Keep your word, Phebe, that you'll marry me,
Or else, refusing me, to wed this shepherd;
Keep your word, Silvius, that you'll marry her,
If she refuse me: and from hence I go,

24 To make these doubts all even.

Exeunt Rosalind and Celia. Duke S. I do remember in this shepherd boy Some lively touches of my daughter's favour. Orl. My lord, the first time that I ever saw him,

28 Methought he was a brother to your daughter; But, my good lord, this boy is forest-born, And hath been tutor'd in the rudiments Of many desperate studies by his uncle,

32 Whom he reports to be a great magician, Obscured in the circle of this forest.

Enter Clown [i.e., Touchstone] and Audrey.

Jaq. There is, sure, another flood toward, and these couples are coming to the ark. Here comes a pair of very strange beasts, which in all tongues are called fools.

38 Touch. Salutation and greeting to you all!

Jaq. Good my lord, bid him welcome. This is the motley-minded gentleman that I have so often met in the forest: he hath been a courtier, he swears.

Touch. If any man doubt that, let him put me to my purgation. I have trod a measure; I have flattered a lady; I have been politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy; I have undone three tailors; I have had four quarrels,

and like to have fought one. 25 doubts: ambiguities

43

49

Jaq. And how was that ta'en up?

Touch. Faith, we met, and found the quarrel was upon the seventh cause.

52 Jaq. How seventh cause? Good my lord, like this fellow.

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. 59 A poor virgin, sir, an ill-favoured thing, sir, but mine 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.

64 Duke S. By my faith, he is very swift and sententious.

Touch. According to the fool's bolt, sir, and such dulcet diseases.

68 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 73 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, 50 ta'en up: made up

93

he disabled my judgment: this is called the 80 ‘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?

88 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, 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 99 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 ‘if.'

Jaq. Is not this a rare fellow, my lord? he's as good at anything, and yet a fool.

109

Duke S. He uses his folly like a stalkinghorse, and under the presentation of that he shoots his wit.

114

Enter Hymen, Rosalind [in woman's dress], and

Celia.

Still Music.

Hym. 'Then is there mirth in heaven,
When earthly things made even

116
Atone together.
Good duke, receive thy daughter;
Hymen from heaven brought her;
Yea, brought her hither,

120 That thou mightst join her hand with his,

Whose heart within her bosom is.' Ros. (To Duke S.] To you I give myself, for I am

yours. [To Orlando.] To you I give myself, for I am yours.

124 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 bę true, Why then, my love adieu ! Ros. [To Duke S.] I'll have no father, if you be

not he. [To Orlando.] I'll have no husband, if you be not he: [To Phebe.] Nor ne'er wed woman, if you be not she.

128 132

136

Hym. 'Peace, ho! I bar confusion:

'Tis I must make conclusion

Of these most strange events:
Here's eight that must take hands
To join in Hymen's bands,

If truth holds true contents.'
[To Orlando and Rosalind.] You and you no

cross shall part: [To Oliver and Celia.] You and you are

heart in heart:
[To Phebe.] You to his love must accord, 140
Or have a woman to your lord:
[To Touchstone and Audrey.] You and you

are sure together,
As the winter to foul weather.
Whiles a wedlock hymn we sing,

144
Feed yourselves with questioning,
That reason wonder may diminish,
How thus we met, and these things finish.

Song.

148

'Wedding is great Juno's crown:

O blessed bond of board and bed!
'Tis Hymen peoples every town;

High wedlock then be honoured.
Honour, high honour, and renown,

152 To Hymen, god of every town! Duke S. O my dear niece! welcome thou art to me: Even daughter, welcome in no less degree. Phe. [To Silvius.] I will not eat my word, now thou art mine;

156