Ros. Why then, to-morrow I cannot serve your turn for Rosalind? Orl. I can live no longer by thinking. Ros. I will weary you no longer then with idle talking. Know of me then (for now I speak to some purpose), that I know you are a gentleman of good conceit: I speak not this, that you should bear a good opinion of my knowledge, insomuch, I say, I know you are; neither do I labour for a greater esteem than may in some little measure draw a be. lief from you, to do yourself good, and not to grace me. Believe then, if you please, that I can do strange things: I have, since I was three years old, conversed with a magician, most profound in this art, and yet not damnable. If you do love Rosa. lind so near the heart as your gesture cries it out, when your brother marries Aliena, shall you marry her: I know into what straits of fortune she is driven; and it is not impossible to me, if it appear not inconvenient to you, to set her before your eyes to-morrow, human as she is, and without any danger. Orl. Speakest thou in sober meanings? Ros. By my life, I do; which I tender dearly, though I say I am a magician: Therefore, put you in your best array, bid* your friends; for if you will be married to-morrow, you shall; and to Rosalind, if you will. Enter Silvius and Phebe. Look, here comes a lover of mine, and a lover of hers. Phe. Youth, you have done me much ungentle ness, To show the letter that I writ to you. Ros. I care not, if I have: it is my study, • Invite. Ort. And for Ganymede. for kosa. Pos. And I for so woman. send. It is to be an made of plants, Phe. And so am I for Ganymede. Orl. If this be so, why blame you me to love you ? Orl. To her, that is not here, nor doth not hear. Ros. Pray you, no more of this; 'tis like the howling of Irish wolves against the moon.-I will help you, [To Silvius.] if I can:-I would love you, To Phebe.) if I could.-To morrow meet me all to. gether. I will marry you, [To Phebe.] if ever I marry woman, and I'll be married to morrow:-I will satisfy you, [7b Orlando.] if ever I satisfied man, and you shall be married to-morrow-I will content you, [To Silvius.] if what pleases you cou tents you, and you shall be married to-morrow. As you [7b Orlando.] love Rosalind, meet;-as you [7 Silvius.] love Phebe, meet; And as I love Duke S. I like him very well. Touch. God 'ild you, sir; I desire you of the like. I press in here, sir, amongst the rest of the country copulatives, to swear, and to forswear; according as marriage binds, and blood breaks:- A poor virgin, sir, an ill-favoured thing, sir, but mice own; a poor humour of mine, sir, to take that that no man else will: Rich honesty dwells like a miser, sir, in a poor-house; as your pearl, in your foul oyster. Duke S. By my faith, he is very swift and sen tentious. Touch. According to the fool's bolt, sir, and such dulcet diseases. Jaq. But, for the seventh cause; how did you find the quarrel on the seventh cause? Touch. Upon a lie seven times removed;-Bear your body more seeming, Audrey:-as thus, sir. I did dislike the cut of a certain courtier's beard; he sent me word, if I said his beard was not cut well, he was in the mind it was: This is called the retort courteous. If I sent him word again, it was not well cut, he would send me word, he cut it to please himself: This is called the quip modest. If again, it was not well cut, he disabled my judgement: This is called the reply churlish. If again, it was not well cut, he would answer, I spake not true: This is called the reproof valiant. If again, it was not well cut, he would say, I lie: This is called the countercheck quarrelsome: and so to the lie circumstantial, and the lie direct. Jaq. And how oft did you say, his beard was not well cut? Touch. I durst go no further than the lie circumstantial, nor he durst not give me the lie direct; and so we measured swords, and parted. Jaq. Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie? Touch. O sir, we quarrel in print, by the book; • Seemly. as you have books for good manners: I will name you the degrees. The first, the retort courteous; the second, the quip modest; the third, the reply churlish; the fourth, the reproof valiant; the fifth, the countercheck quarrelsome; the sixth, the lie with circumstance; the seventh, the lie direct. All these you may avoid, but the lie direct; and you may avoid that too, with an if. I knew when seven justices could not take up a quarrel; but when the parties were met themselves, one of them thought but of an if, as, if you said so, then I said so; and they shook hands, and swore brothers. Your if is the only peace-maker; much virtue in iƒ. Jaq. Is not this a rare fellow, my lord? he's as good at any thing, and yet a fool. Duke S. He uses his folly like a stalking-horse, and under the presentation of that, he shoots his wit. Enter Hymen, leading Rosalind in woman's clothes; and Celia. Still musick. Hym. Then is there mirth in heaven, Good duke, receive thy daughter, That thou might'st join her hand with his, Ros. To you I give myself, for I am yours. To you I give myself, for I am yours. [To Duke S. [To Orlando. Duke S. If there be truth in sight, you are my daughter. Orl. If there be truth in sight, you are my Rosa lind. Phe. If sight and shape be true, Why then, my love adieu! Ros. I'll have no father, if you be not he : [To Duke S. I'll have no husband, if you be not he : [To Orlando. Nor ne'er wed woman, if you be not she. Hym. Peace, ho! I bar confusion": 'Tis I must make conclusion [To Phebe. Of these most strange events: If truth holds true contents*. [To Orlando and Rosalind. You and you are heart in heart: [To Oliver and Celia. You [To Phebe.] to his love must accord, You and you are sure together, [To Touchstone and Audrey. As the winter to foul weather. SONG. Wedding is great Juno's crown; O blessed bond of board and bed! High wedlock then be honoured: Duke S. O my dear niece, welcome thou art to me; Even daughter, welcome in no less degree. * Unless truth fails of veracity. |