Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. As You Like It (1623 First Folio Edition)
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Act I
Scene i
1: Actus primus. Scoena Prima.
2: [ Enter Orlando and Adam.]
3:
Orlando.
4: As I remember Adam, it was vpon this fashion
5: bequeathed me by will, but poore a thousand
6: Crownes, and as thou saist, charged my bro-ther
7: on his blessing to breed mee well: and
8: there begins my sadnesse: My brother Iaques he keepes
9: at schoole, and report speakes goldenly of his profit:
10: for my part, he keepes me rustically at home, or (to speak
11: more properly) staies me heere at home vnkept: for call
12: you that keeping for a gentleman of my birth, that dif-fers
13: not from the stalling of an Oxe? his horses are bred
14: better, for besides that they are faire with their feeding,
15: they are taught their mannage, and to that end Riders
16: deerely hir'd: but I (his brother) gaine nothing vnder
17: him but growth, for the which his Animals on his
18: dunghils are as much bound to him as I: besides this no-thing
19: that he so plentifully giues me, the something that
20: nature gaue mee, his countenance seemes to take from
21: me: hee lets mee feede with his Hindes, barres mee the
22: place of a brother, and as much as in him lies, mines my
23: gentility with my education. This is it Adam that
24: grieues me, and the spirit of my Father, which I thinke
25: is within mee, begins to mutinie against this seruitude.
26: I will no longer endure it, though yet I know no wise
27: remedy how to auoid it.
28: [ Enter Oliuer.]
29:
Adam.
Yonder comes my Master, your brother.
30:
Orlan.
Goe a-part Adam, and thou shalt heare how
31: he will shake me vp.
32:
Oli.
Now Sir, what make you heere?
33:
Orl.
Nothing: I am not taught to make any thing.
34:
Oli.
What mar you then sir?
35:
Orl.
Marry sir, I am helping you to mar that which
36: God made, a poore vnworthy brother of yours with
37: idlenesse.
38:
Oliuer.
Marry sir be better employed, and be naught
39: a while.
40:
Orlan.
Shall I keepe your hogs, and eat huskes with
41: them? what prodigall portion haue I spent, that I should
42: come to such penury?
43:
Oli.
Know you where you are sir?
44:
Orl.
O sir, very well: heere in your Orchard.
45:
Oli.
Know you before whom sir?
46:
Orl.
I, better then him I am before knowes mee: I
47: know you are my eldest brother, and in the gentle con-dition
48: of bloud you should so know me: the courtesie of
49: nations allowes you my better, in that you are the first
50: borne, but the same tradition takes not away my bloud,
51: were there twenty brothers betwixt vs: I haue as much
52: of my father in mee, as you, albeit I confesse your com-ming
53: before me is neerer to his reuerence.
54:
Oli.
What Boy.
55:
Orl.
Come, come elder brother, you are too yong in this.
56:
Oli.
Wilt thou lay hands on me villaine?
57:
Orl.
I am no villaine: I am the yongest sonne of Sir
58: Rowland de Boys, he was my father, and he is thrice a vil-laine
59: that saies such a father begot villaines: wert thou
60: not my brother, I would not take this hand from thy
61: throat, till this other had puld out thy tongue for saying
62: so, thou hast raild on thy selfe.
63:
Adam.
Sweet Masters bee patient, for your Fathers
64: remembrance, be at accord.
65:
Oli.
Let me goe I say.
66:
Orl.
I will not till I please: you shall heare mee: my
67: father charg'd you in his will to giue me good educati-on:
68: you haue train'd me like a pezant, obscuring and
69: hiding from me all gentleman-like qualities: the spirit
70: of my father growes strong in mee, and I will no longer
71: endure it: therefore allow me such exercises as may be-come
72: a gentleman, or giue mee the poore allottery my
73: father left me by testament, with that I will goe buy my
74: fortunes.
75:
Oli.
And what wilt thou do? beg when that is spent?
76: Well sir, get you in. I will not long be troubled with
77: you: you shall haue some part of your will, I pray you
78: leaue me.
79:
Orl.
I will no further offend you, then becomes mee
80: for my good.
81:
Oli.
Get you with him, you olde dogge.
82:
Adam.
Is old dogge my reward: most true, I haue
83: lost my teeth in your seruice: God be with my olde ma-ster,
84: he would not haue spoke such a word. [ Ex. Orl. Ad.]
85:
Oli.
