Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • Title: As You Like It (Modern)
  • 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 (Modern)

    170Enter Rosalind and Celia.
    Celia
    I pray thee, Rosalind, sweet my coz, be merry.
    Rosalind
    Dear Celia, I show more mirth than I am mistress of; and would you yet I were merrier? Unless you could teach me to forget a banished father, you must not 175learn me how to remember any extraordinary pleasure.
    Celia
    Herein I see thou lov'st me not with the full weight that I love thee. If my uncle, thy banished father, had banished thy uncle, the Duke my father, so thou 180hadst been still with me, I could have taught my love to take thy father for mine; so wouldst thou, if the truth of thy love to me were so righteously tempered as mine is to thee.
    Rosalind
    Well, I will forget the condition of my estate, 185to rejoice in yours.
    Celia
    You know my father hath no child but I, nor none is like to have; and, truly, when he dies thou shalt be his heir, for what he hath taken away from thy father perforce I will render thee again in affection. By 190mine honor, I will; and when I break that oath, let me turn monster. Therefore, my sweet Rose, my dear Rose, be merry.
    Rosalind
    From henceforth I will, coz, and devise sports. Let me see, what think you of falling in love?
    195 Celia
    Marry, I prithee, do, to make sport withal; but love no man in good earnest, nor no further in sport neither than with safety of a pure blush thou mayst in honor come off again.
    Rosalind
    What shall be our sport, then?
    200 Celia
    Let us sit and mock the good housewife Fortune from her wheel, that her gifts may henceforth be bestowed equally.
    Rosalind
    I would we could do so, for her benefits are mightily misplaced, and the bountiful blind woman 205doth most mistake in her gifts to women.
    Celia
    'Tis true, for those that she makes fair she scarce makes honest, and those that she makes honest she makes very ill-favoredly.
    Rosalind
    Nay, now thou goest from Fortune's office to Nature's: 210Fortune reigns in gifts of the world, not in the lineaments of Nature.
    Enter [Touchstone the] Clown.
    Celia
    No? When Nature hath made a fair creature, may she not by Fortune fall into the fire? Though Nature 215hath given us wit to flout at Fortune, hath not Fortune sent in this fool to cut off the argument?
    Rosalind
    Indeed, there is Fortune too hard for Nature, when Fortune makes Nature's natural the cutter-off of Nature's wit.
    220Celia
    Peradventure this is not Fortune's work neither, but Nature's, who perceiveth our natural wits too dull to reason of such goddesses, and hath sent this natural for our whetstone; for always the dullness of the fool is the whetstone of the wits. -- How now, wit, whither wander you?225
    Touchstone
    Mistress, you must come away to your father.
    Celia
    Were you made the messenger?
    Touchstone
    No, by mine honor, but I was bid to come for you.
    Rosalind
    Where learned you that oath, fool?
    230Touchstone
    Of a certain knight that swore by his honor they were good pancakes, and swore by his honor the mustard was naught. Now I'll stand to it, the pancakes were naught and the mustard was good, and yet was not the knight forsworn.
    235Celia
    How prove you that, in the great heap of your knowledge?
    Rosalind
    Ay, marry, now unmuzzle your wisdom.
    Touchstone
    Stand you both forth now. Stroke your chins, and swear by your beards that I am a knave.
    240Celia
    By our beards, if we had them, thou art.
    Touchstone
    By my knavery, if I had it, then I were; but if you swear by that that is not, you are not forsworn. No more was this knight, swearing by his honor, for he never had any; or if he had, he had sworn it away before 245ever he saw those pancakes or that mustard.
    Celia
    Prithee, who is't that thou mean'st?
    Touchstone
    One that old Frederick, your father, loves.
    Celia
    My father's love is enough to honor him. Enough, speak no more of him; you'll be whipped for taxation one 250of these days.
    Touchstone
    The more pity that fools may not speak wiselywhat wise men do foolishly.
    Celia
    By my troth, thou sayest true; for since the little wit that fools have was silenced, the little foolery that 255wise men have makes a great show. Here comes Monsieur Le Beau.
    Enter Le Beau.
    Rosalind
    With his mouth full of news.
