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As you Like it

Actus primus. Scoena Prima.

Enter Orlando and Adam.

Orlando. As I remember Adamit was vpon this fashion
bequeathed me by willbut poore a thousand
Crownesand as thou saistcharged my brother
on his blessing to breed mee well: and
there begins my sadnesse: My brother Iaques he keepes
at schooleand report speakes goldenly of his profit:
for my parthe keepes me rustically at homeor (to speak
more properly) staies me heere at home vnkept: for call
you that keeping for a gentleman of my birththat differs
not from the stalling of an Oxe? his horses are bred
betterfor besides that they are faire with their feeding
they are taught their mannageand to that end Riders
deerely hir'd: but I (his brother) gaine nothing vnder
him but growthfor the which his Animals on his
dunghils are as much bound to him as I: besides this nothing
that he so plentifully giues methe something that
nature gaue meehis countenance seemes to take from
me: hee lets mee feede with his Hindesbarres mee the
place of a brotherand as much as in him liesmines my
gentility with my education. This is it Adam that
grieues meand the spirit of my Fatherwhich I thinke
is within meebegins to mutinie against this seruitude.
I will no longer endure itthough yet I know no wise
remedy how to auoid it.
Enter Oliuer.

Adam. Yonder comes my Masteryour brother

Orlan. Goe a-part Adamand thou shalt heare how
he will shake me vp

Oli. Now Sirwhat make you heere?
Orl. Nothing: I am not taught to make any thing


Oli. What mar you then sir?

Orl. Marry sirI am helping you to mar that which
God madea poore vnworthy brother of yours with
idlenesse

Oliuer. Marry sir be better employedand be naught
a while

Orlan. Shall I keepe your hogsand eat huskes with
them? what prodigall portion haue I spentthat I should
come to such penury?

Oli. Know you where you are sir?
Orl. O sirvery well: heere in your Orchard


Oli. Know you before whom sir?

Orl. Ibetter then him I am before knowes mee: I
know you are my eldest brotherand in the gentle condition
of bloud you should so know me: the courtesie of


nations allowes you my betterin that you are the first
bornebut the same tradition takes not away my bloud
were there twenty brothers betwixt vs: I haue as much
of my father in meeas youalbeit I confesse your comming
before me is neerer to his reuerence

Oli. What Boy

Orl. Comecome elder brotheryou are too yong in this

Oli. Wilt thou lay hands on me villaine?

Orl. I am no villaine: I am the yongest sonne of Sir
Rowland de Boyshe was my fatherand he is thrice a villaine
that saies such a father begot villaines: wert thou
not my brotherI would not take this hand from thy
throattill this other had puld out thy tongue for saying
sothou hast raild on thy selfe

Adam. Sweet Masters bee patientfor your Fathers
remembrancebe at accord

Oli. Let me goe I say

Orl. I will not till I please: you shall heare mee: my
father charg'd you in his will to giue me good education:
you haue train'd me like a pezantobscuring and
hiding from me all gentleman-like qualities: the spirit
of my father growes strong in meeand I will no longer
endure it: therefore allow me such exercises as may become
a gentlemanor giue mee the poore allottery my
father left me by testamentwith that I will goe buy my
fortunes

Oli. And what wilt thou do? beg when that is spent?
Well sirget you in. I will not long be troubled with
you: you shall haue some part of your willI pray you
leaue me

Orl. I will no further offend youthen becomes mee
for my good

Oli. Get you with himyou olde dogge

Adam. Is old dogge my reward: most trueI haue
lost my teeth in your seruice: God be with my olde master
he would not haue spoke such a word.

Ex. Orl. Ad.

Oli. Is it euen sobegin you to grow vpon me? I will
physicke your ranckenesseand yet giue no thousand
crownes neyther: holla Dennis.
Enter Dennis.

Den. Calls your worship?
Oli. Was not Charles the Dukes Wrastler heere to
speake with me?
Den. So please youhe is heere at the dooreand importunes
accesse to you

Oli. Call him in: 'twill be a good way: and to morrow
the wrastling is.
Enter Charles.


Cha. Good morrow to your worship

Oli. Good Mounsier Charles: what's the new newes
at the new Court?

Charles. There's no newes at the Court Sirbut the
olde newes: that isthe old Duke is banished by his yonger
brother the new Dukeand three or foure louing
Lords haue put themselues into voluntary exile with
himwhose lands and reuenues enrich the new Duke
therefore he giues them good leaue to wander

Oli. Can you tell if Rosalind the Dukes daughter bee
banished with her Father?

Cha. O no; for the Dukes daughter her Cosen so
loues herbeing euer from their Cradles bred together
that hee would haue followed her exileor haue died to
stay behind her; she is at the Courtand no lesse beloued
of her Vnclethen his owne daughterand neuer two Ladies
loued as they doe

Oli. Where will the old Duke liue?

Cha. They say hee is already in the Forrest of Arden
and a many merry men with him; and there they liue
like the old Robin Hood of England: they say many yong
Gentlemen flocke to him euery dayand fleet the time
carelesly as they did in the golden world

Oli. Whatyou wrastle to morrow before the new
Duke

Cha. Marry doe I sir: and I came to acquaint you
with a matter: I am giuen sir secretly to vnderstandthat
your yonger brother Orlando hath a disposition to come
in disguis'd against mee to try a fall: to morrow sir I
wrastle for my creditand hee that escapes me without
some broken limbeshall acquit him well: your brother
is but young and tenderand for your loue I would bee
loth to foyle himas I must for my owne honour if hee
come in: therefore out of my loue to youI came hither
to acquaint you withallthat either you might stay him
from his intendmentor brooke such disgrace well as he
shall runne intoin that it is a thing of his owne search
and altogether against my will

Oli. CharlesI thanke thee for thy loue to mewhich
thou shalt finde I will most kindly requite: I had my
selfe notice of my Brothers purpose heereinand haue by
vnder-hand meanes laboured to disswade him from it;
but he is resolute. Ile tell thee Charlesit is the stubbornest
yong fellow of Francefull of ambitionan enuious
emulator of euery mans good partsa secret & villanous
contriuer against mee his naturall brother: therefore vse
thy discretionI had as liefe thou didst breake his necke
as his finger. And thou wert best looke to't; for if thou
dost him any slight disgraceor if hee doe not mightilie
grace himselfe on theehee will practise against thee by
poysonentrap thee by some treacherous deuiseand neuer
leaue thee till he hath tane thy life by some indirect
meanes or other: for I assure thee(and almost with
teares I speake it) there is not one so youngand so villanous
this day liuing. I speake but brotherly of him
but should I anathomize him to theeas hee isI must
blushand weepeand thou must looke pale and
wonder


Cha. I am heartily glad I came hither to you: if hee
come to morrowIle giue him his payment: if euer hee
goe alone againeIle neuer wrastle for prize more: and
so God keepe your worship.
Enter.

Farewell good Charles. Now will I stirre this Gamester:
I hope I shall see an end of him; for my soule (yet
I know not why) hates nothing more then he: yet hee's
gentleneuer school'dand yet learnedfull of noble
deuiseof all sorts enchantingly belouedand indeed
so much in the heart of the worldand especially of my
owne peoplewho best know himthat I am altogether
misprised: but it shall not be so longthis wrastler shall
cleare all: nothing remainesbut that I kindle the boy
thitherwhich now Ile goe about.
Enter.

Scoena Secunda.

Enter Rosalindand Cellia.

Cel. I pray thee Rosalindsweet my Cozbe merry

Ros. Deere Cellia; I show more mirth then I am mistresse
ofand would you yet were merrier: vnlesse you
could teach me to forget a banished fatheryou must not
learne mee how to remember any extraordinary pleasure

Cel. Heerein I see thou lou'st mee not with the full
waight that I loue thee; if my Vncle thy banished father
had banished thy Vncle the Duke my Fatherso thou
hadst beene still with meeI could haue taught my loue
to take thy father for mine; so wouldst thouif the truth
of thy loue to me were so righteously temper'das mine
is to thee

Ros. WellI will forget the condition of my estate
to reioyce in yours

Cel. You know my Father hath no childebut Inor
none is like to haue; and truely when he diesthou shalt
be his heire; for what hee hath taken away from thy father
perforceI will render thee againe in affection: by
mine honor I willand when I breake that oathlet mee
turne monster: therefore my sweet Rosemy deare Rose
be merry

Ros. From henceforth I will Cozand deuise sports:
let me seewhat thinke you of falling in Loue?

Cel. Marry I prethee doeto make sport withall: but
loue no man in good earnestnor no further in sport neyther
then with safety of a pure blushthou maist in honor
come off againe

Ros. What shall be our sport then?

Cel. Let vs sit and mocke the good houswife Fortune
from her wheelethat her gifts may henceforth bee
bestowed equally

Ros. I would wee could doe so: for her benefits are
mightily misplacedand the bountifull blinde woman


doth most mistake in her gifts to women

Cel. 'Tis truefor those that she makes faireshe scarce
makes honest& those that she makes honestshe makes
very illfauouredly

Ros. Nay now thou goest from Fortunes office to Natures:
Fortune reignes in gifts of the worldnot in the
lineaments of Nature.
Enter Clowne.

Cel. No; when Nature hath made a faire creature
may she not by Fortune fall into the fire? though nature
hath giuen vs wit to flout at Fortunehath not Fortune
sent in this foole to cut off the argument?

Ros. Indeed there is fortune too hard for naturewhen
fortune makes natures naturallthe cutter off of natures
witte

Cel. Peraduenture this is not Fortunes work neither
but Natureswho perceiueth our naturall wits too dull
to reason of such goddesseshath sent this Naturall for
our whetstone: for alwaies the dulnesse of the fooleis
the whetstone of the wits. How now Wittewhether
wander you?

Clow. Mistresseyou must come away to your father

Cel. Were you made the messenger?

Clo. No by mine honorbut I was bid to come for you

Ros. Where learned you that oath foole?

Clo. Of a certaine Knightthat swore by his Honour
they were good Pan-cakesand swore by his Honor the
Mustard was naught: Now Ile stand to itthe Pancakes
were naughtand the Mustard was goodand yet was
not the Knight forsworne

Cel. How proue you that in the great heape of your
knowledge?
Ros. I marrynow vnmuzzle your wisedome

Clo. Stand you both forth now: stroke your chinnes
and sweare by your beards that I am a knaue

Cel. By our beards (if we had them) thou art

Clo. By my knauerie (if I had it) then I were: but if
you sweare by that that is notyou are not forsworn: no
more was this knight swearing by his Honorfor he neuer
had anie; or if he hadhe had sworne it awaybefore
euer he saw those Pancakesor that Mustard

Cel. Pretheewho is't that thou means't?
Clo. One that old Fredericke your Father loues


Ros. My Fathers loue is enough to honor him enough;
speake no more of himyou'l be whipt for taxation one
of these daies

Clo. The more pittie that fooles may not speak wisely
what Wisemen do foolishly

Cel. By my troth thou saiest true: Forsince the little
wit that fooles haue was silencedthe little foolerie that
wise men haue makes a great shew; Heere comes Monsieur


the Beu.
Enter le Beau.

Ros. With his mouth full of newes

Cel. Which he will put on vsas Pigeons feed their
young

Ros. Then shal we be newes-cram'd

Cel. All the better: we shalbe the more Marketable.
Boon-iour Monsieur le Beuwhat's the newes?
Le Beu. Faire Princesse
you haue lost much good sport

Cel. Sport: of what colour?
Le Beu. What colour Madame? How shall I aunswer
you?
Ros. As wit and fortune will

Clo. Or as the destinies decrees

Cel. Well saidthat was laid on with a trowell

Clo. Nayif I keepe not my ranke

Ros. Thou loosest thy old smell

Le Beu. You amaze me Ladies: I would haue told
you of good wrastlingwhich you haue lost the sight of

Ros. Yet tell vs the manner of the Wrastling

Le Beu. I wil tell you the beginning: and if it please
your Ladishipsyou may see the endfor the best is yet
to doeand heere where you arethey are comming to
performe it

Cel. Wellthe beginning that is dead and buried

Le Beu. There comes an old manand his three sons

Cel. I could match this beginning with an old tale

Le Beu. Three proper yong menof excellent growth
and presence

Ros. With bils on their neckes: Be it knowne vnto
all men by these presents

Le Beu. The eldest of the threewrastled with Charles
the Dukes Wrastlerwhich Charles in a moment threw
himand broke three of his ribbesthat there is little
hope of life in him: So he seru'd the secondand so the
third: yonder they liethe poore old man their Father
making such pittiful dole ouer themthat all the beholders
take his part with weeping

Ros. Alas

Clo. But what is the sport Monsieurthat the Ladies
haue lost?
Le Beu. Why this that I speake of


Clo. Thus men may grow wiser euery day. It is the
first time that euer I heard breaking of ribbes was sport
for Ladies

Cel. Or II promise thee

Ros. But is there any else longs to see this broken
Musicke in his sides? Is there yet another doates vpon
rib-breaking? Shall we see this wrastling Cosin?

Le Beu. You must if you stay heerefor heere is the
place appointed for the wrastlingand they are ready to
performe it

Cel. Yonder sure they are comming. Let vs now stay
and see it.

Flourish. Enter DukeLordsOrlandoCharlesand Attendants.

Duke. Come onsince the youth will not be intreated
His owne perill on his forwardnesse

Ros. Is yonder the man?
Le Beu. Euen heMadam


Cel. Alashe is too yong: yet he looks successefully
Du. How now daughterand Cousin:
Are you crept hither to see the wrastling?
Ros. I my Liegeso please you giue vs leaue

Du. You wil take little delight in itI can tell you
there is such oddes in the man: In pitie of the challengers
youthI would faine disswade himbut he will not
bee entreated. Speake to him Ladiessee if you can
mooue him

Cel. Call him hether good Monsieuer Le Beu

Duke. Do so: Ile not be by

Le Beu. Monsieur the Challengerthe Princesse cals
for you

Orl. I attend them with all respect and dutie

Ros. Young manhaue you challeng'd Charles the
Wrastler?