Is it euen so, begin you to grow vpon me? I will
86: physicke your ranckenesse, and yet giue no thousand
87: crownes neyther: holla Dennis.
88: [ Enter Dennis.]
89:
Den.
Calls your worship?
90:
Oli.
Was not Charles the Dukes Wrastler heere to
91: speake with me?
92:
Den.
So please you, he is heere at the doore, and im-portunes
93: accesse to you.
94:
Oli.
Call him in: 'twill be a good way: and to mor-row
95: the wrastling is.
96: [ Enter Charles.]
97:
Cha.
Good morrow to your worship.
98:
Oli.
Good Mounsier Charles: what's the new newes
99: at the new Court?
100:
Charles.
There's no newes at the Court Sir, but the
101: olde newes: that is, the old Duke is banished by his yon-ger
102: brother the new Duke, and three or foure louing
103: Lords haue put themselues into voluntary exile with
104: him, whose lands and reuenues enrich the new Duke,
105: therefore he giues them good leaue to wander.
106:
Oli.
Can you tell if Rosalind the Dukes daughter bee
107: banished with her Father?
108:
Cha.
O no; for the Dukes daughter her Cosen so
109: loues her, being euer from their Cradles bred together,
110: that hee would haue followed her exile, or haue died to
111: stay behind her; she is at the Court, and no lesse beloued
112: of her Vncle, then his owne daughter, and neuer two La-dies
113: loued as they doe.
114:
Oli.
Where will the old Duke liue?
115:
Cha.
They say hee is already in the Forrest of Arden,
116: and a many merry men with him; and there they liue
117: like the old Robin Hood of England: they say many yong
118: Gentlemen flocke to him euery day, and fleet the time
119: carelesly as they did in the golden world.
120:
Oli.
What, you wrastle to morrow before the new
121: Duke.
122:
Cha.
Marry doe I sir: and I came to acquaint you
123: with a matter: I am giuen sir secretly to vnderstand, that
124: your yonger brother Orlando hath a disposition to come
125: in disguis'd against mee to try a fall: to morrow sir I
126: wrastle for my credit, and hee that escapes me without
127: some broken limbe, shall acquit him well: your brother
128: is but young and tender, and for your loue I would bee
129: loth to foyle him, as I must for my owne honour if hee
130: come in: therefore out of my loue to you, I came hither
131: to acquaint you withall, that either you might stay him
132: from his intendment, or brooke such disgrace well as he
133: shall runne into, in that it is a thing of his owne search,
134: and altogether against my will.
135:
Oli. Charles
, I thanke thee for thy loue to me, which
136: thou shalt finde I will most kindly requite: I had my
137: selfe notice of my Brothers purpose heerein, and haue by
138: vnder-hand meanes laboured to disswade him from it;
139: but he is resolute. Ile tell thee Charles, it is the stubbor-nest
140: yong fellow of France, full of ambition, an enuious
141: emulator of euery mans good parts, a secret & villanous
142: contriuer against mee his naturall brother: therefore vse
143: thy discretion, I had as liefe thou didst breake his necke
144: as his finger. And thou wert best looke to't; for if thou
145: dost him any slight disgrace, or if hee doe not mightilie
146: grace himselfe on thee, hee will practise against thee by
147: poyson, entrap thee by some treacherous deuise, and ne-uer
148: leaue thee till he hath tane thy life by some indirect
149: meanes or other: for I assure thee, (and almost with
150: teares I speake it) there is not one so young, and so vil-lanous
151: this day liuing. I speake but brotherly of him,
152: but should I anathomize him to thee, as hee is, I must
153: blush, and weepe, and thou must looke pale and
154: wonder.
155:
Cha.
I am heartily glad I came hither to you: if hee
156: come to morrow, Ile giue him his payment: if euer hee
157: goe alone againe, Ile neuer wrastle for prize more: and
158: so God keepe your worship. [ Exit.]
159: Farewell good Charles. Now will I stirre this Game-ster:
160: I hope I shall see an end of him; for my soule (yet
161: I know not why) hates nothing more then he: yet hee's
162: gentle, neuer school'd, and yet learned, full of noble
163: deuise, of all sorts enchantingly beloued, and indeed
164: so much in the heart of the world, and especially of my
165: owne people, who best know him, that I am altogether
166: misprised: but it shall not be so long, this wrastler shall
167: cleare all: nothing remaines, but that I kindle the boy
168: thither, which now Ile goe about. [ Exit.]
