Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Through Line Number
Help on texts
About this text
Print this page

About this text

  • Title: As You Like It (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: David Bevington

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-369-4

    Copyright David Bevington. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: David Bevington
    Peer Reviewed

    As You Like It (Folio 1, 1623)

    Scœna Secunda.
    Enter Orlando & Oliuer.
    Orl. Is't possible, that on so little acquaintance you
    2410should like her? that, but seeing, you should loue her?
    And louing woo? and wooing, she should graunt? And
    will you perseuer to enioy her?
    Ol. Neither call the giddinesse of it in question; the
    pouertie of her, the small acquaintance, my sodaine wo-
    2415ing, nor sodaine consenting: but say with mee, I loue
    Aliena: say with her, that she loues mee; consent with
    both, that we may enioy each other: it shall be to your
    good: for my fathers house, and all the reuennew, that
    was old Sir Rowlands will I estate vpon you, and heere
    2420liue and die a Shepherd.
    Enter Rosalind.
    Orl. You haue my consent.
    Let your Wedding be to morrow: thither will I
    Inuite the Duke, and all's contented followers:
    2425Go you, and prepare Aliena; for looke you,
    Heere comes my Rosalinde.
    Ros. God saue you brother.
    Ol. And you faire sister.
    Ros. Oh my deere Orlando, how it greeues me to see
    2430thee 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 is, but with the eyes of a Lady.
    2435Ros. Did your brother tell you how I counterfeyted
    to sound, when he shew'd me your handkercher?
    Orl. I, and greater wonders then that.
    Ros. O, I know where you are: nay, tis true: there
    was neuer any thing so sodaine, but the sight of two
    2440Rammes, and Cesars Thrasonicall bragge of I came, saw,
    and ouercome. For your brother, and my sister, no soo-
    ner met, but they look'd: no sooner look'd, but they
    lou'd; no sooner lou'd, but they sigh'd: no sooner sigh'd
    but they ask'd one another the reason: no sooner knew
    2445the reason, but they sought the remedie: and in these
    degrees, haue they made a paire of staires to marriage,
    which they will climbe incontinent, or else bee inconti-
    nent before marriage; they are in the verie wrath of
    loue, and they will together. Clubbes cannot part
    2450them.
    Orl. They shall be married to morrow : and I will
    bid the Duke to the Nuptiall. But O, how bitter a thing
    it is, to looke into happines through another mans eies:
    by so much the more shall I to morrow be at the height
    2455of heart heauinesse. by how much I shal thinke my bro-
    ther happie, in hauing what he wishes for.
    Ros. Why then to morrow, I cannot serue your turne
    for Rosalind?
    Orl. I can liue no longer by thinking.
    2460Ros. I will wearie you then no longer with idle tal-
    king. Know of me then (for now I speake to some pur-
    pose) that I know you are a Gentleman of good conceit:
    I speake not this, that you should beare a good opinion
    of my knowledge: insomuch (I say) I know you are: nei-
    2465ther do I labor for a greater esteeme then may in some
    little measure draw a beleefe from you, to do your selfe
    good, and not to grace me. Beleeue then, if you please,
    that I can do strange things: I haue since I was three
    yeare old conuerst with a Magitian, most profound in
    2470his Art, and yet not damnable. If you do loue Rosalinde
    so neere the hart, as your gesture cries it out: when your
    brother marries Aliena, shall you marrie her. I know in-
    to what straights of Fortune she is driuen, and it is not
    impossible to me, if it appeare not inconuenient to you,
    2475to set her before your eyes to morrow, humane as she is,
    and without any danger.
    Orl. Speak'st thou in sober meanings?
    Ros. By my life I do, which I tender deerly, though
    I say I am a Magitian: Therefore put you in your best a-
    2480ray, bid your friends: for if you will be married to mor-
    row, you shall: and to Rosalind if you will.
    Enter Siluius & Phebe.
    Looke, here comes a Louer of mine, and a louer of hers.
    Phe. Youth, you haue done me much vngentlenesse,
    2485To 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 him, loue him: he worships you.
    2490Phe. Good shepheard, tell 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.
    2495Ros. 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.
    2500Ros. And I for no woman.
    Sil. It is to be all made of fantasie,
    All made of passion, and all made of wishes,
    All adoration, dutie, and obseruance,
    All humblenesse, all patience, and impatience,
    2505All puritie, all triall, all 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.
    2510Phe. If this be so, why blame you me to loue you?
    Sil. If this be so, why blame you me to loue you?
    Orl. If this be so, why blame you me to loue you?
    Ros. Why do you speake too, Why blame you mee
    to loue you.
    2515Orl. To her, that is not heere, nor 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 you, if euer I marrie Wo-
    2520man, and Ile be married to morrow : I will satisfie you,
    if euer I satisfi'd man, and you shall bee married to mor-
    row. I wil content you, if what pleases you contents
    you, and you shal be married to morrow : As you loue
    Rosalind meet, as you loue Phebe meet, and as I loue no
    2525woman, Ile meet : so fare you wel: I haue left you com-
    mands.
    Sil. Ile not faile, if I liue.
    Phe. Nor I.
    Orl. Nor I. Exeunt.
    About
    Contact us
    Content quality
    Site guide
    © Internet Shakespeare Editions
    Copyright details
    Privacy policy
    This site is supported by:
    University of Victoria
    Friends of the ISE
    SSHRC