Orl. No faire Princesse: he is the generall challenger
I come but in as others doto try with him the strength
of my youth

Cel. Yong Gentlemanyour spirits are too bold for
your yeares: you haue seene cruell proofe of this mans
strengthif you saw your selfe with your eiesor knew
your selfe with your iudgmentthe feare of your aduenture
would counsel you to a more equall enterprise. We
pray you for your owne sake to embrace your own safetie
and giue ouer this attempt

Ros. Do yong Siryour reputation shall not therefore
be misprised: we wil make it our suite to the Dukethat
the wrastling might not go forward

Orl. I beseech youpunish mee not with your harde
thoughtswherein I confesse me much guiltie to denie


so faire and excellent Ladies anie thing. But let your
faire eiesand gentle wishes go with mee to my triall;
wherein if I bee foil'dthere is but one sham'd that was
neuer gracious: if kil'dbut one dead that is willing to
be so: I shall do my friends no wrongfor I haue none to
lament me: the world no iniuriefor in it I haue nothing:
onely in the world I fil vp a placewhich may bee better
suppliedwhen I haue made it emptie

Ros. The little strength that I haueI would it were
with you

Cel. And mine to eeke out hers

Ros. Fare you well: praie heauen I be deceiu'd in you

Cel. Your hearts desires be with you

Char. Comewhere is this yong gallantthat is so
desirous to lie with his mother earth?
Orl. Readie Sirbut his will hath in it a more modest
working

Duk. You shall trie but one fall

Cha. NoI warrant your Grace you shall not entreat
him to a secondthat haue so mightilie perswaded him
from a first

Orl. You meane to mocke me after: you should not
haue mockt me before: but come your waies

Ros. Now Herculesbe thy speede yong man

Cel. I would I were inuisibleto catch the strong fellow
by the legge.

Wrastle.

Ros. Oh excellent yong man

Cel. If I had a thunderbolt in mine eieI can tell who
should downe.

Shout.

Duk. No moreno more

Orl. Yes I beseech your GraceI am not yet well
breath'd

Duk. How do'st thou Charles?
Le Beu. He cannot speake my Lord


Duk. Beare him awaie:
What is thy name yong man?
Orl. Orlando my Liegethe yongest sonne of Sir Roland
de Boys

Duk. I would thou hadst beene son to some man else
The world esteem'd thy father honourable
But I did finde him still mine enemie:
Thou should'st haue better pleas'd me with this deede
Hadst thou descended from another house:


But fare thee wellthou art a gallant youth
I would thou had'st told me of another Father.

Exit Duke.

Cel. Were I my Father (Coze) would I do this?

Orl. I am more proud to be Sir Rolands sonne
His yongest sonneand would not change that calling
To be adopted heire to Fredricke

Ros. My Father lou'd Sir Roland as his soule
And all the world was of my Fathers minde
Had I before knowne this yong man his sonne
I should haue giuen him teares vnto entreaties
Ere he should thus haue ventur'd

Cel. Gentle Cosen
Let vs goe thanke himand encourage him:
My Fathers rough and enuious disposition
Sticks me at heart: Siryou haue well deseru'd
If you doe keepe your promises in loue;
But iustly as you haue exceeded all promise
Your Mistris shall be happie

Ros. Gentleman
Weare this for me: one out of suites with fortune
That could giue morebut that her hand lacks meanes.
Shall we goe Coze?

Cel. I: fare you well faire Gentleman

Orl. Can I not sayI thanke you? My better parts
Are all throwne downeand that which here stands vp
Is but a quintinea meere liuelesse blocke

Ros. He cals vs back: my pride fell with my fortunes
Ile aske him what he would: Did you call Sir?
Siryou haue wrastled welland ouerthrowne
More then your enemies

Cel. Will you goe Coze?
Ros. Haue with you: fare you well.
Enter.

Orl. What passion hangs these waights vpo[n] my toong?
I cannot speake to heryet she vrg'd conference.
Enter Le Beu.

O poore Orlando! thou art ouerthrowne
Or Charlesor something weaker masters thee

Le Beu. Good SirI do in friendship counsaile you
To leaue this place; Albeit you haue deseru'd
High commendationtrue applauseand loue;
Yet such is now the Dukes condition
That he misconsters all that you haue done:
The Duke is humorouswhat he is indeede
More suites you to conceiuethen I to speake of

Orl. I thanke you Sir; and pray you tell me this
Which of the two was daughter of the Duke
That here was at the Wrastling?

Le Beu. Neither his daughterif we iudge by manners
But yet indeede the taller is his daughter
The other is daughter to the banish'd Duke


And here detain'd by her vsurping Vncle
To keepe his daughter companiewhose loues
Are deerer then the naturall bond of Sisters:
But I can tell youthat of late this Duke
Hath tane displeasure 'gainst his gentle Neece
Grounded vpon no other argument
But that the people praise her for her vertues
And pittie herfor her good Fathers sake;
And on my life his malice 'gainst the Lady
Will sodainly breake forth: Sirfare you well
Hereafter in a better world then this
I shall desire more loue and knowledge of you


Orl. I rest much bounden to you: fare you well.
Thus must I from the smoake into the smother
From tyrant Dukevnto a tyrant Brother.
But heauenly Rosaline.

Exit

Scena Tertius.

Enter Celia and Rosaline.

Cel. Why Cosenwhy Rosaline: Cupid haue mercie
Not a word?
Ros. Not one to throw at a dog

Cel. Nothy words are too precious to be cast away
vpon cursthrow some of them at me; come lame mee
with reasons

Ros. Then there were two Cosens laid vpwhen the
one should be lam'd with reasonsand the other mad
without any

Cel. But is all this for your Father?
Ros. Nosome of it is for my childes Father: Oh
how full of briers is this working day world

Cel. They are but bursCosenthrowne vpon thee
in holiday foolerieif we walke not in the trodden paths
our very petty-coates will catch them

Ros. I could shake them off my coatethese burs are
in my heart

Cel. Hem them away

Ros. I would try if I could cry hemand haue him

Cel. Comecomewrastle with thy affections

Ros. O they take the part of a better wrastler then
my selfe

Cel. Oa good wish vpon you: you will trie in time
in dispight of a fall: but turning these iests out of seruice
let vs talke in good earnest: Is it possible on such a sodaine
you should fall into so strong a liking with old Sir
Roulands yongest sonne?

Ros. The Duke my Father lou'd his Father deerelie


Cel. Doth it therefore ensue that you should loue his
Sonne deerelie? By this kinde of chaseI should hate
himfor my father hated his father deerely; yet I hate
not Orlando

Ros. No faithhate him not for my sake

Cel. Why should I not? doth he not deserue well?
Enter Duke with Lords.

Ros. Let me loue him for thatand do you loue him
Because I doe. Lookehere comes the Duke

Cel. With his eies full of anger

Duk. Mistrisdispatch you with your safest haste
And get you from our Court

Ros. Me Vncle

Duk. You Cosen
Within these ten daies if that thou beest found
So neere our publike Court as twentie miles
Thou diest for it

Ros. I doe beseech your Grace
Let me the knowledge of my fault beare with me:
If with my selfe I hold intelligence
Or haue acquaintance with mine owne desires
If that I doe not dreameor be not franticke
(As I doe trust I am not) then deere Vncle
Neuer so much as in a thought vnborne
Did I offend your highnesse

Duk. Thus doe all Traitors
If their purgation did consist in words
They are as innocent as grace it selfe;
Let is suffice thee that I trust thee not

Ros. Yet your mistrust cannot make me a Traitor;
Tell me whereon the likelihoods depends?
Duk. Thou art thy Fathers daughterthere's enough

Ros. So was I when your highnes took his Dukdome
So was I when your highnesse banisht him;
Treason is not inherited my Lord
Or if we did deriue it from our friends
What's that to memy Father was no Traitor
Then good my Leigemistake me not so much
To thinke my pouertie is treacherous

Cel. Deere Soueraigne heare me speake

Duk. I Celiawe staid her for your sake
Else had she with her Father rang'd along

Cel. I did not then intreat to haue her stay
It was your pleasureand your owne remorse
I was too yong that time to value her
But now I know her: if she be a Traitor
Why so am I: we still haue slept together
Rose at an instantlearn'dplaideate together
And wheresoere we wentlike Iunos Swans
Still we went coupled and inseperable


Duk. She is too subtile for theeand her smoothnes;
Her verie silenceand her patience
Speake to the peopleand they pittie her:
Thou art a fooleshe robs thee of thy name
And thou wilt show more bright& seem more vertuous
When she is gone: then open not thy lips
Firmeand irreuocable is my doombe
Which I haue past vpon hershe is banish'd

Cel. Pronounce that sentence then on me my Leige
I cannot liue out of her companie

Duk. You are a foole: you Neice prouide your selfe
If you out-stay the timevpon mine honor
And in the greatnesse of my word you die.

Exit Duke&c.

Cel. O my poore Rosalinewhether wilt thou goe?
Wilt thou change Fathers? I will giue thee mine:
I charge thee be not thou more grieu'd then I am

Ros. I haue more cause

Cel. Thou hast not Cosen
Prethee be cheerefull; know'st thou not the Duke
Hath banish'd me his daughter?

Ros. That he hath not

Cel. Nohath not? Rosaline lacks then the loue
Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one
Shall we be sundred? shall we part sweete girle?
Nolet my Father seeke another heire:
Therefore deuise with me how we may flie
Whether to goeand what to beare with vs
And doe not seeke to take your change vpon you
To beare your griefes your selfeand leaue me out:
For by this heauennow at our sorrowes pale;
Say what thou canstIle goe along with thee

Ros. Whywhether shall we goe?
Cel. To seeke my Vncle in the Forrest of Arden


Ros. Alaswhat danger will it be to vs
(Maides as we are) to trauell forth so farre?
Beautie prouoketh theeues sooner then gold

Cel. Ile put my selfe in poore and meane attire
And with a kinde of vmber smirch my face
The like doe youso shall we passe along
And neuer stir assailants

Ros. Were it not better
Because that I am more then common tall
That I did suite me all points like a man
A gallant curtelax vpon my thigh
A bore-speare in my handand in my heart
Lye there what hidden womans feare there will
Weele haue a swashing and a marshall outside
As manie other mannish cowards haue
That doe outface it with their semblances

Cel. What shall I call thee when thou art a man?


Ros. Ile haue no worse a name then Ioues owne Page
And therefore looke you call me Ganimed.
But what will you be call'd?

Cel. Something that hath a reference to my state:
No longer Celiabut Aliena

Ros. But Cosenwhat if we assaid to steale
The clownish Foole out of your Fathers Court:
Would he not be a comfort to our trauaile?

Cel. Heele goe along ore the wide world with me
Leaue me alone to woe him; Let's away
And get our Iewels and our wealth together
Deuise the fittest timeand safest way
To hide vs from pursuite that will be made
After my flight: now goe in we content
To libertieand not to banishment.

Exeunt.

Actus Secundus. Scoena Prima.

Enter Duke Senior: Amyensand two or three Lords like
Forresters.

Duk.Sen. Now my Coe-matesand brothers in exile:
Hath not old custome made this life more sweete
Then that of painted pompe? Are not these woods
More free from perill then the enuious Court?
Heere feele we not the penaltie of Adam
The seasons differenceas the Icie phange
And churlish chiding of the winters winde
Which when it bites and blowes vpon my body
Euen till I shrinke with coldI smileand say
This is no flattery: these are counsellors
That feelingly perswade me what I am:
Sweet are the vses of aduersitie
Which like the toadougly and venemous
Weares yet a precious Iewell in his head:
And this our life exempt from publike haunt
Findes tongues in treesbookes in the running brookes
Sermons in stonesand good in euery thing

Amien. I would not change ithappy is your Grace
That can translate the stubbornnesse of fortune
Into so quiet and so sweet a stile

Du.Sen. Comeshall we goe and kill vs venison?
And yet it irkes me the poore dapled fooles
Being natiue Burgers of this desert City
Should in their owne confines with forked heads
Haue their round hanches goard

1.Lord. Indeed my Lord
The melancholy Iaques grieues at that
And in that kinde sweares you doe more vsurpe
Then doth your brother that hath banish'd you:
To day my Lord of Amiensand my selfe
Did steale behinde him as he lay along
Vnder an oakewhose anticke roote peepes out
Vpon the brooke that brawles along this wood
To the which place a poore sequestred Stag
That from the Hunters aime had tane a hurt
Did come to languish; and indeed my Lord


The wretched annimall heau'd forth such groanes
That their discharge did stretch his leatherne coat
Almost to burstingand the big round teares
Cours'd one another downe his innocent nose
In pitteous chase: and thus the hairie foole
Much marked of the melancholie Iaques
Stood on th' extremest verge of the swift brooke
Augmenting it with teares

Du.Sen. But what said Iaques?
Did he not moralize this spectacle?

1.Lord. O yesinto a thousand similies.
Firstfor his weeping into the needlesse streame;
Poore Deere quoth hethou mak'st a testament
As worldlings doegiuing thy sum of more
To that which had too much: then being there alone
Left and abandoned of his veluet friend;
'Tis right quoth hethus miserie doth part
The Fluxe of companie: anon a carelesse Heard
Full of the pastureiumps along by him
And neuer staies to greet him: I quoth Iaques
Sweepe on you fat and greazie Citizens
'Tis iust the fashion; wherefore doe you looke
Vpon that poore and broken bankrupt there?
Thus most inuectiuely he pierceth through
The body of CountrieCitieCourt
Yeaand of this our lifeswearing that we
Are meere vsurperstyrantsand whats worse
To fright the Annimalsand to kill them vp
In their assign'd and natiue dwelling place

D.Sen. And did you leaue him in this contemplation?
2.Lord. We did my Lordweeping and commenting
Vpon the sobbing Deere

Du.Sen. Show me the place
I loue to cope him in these sullen fits
For then he's full of matter

1.Lor. Ile bring you to him strait.

Exeunt.

Scena Secunda.

Enter Dukewith Lords.

Duk. Can it be possible that no man saw them?
It cannot besome villaines of my Court
Are of consent and sufferance in this

1.Lo. I cannot heare of any that did see her
The Ladies her attendants of her chamber
Saw her a bedand in the morning early
They found the bed vntreasur'd of their Mistris

2.Lor. My Lordthe roynish Clownat whom so oft
Your Grace was wont to laugh is also missing
Hisperia the Princesse Gentlewoman
Confesses that she secretly ore-heard
Your daughter and her Cosen much commend
The parts and graces of the Wrastler
That did but lately foile the synowie Charles


And she beleeues where euer they are gone
That youth is surely in their companie

Duk. Send to his brotherfetch that gallant hither
If he be absentbring his Brother to me
Ile make him finde him: do this sodainly;
And let not search and inquisition quaile
To bring againe these foolish runawaies.

