did you call, sir?
Sir, you have wrestled well and overthrown
More than your enemies.
Cel. Will you go, coz?
Ros. Have with you. Fare you well.
247Have with you I'll go with you. Have it your own way (with you).

[Exeunt Rosalind and Celia.

Orl. What passion hangs these weights upon my
248passion Strong feeling.
250tongue?
I cannot speak to her, yet she urged conference.
250urged conference Seemed to wish a conversation.
O poor Orlando, thou art overthrown!
252Or..or Either...or.
Or Charles or something weaker masters thee.

Re-enter Le Beau.

Le Beau. Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you
255To leave this place. Albeit you have deserved
254Albeit Although.
High commendation, true applause and love,
Yet such is now the duke's condition
That he misconstrues all that you have done.
The duke is humorous: what he is indeed,
258humorous Full of whims.
260More suits you to conceive than I to speak of.
Orl. I thank you, sir: and, pray you, tell me this;
Which of the two was daughter of the duke
That here was at the wrestling?
Le Beau. Neither his daughter, if we judge by
manners;
265But yet indeed the lesser is his daughter:
The other is daughter to the banish'd duke,
And here detain'd by her usurping uncle,
To keep his daughter company; whose loves
Are dearer than the natural bond of sisters.
270But I can tell you that of late this duke
Hath ta'en displeasure 'gainst his gentle niece,
Grounded upon no other argument
272argument Cause, reason.
But that the people praise her for her virtues
And pity her for her good father's sake;
275And, on my life, his malice 'gainst the lady
Will suddenly break forth. Sir, fare you well:
Hereafter, in a better world than this,
277in a better world than this When conditions are better.
I shall desire more love and knowledge of you.
Orl. I rest much bounden to you: fare you well.

[Exit Le Beau.

280Thus must I from the smoke into the smother;
280from the smoke into the smother From bad to worse. The "smother" is thick stifling smoke, and hence worse than ordinary smoke.
From tyrant duke unto a tyrant brother:
But heavenly Rosalind!

[Exit.

Scene III. A room in the palace.

Enter Celia and Rosalind.

Cel. Why, cousin! why, Rosalind! Cupid have mercy!
not a word?
Ros. Not one to throw at a dog.
Cel. No, thy words are too precious to be cast away
5upon curs; throw some of them at me; come, lame me
5–6lame me with reasons Throw so many at me that if they were stones they would lame me.
with reasons.
Ros. Then there were two cousins laid up; when the
one should be lamed with reasons and the other mad
8–9mad without any Beside herself, out of her mind, without any reason for it.
without any.
10Cel. But is all this for your father?
Ros. No, some of it is for my father's child. O, how
11my father's child That is, myself.
full of briers is this working-day world!
Cel. They are but burs, cousin, thrown upon thee in
holiday foolery: if we walk not in the trodden paths,
15our very petticoats will catch them.
Ros. I could shake them off my coat: these burs are
in my heart.
Cel. Hem them away.
18–9As used in line 18 "Hem" means "Cough"; in line 19 it is a call to attract notice.
Ros. I would try, if I could cry hem and have him.
20Cel. Come, come, wrestle with thy affections.
Ros. O, they take the part of a better wrestler than
21take the part Are on the side of.
myself!
Cel. O, a good wish upon you! you will try in time,
23a good wish upon you! Blessing upon you!try in time The time will come when you will try to wrestle with them.
in despite of a fall. But, turning these jests out of ser-
24in despite of a fall In spite of your being thrown down in wrestling, or in spite of your falling in love.
25vice, let us talk in good earnest: is it possible, on such a
sudden, you should fall into so strong a liking with old
Sir Rowland's youngest son?
Ros. The duke my father loved his father dearly.
Cel. Doth it therefore ensue that you should love his
30son dearly? By this kind of chase, I should hate him,
30By this kind of chase If you follow up this argument.
for my father hated his father dearly: yet I hate not
Orlando.
Ros. No, faith, hate him not, for my sake.
Cel. Why should I not? doth he not deserve well?
34Rosalind has said "Hate him not." Celia replies, "Why should I not do as you ask, i.e., hate him not? Or, in other words, "Why should I not love him?"
35Ros. Let me love him for that, and do you love him
because I do. Look, here comes the duke.
Cel. With his eyes full of anger.

Enter Duke Frederick, with Lords.