Scene ii
169: Scoena Secunda.
170: [ Enter Rosalind, and Cellia.]
171:
Cel.
I pray thee Rosalind, sweet my Coz, be merry.
172:
Ros.
Deere Cellia; I show more mirth then I am mi-stresse
173: of, and would you yet were merrier: vnlesse you
174: could teach me to forget a banished father, you must not
175: learne mee how to remember any extraordinary plea-sure.
176: _
177:
Cel.
Heerein I see thou lou'st mee not with the full
178: waight that I loue thee; if my Vncle thy banished father
179: had banished thy Vncle the Duke my Father, so thou
180: hadst beene still with mee, I could haue taught my loue
181: to take thy father for mine; so wouldst thou, if the truth
182: of thy loue to me were so righteously temper'd, as mine
183: is to thee.
184:
Ros.
Well, I will forget the condition of my estate,
185: to reioyce in yours.
186:
Cel.
You know my Father hath no childe, but I, nor
187: none is like to haue; and truely when he dies, thou shalt
188: be his heire; for what hee hath taken away from thy fa-ther
189: perforce, I will render thee againe in affection: by
190: mine honor I will, and when I breake that oath, let mee
191: turne monster: therefore my sweet Rose, my deare Rose,
192: be merry.
193:
Ros.
From henceforth I will Coz, and deuise sports:
194: let me see, what thinke you of falling in Loue?
195:
Cel.
Marry I prethee doe, to make sport withall: but
196: loue no man in good earnest, nor no further in sport ney-ther,
197: then with safety of a pure blush, thou maist in ho-nor
198: come off againe.
199:
Ros.
What shall be our sport then?
200:
Cel.
Let vs sit and mocke the good houswife For-tune
201: from her wheele, that her gifts may henceforth bee
202: bestowed equally.
203:
Ros.
I would wee could doe so: for her benefits are
204: mightily misplaced, and the bountifull blinde woman
205: doth most mistake in her gifts to women.
206:
Cel.
'Tis true, for those that she makes faire, she scarce
207: makes honest, & those that she makes honest, she makes
208: very illfauouredly.
209:
Ros.
Nay now thou goest from Fortunes office to Na-tures:
210: Fortune reignes in gifts of the world, not in the
211: lineaments of Nature.
212: [ Enter Clowne.]
213:
Cel.
No; when Nature hath made a faire creature,
214: may she not by Fortune fall into the fire? though nature
215: hath giuen vs wit to flout at Fortune, hath not Fortune
216: sent in this foole to cut off the argument?
217:
Ros.
Indeed there is fortune too hard for nature, when
218: fortune makes natures naturall, the cutter off of natures
219: witte.
220:
Cel.
Peraduenture this is not Fortunes work neither,
221: but Natures, who perceiueth our naturall wits too dull
222: to reason of such goddesses, hath sent this Naturall for
223: our whetstone: for alwaies the dulnesse of the foole, is
224: the whetstone of the wits. How now Witte, whether
225: wander you?
226:
Clow.
Mistresse, you must come away to your father.
227:
Cel.
Were you made the messenger?
228:
Clo.
No by mine honor, but I was bid to come for you
229:
Ros.
Where learned you that oath foole?
230:
Clo.
Of a certaine Knight, that swore by his Honour
231: they were good Pan-cakes, and swore by his Honor the
232: Mustard was naught: Now Ile stand to it, the Pancakes
233: were naught, and the Mustard was good, and yet was
234: not the Knight forsworne.
235:
Cel.
How proue you that in the great heape of your
236: knowledge?
237:
Ros.
I marry, now vnmuzzle your wisedome.
238:
Clo.
Stand you both forth now: stroke your chinnes,
239: and sweare by your beards that I am a knaue.
240:
Cel.
By our beards (if we had them) thou art.
241:
Clo.
By my knauerie (if I had it) then I were: but if
242: you sweare by that that is not, you are not forsworn: no
243: more was this knight swearing by his Honor, for he ne-uer
244: had anie; or if he had, he had sworne it away, before
245: euer he saw those Pancakes, or that Mustard.
246:
Cel.
Prethee, who is't that thou means't?
247:
Clo.
One that old Fredericke your Father loues.
248:
Ros.
My Fathers loue is enough to honor him enough;
249: speake no more of him, you'l be whipt for taxation one
250: of these daies.