Exeunt.

Scena Tertia.

Enter Orlando and Adam.

Orl. Who's there?

Ad. What my yong Masteroh my gentle master
Oh my sweet masterO you memorie
Of old Sir Rowland; whywhat make you here?
Why are you vertuous? Why do people loue you?
And wherefore are you gentlestrongand valiant?
Why would you be so fond to ouercome
The bonnie priser of the humorous Duke?
Your praise is come too swiftly home before you.
Know you not Masterto seeme kinde of men
Their graces serue them but as enemies
No more doe yours: your vertues gentle Master
Are sanctified and holy traitors to you:
Oh what a world is thiswhen what is comely
Enuenoms him that beares it?
Whywhat's the matter?

Ad. O vnhappie youth
Come not within these doores: within this roofe
The enemie of all your graces liues
Your brothernono brotheryet the sonne
(Yet not the sonI will not call him son)
Of him I was about to call his Father
Hath heard your praisesand this night he meanes
To burne the lodging where you vse to lye
And you within it: if he faile of that
He will haue other meanes to cut you off;
I ouerheard him: and his practises:
This is no placethis house is but a butcherie;
Abhorre itfeare itdoe not enter it

Ad. Why whether Adam would'st thou haue me go?
Ad. No matter whetherso you come not here


Orl. Whatwould'st thou haue me go & beg my food
Or with a base and boistrous Sword enforce
A theeuish liuing on the common rode?
This I must door know not what to do:
Yet this I will not dodo how I can
I rather will subiect me to the malice
Of a diuerted bloodand bloudie brother

Ad. But do not so: I haue fiue hundred Crownes
The thriftie hire I saued vnder your Father
Which I did store to be my foster Nurse
When seruice should in my old limbs lie lame
And vnregarded age in corners throwne
Take thatand he that doth the Rauens feede
Yea prouidently caters for the Sparrow


Be comfort to my age: here is the gold
All this I giue youlet me be your seruant
Though I looke oldyet I am strong and lustie;
For in my youth I neuer did apply
Hotand rebellious liquors in my bloud
Nor did not with vnbashfull forehead woe
The meanes of weaknesse and debilitie
Therefore my age is as a lustie winter
Frostiebut kindely; let me goe with you
Ile doe the seruice of a yonger man
In all your businesse and necessities


Orl. Oh good old manhow well in thee appeares
The constant seruice of the antique world
When seruice sweate for dutienot for meede:
Thou art not for the fashion of these times
Where none will sweatebut for promotion
And hauing that do choake their seruice vp
Euen with the hauingit is not so with thee:
But poore old manthou prun'st a rotten tree
That cannot so much as a blossome yeelde
In lieu of all thy paines and husbandrie
But come thy waiesweele goe along together
And ere we haue thy youthfull wages spent
Weele light vpon some setled low content

Ad. Master goe onand I will follow thee
To the last gaspe with truth and loyaltie
From seauentie yeerestill now almost fourescore
Here liued Ibut now liue here no more
At seauenteene yeeresmany their fortunes seeke
But at fourescoreit is too late a weeke
Yet fortune cannot recompence me better
Then to die welland not my Masters debter.

Exeunt.

Scena Quarta.

Enter Rosaline for GanimedCelia for Alienaand Clownealias
Touchstone.

Ros. O Iupiterhow merry are my spirits?
Clo. I care not for my spiritsif my legges were not
wearie

Ros. I could finde in my heart to disgrace my mans
apparelland to cry like a woman: but I must comfort
the weaker vessellas doublet and hose ought to show it
selfe coragious to petty-coate; therefore couragegood
Aliena

Cel. I pray you beare with meI cannot goe no further

Clo. For my partI had rather beare with youthen
beare you: yet I should beare no crosse if I did beare
youfor I thinke you haue no money in your purse

Ros. Wellthis is the Forrest of Arden

Clo. Inow am I in Ardenthe more foole Iwhen I
was at home I was in a better placebut Trauellers must
be content.


Enter Corin and Siluius.

Ros. Ibe so good Touchstone: Look youwho comes
herea yong man and an old in solemne talke

Cor. That is the way to make her scorne you still

Sil. Oh Corinthat thou knew'st how I do loue her

Cor. I partly guesse: for I haue lou'd ere now

Sil. No Corinbeing oldthou canst not guesse
Though in thy youth thou wast as true a louer
As euer sigh'd vpon a midnight pillow:
But if thy loue were euer like to mine
As sure I thinke did neuer man loue so:
How many actions most ridiculous
Hast thou beene drawne to by thy fantasie?

Cor. Into a thousand that I haue forgotten

Sil. Oh thou didst then neuer loue so hartily
If thou remembrest not the slightest folly
That euer loue did make thee run into
Thou hast not lou'd.
Or if thou hast not sat as I doe now
Wearing thy hearer in thy Mistris praise
Thou hast not lou'd.
Or if thou hast not broke from companie
Abruptly as my passion now makes me
Thou hast not lou'd.
O PhebePhebePhebe.
Enter.

Ros. Alas poore Shepheard searching of they would
I haue by hard aduenture found mine owne

Clo. And I mine: I remember when I was in loueI
broke my sword vpon a stoneand bid him take that for
comming a night to Iane Smileand I remember the kissing
of her batlerand the Cowes dugs that her prettie
chopt hands had milk'd; and I remember the wooing
of a peascod instead of herfrom whom I tooke two
codsand giuing her them againesaid with weeping
tearesweare these for my sake: wee that are true Louers
runne into strange capers; but as all is mortall in
natureso is all nature in louemortall in folly

Ros. Thou speak'st wiser then thou art ware of

Clo. NayI shall nere be ware of mine owne wittill
I breake my shins against it

Ros. IoueIouethis Shepherds passion
Is much vpon my fashion

Clo. And minebut it growes something stale with
mee

Cel. I pray youone of you question yon'd man
If he for gold will giue vs any foode
I faint almost to death

Clo. Holla; you Clowne


Ros. Peace foolehe's not thy kinsman

Cor. Who cals?
Clo. Your betters Sir


Cor. Else are they very wretched

Ros. Peace I say; good euen to your friend

Cor. And to you gentle Sirand to you all

Ros. I prethee Shepheardif that loue or gold
Can in this desert place buy entertainment
Bring vs where we may rest our seluesand feed:
Here's a yong maid with trauaile much oppressed
And faints for succour

Cor. Faire SirI pittie her
And wish for her sake more then for mine owne
My fortunes were more able to releeue her:
But I am shepheard to another man
And do not sheere the Fleeces that I graze:
My master is of churlish disposition
And little wreakes to finde the way to heauen
By doing deeds of hospitalitie.
Besides his Coatehis Flockesand bounds of feede
Are now on saleand at our sheep-coat now
By reason of his absence there is nothing
That you will feed on: but what iscome see
And in my voice most welcome shall you be

Ros. What is he that shall buy his flocke and pasture?
Cor. That yong Swaine that you saw heere but erewhile
That little cares for buying any thing

Ros. I pray theeif it stand with honestie
Buy thou the Cottagepastureand the flocke
And thou shalt haue to pay for it of vs

Cel. And we will mend thy wages:
I like this placeand willingly could
Waste my time in it

Cor. Assuredly the thing is to be sold:
Go with meif you like vpon report
The soilethe profitand this kinde of life
I will your very faithfull Feeder be
And buy it with your Gold right sodainly.

Exeunt.


Scena Quinta.


EnterAmyensIaques& others.


Song.


Vnder the greene wood tree
who loues to lye with mee
And turne his merrie Note
vnto the sweet Birds throte:
Come hithercome hithercome hither:
Heere shall he see no enemie



But Winter and rough Weather

Iaq. MoremoreI pre'thee more

Amy. It will make you melancholly Monsieur Iaques

Iaq. I thanke it: MoreI prethee more
I can sucke melancholly out of a song
As a Weazel suckes egges: MoreI pre'thee more

Amy. My voice is raggedI know I cannot please
you

Iaq. I do not desire you to please me
I do desire you to sing:
Comemoreanother stanzo: Cal you 'em stanzo's?

Amy. What you wil Monsieur Iaques

Iaq. NayI care not for their namesthey owe mee
nothing. Wil you sing?
Amy. More at your requestthen to please my selfe

Iaq. Well thenif euer I thanke any manIle thanke
you: but that they cal complement is like th' encounter
of two dog-Apes. And when a man thankes me hartily
me thinkes I haue giuen him a penieand he renders me
the beggerly thankes. Come sing; and you that wil not
hold your tongues

Amy. WelIle end the song. Sirscouer the while
the Duke wil drinke vnder this tree; he hath bin all this
day to looke you

Iaq. And I haue bin all this day to auoid him:
He is too disputeable for my companie:
I thinke of as many matters as hebut I giue
Heauen thankesand make no boast of them.
Comewarblecome.

Song. Altogether heere.


Who doth ambition shunne
and loues to liue i'th Sunne:
Seeking the food he eates
and pleas'd with what he gets:
Come hithercome hithercome hither
Heere shall he see. &c


Iaq. Ile giue you a verse to this note
That I made yesterday in despight of my Inuention

Amy. And Ile sing it

Amy. Thus it goes.
If it do come to passethat any man turne Asse:
Leauing his wealth and ease
A stubborne will to please
Ducdameducdameducdame:
Heere shall he seegrosse fooles as he
And if he will come to me

Amy. What's that Ducdame?

Iaq. 'Tis a Greeke inuocationto call fools into a circle.
Ile go sleepe if I can: if I cannotIle raile against all
the first borne of Egypt


Amy. And Ile go seeke the Duke
His banket is prepar'd.

Exeunt.

Scena Sexta.

Enter Orlando& Adam

Adam. Deere MasterI can go no further:
O I die for food. Heere lie I downe
And measure out my graue. Farwel kinde master

Orl. Why how now Adam? No greater heart in thee:
Liue a littlecomfort a littlecheere thy selfe a little.
If this vncouth Forrest yeeld any thing sauage
I wil either be food for itor bring it for foode to thee:
Thy conceite is neerer deaththen thy powers.
For my sake be comfortablehold death a while
At the armes end: I wil heere be with thee presently
And if I bring thee not something to eate
I wil giue thee leaue to die: but if thou diest
Before I comethou art a mocker of my labor.
Wel saidthou look'st cheerely
And Ile be with thee quickly: yet thou liest
In the bleake aire. ComeI wil beare thee
To some shelterand thou shalt not die
For lacke of a dinner
If there liue any thing in this Desert.
Cheerely good Adam.

Exeunt.

Scena Septima.

Enter Duke Sen. & Lordlike Out-lawes.

Du.Sen. I thinke he be transform'd into a beast
For I can no where finde himlike a man

1.Lord. My Lordhe is but euen now gone hence
Heere was he merryhearing of a Song

Du.Sen. If he compact of iarresgrow Musicall
We shall haue shortly discord in the Spheares:
Go seeke himtell him I would speake with him.
Enter Iaques.

1.Lord. He saues my labor by his owne approach

Du.Sen. Why how now Monsieurwhat a life is this
That your poore friends must woe your companie
Whatyou looke merrily

Iaq. A Foolea foole: I met a foole i'th Forrest
A motley Foole (a miserable world:)
As I do liue by foodeI met a foole
Who laid him downeand bask'd him in the Sun
And rail'd on Lady Fortune in good termes
In good set termesand yet a motley foole.
Good morrow foole (quoth I:) no Sirquoth he
Call me not fooletill heauen hath sent me fortune
And then he drew a diall from his poake


And looking on itwith lacke-lustre eye
Sayesvery wiselyit is ten a clocke:
Thus we may see (quoth he) how the world wagges:
'Tis but an houre agoesince it was nine
And after one houre more'twill be eleuen
And so from houre to hourewe ripeand ripe
And then from houre to hourewe rotand rot
And thereby hangs a tale. When I did heare
The motley Foolethus morall on the time
My Lungs began to crow like Chanticleere
That Fooles should be so deepe contemplatiue:
And I did laughsans intermission
An houre by his diall. Oh noble foole
A worthy foole: Motley's the onely weare


Du.Sen. What foole is this?

Iaq. O worthie Foole: One that hath bin a Courtier
And sayesif Ladies be but yongand faire
They haue the gift to know it: and in his braine
Which is as drie as the remainder bisket
After a voyage: He hath strange places cram'd
With obseruationthe which he vents
In mangled formes. O that I were a foole
I am ambitious for a motley coat

Du.Sen. Thou shalt haue one

Iaq. It is my onely suite
Prouided that you weed your better iudgements
Of all opinion that growes ranke in them
That I am wise. I must haue liberty
Withallas large a Charter as the winde
To blow on whom I pleasefor so fooles haue:
And they that are most gauled with my folly
They most must laugh: And why sir must they so?
The why is plaineas way to Parish Church:
Heethat a Foole doth very wisely hit
Doth very foolishlyalthough he smart
Seeme senselesse of the bob. If not
The Wise-mans folly is anathomiz'd
Euen by the squandring glances of the foole.
Inuest me in my motley: Giue me leaue
To speake my mindeand I will through and through
Cleanse the foule bodie of th' infected world
If they will patiently receiue my medicine

Du.Sen. Fie on thee. I can tell what thou wouldst do

Iaq. Whatfor a Counterwould I dobut good?

Du.Sen. Most mischeeuous foule sinin chiding sin:
For thou thy selfe hast bene a Libertine
As sensuall as the brutish sting it selfe
And all th' imbossed soresand headed euils
That thou with license of free foot hast caught
Would'st thou disgorge into the generall world

Iaq. Why who cries out on pride
That can therein taxe any priuate party:
Doth it not flow as hugely as the Sea
Till that the wearie verie meanes do ebbe.
What woman in the Citie do I name
When that I say the City woman beares
The cost of Princes on vnworthy shoulders?
Who can come inand say that I meane her


When such a one as sheesuch is her neighbor?
Or what is he of basest function
That sayes his brauerie is not on my cost
Thinking that I meane himbut therein suites
His folly to the mettle of my speech
There thenhow thenwhat thenlet me see wherein
My tongue hath wrong'd him: if it do him right
Then he hath wrong'd himselfe: if he be free
Why then my taxing like a wild-goose flies
Vnclaim'd of any man. But who come here?
Enter Orlando.


