Act V
Scene I. The forest.
Enter Touchstone and Audrey.
Touch. We shall find a time, Audrey; patience, gentle
Audrey.
Aud. Faith the priest was good enough, for all the
3–4for all the old gentleman's saying That is, in spite of what Jaques had said.old gentleman's saying.
5Touch. A most wicked Sir Oliver, Audrey, a most
vile Martext. But, Audrey, there is a youth here in the
forest lays claim to you.
Aud. Ay, I know who 'tis; he hath no interest in
me in the world: here comes the man you mean.
10Touch. It is meat and drink to me to see a clown:
by my troth, we that have good wits have much to
answer for; we shall be flouting; we cannot hold.
12we shall be flouting We can't help joking.hold Restrain ourselves.Enter William.
Will. Good even, Audrey.
Aud. God ye good even, William.
14God ye good even God give you a good evening.15Will. And good even to you, sir.
Touch. Good even, gentle friend. Cover thy head,
cover thy head; nay, prithee, be covered. How old are
you, friend?
Will. Five and twenty, sir.
20Touch. A ripe age. Is thy name William?
Will. William, sir.
Touch. A fair name. Wast born i' the forest here?
Will. Ay, sir, I thank God.
Touch. 'Thank God'; a good answer. Art rich?
25Will. Faith, sir, so so.
Touch. 'So so' is good, very good, very excellent
good; and yet it is not; it is but so so. Art thou
wise?
Will. Ay, sir, I have a pretty wit.
30Touch. Why, thou sayest well. I do now remember
a saying, 'The fool doth think he is wise, but the
wise man knows himself to be a fool.' The heathen
philosopher, when he had a desire to eat a grape, would
33–4William is evidently standing with mouth open.open his lips when he put it into his mouth; meaning
35thereby that grapes were made to eat and lips to open.
You do love this maid?
Will. I do, sir.
Touch. Give me your hand. Art thou learned?
Will. No, sir.
40Touch. Then learn this of me: to have, is to have;
for it is a figure in rhetoric that drink, being poured out
of a cup into a glass, by filling the one doth empty the
other; for all your writers do consent that ipse is he:
42consent Agree.ipse Latin for he, himself.now, you are not ipse, for I am he.
45Will. Which he, sir?
Touch. He, sir, that must marry this woman. There-
fore, you clown, abandon,—which is in the vulgar leave,—
the society,—which in the boorish is company,—of this
female,—which in the common is woman; which to-
50gether is, abandon the society of this female, or clown,
thou perishest; or, to thy better understanding, diest;
50to thy better understanding You will understand the word diest, better than the word perishest.or, to wit, I kill thee, make thee away, translate thy life
into death, thy liberty into bondage: I will deal in
poison with thee, or in bastinado, or in steel; I will
53bastinado Beating, cudgelling.55bandy with thee in faction; I will o'er-run thee with
54bandy with thee in faction Fight with you by means of conspiracy. Literally, to bandy is to throw backwards and forwards.policy; I will kill thee a hundred and fifty ways: there-
55policy Cunning schemes, stratagems.fore tremble, and depart.
Aud. Do, good William.
Will. God rest you merry, sir. [Exit.
Enter Corin.
60Cor. Our master and mistress seek you; come,
away, away!
Touch. Trip, Audrey! trip, Audrey! I attend, I
attend. [Exeunt.
Scene II. The forest.
Enter Orlando and Oliver.
Orl. Is 't possible that on so little acquaintance you
should like her? that but seeing you should love her?
and, loving, woo? and, wooing, she should grant? and
will you persever to enjoy her?
4persever The older spelling of the word. It was accented on the second syllable in Shakespeare's day.5Oli. Neither call the giddiness of it in question, the
5call the giddiness of it in question Argue about the rashness of it.poverty of her, the small acquaintance, my sudden
wooing, nor her sudden consenting; but say with me,
I love Aliena; say with her that she loves me; consent
with both that we may enjoy each other: it shall be to
10your good; for my father's house and all the revenue
that was old Sir Rowland's will I estate upon you, and
11estate Settle.here live and die a shepherd.
Orl. You have my consent. Let your wedding be
to-morrow: thither will I invite the duke and all's
15contented followers. Go you and prepare Aliena; for
look you, here comes my Rosalind.