251:
Clo.
The more pittie that fooles may not speak wise-ly,
252: what Wisemen do foolishly.
253:
Cel.
By my troth thou saiest true: For, since the little
254: wit that fooles haue was silenced, the little foolerie that
255: wise men haue makes a great shew; Heere comes Mon-sieur
256: the Beu.
257: [ Enter le Beau.]
258:
Ros.
With his mouth full of newes.
259:
Cel.
Which he will put on vs, as Pigeons feed their
260: young.
261:
Ros.
Then shal we be newes-cram'd.
262:
Cel.
All the better: we shalbe the more Marketable.
263: Boon-iour Monsieur le Beu, what's the newes?
264:
Le Beu.
Faire Princesse,
265: you haue lost much good sport.
266:
Cel.
Sport: of what colour?
267:
Le Beu.
What colour Madame? How shall I aun-swer
268: you?
269:
Ros.
As wit and fortune will.
270:
Clo.
Or as the destinies decrees.
271:
Cel.
Well said, that was laid on with a trowell.
272:
Clo.
Nay, if I keepe not my ranke.
273:
Ros.
Thou loosest thy old smell.
274:
Le Beu.
You amaze me Ladies: I would haue told
275: you of good wrastling, which you haue lost the sight of.
276:
Ros.
Yet tell vs the manner of the Wrastling.
277:
Le Beu.
I wil tell you the beginning: and if it please
278: your Ladiships, you may see the end, for the best is yet
279: to doe, and heere where you are, they are comming to
280: performe it.
281:
Cel.
Well, the beginning that is dead and buried.
282:
Le Beu.
There comes an old man, and his three sons.
283:
Cel.
I could match this beginning with an old tale.
284:
Le Beu.
Three proper yong men, of excellent growth
285: and presence.
286:
Ros.
With bils on their neckes: Be it knowne vnto
287: all men by these presents.
288:
Le Beu.
The eldest of the three, wrastled with Charles
289: the Dukes Wrastler, which Charles in a moment threw
290: him, and broke three of his ribbes, that there is little
291: hope of life in him: So he seru'd the second, and so the
292: third: yonder they lie, the poore old man their Father,
293: making such pittiful dole ouer them, that all the behol-ders
294: take his part with weeping.
295:
Ros.
Alas.
296:
Clo.
But what is the sport Monsieur, that the Ladies
297: haue lost?
298:
Le Beu.
Why this that I speake of.
299:
Clo.
Thus men may grow wiser euery day. It is the
300: first time that euer I heard breaking of ribbes was sport
301: for Ladies.
302:
Cel.
Or I, I promise thee.
303:
Ros.
But is there any else longs to see this broken
304: Musicke in his sides? Is there yet another doates vpon
305: rib-breaking? Shall we see this wrastling Cosin?
306:
Le Beu.
You must if you stay heere, for heere is the
307: place appointed for the wrastling, and they are ready to
308: performe it.
309:
Cel.
Yonder sure they are comming. Let vs now stay
310: and see it.
311: [ Flourish. Enter Duke, Lords, Orlando, Charles,
and Attendants]
313:
Duke.
Come on, since the youth will not be intreated
314: His owne perill on his forwardnesse.
315:
Ros.
Is yonder the man?
316:
Le Beu.
Euen he, Madam.
317:
Cel.
Alas, he is too yong: yet he looks successefully
318:
Du.
How now daughter, and Cousin:
319: Are you crept hither to see the wrastling?
320:
Ros.
I my Liege, so please you giue vs leaue.
321:
Du.
You wil take little delight in it, I can tell you
322: there is such oddes in the man: In pitie of the challen-gers
323: youth, I would faine disswade him, but he will not
324: bee entreated. Speake to him Ladies, see if you can
325: mooue him.
326:
Cel.
Call him hether good Monsieuer Le Beu.
327:
Duke.
Do so: Ile not be by.
328:
Le Beu.
Monsieur the Challenger, the Princesse cals
329: for you.
330:
Orl.
I attend them with all respect and dutie.
331:
Ros.
Young man, haue you challeng'd Charles the
332: Wrastler?
333:
Orl.
No faire Princesse: he is the generall challenger,
334: I come but in as others do, to try with him the strength
335: of my youth.
336:
Cel.