Orl. Forbeareand eate no more

Iaq. Why I haue eate none yet

Orl. Nor shalt nottill necessity be seru'd

Iaq. Of what kinde should this Cocke come of?

Du.Sen. Art thou thus bolden'd man by thy distres?
Or else a rude despiser of good manners
That in ciuility thou seem'st so emptie?

Orl. You touch'd my veine at firstthe thorny point
Of bare distressehath tane from me the shew
Of smooth ciuility: yet am I in-land bred
And know some nourture: But forbeareI say
He dies that touches any of this fruite
Till Iand my affaires are answered

Iaq. And you will not be answer'd with reason
I must dye

Du.Sen. What would you haue?
Your gentlenesse shall forcemore then your force
Moue vs to gentlenesse

Orl. I almost die for foodand let me haue it

Du.Sen. Sit downe and feed& welcom to our table

Orl. Speake you so gently? Pardon me I pray you
I thought that all things had bin sauage heere
And therefore put I on the countenance
Of sterne command'ment. But what ere you are
That in this desert inaccessible
Vnder the shade of melancholly boughes
Looseand neglect the creeping houres of time:
If euer you haue look'd on better dayes:
If euer beene where bels haue knoll'd to Church:
If euer sate at any good mans feast:
If euer from your eye-lids wip'd a teare
And know what 'tis to pittieand be pittied:
Let gentlenesse my strong enforcement be
In the which hopeI blushand hide my Sword

Du.Sen. True is itthat we haue seene better dayes
And haue with holy bell bin knowld to Church
And sat at good mens feastsand wip'd our eies
Of dropsthat sacred pity hath engendred:
And therefore sit you downe in gentlenesse
And take vpon commandwhat helpe we haue
That to your wanting may be ministred

Orl. Then but forbeare your food a little while:
Whiles (like a Doe) I go to finde my Fawne


And giue it food. There is an old poore man
Who after mehath many a weary steppe
Limpt in pure loue: till he be first suffic'd
Opprest with two weake euilsageand hunger
I will not touch a bit


Duke Sen. Go finde him out
And we will nothing waste till you returne

Orl. I thanke yeand be blest for your good comfort

Du.Sen. Thou seestwe are not all alone vnhappie:
This wide and vniuersall Theater
Presents more wofull Pageants then the Sceane
Wherein we play in

Ia. All the world's a stage
And all the men and womenmeerely Players;
They haue their Exits and their Entrances
And one man in his time playes many parts
His Acts being seuen ages. At first the Infant
Mewlingand puking in the Nurses armes:
Thenthe whining Schoole-boy with his Satchell
And shining morning facecreeping like snaile
Vnwillingly to schoole. And then the Louer
Sighing like Furnacewith a wofull ballad
Made to his Mistresse eye-brow. Thena Soldier
Full of strange oathsand bearded like the Pard
Ielous in honorsodaineand quicke in quarrell
Seeking the bubble Reputation
Euen in the Canons mouth: And thenthe Iustice
In faire round bellywith good Capon lin'd
With eyes seuereand beard of formall cut
Full of wise sawesand moderne instances
And so he playes his part. The sixt age shifts
Into the leane and slipper'd Pantaloone
With spectacles on noseand pouch on side
His youthfull hose well sau'da world too wide
For his shrunke shankeand his bigge manly voice
Turning againe toward childish trebble pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last Scene of all
That ends this strange euentfull historie
Is second childishnesseand meere obliuion
Sans teethsans eyessans tastesans euery thing.
Enter Orlando with Adam.

Du.Sen. Welcome: set downe your venerable burthen
and let him feede

Orl. I thanke you most for him

Ad. So had you neede
I scarce can speake to thanke you for my selfe

Du.Sen. Welcomefall too: I wil not trouble you
As yet to question you about your fortunes:
Giue vs some Musickeand good Cozensing.

Song.


Blowblowthou winter winde
Thou art not so vnkindeas mans ingratitude
Thy tooth is not so keenebecause thou art not seene
although thy breath be rude.



Heigh hosing heigh hovnto the greene holly
Most frendshipis fayning; most Louingmeere folly:
The heigh hothe holly
This Life is most iolly.
Freizefreizethou bitter skie that dost not bight so nigh
as benefitts forgot:
Though thou the waters warpethy sting is not so sharpe
as freind remembred not.
Heigh hosing&c


Duke Sen. If that you were the good Sir Rowlands son
As you haue whisper'd faithfully you were
And as mine eye doth his effigies witnesse
Most truly limn'dand liuing in your face
Be truly welcome hither: I am the Duke
That lou'd your Fatherthe residue of your fortune
Go to my Caueand tell mee. Good old man
Thou art right welcomeas thy masters is:
Support him by the arme: giue me your hand
And let me all your fortunes vnderstand.

Exeunt.

Actus Tertius. Scena Prima.

Enter DukeLords& Oliuer.

Du. Not see him since? Sirsirthat cannot be:
But were I not the better part made mercie
I should not seeke an absent argument
Of my reuengethou present: but looke to it
Finde out thy brother wheresoere he is
Seeke him with Candle: bring him deador liuing
Within this tweluemonthor turne thou no more
To seeke a liuing in our Territorie.
Thy Lands and all things that thou dost call thine
Worth seizuredo we seize into our hands
Till thou canst quit thee by thy brothers mouth
Of what we thinke against thee

Ol. Oh that your Highnesse knew my heart in this:
I neuer lou'd my brother in my life

Duke. More villaine thou. Well push him out of dores
And let my officers of such a nature
Make an extent vpon his house and Lands:
Do this expedientlyand turne him going.

Exeunt.

Scena Secunda.

Enter Orlando.

Orl. Hang there my versein witnesse of my loue
And thou thrice crowned Queene of night suruey
With thy chaste eyefrom thy pale spheare aboue
Thy Huntresse namethat my full life doth sway.
O Rosalindthese Trees shall be my Bookes
And in their barkes my thoughts Ile charracter
That euerie eyewhich in this Forrest lookes
Shall see thy vertue witnest euery where.
Runrun Orlandocarue on euery Tree


The fairethe chasteand vnexpressiue shee.

Exit

Enter Corin & Clowne.

Co. And how like you this shepherds life Mr Touchstone?

Clow. Truely Shepheardin respect of it selfeit is a
good life; but in respect that it is a shepheards lifeit is
naught. In respect that it is solitaryI like it verie well:
but in respect that it is priuateit is a very vild life. Now
in respect it is in the fieldsit pleaseth mee well: but in
respect it is not in the Courtit is tedious. As it is a spare
life (looke you) it fits my humor well: but as there is no
more plentie in itit goes much against my stomacke.
Has't any Philosophie in thee shepheard?

Cor. No morebut that I know the more one sickens
the worse at ease he is: and that hee that wants money
meanesand contentis without three good frends. That
the propertie of raine is to wetand fire to burne: That
good pasture makes fat sheepe: and that a great cause of
the nightis lacke of the Sunne: That hee that hath learned
no wit by Naturenor Artmay complaine of good
breedingor comes of a very dull kindred

Clo. Such a one is a naturall Philosopher:
Was't euer in CourtShepheard?
Cor. No truly

Clo. Then thou art damn'd

Cor. NayI hope

Clo. Truly thou art damn'dlike an ill roasted Egge
all on one side

Cor. For not being at Court? your reason

Clo. Whyif thou neuer was't at Courtthou neuer
saw'st good manners: if thou neuer saw'st good maners
then thy manners must be wickedand wickednes is sin
and sinne is damnation: Thou art in a parlous state shepheard

Cor. Not a whit Touchstonethose that are good maners
at the Courtare as ridiculous in the Countreyas
the behauiour of the Countrie is most mockeable at the
Court. You told meyou salute not at the Courtbut
you kisse your hands; that courtesie would be vncleanlie
if Courtiers were shepheards

Clo. Instancebriefly: comeinstance

Cor. Why we are still handling our Ewesand their
Fels you know are greasie

Clo. Why do not your Courtiers hands sweate? and
is not the grease of a Muttonas wholesome as the sweat
of a man? Shallowshallow: A better instance I say:
Come

Cor. Besidesour hands are hard

Clo. Your lips wil feele them the sooner. Shallow agen:
a more sounder instancecome


Cor. And they are often tarr'd ouerwith the surgery
of our sheepe: and would you haue vs kisse Tarre? The
Courtiers hands are perfum'd with Ciuet

Clo. Most shallow man: Thou wormes meate in respect
of a good peece of flesh indeed: learne of the wise
and perpend: Ciuet is of a baser birth then Tarrethe
verie vncleanly fluxe of a Cat. Mend the instance Shepheard

Cor. You haue too Courtly a witfor meIle rest

Clo. Wilt thou rest damn'd? God helpe thee shallow
man: God make incision in theethou art raw

Cor. SirI am a true LabourerI earne that I eate: get
that I weare; owe no man hateenuie no mans happinesse:
glad of other mens good content with my harme:
and the greatest of my prideis to see my Ewes graze&
my Lambes sucke

Clo. That is another simple sinne in youto bring the
Ewes and the Rammes togetherand to offer to get your
liuingby the copulation of Cattleto be bawd to a Belweather
and to betray a shee-Lambe of a tweluemonth
to a crooked-pated olde Cuckoldly Rammeout of all
reasonable match. If thou bee'st not damn'd for thisthe
diuell himselfe will haue no shepherdsI cannot see else
how thou shouldst scape

Cor. Heere comes yong Mr Ganimedmy new Mistrisses
Brother.
Enter Rosalind

Ros. From the east to westerne Inde
no iewel is like Rosalinde
Hir worth being mounted on the winde
through all the world beares Rosalinde.
All the pictures fairest Linde
are but blacke to Rosalinde:
Let no face bee kept in mind
but the faire of Rosalinde

Clo. Ile rime you soeight yeares together; dinners
and suppersand sleeping hours excepted: it is the right
Butter-womens ranke to Market

Ros. Out Foole

Clo. For a taste.
If a Hart doe lacke a Hinde
Let him seeke out Rosalinde:
If the Cat will after kinde
so be sure will Rosalinde:
Wintred garments must be linde
so must slender Rosalinde:
They that reap must sheafe and binde
then to cart with Rosalinde.
Sweetest nuthath sowrest rinde
such a nut is Rosalinde.
He that sweetest rose will finde
must finde Loues pricke& Rosalinde.
This is the verie false gallop of Verseswhy doe you infect
your selfe with them?


Ros. Peace you dull fooleI found them on a tree

Clo. Truely the tree yeelds bad fruite

Ros. Ile graffe it with youand then I shall graffe it

with a Medler: then it will be the earliest fruit i'th country:

for you'l be rotten ere you bee halfe ripeand that's

the right vertue of the Medler

Clo. You haue said: but whether wisely or nolet the

Forrest iudge.

Enter Celia with a writing.

Ros. Peacehere comes my sister readingstand aside

Cel. Why should this Desert bee

for it is vnpeopled? Noe:

Tonges Ile hang on euerie tree

that shall ciuill sayings shoe.

Somehow briefe the Life of man

runs his erring pilgrimage

That the stretching of a span

buckles in his summe of age.

Some of violated vowes

twixt the soules of friendand friend:

But vpon the fairest bowes

or at euerie sentence end;

Will I Rosalinda write

teaching all that readeto know

The quintessence of euerie sprite

heauen would in little show.

Therefore heauen Nature charg'd

that one bodie should be fill'd

With all Graces wide enlarg'd

nature presently distill'd

Helens cheekebut not his heart

Cleopatra's Maiestie:

Attalanta's better part

sad Lucrecia's Modestie.

Thus Rosalinde of manie parts

by Heauenly Synode was deuis'd

Of manie faceseyesand hearts

to haue the touches deerest pris'd.

Heauen would that shee these gifts should haue

and I to liue and die her slaue

Ros. O most gentle Iupiterwhat tedious homilie of

Loue haue you wearied your parishioners withalland

neuer cri'dehaue patience good people

Cel. How now backe friends: Shepheardgo off a little:
go with him sirrah

Clo. Come Shepheardlet vs make an honorable retreit

though not with bagge and baggageyet with

scrip and scrippage.

Enter.

Cel. Didst thou heare these verses?

Ros. O yesI heard them alland more toofor some

of them had in them more feete then the Verses would

beare

Cel. That's no matter: the feet might beare y verses


Ros. Ibut the feet were lameand could not beare
themselues without the verseand therefore stood lamely
in the verse

Cel. But didst thou heare without wonderinghow
thy name should be hang'd and carued vpon these trees?

Ros. I was seuen of the nine daies out of the wonder
before you came: for looke heere what I found on a
Palme tree; I was neuer so berim'd since Pythagoras time
that I was an Irish Ratwhich I can hardly remember

Cel. Tro youwho hath done this?

Ros. Is it a man?

Cel. And a chaine that you once wore about his neck:
change you colour?

Ros. I pre'thee who?

Cel. O LordLordit is a hard matter for friends to
meete; but Mountaines may bee remoou'd with Earthquakes
and so encounter

Ros. Naybut who is it?

Cel. Is it possible?

Ros. NayI pre'thee nowwith most petitionary vehemence
tell me who it is

Cel. O wonderfullwonderfulland most wonderfull
wonderfulland yet againe wonderfuland after that out
of all hooping

Ros. Good my complectiondost thou think though
I am caparison'd like a manI haue a doublet and hose in
my disposition? One inch of delay moreis a South-sea
of discouerie. I pre'thee tell mewho is it quickelyand
speake apace: I would thou couldst stammerthat thou
might'st powre this conceal'd man out of thy mouthas
Wine comes out of a narrow-mouth'd bottle: either too
much at onceor none at all. I pre'thee take the Corke
out of thy mouththat I may drinke thy tydings

Cel. So you may put a man in your belly

Ros. Is he of Gods making? What manner of man?
Is his head worth a hat? Or his chin worth a beard?
Cel. Nayhe hath but a little beard

Ros. Why God will send moreif the man will bee
thankful: let me stay the growth of his beardif thou
delay me not the knowledge of his chin

Cel. It is yong Orlandothat tript vp the Wrastlers
heelesand your heartboth in an instant

Ros. Naybut the diuell take mocking: speake sadde
browand true maid

Cel. I'faith (Coz) tis he

Ros. Orlando?
Cel. Orlando


Ros. Alas the daywhat shall I do with my doublet &
hose? What did he when thou saw'st him? What sayde
he? How look'd he? Wherein went he? What makes hee


heere? Did he aske for me? Where remaines he? How
parted he with thee? And when shalt thou see him againe?
Answer me in one word

Cel. You must borrow me Gargantuas mouth first:
'tis a Word too great for any mouth of this Ages sizeto
say I and noto these particularsis more then to answer
in a Catechisme

Ros. But doth he know that I am in this Forrestand
in mans apparrell? Looks he as freshlyas he did the day
he Wrastled?