Enter Rosalind.
Ros. God save you, brother.
Oli. And you, fair sister. [Exit.
Ros. O, my dear Orlando, how it grieves me to see
20thee wear thy heart in a scarf!
Orl. It is my arm.
Ros. I thought thy heart had been wounded with
the claws of a lion.
Orl. Wounded it is, but with the eyes of a lady.
25Ros. Did your brother tell you how I counterfeited
to swoon when he showed me your handkercher?
Orl. Ay, and greater wonders than that.
27wonders The surprising news that Oliver and Celia had fallen in love.Ros. O, I know where you are: nay, 'tis true: there
28I know where you are I know what you are referring to.was never any thing so sudden but the fight of two rams
30and Cæsar's thrasonical brag of 'I came, saw, and over-
30thrasonical Boastful. Thraso was a bragging soldier in the Eunuchus of Terence.I came, saw, and overcame "Veni, vidi, vici,"—the message sent by Cæsar to the Roman Senate after he had defeated Pharnaces, King of Pontus, B.C. 47.came': for your brother and my sister no sooner met
but they looked, no sooner looked but they loved, no
sooner loved but they sighed, no sooner sighed but they
asked one another the reason, no sooner knew the reason
35but they sought the remedy; and in these degrees have
35degrees Steps.they made a pair of stairs to marriage which they will
climb incontinent: they are in the very wrath of love
37incontinent Immediately, without hindrance.and they will together; clubs cannot part them.
Orl. They shall be married to-morrow, and I will bid
40the duke to the nuptial. But, O, how bitter a thing it is
to look into happiness through another man's eyes! By
so much the more shall I to-morrow be at the height of
heart-heaviness, by how much I shall think my brother
happy in having what he wishes for.
45Ros. Why then, to-morrow I cannot serve your turn
for Rosalind?
Orl. I can live no longer by thinking.
Ros. I will weary you then no longer with idle
talking. Know of me then, for now I speak to some
50purpose, that I know you are a gentleman of good
conceit: I speak not this that you should bear a good
51conceit Understanding.opinion of my knowledge, insomuch I say I know you
are; neither do I labour for a greater esteem than may
in some little measure draw a belief from you, to do
55yourself good and not to grace me. Believe then, if you
55grace me Be to my credit.please, that I can do strange things: I have, since I was
three year old, conversed with a magician, most pro-
57conversed with Held intercourse with, associated with.found in his art and yet not damnable. If you do love
58damnable Worthy of condemnation.Rosalind so near the heart as your gesture cries it out,
59as your gesture cries it out As your demeanour proclaims.60when your brother marries Aliena, shall you marry her:
I know into what straits of fortune she is driven; and it
is not impossible to me, if it appear not inconvenient to
you, to set her before your eyes to-morrow human as she
is and without any danger.
61danger Danger of punishment for my practice of magic.65Orl. Speakest thou in sober meanings?
Ros. By my life, I do; which I tender dearly, though
66tender dearly Value highly.66–7though I say I am a magician Although I appear to be risking my life by confessing that I am a magician. The laws against the practice of magic were very severe in Shakespeare's time.I say I am a magician. Therefore, put you in your best
array; bid your friends; for if you will be married to-
morrow, you shall, and to Rosalind, if you will.
Enter Silvius and Phebe.
70Look, here comes a lover of mine and a lover of hers.
Phe. Youth, you have done me much ungentleness,
To shew the letter that I writ to you.
Ros. I care not if I have: it is my study
To seem despiteful and ungentle to you:
75You are there followed by a faithful shepherd;
Look upon him, love him; he worships you.
Phe. Good shepherd, tell this youth what 'tis to love.
Sil. It is to be all made of sighs and tears;
And so am I for Phebe.
80Phe. And I for Ganymede.
Orl. And I for Rosalind.
Ros. And I for no woman.
Sil. It is to be all made of faith and service;
And so am I for Phebe.
85Phe. And I for Ganymede.
Orl. And I for Rosalind.
Ros. And I for no woman.
Sil. It is to be all made of fantasy.