Duke F. Mistress, despatch you with your safest haste
38safest haste Haste that will ensure your safety.
And get you from our court.
Ros. Me, uncle?
40Duke F. You, cousin:
Within these ten days if that thou be'st found
So near our public court as twenty miles,
Thou diest for it.
Ros. I do beseech your grace,
Let me the knowledge of my fault bear with me:
45If with myself I hold intelligence
45If I know myself.
Or have acquaintance with mine own desires,
If that I do not dream or be not frantic,—
47frantic Out of my mind.
As I do trust I am not—then, dear uncle,
Never so much as in a thought unborn
50Did I offend your highness.
Duke F. Thus do all traitors:
If their purgation did consist in words,
51purgation Proving themselves innocent.
They are as innocent as grace itself:
52grace Goodness.
Let it suffice thee that I trust thee not.
Ros. Yet your mistrust cannot make me a traitor:
55Tell me whereon the likelihood depends.
Duke F. Thou art thy father's daughter; there's
enough.
Ros. So was I when your highness took his dukedom;
So was I when your highness banish'd him:
60Treason is not inherited, my lord;
Or, if we did derive it from our friends,
What's that to me? my father was no traitor:
Then, good my liege, mistake me not so much
To think my poverty is treacherous.
65Cel. Dear sovereign, hear me speak.
Duke F. Ay, Celia; we stay'd her for your sake,
67stay'd her Detained her.
Else had she with her father ranged along.
68ranged along Gone on her way.
Cel. I did not then entreat to have her stay;
It was your pleasure and your own remorse:
70remorse Pity, tenderness.
70I was too young that time to value her;
But now I know her: if she be a traitor,
Why so am I; we still have slept together,
73still Always.
Rose at an instant, learn'd, play'd, eat together,
And wheresoe'er we went, like Juno's swans,
75Juno's swans Juno's chariot was drawn by peacocks, not by swans. The chariot of Venus was drawn by swans.
75Still we went coupled and inseparable.
Duke F. She is too subtle for thee; and her
smoothness,
78smoothness Softness of disposition.
Her very silence and her patience
Speak to the people, and they pity her.
80speak to the people Appeal to the people.
80Thou art a fool: she robs thee of thy name;
And thou wilt show more bright and seem more virtuous
When she is gone. Then open not thy lips:
Firm and irrevocable is my doom
Which I have passed upon her; she is banish'd.
85Cel. Pronounce that sentence then on me, my liege:
I cannot live out of her company.
Duke F. You are a fool. You, niece, provide yourself:
If you outstay the time, upon mine honour,
And in the greatness of my word, you die.

[Exeunt Duke Frederick and Lords.

90Cel. O my poor Rosalind, whither wilt thou go?
Wilt thou change fathers? I will give thee mine.
I charge thee, be not thou more grieved than I am.
Ros. I have more cause.
Cel. Thou hast not, cousin;
Prithee, be cheerful: know'st thou not, the duke
95Hath banish'd me, his daughter?
Ros. That he hath not.
Cel. No, hath not? Rosalind lacks then the love
Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one:
98teacheth Should teach.
Shall we be sunder'd? shall we part, sweet girl?
No: let my father seek another heir.
100Therefore devise with me how we may fly,
Whither to go and what to bear with us;
And do not seek to take your change upon you,
103take your change upon you Make this change in your life.
To bear your griefs yourself and leave me out;
For, by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale,
105Say what thou canst, I'll go along with thee.
Ros. Why, whither shall we go?
Cel. To seek my uncle in the forest of Arden.
Ros. Alas, what danger will it be to us,
Maids as we are, to travel forth so far!
110Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold.
Cel. I'll put myself in poor and mean attire,
And with a kind of umber smirch my face;
113umber A brown coloured pigment, so called because it was first brought from Umbria in Italy.
The like do you: so shall we pass along
And never stir assailants.
Ros. Were it not better,
115Because that I am more than common tall,
That I did suit me all points like a man?
117suit me all points like a man Dress myself in every way like a man.
A gallant curtle-axe upon my thigh,
118curtle-axe Cutlass. The root of the word is Lat. cultellus, a little ploughshare. The form curtle-axe is due to false analogy, because of a supposed connection with axe.
A boar-spear in my hand; and—in my heart
Lie there what hidden woman's fear there will—
120We'll have a swashing and a martial outside,
121swashing Swaggering.
As many other mannish cowards have
122mannish Male. The word is used humorously to express contempt.
That do outface it with their semblances.
123outface it with their semblances Conceal their cowardice with an appearance of bravery.
Cel. What shall I call thee when thou art a man?
Ros. I'll have no worse a name than Jove's own page;
125And therefore look you call me Ganymede.
126Ganymede A beautiful youth who was cupbearer to Jove.
But what will you be call'd?
Cel. Something that hath a reference to my state;
No longer Celia, but Aliena.
129Aliena A stranger.
Ros. But, cousin, what if we assay'd to steal
130assay'd Attempted.
130The clownish fool out of your father's court?
Would he not be a comfort to our travel?
Cel. He'll go along o'er the wide world with me;
Leave me alone to woo him. Let's away,
And get our jewels and our wealth together,
135Devise the fittest time and safest way
To hide us from pursuit that will be made
After my flight. Now go we in content
To liberty and not to banishment.

[Exeunt.