Cel. It is as easie to count Atomies as to resolue the
propositions of a Louer: but take a taste of my finding
himand rellish it with good obseruance. I found him
vnder a tree like a drop'd Acorne

Ros. It may wel be cal'd Ioues treewhen it droppes
forth fruite

Cel. Giue me audiencegood Madam

Ros. Proceed

Cel. There lay hee stretch'd along like a Wounded
knight

Ros. Though it be pittie to see such a sightit well
becomes the ground

Cel. Cry hollato the tongueI prethee: it curuettes
vnseasonably. He was furnish'd like a Hunter

Ros. O ominoushe comes to kill my Hart

Cel. I would sing my song without a burthenthou
bring'st me out of tune

Ros. Do you not know I am a womanwhen I thinke
I must speake: sweetsay on.
Enter Orlando & Iaques.

Cel. You bring me out. Softcomes he not heere?

Ros. 'Tis heslinke byand note him

Iaq. I thanke you for your companybut good faith
I had as liefe haue beene my selfe alone

Orl. And so had I: but yet for fashion sake
I thanke you toofor your societie

Iaq. God buy youlet's meet as little as we can

Orl. I do desire we may be better strangers

Iaq. I pray you marre no more trees with Writing
Loue-songs in their barkes

Orl. I pray you marre no moe of my verses with reading
them ill-fauouredly

Iaq. Rosalinde is your loues name?
Orl. YesIust



Iaq. I do not like her name

Orl. There was no thought of pleasing you when she
was christen'd

Iaq. What stature is she of?
Orl. Iust as high as my heart


Iaq. You are ful of prety answers: haue you not bin acquainted
with goldsmiths wiues& cond the[m] out of rings
Orl. Not so: but I answer you right painted cloath
from whence you haue studied your questions

Iaq. You haue a nimble wit; I thinke 'twas made of
Attalanta's heeles. Will you sitte downe with meand
wee twowill raile against our Mistris the worldand all
our miserie

Orl. I wil chide no breather in the world but my selfe
against whom I know most faults

Iaq. The worst fault you haueis to be in loue

Orl. 'Tis a fault I will not changefor your best vertue:
I am wearie of you

Iaq. By my trothI was seeking for a Foolewhen I
found you

Orl. He is drown'd in the brookelooke but inand
you shall see him

Iaq. There I shal see mine owne figure

Orl. Which I take to be either a fooleor a Cipher

Iaq. Ile tarrie no longer with youfarewell good signior
Loue

Orl. I am glad of your departure: Adieu good Monsieur
Melancholly

Ros. I wil speake to him like a sawcie Lackyand vnder
that habit play the knaue with himdo you hear Forrester

Orl. Verie welwhat would you?

Ros. I pray youwhat i'st a clocke?

Orl. You should aske me what time o' day: there's no
clocke in the Forrest

Ros. Then there is no true Louer in the Forrestelse
sighing euerie minuteand groaning euerie houre wold
detect the lazie foot of timeas wel as a clocke

Orl. And why not the swift foote of time? Had not
that bin as proper?

Ros. By no meanes sir; Time trauels in diuers paces
with diuers persons: Ile tel you who Time ambles withall
who Time trots withalwho Time gallops withal
and who he stands stil withall

Orl. I pretheewho doth he trot withal?
Ros. Marry he trots hard with a yong maidbetween
the contract of her marriageand the day it is solemnizd:


if the interim be but a sennightTimes pace is so hard
that it seemes the length of seuen yeare

Orl. Who ambles Time withal?

Ros. With a Priest that lacks Latineand a rich man
that hath not the Gowt: for the one sleepes easily because
he cannot studyand the other liues merrilybecause
he feeles no paine: the one lacking the burthen of
leane and wasteful Learning; the other knowing no burthen
of heauie tedious penurie. These Time ambles
withal

Orl. Who doth he gallop withal?

Ros. With a theefe to the gallowes: for though hee
go as softly as foot can fallhe thinkes himselfe too soon
there

Orl. Who staies it stil withal?

Ros. With Lawiers in the vacation: for they sleepe
betweene Terme and Termeand then they perceiue not
how time moues

Orl. Where dwel you prettie youth?
Ros. With this Shepheardesse my sister: heere in the
skirts of the Forrestlike fringe vpon a petticoat

Orl. Are you natiue of this place?
Ros. As the Conie that you see dwell where shee is
kindled

Orl. Your accent is something finerthen you could
purchase in so remoued a dwelling

Ros. I haue bin told so of many: but indeedan olde
religious Vnckle of mine taught me to speakewho was
in his youth an inland manone that knew Courtship too
well: for there he fel in loue. I haue heard him read many
Lectors against itand I thanke GodI am not a Woman
to be touch'd with so many giddie offences as hee
hath generally tax'd their whole sex withal

Orl. Can you remember any of the principall euils
that he laid to the charge of women?

Ros. There were none principalthey were all like
one anotheras halfepence areeuerie one fault seeming
monstroustil his fellow-fault came to match it

Orl. I prethee recount some of them

Ros. No: I wil not cast away my physickbut on those
that are sicke. There is a man haunts the Forrestthat abuses
our yong plants with caruing Rosalinde on their
barkes; hangs Oades vpon Hauthornesand Elegies on
brambles; all (forsooth) defying the name of Rosalinde.
If I could meet that Fancie-mongerI would giue him
some good counselfor he seemes to haue the Quotidian
of Loue vpon him

Orl. I am he that is so Loue-shak'dI pray you tel
me your remedie

Ros. There is none of my Vnckles markes vpon you:
he taught me how to know a man in loue: in which cage
of rushesI am sure you art not prisoner


Orl. What were his markes?

Ros. A leane cheekewhich you haue not: a blew eie
and sunkenwhich you haue not: an vnquestionable spirit
which you haue not: a beard neglectedwhich you
haue not: (but I pardon you for thatfor simply your hauing
in beardis a yonger brothers reuennew) then your
hose should be vngarter'dyour bonnet vnbandedyour
sleeue vnbutton'dyour shoo vnti'deand euerie thing
about youdemonstrating a carelesse desolation: but you
are no such man; you are rather point deuice in your
accoustrements
as louing your selfethen seeming the Louer
of any other

Orl. Faire youthI would I could make thee beleeue I Loue

Ros. Me beleeue it? You may assoone make her that
you Loue beleeue itwhich I warrant she is apter to do
then to confesse she do's: that is one of the pointsin the
which women stil giue the lie to their consciences. But
in good soothare you he that hangs the verses on the
Treeswherein Rosalind is so admired?

Orl. I sweare to thee youthby the white hand of
RosalindI am that hethat vnfortunate he

Ros. But are you so much in loueas your rimes speak?
Orl. Neither rime nor reason can expresse how much


Ros. Loue is meerely a madnesseand I tel youdeserues
as wel a darke houseand a whipas madmen do:
and the reason why they are not so punish'd and curedis
that the Lunacie is so ordinariethat the whippers are in
loue too: yet I professe curing it by counsel

Orl. Did you euer cure any so?

Ros. Yes oneand in this manner. Hee was to imagine
me his Louehis Mistris: and I set him euerie day
to woe me. At which time would Ibeing but a moonish
youthgreeuebe effeminatechangeablelongingand
likingproudfantasticalapishshallowinconstantful
of tearesfull of smiles; for euerie passion somethingand
for no passion truly any thingas boyes and women are
for the most partcattle of this colour: would now like
himnow loath him: then entertaine himthen forswear
him: now weepe for himthen spit at him; that I draue
my Sutor from his mad humor of loueto a liuing humor
of madnesw was to forsweare the ful stream of y world
and to liue in a nooke meerly Monastick: and thus I cur'd
himand this way wil I take vpon mee to wash your Liuer
as cleane as a sound sheepes heartthat there shal not
be one spot of Loue in't

Orl. I would not be curedyouth

Ros. I would cure youif you would but call me Rosalind
and come euerie day to my Coatand woe me

Orlan. Now by the faith of my loueI will; Tel me
where it is

Ros. Go with me to itand Ile shew it you: and by
the wayyou shal tell mewhere in the Forrest you liue:
Wil you go?


Orl. With all my heartgood youth

Ros. Nayyou must call mee Rosalind: Come sister
will you go?

Exeunt.

Scoena Tertia.

Enter ClowneAudrey& Iaques.

Clo. Come apace good AudreyI wil fetch vp your
GoatesAudrey: and how Audrey am I the man yet?
Doth my simple feature content you?

Aud. Your featuresLord warrant vs: what features?
Clo. I am heere with theeand thy Goatsas the most
capricious Poet honest Ouid was among the Gothes

Iaq. O knowledge ill inhabitedworse then Ioue in
a thatch'd house

Clo. When a mans verses cannot be vnderstoodnor
a mans good wit seconded with the forward childevnderstanding:
it strikes a man more dead then a great reckoning
in a little roome: trulyI would the Gods hadde
made thee poeticall

Aud. I do not know what Poetical is: is it honest in
deed and word: is it a true thing?

Clo. No trulie: for the truest poetrie is the most faining
and Louers are giuen to Poetrie: and what they
sweare in Poetriemay be said as Louersthey do feigne

Aud. Do you wish then that the Gods had made me
Poeticall?

Clow. I do truly: for thou swear'st to me thou art honest:
Now if thou wert a PoetI might haue some hope
thou didst feigne

Aud. Would you not haue me honest?

Clo. No trulyvnlesse thou wert hard fauour'd: for
honestie coupled to beautieis to haue Honie a sawce to
Sugar

Iaq. A materiall foole

Aud. WellI am not faireand therefore I pray the
Gods make me honest

Clo. Trulyand to cast away honestie vppon a foule
slutwere to put good meate into an vncleane dish

Aud. I am not a slutthough I thanke the Goddes I
am foule

Clo. Wellpraised be the Godsfor thy foulnesse; sluttishnesse
may come heereafter. But be itas it may bee
I wil marrie thee: and to that endI haue bin with Sir
Oliuer Mar-textthe Vicar of the next villagewho hath
promis'd to meete me in this place of the Forrestand to
couple vs

Iaq. I would faine see this meeting


Aud. Welthe Gods giue vs ioy

Clo. Amen. A man may if he were of a fearful heart
stagger in this attempt: for heere wee haue no Temple
but the woodno assembly but horne-beasts. But what
though? Courage. As hornes are odiousthey are necessarie.
It is saidmany a man knowes no end of his goods;
right: Many a man has good Hornesand knows no end
of them. Wellthat is the dowrie of his wife'tis none
of his owne getting; horneseuen so poore men alone:
Nonothe noblest Deere hath them as huge as the Rascall:
Is the single man therefore blessed? Noas a wall'd
Towne is more worthier then a villageso is the forehead
of a married manmore honourable then the bare
brow of a Batcheller: and by how much defence is better
then no skillby so much is a horne more precious
then to want.
Enter Sir Oliuer Mar-text.

Heere comes Sir Oliuer: Sir Oliuer Mar-text you are
wel met. Will you dispatch vs heere vnder this treeor
shal we go with you to your Chappell?

Ol. Is there none heere to giue the woman?
Clo. I wil not take her on guift of any man


Ol. Truly she must be giuenor the marriage is not
lawfull

Iaq. Proceedproceede: Ile giue her

Clo. Good euen good Mr what ye cal't: how do you
Siryou are verie well met: goddild you for your last
companieI am verie glad to see youeuen a toy in hand
heere Sir: Naypray be couer'd

Iaq. Wil you be marriedMotley?

Clo. As the Oxe hath his bow sirthe horse his curb
and the Falcon her belsso man hath his desiresand as
Pigeons billso wedlocke would be nibling

Iaq. And wil you (being a man of your breeding) be
married vnder a bush like a begger? Get you to church
and haue a good Priest that can tel you what marriage is
this fellow wil but ioyne you togetheras they ioyne
Wainscotthen one of you wil proue a shrunke pannell
and like greene timberwarpewarpe

Clo. I am not in the mindebut I were better to bee
married of him then of anotherfor he is not like to marrie
me wel: and not being wel marriedit wil be a good
excuse for me heereafterto leaue my wife

Iaq. Goe thou with mee
And let me counsel thee

Ol. Come sweete Audrey
We must be marriedor we must liue in baudrey:
Farewel good Mr Oliuer: Not O sweet OliuerO braue
Oliuer leaue me not behind thee: But winde awaybee
gone I sayI wil not to wedding with thee

Ol. 'Tis no matter; Ne're a fantastical knaue of them
all shal flout me out of my calling.


Exeunt.

Scoena Quarta.

Enter Rosalind & Celia.

Ros. Neuer talke to meI wil weepe

Cel. Do I pretheebut yet haue the grace to consider
that teares do not become a man

Ros. But haue I not cause to weepe?
Cel. As good cause as one would desire
Therefore weepe

Ros. His very haire
Is of the dissembling colour

Cel. Something browner then Iudasses:
Marrie his kisses are Iudasses owne children

Ros. I'faith his haire is of a good colour

Cel. An excellent colour:
Your Chessenut was euer the onely colour:
Ros. And his kissing is as ful of sanctitie
As the touch of holy bread

Cel. Hee hath bought a paire of cast lips of Diana: a
Nun of winters sisterhood kisses not more religiouslie
the very yce of chastity is in them

Rosa. But why did hee sweare hee would come this
morningand comes not?
Cel. Nay certainly there is no truth in him

Ros. Doe you thinke so?

Cel. YesI thinke he is not a picke pursenor a horse-stealer
but for his verity in loueI doe thinke him as
concaue as a couered gobletor a Worme-eaten nut

Ros. Not true in loue?
Cel. Yeswhen he is inbut I thinke he is not in


Ros. You haue heard him sweare downright he was

Cel. Wasis not is: besidesthe oath of Louer is no
stronger then the word of a Tapsterthey are both the
confirmer of false reckoningshe attends here in the forrest
on the Duke your father

Ros. I met the Duke yesterdayand had much question
with him: he askt me of what parentage I was; I
told him of as good as heso he laugh'd and let mee goe.
But what talke wee of Fatherswhen there is such a man
as Orlando?

