2227A sheep-coat, fenc'd about with Oliue-trees.

2228Cel. West of this place, down in the neighbor bottom

2229The ranke of Oziers, by the murmuring streame

2230Left on your right hand, brings you to the place:

2231But at this howre, the house doth keepe it selfe,

2232There's none within.

2233Oli. If that an eye may profit by a tongue,

2234Then should I know you by description,

2235Such garments, and such yeeres: the boy is faire,

2236Of femall fauour, and bestowes himselfe

2237Like a ripe sister: the woman low

2238And browner then her brother: are not you

2239The owner of the house I did enquire for?

2240Cel. It is no boast, being ask'd, to say we are.

2241Oli. Orlando doth commend him to you both,

2242And to that youth hee calls his Rosalind,

2243He sends this bloudy napkin; are you he?

2244Ros. I am: what must we vnderstand by this?

2245Oli. Some of my shame, if you will know of me

2246What man I am, and how, and why, and where

2247This handkercher was stain'd.

2248Cel. I pray you tell it.

2249Oli. When last the yong Orlando parted from you,

2250He left a promise to returne againe

2251Within an houre, and pacing through the Forrest,

2252Chewing the food of sweet and bitter fancie,

2253Loe vvhat befell: he threw his eye aside,

2254And marke vvhat obiect did present it selfe

2255Vnder an old Oake, whose bows were moss'd with age

2256And high top, bald with drie antiquitie:

2257A wretched ragged man, ore-growne with haire

2258Lay sleeping on his back; about his necke

2259A greene and guilded snake had wreath'd it selfe,

2260Who with her head, nimble in threats approach'd

2261The opening of his mouth: but sodainly

2262Seeing Orlando, it vnlink'd it selfe,

2263And with indented glides, did slip away

2264Into a bush, vnder which bushes shade

2265A Lyonnesse, with vdders all drawne drie,

2266Lay cowching head on ground, with catlike watch

2267When that the sleeping man should stirre; for 'tis

2268The royall disposition of that beast

2269To prey on nothing, that doth seeme as dead:

2270This seene, Orlando did approach the man,

2271And found it was his brother, his elder brother.

2272Cel. O I haue heard him speake of that same brother,

2273And he did render him the most vnnaturall

2274That liu'd amongst men.

2275Oli. And well he might so doe,

2276For well I know he was vnnaturall.

2277Ros. But to Orlando: did he leaue him there

2278Food to the suck'd and hungry Lyonnesse?

2279Oli. Twice did he turne his backe, and purpos'd so:

2280But kindnesse, nobler euer then reuenge,

2281And Nature stronger then his iust occasion,

2282Made him giue battell to the Lyonnesse:

2283Who quickly fell before him, in which hurtling

2284From miserable slumber I awaked.

2285Cel. Are you his brother?

2286Ros. Was't you he rescu'd?

2287Cel. Was't you that did so oft contriue to kill him?

2288Oli. 'Twas I: but 'tis not I: I doe not shame

2289To tell you what I was, since my conuersion

2290So sweetly tastes, being the thing I am.

2291Ros. But for the bloody napkin?

2292Oli. By and by:

2293When from the first to last betwixt vs two,

2294Teares our recountments had most kindely bath'd,

2295As how I came into that Desert place.

2296I briefe, he led me to the gentle Duke,

2297Who gaue me fresh aray, and entertainment,

2298Committing me vnto my brothers loue,

2299Who led me instantly vnto his Caue,

2300There stript himselfe, and heere vpon his arme

2301The Lyonnesse had torne some flesh away,

2302Which all this while had bled; and now he fainted,

2303And cride in fainting vpon Rosalinde.

2304Briefe, I recouer'd him, bound vp his wound,

2305And after some small space, being strong at heart,

2306He sent me hither, stranger as I am

2307To tell this story, that you might excuse

2308His broken promise, and to giue this napkin

2309Died in this bloud, vnto the Shepheard youth,

2310That he in sport doth call his Rosalind.

2311Cel. Why how now Ganimed, sweet Ganimed.

2312Oli. Many will swoon when they do look on bloud.

2313Cel. There is more in it; Cosen Ganimed.

2314Oli. Looke, he recouers.

2315Ros. I would I were at home.

2316Cel. Wee'll lead you thither:

2317I pray you will you take him by the arme.

2318Oli. Be of good cheere youth: you a man?

2319You lacke a mans heart.

2320Ros. I doe so, I confesse it:

2321Ah, sirra, a body would thinke this was well counterfei-

2322ted, I pray you tell your brother how well I counterfei-

2323ted: heigh-ho.

2324Oli. This was not counterfeit, there is too great te-

2325stimony in your complexion, that it was a passion of ear-

2326nest.

2327Ros. Counterfeit, I assure you.

2328Oli. Well then, take a good heart, and counterfeit to

2329be a man.

2330Ros. So I doe: but yfaith, I should haue beene a wo-

2331man by right.

2332Cel. Come, you looke paler and paler: pray you draw

2333homewards: good sir, goe with vs.

2334Oli. That will I: for I must beare answere backe

2335How you excuse my brother, Rosalind.

2336Ros. I shall deuise something: but I pray you com-

2337mend my counterfeiting to him: will you goe?

2341Clow. We shall finde a time Awdrie, patience gen-

2342tle Awdrie.

2343Awd. Faith the Priest was good enough, for all the

2344olde gentlemans saying.

2345Clow. A most wicked Sir Oliuer, Awdrie, a most vile

2346Mar-text. But Awdrie, there is a youth heere in the

2347Forrest layes claime to you.

2348Awd. I, I know who 'tis: he hath no interest in mee

2349in the world: here comes the man you meane.

2351Clo. It is meat and drinke to me to see a Clowne, by