88fantasy Fancy, with all its whims.All made of passion and all made of wishes,
90All adoration, duty, and observance,
90observance Respect.All humbleness, all patience and impatience,
All purity, all trial, all observance;
92observance It is unlikely that Shakespeare repeated the word observance. Possibly he wrote "obedience," or "endurance."And so am I for Phebe.
Phe. And so am I for Ganymede.
95Orl. And so am I for Rosalind.
Ros. And so am I for no woman.
Phe. If this be so, why blame you me to love you?
Sil. If this be so, why blame you me to love you?
Orl. If this be so, why blame you me to love you?
100Ros. Why do you speak too, 'Why blame you me to
love you?'
Orl. To her that is not here, nor doth not hear.
Ros. Pray you, no more of this; 'tis like the howling
103howling Phebe, Orlando, Rosalind, and Silvius had all been talking at once, and hence their voices were loud and discordant.of Irish wolves against the moon. [To Sil.] I will help
105you, if I can: [To Phe.] I would love you, if I could. To-
morrow meet me all together. [To Phe.] I will marry
you, if ever I marry woman, and I'll be married to-
morrow: [To Sil.] I will satisfy you, if ever I satisfied
man, and you shall be married to-morrow: [To Orl.] I will
110content you, if what pleases you contents you, and
you shall be married to-morrow. [To Orl.] As you love
Rosalind, meet: [To Sil.] as you love Phebe, meet: and
as I love no woman, I'll meet. So fare you well: I have
left you commands.
115Sil. I'll not fail, if I live.
Phe. Nor I.
Orl. Nor I. [Exeunt.
Scene III. The forest.
Enter Touchstone and Audrey.
Touch. To-morrow is the joyful day, Audrey; to-
morrow will we be married.
Aud. I do desire it with all my heart; and I hope it
is no dishonest desire to desire to be a woman of the
4dishonest Immodest, dishonourable.4–5a woman of the world A married woman.5world. Here come two of the banished duke's pages.
Enter two Pages.
First Page. Well met, honest gentleman.
6Well met I am glad to meet you.Touch. By my troth, well met. Come, sit, sit, and a
song.
Sec. Page. We are for you: sit i' the middle.
9We are for you Agreed.10First Page. Shall we clap into 't roundly, without
10clap into it roundly Plunge into it directly.hawking or spitting or saying we are hoarse, which are
the only prologues to a bad voice?
12the only prologues Only excuses to prepare the way.Sec. Page. I' faith, i' faith; and both in a tune, like
two gipsies on a horse.
Song.
15It was a lover and his lass,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
That o'er the green corn-field did pass
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
18ring time Either the time for dancing in a ring, or the time for lovers to exchange engagement rings.When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding:
20Sweet lovers love the spring.
Between the acres of the rye,
21between the acres On the grassy ridges separating the fields (acres).With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
These pretty country folks would lie,
In spring time, &c.
25This carol they began that hour,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
How that a life was but a flower
In spring time, &c.
And therefore take the present time,
30With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino;
For love is crowned with the prime.
31with the prime When everything is at its best.In spring time, &c.
Touch. Truly, young gentlemen, though there was
no great matter in the ditty, yet the note was very
34no great matter Not very much sense.35untuneable.
First Page. You are deceived, sir: we kept time,
we lost not our time.
Touch. By my troth, yes; I count it but time lost to
hear such a foolish song. God be wi' you; and God
40mend your voices! Come, Audrey. [Exeunt.
Scene IV. The forest.
Enter Duke senior, Amiens, Jaques, Orlando, Oliver, and Celia.
Duke S. Dost thou believe, Orlando, that the boy
Can do all this that he hath promised?
Orl. I sometimes do believe, and sometimes do not;
As those that fear they hope, and know they fear.
4As those who fear that there is no foundation for their hopes, and tremble because they are conscious of these fears.Enter Rosalind, Silvius, and Phebe.
5Ros. Patience once more, whiles our compact is
5–6Whiles our compact is urged While I lay before you the things we have agreed to.urged:
You say, if I bring in your Rosalind,
You will bestow her on Orlando here?
Duke S. That would I, had I kingdoms to give
10with her.
Ros. And you say, you will have her, when I
bring her?
Orl. That would I, were I of all kingdoms king.
Ros. You say, you'll marry me, if I be willing?
15Phe. That will I, should I die the hour after.