Cel. O that's a braue manhee writes braue verses
speakes braue wordssweares braue oathesand breakes
them brauelyquite trauers athwart the heart of his louer
as a puisny Tiltery spurs his horse but on one side
breakes his staffe like a noble goose; but all's braue that
youth mountsand folly guides: who comes heere?
Enter Corin.


Corin. Mistresse and Masteryou haue oft enquired
After the Shepheard that complain'd of loue
Who you saw sitting by me on the Turph
Praising the proud disdainfull Shepherdesse
That was his Mistresse

Cel. Well: and what of him?

Cor. If you will see a pageant truely plaid
Betweene the pale complexion of true Loue
And the red glowe of scorne and prowd disdaine
Goe hence a littleand I shall conduct you
If you will marke it

Ros. O comelet vs remoue
The sight of Louers feedeth those in loue:
Bring vs to this sightand you shall say
Ile proue a busie actor in their play.

Exeunt.

Scena Quinta.

Enter Siluius and Phebe.

Sil. Sweet Phebe doe not scorne medo not Phebe
Say that you loue me notbut say not so
In bitternesse; the common executioner
Whose heart th' accustom'd sight of death makes hard
Falls not the axe vpon the humbled neck
But first begs pardon: will you sterner be
Then he that dies and liues by bloody drops?
Enter RosalindCeliaand Corin.

Phe. I would not be thy executioner
I flye theefor I would not iniure thee:
Thou tellst me there is murder in mine eye
'Tis pretty sureand very probable
That eyes that are the frailstand softest things
Who shut their coward gates on atomyes
Should be called tyrantsbutchersmurtherers.
Now I doe frowne on thee with all my heart
And if mine eyes can woundnow let them kill thee:
Now counterfeit to swoundwhy now fall downe
Or if thou canst notoh for shamefor shame
Lye notto say mine eyes are murtherers:
Now shew the wound mine eye hath made in thee
Scratch thee but with a pinand there remaines
Some scarre of it: Leane vpon a rush
The Cicatrice and capable impressure
Thy palme some moment keepes: but now mine eyes
Which I haue darted at theehurt thee not
Nor I am sure there is no force in eyes
That can doe hurt

Sil. O deere Phebe
If euer (as that euer may be neere)
You meet in some fresh cheeke the power of fancie
Then shall you know the wounds inuisible
That Loues keene arrows make

Phe. But till that time


Come not thou neere me: and when that time comes
Afflict me with thy mockespitty me not
As till that time I shall not pitty thee


Ros. And why I pray you? who might be your mother
That you insultexultand all at once
Ouer the wretched? what though you haue no beauty
As by my faithI see no more in you
Then without Candle may goe darke to bed:
Must you be therefore prowd and pittilesse?
Why what meanes this? why do you looke on me?
I see no more in you then in the ordinary
Of Natures sale-worke? 'ods my little life
I thinke she meanes to tangle my eies too:
No faith proud Mistressehope not after it
'Tis not your inkie browesyour blacke silke haire
Your bugle eye-ballsnor your cheeke of creame
That can entame my spirits to your worship:
You foolish Shepheardwherefore do you follow her
Like foggy Southpuffing with winde and raine
You are a thousand times a properer man
Then she a woman. 'Tis such fooles as you
That makes the world full of ill-fauourd children:
'Tis not her glassebut you that flatters her
And out of you she sees her selfe more proper
Then any of her lineaments can show her:
But Mistrisknow your selfedowne on your knees
And thanke heauenfastingfor a good mans loue;
For I must tell you friendly in your eare
Sell when you canyou are not for all markets:
Cry the man mercyloue himtake his offer
Foule is most foulebeing foule to be a scoffer.
So take her to thee Shepheardfareyouwell

Phe. Sweet youthI pray you chide a yere together
I had rather here you chidethen this man wooe

Ros. Hees falne in loue with your foulnesse& shee'll
Fall in loue with my anger. If it be soas fast
As she answeres thee with frowning lookesile sauce
Her with bitter words: why looke you so vpon me?

Phe. For no ill will I beare you

Ros. I pray you do not fall in loue with mee
For I am falser then vowes made in wine:
BesidesI like you not: if you will know my house
'Tis at the tufft of Oliueshere hard by:
Will you goe Sister? Shepheard ply her hard:
Come Sister: Shepheardesselooke on him better
And be not proudthough all the world could see
None could be so abus'd in sight as hee.
Cometo our flocke
Enter.

Phe. Dead Shepheardnow I find thy saw of might
Who euer lov'dthat lou'd not at first sight?
Sil. Sweet Phebe

Phe. Hah: what saist thou Siluius?
Sil. Sweet Phebe pitty me


Phe. Why I am sorry for thee gentle Siluius

Sil. Where euer sorrow isreliefe would be:


If you doe sorrow at my griefe in loue
By giuing loue your sorrowand my griefe
Were both extermin'd

Phe. Thou hast my loueis not that neighbourly?
Sil. I would haue you


Phe. Why that were couetousnesse:

Siluius; the time wasthat I hated thee;

And yet it is notthat I beare thee loue

But since that thou canst talke of loue so well

Thy companywhich erst was irkesome to me

I will endure; and Ile employ thee too:

But doe not looke for further recompence

Then thine owne gladnessethat thou art employd

Sil. So holyand so perfect is my loue

And I in such a pouerty of grace

That I shall thinke it a most plenteous crop

To gleane the broken eares after the man

That the maine haruest reapes: loose now and then

A scattred smileand that Ile liue vpon

Phe. Knowst thou the youth that spoke to mee yerewhile?

Sil. Not very wellbut I haue met him oft

And he hath bought the Cottage and the bounds

That the old Carlot once was Master of

Phe. Thinke not I loue himthough I ask for him

'Tis but a peeuish boyyet he talkes well

But what care I for words? yet words do well

When he that speakes them pleases those that heare:

It is a pretty youthnot very prettie

But sure hee's proudand yet his pride becomes him;

Hee'll make a proper man: the best thing in him

Is his complexion: and faster then his tongue

Did make offencehis eye did heale it vp:

He is not very tallyet for his yeeres hee's tall:

His leg is but so soand yet 'tis well:

There was a pretty rednesse in his lip

A little riperand more lustie red

Then that mixt in his cheeke: 'twas iust the difference

Betwixt the constant redand mingled Damaske.

There be some women Siluiushad they markt him

In parcells as I didwould haue gone neere

To fall in loue with him: but for my part

I loue him notnor hate him not: and yet

Haue more cause to hate him then to loue him

For what had he to doe to chide at me?

He said mine eyes were blackand my haire blacke

And now I am remembredscorn'd at me:

I maruell why I answer'd not againe

But that's all one: omittance is no quittance:

Ile write to him a very tanting Letter

And thou shalt beare itwilt thou Siluius?
Sil. Phebewith all my heart

Phe. Ile write it strait:

The matter's in my headand in my heart

I will be bitter with himand passing short;

Goe with me Siluius.

Exeunt.


Actus Quartus. Scena Prima.

Enter Rosalindand Celiaand Iaques.

Iaq. I pretheepretty youthlet me better acquainted
with thee

Ros They say you are a melancholly fellow

Iaq. I am so: I doe loue it better then laughing

Ros. Those that are in extremity of eitherare abhominable
fellowesand betray themselues to euery moderne
censureworse then drunkards

Iaq. Why'tis good to be sad and say nothing

Ros. Why then 'tis good to be a poste

Iaq. I haue neither the Schollers melancholywhich
is emulation: nor the Musitianswhich is fantasticall;
nor the Courtierswhich is proud: nor the Souldiers
which is ambitious: nor the Lawierswhich is politick:
nor the Ladieswhich is nice: nor the Louerswhich
is all these: but it is a melancholy of mine ownecompounded
of many simplesextracted from many obiects
and indeed the sundrie contemplation of my trauellsin
which by often ruminationwraps me in a most humorous
sadnesse

Ros. A Traueller: by my faith you haue great reason
to be sad: I feare you haue sold your owne Lands
to see other mens; then to haue seene muchand to haue
nothingis to haue rich eyes and poore hands

Iaq. YesI haue gain'd my experience.
Enter Orlando.

Ros. And your experience makes you sad: I had rather
haue a foole to make me merriethen experience to
make me sadand to trauaile for it too

Orl. Good dayand happinessedeere Rosalind

Iaq. Nay then God buy youand you talke in blanke
verse

Ros. Farewell Mounsieur Trauellor: looke you
lispeand weare strange suites; disable all the benefits
of your owne Countrie: be out of loue with your
natiuitieand almost chide God for making you that
countenance you are; or I will scarce thinke you haue
swam in a Gundello. Why how now Orlandowhere
haue you bin all this while? you a louer? and you
serue me such another trickeneuer come in my sight
more

Orl. My faire RosalindI come within an houre of my
promise

Ros. Breake an houres promise in loue? hee that
will diuide a minute into a thousand partsand breake
but a part of the thousand part of a minute in the affairs


of loueit may be said of him that Cupid hath clapt
him oth' shoulderbut Ile warrant him heart hole

Orl. Pardon me deere Rosalind

Ros. Nayand you be so tardiecome no more in my
sightI had as liefe be woo'd of a Snaile

Orl. Of a Snaile?

Ros. Iof a Snaile: for though he comes slowlyhee
carries his house on his head; a better ioyncture I thinke
then you make a woman: besideshe brings his destinie
with him

Orl. What's that?

Ros. Why hornes: w such as you are faine to be beholding
to your wiues for: but he comes armed in his
fortuneand preuents the slander of his wife

Orl. Vertue is no horne-maker: and my Rosalind is
vertuous

Ros. And I am your Rosalind

Cel. It pleases him to call you so: but he hath a Rosalind
of a better leere then you

Ros. Comewooe mewooe mee: for now I am in a
holy-day humorand like enough to consent: What
would you say to me nowand I were your verieverie
Rosalind?

Orl. I would kisse before I spoke

Ros. Nayyou were better speake firstand when you
were grauel'dfor lacke of matteryou might take occasion
to kisse: verie good Orators when they are out
they will spitand for louerslacking (God warne vs)
matterthe cleanliest shift is to kisse

Orl. How if the kisse be denide?
Ros. Then she puts you to entreatieand there begins
new matter

Orl. Who could be outbeing before his beloued
Mistris?
Ros. Marrie that should you if I were your Mistris
or I should thinke my honestie ranker then my wit

Orl. Whatof my suite?

Ros. Not out of your apparrelland yet out of your
suite:
Am not I your Rosalind?

Orl. I take some ioy to say you arebecause I would
be talking of her

Ros. Wellin her personI say I will not haue you

Orl. Then in mine owne personI die

Ros. No faithdie by Attorney: the poore world is
almost six thousand yeeres oldand in all this time there
was not anie man died in his owne person (videlicet) in
a loue cause: Troilous had his braines dash'd out with a
Grecian clubyet he did what hee could to die before


and he is one of the patternes of loue. Leanderhe would
haue liu'd manie a faire yeere though Hero had turn'd
Nun; if it had not bin for a hot Midsomer-nightfor
(good youth) he went but forth to wash him in the Hellespont
and being taken with the crampewas droun'd
and the foolish Chronoclers of that agefound it was
Hero of Cestos. But these are all liesmen haue died
from time to timeand wormes haue eaten thembut not
for loue

Orl. I would not haue my right Rosalind of this mind
for I protest her frowne might kill me

Ros. By this handit will not kill a flie: but come
now I will be your Rosalind in a more comming-on disposition:
and aske me what you willI will grant it

Orl. Then loue me Rosalind

Ros. Yes faith will Ifridaies and saterdaiesand all

Orl. And wilt thou haue me?
Ros. Iand twentie such


Orl. What saiest thou?
Ros. Are you not good?
Orl. I hope so


Rosalind. Why thencan one desire too much of a
good thing: Come sisteryou shall be the Priestand
marrie vs: giue me your hand Orlando: What doe you
say sister?

Orl. Pray thee marrie vs

Cel. I cannot say the words

Ros. You must beginwill you Orlando

Cel. Goe too: wil you Orlandohaue to wife this Rosalind?
Orl. I will

Ros. Ibut when?
Orl. Why nowas fast as she can marrie vs


Ros. Then you must sayI take thee Rosalind for
wife

Orl. I take thee Rosalind for wife

Ros. I might aske you for your Commission
But I doe take thee Orlando for my husband: there's a
girle goes before the Priestand certainely a Womans
thought runs before her actions

Orl. So do all thoughtsthey are wing'd

Ros. Now tell me how long you would haue herafter
you haue possest her?
Orl. For euerand a day

Ros. Say a daywithout the euer: nono Orlandomen
are Aprill when they woeDecember when they wed:
Maides are May when they are maidesbut the sky changes
when they are wiues: I will bee more iealous of


theethen a Barbary cocke-pidgeon ouer his henmore
clamorous then a Parrat against rainemore new-fangled
then an apemore giddy in my desiresthen a monkey:
I will weepe for nothinglike Diana in the Fountaine
& I wil do that when you are dispos'd to be merry:
I will laugh like a Hyenand that when thou art inclin'd
to sleepe

Orl. But will my Rosalind doe so?
Ros. By my lifeshe will doe as I doe


Orl. O but she is wise

Ros. Or else shee could not haue the wit to doe this:
the wiserthe waywarder: make the doores vpon a womans
witand it will out at the casement: shut thatand
'twill out at the key-hole: stop that'twill flie with the
smoake out at the chimney

Orl. A man that had a wife with such a withe might
saywit whether wil't?
Ros. Nayyou might keepe that checke for ittill you
met your wiues wit going to your neighbours bed

Orl. And what wit could wit haueto excuse that?