Yong Gentleman, your spirits are too bold for
337: your yeares: you haue seene cruell proofe of this mans
338: strength, if you saw your selfe with your eies, or knew
339: your selfe with your iudgment, the feare of your aduen-ture
340: would counsel you to a more equall enterprise. We
341: pray you for your owne sake to embrace your own safe-tie,
342: and giue ouer this attempt.
343:
Ros.
Do yong Sir, your reputation shall not therefore
344: be misprised: we wil make it our suite to the Duke, that
345: the wrastling might not go forward.
346:
Orl.
I beseech you, punish mee not with your harde
347: thoughts, wherein I confesse me much guiltie to denie
348: so faire and excellent Ladies anie thing. But let your
349: faire eies, and gentle wishes go with mee to my triall;
350: wherein if I bee foil'd, there is but one sham'd that was
351: neuer gracious: if kil'd, but one dead that is willing to
352: be so: I shall do my friends no wrong, for I haue none to
353: lament me: the world no iniurie, for in it I haue nothing:
354: onely in the world I fil vp a place, which may bee better
355: supplied, when I haue made it emptie.
356:
Ros.
The little strength that I haue, I would it were
357: with you.
358:
Cel.
And mine to eeke out hers.
359:
Ros.
Fare you well: praie heauen I be deceiu'd in you.
360:
Cel.
Your hearts desires be with you.
361:
Char.
Come, where is this yong gallant, that is so
362: desirous to lie with his mother earth?
363:
Orl.
Readie Sir, but his will hath in it a more modest
364: working.
365:
Duk.
You shall trie but one fall.
366:
Cha.
No, I warrant your Grace you shall not entreat
367: him to a second, that haue so mightilie perswaded him
368: from a first.
369:
Orl.
You meane to mocke me after: you should not
370: haue mockt me before: but come your waies.
371:
Ros.
Now Hercules, be thy speede yong man.
372:
Cel.
I would I were inuisible, to catch the strong fel-low
373: by the legge. [ Wrastle.]
374:
Ros.
Oh excellent yong man.
375:
Cel.
If I had a thunderbolt in mine eie, I can tell who
376: should downe. [ Shout.]
377:
Duk.
No more, no more.
378:
Orl.
Yes I beseech your Grace, I am not yet well
379: breath'd.
380:
Duk.
How do'st thou Charles?
381:
Le Beu.
He cannot speake my Lord.
382:
Duk.
Beare him awaie:
383: What is thy name yong man?
384:
Orl.
Orlando my Liege, the yongest sonne of Sir Ro-land
385: de Boys.
386:
Duk.
I would thou hadst beene son to some man else,
387: The world esteem'd thy father honourable,
388: But I did finde him still mine enemie:
389: Thou should'st haue better pleas'd me with this deede,
390: Hadst thou descended from another house:
391: But fare thee well, thou art a gallant youth,
392: I would thou had'st told me of another Father.
393: [ Exit Duke.]
394:
Cel.
Were I my Father (Coze) would I do this?
395:
Orl.
I am more proud to be Sir Rolands sonne,
396: His yongest sonne, and would not change that calling
397: To be adopted heire to Fredricke.
398:
Ros.
My Father lou'd Sir Roland as his soule,
399: And all the world was of my Fathers minde,
400: Had I before knowne this yong man his sonne,
401: I should haue giuen him teares vnto entreaties,
402: Ere he should thus haue ventur'd.
403:
Cel.
Gentle Cosen,
404: Let vs goe thanke him, and encourage him:
405: My Fathers rough and enuious disposition
406: Sticks me at heart: Sir, you haue well deseru'd,
407: If you doe keepe your promises in loue;
408: But iustly as you haue exceeded all promise,
409: Your Mistris shall be happie.
410:
Ros.
Gentleman,
411: Weare this for me: one out of suites with fortune
412: That could giue more, but that her hand lacks meanes.
413: Shall we goe Coze?
414:
Cel.
I: fare you well faire Gentleman.
415:
Orl.
Can I not say, I thanke you? My better parts
416: Are all throwne downe, and that which here stands vp
417: Is but a quintine, a meere liuelesse blocke.
418:
Ros.
He cals vs back: my pride fell with my fortunes,
419: Ile aske him what he would: Did you call Sir?
420: Sir, you haue wrastled well, and ouerthrowne
421: More then your enemies.
422:
Cel.
Will you goe Coze?
423:
Ros
Haue with you: fare you well. [ Exit.]
424:
Orl.
What passion hangs these waights vpo[n] my toong?