Ros. But if you do refuse to marry me,
You'll give yourself to this most faithful shepherd?
Phe. So is the bargain.
Ros. You say, that you'll have Phebe, if she will?
20Sil. Though to have her and death were both
one thing.
Ros. I have promised to make all this matter even.
22to make all this matter even To make it come out right; to smooth over the difficulties.Keep you your word, O duke, to give your daughter;
You yours, Orlando, to receive his daughter:
25Keep you your word, Phebe, that you'll marry me,
Or else refusing me, to wed this shepherd:
Keep your word, Silvius, that you'll marry her,
If she refuse me: and from hence I go,
To make these doubts all even. [Exeunt Rosalind and Celia.
30Duke S. I do remember in this shepherd boy
Some lively touches of my daughter's favour.
31lively Lifelike.touches of my daughter's favour Points of resemblance to my daughter's appearance (favour).Orl. My lord, the first time that I ever saw him
Methought he was a brother to your daughter:
But, my good lord, this boy is forest-born,
35And hath been tutor'd in the rudiments
Of many desperate studies by his uncle,
36desperate studies Magic, in which, according to popular belief, there was danger of losing one's soul.Whom he reports to be a great magician,
Obscured in the circle of this forest.
38Obscured Concealed, hidden.Enter Touchstone and Audrey.
Jaq. There is, sure, another flood toward and these
39toward At hand.40couples are coming to the ark. Here comes a pair of
very strange beasts, which in all tongues are called fools.
Touch. Salutation and greeting to you all!
Jaq. Good my lord, bid him welcome: this is the
motley-minded gentleman that I have so often met in
44motley-minded With the mind of a fool, who wore a motley dress.45the forest: he hath been a courtier, he swears.
Touch. If any man doubt that, let him put me to my
purgation. I have trod a measure; I have flattered a
47purgation Test.trod a measure Danced a minuet.lady; I have been politic with my friend, smooth with
48politic Diplomatic, artful.mine enemy; I have undone three tailors; I have had
49undone Ruined.50four quarrels, and like to have fought one.
Jaq. And how was that ta'en up?
51ta'en up Made up.Touch. Faith, we met, and found the quarrel was
upon the seventh cause.
Jaq. How seventh cause? Good my lord, like this
55fellow.
Duke S. I like him very well.
Touch. God 'ild you, sir; I desire you of the like.
57God 'ild you God reward (yield) you.I desire you of the like I have the same good wishes for you.I press in here, sir, amongst the rest of the country
copulatives, to swear and to forswear; according as
59copulatives Those who wish to be coupled, or married.to swear and to forswear To swear to be faithful, and afterwards to break my oath.60marriage binds and blood breaks: a poor virgin, sir,
60blood breaks Passion causes one to break his oath.an ill-favoured thing, sir, but mine own; a poor humour
61ill-favoured Homely, ugly.humour Whim, fancy.of mine, sir, to take that that no man else will: rich
honesty dwells like a miser, sir, in a poor house; as
63honesty Modesty.your pearl in your foul oyster.
65Duke S. By my faith, he is very swift and sen-
65swift and sententious Quick and full of pithy sayings.tentious.
Touch. According to the fool's bolt, sir, and such
67The Duke has said that Touchstone is quick in repartee. Touchstone replies that, according to the proverb (a "fool's bolt is soon shot"), fools have the reputation of shooting their arrows without waiting to take aim. A "bolt" was a short blunt-headed arrow.67–8such dulcet diseases Such pleasant weaknesses as fools are charged with. Touchstone purposely uses high-flown language for the sake of humour.dulcet diseases.
Jaq. But, for the seventh cause; how did you find
70the quarrel on the seventh cause?
Touch. Upon a lie seven times removed:—bear your
body more seeming, Audrey:—as thus, sir. I did dislike
the cut of a certain courtier's beard; he sent me word, if
I said his beard was not cut well, he was in the mind
75it was: this is called the Retort Courteous. If I sent
him word again 'it was not well cut,' he would send
me word, he cut it to please himself: this is called the
Quip Modest. If again 'it was not well cut,' he disabled
78Quip Modest A taunt (quip) that was moderately sharp.78–9disabled Doubted the value of, disparaged.my judgment: this is called the Reply Churlish. If
80again 'it was not well cut,' he would answer, I spake
not true: this is called the Reproof Valiant. If again
'it was not well cut,' he would say, I lied: this is called
the Countercheck Quarrelsome: and so to the Lie Cir-
cumstantial and the Lie Direct.