Rosa. Marry to sayshe came to seeke you there: you
shall neuer take her without her answervnlesse you take
her without her tongue: o that woman that cannot
make her fault her husbands occasionlet her neuer nurse
her childe her selfefor she will breed it like a foole

Orl. For these two houres RosalindeI wil leaue thee

Ros. Alasdeere loueI cannot lacke thee two houres

Orl. I must attend the Duke at dinnerby two a clock
I will be with thee againe

Ros. Igoe your waiesgoe your waies: I knew what
you would prouemy friends told mee as muchand I
thought no lesse: that flattering tongue of yours wonne
me: 'tis but one cast awayand so come death: two o'
clocke is your howre

Orl. Isweet Rosalind

Ros. By my trothand in good earnestand so God
mend meeand by all pretty oathes that are not dangerous
if you breake one iot of your promiseor come one
minute behinde your houreI will thinke you the most
patheticall breake-promiseand the most hollow louer
and the most vnworthy of her you call Rosalindethat
may bee chosen out of the grosse band of the vnfaithfull:
therefore beware my censureand keep your promise

Orl. With no lesse religionthen if thou wert indeed
my Rosalind: so adieu

Ros. WellTime is the olde Iustice that examines all
such offendersand let time try: adieu.
Enter.

Cel. You haue simply misus'd our sexe in your loue-prate:
we must haue your doublet and hose pluckt ouer


your headand shew the world what the bird hath done
to her owne neast

Ros. O cozcozcoz: my pretty little cozthat thou
didst know how many fathome deepe I am in loue: but
it cannot bee sounded: my affection hath an vnknowne
bottomelike the Bay of Portugall

Cel. Or rather bottomlessethat as fast as you poure
affection init runs out

Ros. Nothat same wicked Bastard of Venusthat was
begot of thoughtconceiu'd of spleeneand borne of
madnessethat blinde rascally boythat abuses euery
ones eyesbecause his owne are outlet him bee iudge
how deepe I am in loue: ile tell thee AlienaI cannot be
out of the sight of Orlando: Ile goe finde a shadowand
sigh till he come

Cel. And Ile sleepe.

Exeunt.

Scena Secunda.

Enter Iaques and LordsForresters.

Iaq. Which is he that killed the Deare?
Lord. Sirit was I


Iaq. Let's present him to the Duke like a Romane
Conquerourand it would doe well to set the Deares
horns vpon his headfor a branch of victory; haue you
no song Forrester for this purpose?

Lord. Yes Sir

Iaq. Sing it: 'tis no matter how it bee in tuneso it
make noyse enough.

MusickeSong.


What shall he haue that kild the Deare?
His Leather skinand hornes to weare:
Then sing him homethe rest shall beare this burthen;
Take thou no scorne to weare the horne
It was a crest ere thou wast borne
Thy fathers father wore it
And thy father bore it
The hornethe hornethe lusty horne
Is not a thing to laugh to scorne.


Exeunt.


Scoena Tertia.


Enter Rosalind and Celia.


Ros. How say you nowis it not past two a clock?
And heere much Orlando

Cel. I warrant youwith pure loue& troubled brain


Enter Siluius.

He hath t'ane his bow and arrowesand is gone forth
To sleepe: looke who comes heere

Sil. My errand is to youfaire youth
My gentle Phebedid bid me giue you this:
I know not the contentsbut as I guesse
By the sterne browand waspish action
Which she did vseas she was writing of it
It beares an angry tenure; pardon me
I am but as a guiltlesse messenger

Ros. Patience her selfe would startle at this letter
And play the swaggererbeare thisbeare all:
Shee saies I am not fairethat I lacke manners
She calls me proudand that she could not loue me
Were man as rare as Phenix: 'od's my will
Her loue is not the Hare that I doe hunt
Why writes she so to me? well Shepheardwell
This is a Letter of your owne deuice

Sil. NoI protestI know not the contents
Phebe did write it

Ros. Comecomeyou are a foole
And turn'd into the extremity of loue.
I saw her handshe has a leatherne hand
A freestone coloured hand: I verily did thinke
That her old gloues were onbut twas her hands:
She has a huswiues handbut that's no matter:
I say she neuer did inuent this letter
This is a mans inuentionand his hand

Sil. Sure it is hers

Ros. Whytis a boysterous and a cruell stile
A stile for challengers: whyshe defies me
Like Turke to Christian: womens gentle braine
Could not drop forth such giant rude inuention
Such Ethiop wordsblacker in their effect
Then in their countenance: will you heare the letter?

Sil. So please youfor I neuer heard it yet:
Yet heard too much of Phebes crueltie

Ros. She Phebes me: marke how the tyrant writes.

Read.

Art thou godto Shepherd turn'd?
That a maidens heart hath burn'd.
Can a woman raile thus?

Sil. Call you this railing?
Ros.


Read.


Whythy godhead laid a part
War'st thou with a womans heart?
Did you euer heare such railing?
Whiles the eye of man did wooe me
That could do no vengeance to me.
Meaning me a beast.
If the scorne of your bright eine



Haue power to raise such loue in mine
Alackein mewhat strange effect
Would they worke in milde aspect?
Whiles you chid meI did loue
How then might your praiers moue?
He that brings this loue to thee
Little knowes this Loue in me:
And by him seale vp thy minde
Whether that thy youth and kinde
Will the faithfull offer take
Of meand all that I can make
Or else by him my loue denie
And then Ile studie how to die


Sil. Call you this chiding?
Cel. Alas poore Shepheard


Ros. Doe you pitty him? Nohe deserues no pitty:
wilt thou loue such a woman? what to make thee an instrument
and play false straines vpon thee? not to be endur'd.
Wellgoe your way to her; (for I see Loue hath
made thee a tame snake) and say this to her; That if she
loue meI charge her to loue thee: if she will notI will
neuer haue hervnlesse thou intreat for her: if you bee a
true louer henceand not a word; for here comes more
company.

Exit. Sil.

Enter Oliuer.

Oliu. Good morrowfaire ones: pray you(if you | know)
Where in the Purlews of this Forreststands
A sheep-coatfenc'd about with Oliue-trees

Cel. West of this placedown in the neighbor bottom
The ranke of Oziersby the murmuring streame
Left on your right handbrings you to the place:
But at this howrethe house doth keepe it selfe
There's none within

Oli. If that an eye may profit by a tongue
Then should I know you by description
Such garmentsand such yeeres: the boy is faire
Of femall fauourand bestowes himselfe
Like a ripe sister: the woman low
And browner then her brother: are not you
The owner of the house I did enquire for?

Cel. It is no boastbeing ask'dto say we are

Oli. Orlando doth commend him to you both
And to that youth hee calls his Rosalind
He sends this bloudy napkin; are you he?

Ros. I am: what must we vnderstand by this?

Oli. Some of my shameif you will know of me
What man I amand howand whyand where
This handkercher was stain'd

Cel. I pray you tell it

Oli. When last the yong Orlando parted from you
He left a promise to returne againe
Within an houreand pacing through the Forrest
Chewing the food of sweet and bitter fancie


Loe what befell: he threw his eye aside
And marke what obiect did present it selfe
Vnder an old Oakewhose bows were moss'd with age
And high topbald with drie antiquitie:
A wretched ragged manore-growne with haire
Lay sleeping on his back; about his necke
A greene and guilded snake had wreath'd it selfe
Who with her headnimble in threats approach'd
The opening of his mouth: but sodainly
Seeing Orlandoit vnlink'd it selfe
And with indented glidesdid slip away
Into a bushvnder which bushes shade
A Lyonnessewith vdders all drawne drie
Lay cowching head on groundwith catlike watch
When that the sleeping man should stirre; for 'tis
The royall disposition of that beast
To prey on nothingthat doth seeme as dead:
This seeneOrlando did approach the man
And found it was his brotherhis elder brother

Cel. O I haue heard him speake of that same brother
And he did render him the most vnnaturall
That liu'd amongst men

Oli. And well he might so doe
For well I know he was vnnaturall

Ros. But to Orlando: did he leaue him there
Food to the suck'd and hungry Lyonnesse?

Oli. Twice did he turne his backeand purpos'd so:
But kindnessenobler euer then reuenge
And Nature stronger then his iust occasion
Made him giue battell to the Lyonnesse:
Who quickly fell before himin which hurtling
From miserable slumber I awaked

Cel. Are you his brother?
Ros. Was't you he rescu'd?
Cel. Was't you that did so oft contriue to kill him?
Oli. 'Twas I: but 'tis not I: I doe not shame

To tell you what I wassince my conuersion
So sweetly tastesbeing the thing I am

Ros. But for the bloody napkin?

Oli. By and by:
When from the first to last betwixt vs two
Teares our recountments had most kindely bath'd
As how I came into that Desert place.
In briefehe led me to the gentle Duke
Who gaue me fresh arayand entertainment
Committing me vnto my brothers loue
Who led me instantly vnto his Caue
There stript himselfeand heere vpon his arme
The Lyonnesse had torne some flesh away
Which all this while had bled; and now he fainted
And cride in fainting vpon Rosalinde.
BriefeI recouer'd himbound vp his wound
And after some small spacebeing strong at heart
He sent me hitherstranger as I am
To tell this storythat you might excuse
His broken promiseand to giue this napkin
Died in this bloudvnto the Shepheard youth
That he in sport doth call his Rosalind


Cel. Why how now Ganimedsweet Ganimed

Oli. Many will swoon when they do look on bloud

Cel. There is more in it; Cosen Ganimed

Oli. Lookehe recouers

Ros. I would I were at home

Cel. Wee'll lead you thither:
I pray you will you take him by the arme

Oli. Be of good cheere youth: you a man?
You lacke a mans heart

Ros. I doe soI confesse it:
Ahsirraa body would thinke this was well counterfeited
I pray you tell your brother how well I counterfeited:
heigh-ho

Oli. This was not counterfeitthere is too great testimony
in your complexionthat it was a passion of earnest

Ros. CounterfeitI assure you

Oli. Well thentake a good heartand counterfeit to
be a man

Ros. So I doe: but yfaithI should haue beene a woman
by right

Cel. Comeyou looke paler and paler: pray you draw
homewards: good sirgoe with vs

Oli. That will I: for I must beare answere backe
How you excuse my brotherRosalind

Ros. I shall deuise something: but I pray you commend
my counterfeiting to him: will you goe?

Exeunt.

Actus Quintus. Scena Prima.

Enter Clowne and Awdrie.

Clow. We shall finde a time Awdriepatience gentle
Awdrie

Awd. Faith the Priest was good enoughfor all the
olde gentlemans saying

Clow. A most wicked Sir OliuerAwdriea most vile
Mar-text. But Awdriethere is a youth heere in the
Forrest layes claime to you

Awd. II know who 'tis: he hath no interest in mee
in the world: here comes the man you meane.
Enter William.

Clo. It is meat and drinke to me to see a Clowneby


my trothwe that haue good witshaue much to answer
for: we shall be flouting: we cannot hold

Will. Good eu'n Audrey

Aud. God ye good eu'n William

Will. And good eu'n to you Sir

Clo. Good eu'n gentle friend. Couer thy headcouer
thy head: Nay prethee bee couer'd. How olde are you
Friend?

Will. Fiue and twentie Sir

Clo. A ripe age: Is thy name William?
Will. Williamsir


Clo. A faire name. Was't borne i'th Forrest heere?
Will. I sirI thanke God


Clo. Thanke God: A good answer:
Art rich?
Will. 'Faith sirsoso

Cle. Sosois goodvery goodvery excellent good:
and yet it is notit is but soso:
Art thou wise?

Will. I sirI haue a prettie wit

Clo. Whythou saist well. I do now remember a saying:
The Foole doth thinke he is wisebut the wiseman
knowes himselfe to be a Foole. The Heathen Philosopher
when he had a desire to eate a Grapewould open
his lips when he put it into his mouthmeaning thereby
that Grapes were made to eateand lippes to open.
You do loue this maid?

Will. I do sir

Clo. Giue me your hand: Art thou Learned?
Will. No sir


Clo. Then learne this of meTo haueis to haue. For
it is a figure in Rhetorickethat drink being powr'd out
of a cup into a glasseby filling the onedoth empty the
other. For all your Writers do consentthat ipse is hee:
now you are not ipsefor I am he

Will. Which he sir?

Clo. He sirthat must marrie this woman: Therefore
you Clowneabandon: which is in the vulgarleaue the
societie: which in the boorishis companieof this female:
which in the commonis woman: which together
isabandon the society of this Femaleor Clowne
thou perishest: or to thy better vnderstandingdyest; or
(to wit) I kill theemake thee awaytranslate thy life into
deaththy libertie into bondage: I will deale in poyson
with theeor in bastinadoor in steele: I will bandy
with thee in factionI will ore-run thee with policie: I
will kill thee a hundred and fifty wayestherefore tremble
and depart

Aud. Do good William

Will. God rest you merry sir.


Exit

Enter Corin.

Cor. Our Master and Mistresse seekes you: come away
away

Clo. Trip Audrytrip AudryI attend
I attend.

Exeunt.

Scoena Secunda.

Enter Orlando & Oliuer.

Orl. Is't possiblethat on so little acquaintance you
should like her? thatbut seeingyou should loue her?
And louing woo? and wooingshe should graunt? And
will you perseuer to enioy her?

Ol. Neither call the giddinesse of it in question; the
pouertie of herthe small acquaintancemy sodaine woing
nor sodaine consenting: but say with meeI loue
Aliena: say with herthat she loues mee; consent with
boththat we may enioy each other: it shall be to your
good: for my fathers houseand all the reuennewthat
was old Sir Rowlands will I estate vpon youand heere
liue and die a Shepherd.
Enter Rosalind.

Orl. You haue my consent.
Let your Wedding be to morrow: thither will I
Inuite the Dukeand all's contented followers:
Go youand prepare Aliena; for looke you
Heere comes my Rosalinde

Ros. God saue you brother

Ol. And you faire sister

Ros. Oh my deere Orlandohow it greeues me to see
thee weare thy heart in a scarfe

Orl. It is my arme

Ros. I thought thy heart had beene wounded with
the clawes of a Lion

Orl. Wounded it isbut with the eyes of a Lady

Ros. Did your brother tell you how I counterfeyted
to soundwhen he shew'd me your handkercher?
Orl. Iand greater wonders then that

Ros. OI know where you are: naytis true: there
was neuer any thing so sodainebut the sight of two
Rammesand Cesars Thrasonicall bragge of I camesaw
and ouercome. For your brotherand my sisterno sooner
metbut they look'd: no sooner look'dbut they
lou'd; no sooner lou'dbut they sigh'd: no sooner sigh'd
but they ask'd one another the reason: no sooner knew
the reasonbut they sought the remedie: and in these
degreeshaue they made a paire of staires to marriage


which they will climbe incontinentor else bee incontinent
before marriage; they are in the verie wrath of
loueand they will together. Clubbes cannot part
them

Orl. They shall be married to morrow: and I will
bid the Duke to the Nuptiall. But Ohow bitter a thing
it isto looke into happines through another mans eies:
by so much the more shall I to morrow be at the height
of heart heauinesseby how much I shal thinke my brother
happiein hauing what he wishes for

Ros. Why then to morrowI cannot serue your turne
for Rosalind?
Orl. I can liue no longer by thinking

Ros. I will wearie you then no longer with idle talking.
Know of me then (for now I speake to some purpose)
that I know you are a Gentleman of good conceit:
I speake not thisthat you should beare a good opinion
of my knowledge: insomuch (I say) I know you are: neither
do I labor for a greater esteeme then may in some
little measure draw a beleefe from youto do your selfe
goodand not to grace me. Beleeue thenif you please
that I can do strange things: I haue since I was three
yeare old conuerst with a Magitianmost profound in
his Artand yet not damnable. If you do loue Rosalinde
so neere the hartas your gesture cries it out: when your
brother marries Alienashall you marrie her. I know into
what straights of Fortune she is driuenand it is not
impossible to meif it appeare not inconuenient to you
to set her before your eyes to morrowhumane as she is
and without any danger

Orl. Speak'st thou in sober meanings?