425: I cannot speake to her, yet she vrg'd conference.
426: [ Enter Le Beu.]
427: O poore Orlando! thou art ouerthrowne
428: Or Charles, or something weaker masters thee.
429:
Le Beu.
Good Sir, I do in friendship counsaile you
430: To leaue this place; Albeit you haue deseru'd
431: High commendation, true applause, and loue;
432: Yet such is now the Dukes condition,
433: That he misconsters all that you haue done:
434: The Duke is humorous, what he is indeede
435: More suites you to conceiue, then I to speake of.
436:
Orl.
I thanke you Sir; and pray you tell me this,
437: Which of the two was daughter of the Duke,
438: That here was at the Wrastling?
439:
Le Beu.
Neither his daughter, if we iudge by manners,
440: But yet indeede the taller is his daughter,
441: The other is daughter to the banish'd Duke,
442: And here detain'd by her vsurping Vncle
443: To keepe his daughter companie, whose loues
444: Are deerer then the naturall bond of Sisters:
445: But I can tell you, that of late this Duke
446: Hath tane displeasure 'gainst his gentle Neece,
447: Grounded vpon no other argument,
448: But that the people praise her for her vertues,
449: And pittie her, for her good Fathers sake;
450: And on my life his malice 'gainst the Lady
451: Will sodainly breake forth: Sir, fare you well,
452: Hereafter in a better world then this,
453: I shall desire more loue and knowledge of you.
454:
Orl.
I rest much bounden to you: fare you well.
455: Thus must I from the smoake into the smother,
456: From tyrant Duke, vnto a tyrant Brother.
457: But heauenly Rosaline. [ Exit]
Scene iii
458: Scena Tertius.
459: [ Enter Celia and Rosaline.]
460:
Cel.
Why Cosen, why Rosaline: Cupid haue mercie,
461: Not a word?
462:
Ros.
Not one to throw at a dog.
463:
Cel.
No, thy words are too precious to be cast away
464: vpon curs, throw some of them at me; come lame mee
465: with reasons.
466:
Ros.
Then there were two Cosens laid vp, when the
467: one should be lam'd with reasons, and the other mad
468: without any.
469:
Cel.
But is all this for your Father?
470:
Ros.
No, some of it is for my childes Father: Oh
471: how full of briers is this working day world.
472:
Cel.
They are but burs, Cosen, throwne vpon thee
473: in holiday foolerie, if we walke not in the trodden paths
474: our very petty-coates will catch them.
475:
Ros.
I could shake them off my coate, these burs are
476: in my heart.
477:
Cel.
Hem them away.
478:
Ros.
I would try if I could cry hem, and haue him.
479:
Cel.
Come, come, wrastle with thy affections.
480:
Ros.
O they take the part of a better wrastler then
481: my selfe.
482:
Cel.
O, a good wish vpon you: you will trie in time
483: in dispight of a fall: but turning these iests out of seruice,
484: let vs talke in good earnest: Is it possible on such a so-daine,
485: you should fall into so strong a liking with old Sir
486: Roulands yongest sonne?
487:
Ros.
The Duke my Father lou'd his Father deerelie.
488:
Cel.
Doth it therefore ensue that you should loue his
489: Sonne deerelie? By this kinde of chase, I should hate
490: him, for my father hated his father deerely; yet I hate
491: not Orlando.
492:
Ros.
No faith, hate him not for my sake.
493:
Cel.
Why should I not? doth he not deserue well?
494: [ Enter Duke with Lords.]
495:
Ros.
Let me loue him for that, and do you loue him
496: Because I doe. Looke, here comes the Duke.
497:
Cel.
With his eies full of anger.
498:
Duk.
Mistris, dispatch you with your safest haste,
499: And get you from our Court.
500:
Ros.
Me Vncle.
501:
Duk.
You Cosen,
502: Within these ten daies if that thou beest found
503: So neere our publike Court as twentie miles,
504: Thou diest for it.
505:
Ros.
I doe beseech your Grace
506: Let me the knowledge of my fault beare with me:
507: If with my selfe I hold intelligence,
508: Or haue acquaintance with mine owne desires,
509: If that I doe not dreame, or be not franticke,
510: (As I doe trust I am not) then deere Vncle,
511: Neuer so much as in a thought vnborne,
512: Did I offend your highnesse.
513:
Duk.