85Jaq. And how oft did you say his beard was not
well cut?
Touch. I durst go no further than the Lie Circum-
stantial, nor he durst not give me the Lie Direct; and so
we measured swords and parted.
89measured swords Swords were measured before a duel, so as to make sure that neither party had the advantage of the other.90Jaq. Can you nominate in order now the degrees
90nominate Name.of the lie?
Touch. O sir, we quarrel in print, by the book; as
92by the book According to the exact directions given in the book. Shakespeare probably had in mind some particular book on duelling. One such book was published in 1590, another in 1594.you have books for good manners: I will name you
the degrees. The first, the Retort Courteous; the
95second, the Quip Modest; the third, the Reply Churlish;
the fourth, the Reproof Valiant; the fifth, the Counter-
check Quarrelsome; the sixth, the Lie with Circum-
stance; the seventh, the Lie Direct. All these you may
avoid but the Lie Direct; and you may avoid that too,
100with an If. I knew when seven justices could not take
up a quarrel, but when the parties were met themselves,
one of them thought but of an If, as, 'If you said so,
then I said so'; and they shook hands and swore
brothers. Your If is the only peace-maker; much
105virtue in If.
Jaq. Is not this a rare fellow, my lord? he's as good
at any thing and yet a fool.
Duke S. He uses his folly like a stalking-horse and
108a stalking-horse A horse behind which the sportsman concealed himself so as to stalk (creep towards) his game without being observed.under the presentation of that he shoots his wit.
109under presentation of that Under the appearance, or semblance, of folly.Hymen The god of marriage.Enter Hymen, Rosalind, and Celia.
Still Music.
110Hym. "Then is there mirth in heaven,
When earthly things made even
111made even With difficulties smoothed away.Atone together.
112Atone Agree; literally, are at one.Good duke, receive thy daughter:
Hymen from heaven brought her,
115Yea, brought her hither,
That thou mightst join her hand with his
Whose heart within her bosom is."
117That is to say, Rosalind has Orlando's heart.Ros. [To duke] To you I give myself, for I am yours.
[To Orl.] To you I give myself, for I am yours.
120Duke S. If there be truth in sight, you are my
daughter.
Orl. If there be truth in sight, you are my Rosalind.
Phe. If sight and shape be true,
Why then, my love adieu!
125Ros. I'll have no father, if you be not he:
I'll have no husband, if you be not he:
Nor ne'er wed woman, if you be not she.
Hym. "Peace, ho! I bar confusion:
128bar Prohibit, forbid.'Tis I must make conclusion
129make conclusion Bring to an end.130Of these most strange events:
Here's eight that must take hands
To join in Hymen's bands,
If truth holds true contents.
133If truth is truth and does not prove false.You and you no cross shall part:
134cross Misfortune.135You and you are heart in heart:
You to his love must accord,
136accord Consent.Or have a woman to your lord:
You and you are sure together,
138sure Bound surely.As the winter to foul weather.
140Whiles a wedlock-hymn we sing,
Feed yourselves with questioning;
That reason wonder may diminish,
142reason Conversation.How thus we met, and these things finish."
Song.
"Wedding is great Juno's crown:
144Juno The Queen of Heaven, the goddess who presided over marriage and the home.145O blessed bond of board and bed!
'Tis Hymen peoples every town;
High wedlock then be honoured:
Honour, high honour and renown,
To Hymen, god of every town!"
150Duke S. O my dear niece, welcome thou art to me!
Even daughter, welcome, in no less degree.
151You are even as a daughter to me, and no less welcome than a daughter.Phe. I will not eat my word, now thou art mine;
152eat my word Break my promise.Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine.
153Thy fidelity (faith) binds (combines) my love (fancy) to thee.Enter Jaques de Boys.
Jaq. de B. Let me have audience for a word or two:
155I am the second son of old Sir Rowland,
That bring these tidings to this fair assembly.