Ros. By my life I dowhich I tender deerlythough
I say I am a Magitian: Therefore put you in your best aray
bid your friends: for if you will be married to morrow
you shall: and to Rosalind if you will.
Enter Siluius & Phebe.

Lookehere comes a Louer of mineand a louer of hers

Phe. Youthyou haue done me much vngentlenesse
To shew the letter that I writ to you

Ros. I care not if I haue: it is my studie
To seeme despightfull and vngentle to you:
you are there followed by a faithful shepheard
Looke vpon himloue him: he worships you

Phe. Good shepheardtell this youth what 'tis to loue
Sil. It is to be all made of sighes and teares
And so am I for Phebe

Phe. And I for Ganimed

Orl. And I for Rosalind

Ros. And I for no woman

Sil. It is to be all made of faith and seruice
And so am I for Phebe


Phe. And I for Ganimed

Orl. And I for Rosalind

Ros. And I for no woman

Sil. It is to be all made of fantasie
All made of passionand all made of wishes
All adorationdutieand obseruance
All humblenesseall patienceand impatience
All puritieall triallall obseruance:
And so am I for Phebe

Phe. And so am I for Ganimed

Orl. And so am I for Rosalind

Ros. And so am I for no woman

Phe. If this be sowhy blame you me to loue you?
Sil. If this be sowhy blame you me to loue you?
Orl. If this be sowhy blame you me to loue you?
Ros. Why do you speake tooWhy blame you mee


to loue you

Orl. To herthat is not heerenor doth not heare

Ros. Pray you no more of this'tis like the howling
of Irish Wolues against the Moone: I will helpe you
if I can: I would loue you if I could: To morrow meet
me altogether: I wil marrie youif euer I marrie Woman
and Ile be married to morrow: I will satisfie you
if euer I satisfi'd manand you shall bee married to morrow.
I wil content youif what pleases you contents
youand you shal be married to morrow: As you loue
Rosalind meetas you loue Phebe meetand as I loue no
womanIle meet: so fare you wel: I haue left you commands

Sil. Ile not faileif I liue

Phe. Nor I

Orl. Nor I.

Exeunt.

Scoena Tertia.

Enter Clowne and Audrey.

Clo. To morrow is the ioyfull day Audreyto morow
will we be married

Aud. I do desire it with all my heart: and I hope it is
no dishonest desireto desire to be a woman of y world?
Heere come two of the banish'd Dukes Pages.
Enter two Pages.

1.Pa. Wel met honest Gentleman

Clo. By my troth well met: comesitsitand a song

2.Pa. We are for yousit i'th middle


1.Pa. Shal we clap into't roundlywithout hauking
or spittingor saying we are hoarsewhich are the onely
prologues to a bad voice

2.Pa. I faithy'faithand both in a tune like two
gipsies on a horse.

Song.


It was a Louerand his lasse
With a heyand a hoand a hey nonino
That o're the greene corne feild did passe
In the spring timethe onely pretty rang time.
When Birds do singhey ding a dingding.
Sweet Louers loue the spring
And therefore take the present time.
With a hey& a hoand a hey nonino
For loue is crowned with the prime.
In spring time&c.
Betweene the acres of the Rie
With a heyand a ho& a hey nonino:
These prettie Country folks would lie.
In spring time&c.
This Carroll they began that houre
With a hey and a ho& a hey nonino:
How that a life was but a Flower
In spring time&c


Clo. Truly yong Gentlementhough there was no
great matter in the dittieyet y note was very vntunable
1.Pa. you are deceiu'd Sirwe kept timewe lost not
our time

Clo. By my troth yes: I count it but time lost to heare
such a foolish song. God buy youand God mend your
voices. Come Audrie.

Exeunt.

Scena Quarta.

Enter Duke SeniorAmyensIaquesOrlandoOliuerCelia.

Du.Sen. Dost thou beleeue Orlandothat the boy
Can do all this that he hath promised?

Orl. I sometimes do beleeueand somtimes do not
As those that feare they hopeand know they feare.
Enter RosalindeSiluius& Phebe.

Ros. Patience once morewhiles our co[m]pact is vrg'd:
You sayif I bring in your Rosalinde
You wil bestow her on Orlando heere?

Du.Se. That would Ihad I kingdoms to giue with hir

Ros. And you say you wil haue herwhen I bring hir?
Orl. That would Iwere I of all kingdomes King

Ros. You sayyou'l marrie meif I be willing

Phe. That will Ishould I die the houre after

Ros. But if you do refuse to marrie me


You'l giue your selfe to this most faithfull Shepheard

Phe. So is the bargaine

Ros. You say that you'l haue Phebe if she will

Sil. Though to haue her and deathwere both one
thing

Ros. I haue promis'd to make all this matter euen:
Keepe you your wordO Duketo giue your daughter
You yours Orlandoto receiue his daughter:
Keepe you your word Phebethat you'l marrie me
Or else refusing me to wed this shepheard:
Keepe your word Siluiusthat you'l marrie her
If she refuse meand from hence I go
To make these doubts all euen.

Exit Ros. and Celia.

Du.Sen. I do remember in this shepheard boy
Some liuely touches of my daughters fauour

Orl. My Lordthe first time that I euer saw him
Me thought he was a brother to your daughter:
But my good Lordthis Boy is Forrest borne
And hath bin tutor'd in the rudiments
Of many desperate studiesby his vnckle
Whom he reports to be a great Magitian.
Enter Clowne and Audrey.

Obscured in the circle of this Forrest

Iaq. There is sure another flood towardand these
couples are comming to the Arke. Here comes a payre
of verie strange beastswhich in all tonguesare call'd
Fooles

Clo. Salutation and greeting to you all

Iaq. Good my Lordbid him welcome: This is the
Motley-minded Gentlemanthat I haue so often met in
the Forrest: he hath bin a Courtier he sweares

Clo. If any man doubt thatlet him put mee to my
purgationI haue trod a measureI haue flattred a Lady
I haue bin politicke with my friendsmooth with mine
enemieI haue vndone three TailorsI haue had foure
quarrelsand like to haue fought one

Iaq. And how was that tane vp?
Clo. 'Faith we metand found the quarrel was vpon
the seuenth cause

Iaq. How seuenth cause? Good my Lordlike this
fellow

Du.Se. I like him very well

Clo. God'ild you sirI desire you of the like: I presse
in heere siramongst the rest of the Country copulatiues
to sweareand to forsweareaccording as mariage binds
and blood breakes: a poore virgin siran il-fauor'd thing
sirbut mine ownea poore humour of mine sirto take


that that no man else will: rich honestie dwels like a miser
sirin a poore houseas your Pearle in your foule oyster

Du.Se. By my faithhe is very swiftand sententious
Clo. According to the fooles bolt sirand such dulcet
diseases

Iaq. But for the seuenth cause. How did you finde
the quarrell on the seuenth cause?

Clo. Vpon a lyeseuen times remoued: (beare your
bodie more seeming Audry) as thus sir: I did dislike the
cut of a certaine Courtiers beard: he sent me wordif I
said his beard was not cut wellhee was in the minde it
was: this is call'd the retort courteous. If I sent him
word againeit was not well cuthe wold send me word
he cut it to please himselfe: this is call'd the quip modest.
If againeit was not well cuthe disabled my iudgment:
this is calledthe reply churlish. If againe it was not well
cuthe would answer I spake not true: this is call'd the
reproofe valiant. If againeit was not well cuthe wold
sayI lie: this is call'd the counter-checke quarrelsome:
and so to lye circumstantialland the lye direct

Iaq. And how oft did you say his beard was not well
cut?

Clo. I durst go no further then the lye circumstantial:
nor he durst not giue me the lye direct: and so wee measur'd
swordsand parted

Iaq. Can you nominate in order nowthe degrees of
the lye

Clo. O sirwe quarrel in printby the booke: as you
haue bookes for good manners: I will name you the degrees.
The firstthe Retort courteous: the secondthe
Quip-modest: the thirdthe reply Churlish: the fourth
the Reproofe valiant: the fiftthe Counterchecke quarrelsome:
the sixtthe Lye with circumstance: the seauenth
the Lye direct: all these you may auoydbut the
Lye direct: and you may auoide that toowith an If. I
knew when seuen Iustices could not take vp a Quarrell
but when the parties were met themseluesone of them
thought but of an If; as if you saide sothen I saide so:
and they shooke handsand swore brothers. Your Ifis
the onely peace-maker: much vertue in if

Iaq. Is not this a rare fellow my Lord? He's as good
at any thingand yet a foole

Du.Se. He vses his folly like a stalking-horseand vnder
the presentation of that he shoots his wit.
Enter HymenRosalindand Celia.

Still Musicke.

Hymen. Then is there mirth in heauen
When earthly things made eauen
attone together.
Good Duke receiue thy daughter
Hymen from Heauen brought her
Yea brought her hether.
That thou mightst ioyne his hand with his
Whose heart within his bosome is


Ros. To you I giue my selfefor I am yours.
To you I giue my selfefor I am yours

Du.Se. If there be truth in sightyou are my daughter

Orl. If there be truth in sightyou are my Rosalind

Phe. If sight & shape be truewhy then my loue adieu

Ros. Ile haue no Fatherif you be not he:
Ile haue no Husbandif you be not he:
Nor ne're wed womanif you be not shee

Hy. Peace hoa: I barre confusion
'Tis I must make conclusion
Of these most strange euents:
Here's eight that must take hands
To ioyne in Hymens bands
If truth holds true contents.
You and youno crosse shall part;
You and youare hart in hart:
Youto his loue must accord
Or haue a Woman to your Lord.
You and youare sure together
As the Winter to fowle Weather:
Whiles a Wedlocke Hymne we sing
Feede your selues with questioning:
That reasonwonder may diminish
How thus we metand these things finish.

Song.

Wedding is great Iunos crowne
O blessed bond of boord and bed:
'Tis Hymen peoples euerie towne
High wedlock then be honored:
Honorhigh honor and renowne
To HymenGod of euerie Towne

Du.Se. O my deere Neecewelcome thou art to me
Euen daughter welcomein no lesse degree

Phe. I wil not eate my wordnow thou art mine
Thy faithmy fancie to thee doth combine.
Enter Second Brother.

2.Bro. Let me haue audience for a word or two:
I am the second sonne of old Sir Rowland
That bring these tidings to this faire assembly.
Duke Frederick hearing how that euerie day
Men of great worth resorted to this forrest
Addrest a mightie powerwhich were on foote
In his owne conductpurposely to take
His brother heereand put him to the sword:
And to the skirts of this wilde Wood he came;
Wheremeeting with an old Religious man
After some question with himwas conuerted
Both from his enterprizeand from the world:
His crowne bequeathing to his banish'd Brother
And all their Lands restor'd to him againe
That were with him exil'd. This to be true
I do engage my life

Du.Se. Welcome yong man:
Thou offer'st fairely to thy brothers wedding:


To one his lands with-heldand to the other
A land it selfe at largea potent Dukedome.
Firstin this Forrestlet vs do those ends
That heere were well begunand wel begot:
And aftereuery of this happie number
That haue endur'd shrew'd daiesand nights with vs
Shal share the good of our returned fortune
According to the measure of their states.
Meane timeforget this new-falne dignitie
And fall into our Rusticke Reuelrie:
Play Musickeand you Brides and Bride-groomes all
With measure heap'd in ioyto'th Measures fall


Iaq. Sirby your patience: if I heard you rightly
The Duke hath put on a Religious life
And throwne into neglect the pompous Court

2.Bro. He hath

Iaq. To him will I: out of these conuertites
There is much matter to be heardand learn'd:
you to your former HonorI bequeath
your patienceand your vertuewell deserues it.
you to a louethat your true faith doth merit:
you to your landand loueand great allies:
you to a longand well-deserued bed:
And you to wranglingfor thy louing voyage
Is but for two moneths victuall'd: So to your pleasures
I am for otherthen for dancing meazures

Du.Se. StayIaquesstay

Iaq. To see no pastimeI: what you would haue
Ile stay to knowat your abandon'd caue.
Enter.

Du.Se. Proceedproceed: wee'l begin these rights
As we do trustthey'l end in true delights.

Exit

Ros. It is not the fashion to see the Ladie the Epilogue:
but it is no more vnhandsomethen to see the
Lord the Prologue. If it be truethat good wine needs
no bush'tis truethat a good play needes no Epilogue.
Yet to good wine they do vse good bushes: and good
playes proue the better by the helpe of good Epilogues:
What a case am I in thenthat am neither a good Epilogue
nor cannot insinuate with you in the behalfe of a
good play? I am not furnish'd like a Beggertherefore
to begge will not become mee. My way is to coniure
youand Ile begin with the Women. I charge you (O
women) for the loue you beare to mento like as much
of this Playas please you: And I charge you (O men)
for the loue you beare to women (as I perceiue by your
simpringnone of you hates them) that betweene you
and the womenthe play may please. If I were a Woman
I would kisse as many of you as had beards that
pleas'd mecomplexions that lik'd meand breaths that
I defi'de not: And I am sureas many as haue good
beardsor good facesor sweet breathswill for my kind
offerwhen I make curt'siebid me farewell.
Enter.


FINIS. As you Like it.