Thus doe all Traitors,
514: If their purgation did consist in words,
515: They are as innocent as grace it selfe;
516: Let is suffice thee that I trust thee not.
517:
Ros.
Yet your mistrust cannot make me a Traitor;
518: Tell me whereon the likelihoods depends?
519:
Duk.
Thou art thy Fathers daughter, there's enough.
520:
Ros.
So was I when your highnes took his Dukdome,
521: So was I when your highnesse banisht him;
522: Treason is not inherited my Lord,
523: Or if we did deriue it from our friends,
524: What's that to me, my Father was no Traitor,
525: Then good my Leige, mistake me not so much,
526: To thinke my pouertie is treacherous.
527:
Cel.
Deere Soueraigne heare me speake.
528:
Duk.
I Celia, we staid her for your sake,
529: Else had she with her Father rang'd along.
530:
Cel.
I did not then intreat to haue her stay,
531: It was your pleasure, and your owne remorse,
532: I was too yong that time to value her,
533: But now I know her: if she be a Traitor,
534: Why so am I: we still haue slept together,
535: Rose at an instant, learn'd, plaid, eate together,
536: And wheresoere we went, like Iunos Swans,
537: Still we went coupled and inseperable.
538:
Duk.
She is too subtile for thee, and her smoothnes;
539: Her verie silence, and her patience,
540: Speake to the people, and they pittie her:
541: Thou art a foole, she robs thee of thy name,
542: And thou wilt show more bright, & seem more vertuous
543: When she is gone: then open not thy lips
544: Firme, and irreuocable is my doombe,
545: Which I haue past vpon her, she is banish'd.
546:
Cel.
Pronounce that sentence then on me my Leige,
547: I cannot liue out of her companie.
548:
Duk.
You are a foole: you Neice prouide your selfe,
549: If you out-stay the time, vpon mine honor,
550: And in the greatnesse of my word you die.
551: [ Exit Duke, &c.]
552:
Cel.
O my poore Rosaline, whether wilt thou goe?
553: Wilt thou change Fathers? I will giue thee mine:
554: I charge thee be not thou more grieu'd then I am.
555:
Ros.
I haue more cause.
556:
Cel.
Thou hast not Cosen,
557: Prethee be cheerefull; know'st thou not the Duke
558: Hath banish'd me his daughter?
559:
Ros.
That he hath not.
560:
Cel.
No, hath not? Rosaline lacks then the loue
561: Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one,
562: Shall we be sundred? shall we part sweete girle?
563: No, let my Father seeke another heire:
564: Therefore deuise with me how we may flie
565: Whether to goe, and what to beare with vs,
566: And doe not seeke to take your change vpon you,
567: To beare your griefes your selfe, and leaue me out:
568: For by this heauen, now at our sorrowes pale;
569: Say what thou canst, Ile goe along with thee.
570:
Ros.
Why, whether shall we goe?
571:
Cel.
To seeke my Vncle in the Forrest of Arden.
572:
Ros.
Alas, what danger will it be to vs,
573: (Maides as we are) to trauell forth so farre?
574: Beautie prouoketh theeues sooner then gold.
575:
Cel.
Ile put my selfe in poore and meane attire,
576: And with a kinde of vmber smirch my face,
577: The like doe you, so shall we passe along,
578: And neuer stir assailants.
579:
Ros.
Were it not better,
580: Because that I am more then common tall,
581: That I did suite me all points like a man,
582: A gallant curtelax vpon my thigh,
583: A bore-speare in my hand, and in my heart
584: Lye there what hidden womans feare there will,
585: Weele haue a swashing and a marshall outside,
586: As manie other mannish cowards haue,
587: That doe outface it with their semblances.
588:
Cel.
What shall I call thee when thou art a man?
589:
Ros.
Ile haue no worse a name then Ioues owne Page,
590: And therefore looke you call me Ganimed.
591: But what will you be call'd?
592:
Cel.
Something that hath a reference to my state:
593: No longer Celia, but Aliena.
594:
Ros.
But Cosen, what if we assaid to steale
595: The clownish Foole out of your Fathers Court:
596: Would he not be a comfort to our trauaile?
597:
Cel.
Heele goe along ore the wide world with me,
598: Leaue me alone to woe him; Let's away
599: And get our Iewels and our wealth together,
600: Deuise the fittest time, and safest way
601: To hide vs from pursuite that will be made
602: After my flight: now goe in we content
603: To libertie, and not to banishment. [ Exeunt.]