Duke Frederick, hearing how that every day
Men of great worth resorted to this forest,
Address'd a mighty power; which were on foot,
159Address'd Made ready.160In his own conduct, purposely to take
160in his own conduct Led by himself.His brother here and put him to the sword:
And to the skirts of this wild wood he came;
Where meeting with an old religious man,
163religious man Monk, hermit.After some question with him, was converted
164question Conversation.165Both from his enterprise and from the world;
His crown bequeathing to his banish'd brother,
And all their lands restored to them again
167restored The subject is he (l. 162).That were with him exiled. This to be true,
I do engage my life.
169engage Pledge.Duke S. Welcome, young man;
170Thou offer'st fairly to thy brothers' wedding:
170offer'st fairly Makest a good offering, or present.To one his lands withheld, and to the other
171the other Orlando, who through his marriage with Rosalind would inherit the dukedom.A land itself at large, a potent dukedom.
172at large Of large extent.First, in this forest let us do those ends
173do those ends Bring to an end those rites.That here were well begun and well begot:
175And after, every of this happy number
175after Afterwards.every Every one.That have endured shrewd days and nights with us
176shrewd Bitter, sharp.Shall share the good of our returned fortune,
According to the measure of our states.
178states Either rank in life, or estates.Meantime, forget this new-fallen dignity
179new-fallen dignity The restoration of the dukedom which had just come to him.180And fall into our rustic revelry.
Play, music! And you, brides and bridegrooms all,
With measure heap'd in joy, to the measures fall.
182measures Dances.Jaq. Sir, by your patience. If I heard you rightly,
183by your patience With your permission I would speak.The duke hath put on a religious life
184put on Engaged in, entered upon.185And thrown into neglect the pompous court?
185pompous Full of pomp.Jaq. de B. He hath.
Jaq. To him will I: out of these convertites
187convertites Converts.There is much matter to be heard and learn'd.
[To Duke] You to your former honour I bequeath;
190Your patience and your virtue well deserves it:
[To Orl.] You to a love that your true faith doth merit:
[To Oli.] You to your land and love and great allies:
[To Sil.] You to a long and well-deserved bed:
193You to a marriage which you have well deserved by your long and faithful devotion.[To Touch.] And you to wrangling; for thy loving voyage
195Is but for two months victualled. So, to your pleasures:
I am for other than for dancing measures.
Duke S. Stay, Jaques, stay.
Jaq. To see no pastime I: what you would have
I'll stay to know at your abandon'd cave. [Exit.
200Duke S. Proceed, proceed: we will begin these rites,
As we do trust they'll end, in true delights. [A dance.
Epilogue.
Ros. It is not the fashion to see the lady the
epilogue; but it is no more unhandsome than to see
203epilogue Speech delivered at the conclusion of the play, just as the prologue was delivered at the beginning.unhandsome Unbecoming.the lord the prologue. If it be true that good wine
205needs no bush, 'tis true that a good play needs no
205bush The ivy was sacred to Bacchus, the god of wine, and it was customary for the wine-shop to have a "bush" of ivy over the door; but a wine-shop where good wine was sold naturally did not need a "bush" to advertise it.epilogue; yet to good wine they do use good bushes,
and good plays prove the better by the help of good
epilogues. What a case am I in then, that am neither
a good epilogue nor cannot insinuate with you in the
209insinuate with you Ingratiate myself, gain your favour.210behalf of a good play! I am not furnished like a beggar,
210furnished Dressed.therefore to beg will not become me: my way is to
conjure you; and I'll begin with the women. I charge
212conjure Deliver a solemn charge.you, O women, for the love you bear to men, to like
213–4This explains the title As You Like It.as much of this play as please you: and I charge you, O
215men, for the love you bear to women—as I perceive
by your simpering, none of you hates them—that
between you and the woman the play may please. If
217–8If I were a woman Since the female parts in all plays in Shakespeare's time were acted by youths, Rosalind in this case is really a young man.I were a woman I would kiss as many of you as had
beards that pleased me, complexions that liked me and
219liked Pleased.220breaths that I defied not: and, I am sure, as many as
220defied Disliked, objected to.have good beards or good faces or sweet breaths will, for
my kind offer, when I make curtsy, bid me farewell.
222bid me farewell Applaud.[Exeunt.