    Celia
    Which he will put on us as pigeons feed their 260young.
    Rosalind
    Then shall we be news-crammed.
    Celia
    All the better; we shall be the more marketable. -- Bonjour, Monsieur Le Beau. What's the news?
    Le Beau
    Fair princess, 265you have lost much good sport.
    Celia
    Sport? Of what color?
    Le Beau
    What color, madam? How shall I answer you?
    Rosalind
    As wit and fortune will.
    270Touchstone
    Or as the Destinies decrees.
    Celia
    Well said. That was laid on with a trowel.
    Touchstone
    Nay, if I keep not my rank --
    Rosalind
    Thou loosest thy old smell.
    Le Beau
    You amaze me, ladies. I would have told 275you of good wrestling, which you have lost the sight of.
    Rosalind
    Yet tell us the manner of the wrestling.
    Le Beau
    I will tell you the beginning, and, if it please Your Ladyships, you may see the end, for the best is yet to do, and here, where you are, they are coming to 280perform it.
    Celia
    Well, the beginning, that is dead and buried.
    Le Beau
    There comes an old man and his three sons --
    Celia
    I could match this beginning with an old tale.
    Le Beau
    Three proper young men, of excellent growth 285and presence.
    Rosalind
    With bills on their necks: "Be it known unto all men by these presents --"
    Le Beau
    The eldest of the three wrestled with Charles, the Duke's wrestler, which Charles in a moment threw 290him and broke three of his ribs, that there is little hope of life in him. So he served the second, and so the third. Yonder they lie, the poor old man their father making such pitiful dole over them that all the beholders take his part with weeping.
    295Rosalind
    Alas!
    Touchstone
    But what is the sport, monsieur, that the ladies have lost?
    Le Beau
    Why, this that I speak of.
    Touchstone
    Thus men may grow wiser every day. It is the 300first time that ever I heard breaking of ribs was sport for ladies.
    Celia
    Or I, I promise thee.
    Rosalind
    But is there any else longs to see this broken music in his sides? Is there yet another dotes upon 305rib-breaking? -- Shall we see this wrestling, cousin?
    Le BeauYou must, if you stay here, for here is the place appointed for the wrestling, and they are ready to perform it.
    Celia
    Yonder, sure, they are coming. Let us now stay 310and see it.
    Flourish. Enter Duke [Frederick], Lords, Orlando, Charles, and Attendants
    Duke Frederick
    Come on. Since the youth will not be entreated, his own peril on his forwardness.
    315Rosalind
    [To Le Beau]
    Is yonder the man?
    Le Beau
    Even he, madam.
    Celia
    Alas, he is too young; yet he looks successfully.
    Duke Frederick
    How now, daughter and cousin? Are you crept hither to see the wrestling?
    320Rosalind
    Ay, my liege, so please you give us leave.
    Duke Frederick
    You will take little delight in it, I can tell you, there is such odds in the man. In pity of the challenger's youth I would fain dissuade him, but he will not be entreated. Speak to him, ladies; see if you can 325move him.
    Celia
    Call him hither, good Monsieur Le Beau.
    Duke Frederick
    Do so. I'll not be by.
    [Duke Frederick stands aside.]
    Le Beau
    [To Orlando]
    Monsieur the Challenger, the Princess calls for you.
    330Orlando
    [Approaching Rosalind and Celia]
    I attend them with all respect and duty.
    Rosalind
    Young man, have you challenged Charles the wrestler?
    Orlando
    No, fair princess, he is the general challenger. I come but in, as others do, to try with him the strength 335of my youth.
    Celia
    Young gentleman, your spirits are too bold for your years. You have seen cruel proof of this man's strength. If you saw yourself with your eyes, or knew yourself with your judgment, the fear of your adventure 340would counsel you to a more equal enterprise. We pray you, for your own sake, to embrace your own safety and give over this attempt.
    Rosalind
    Do, young sir. Your reputation shall not therefore be misprized. We will make it our suit to the Duke that 345the wrestling might not go forward.
    Orlando
    I beseech you, punish me not with your hard thoughts, wherein I confess me much guilty to deny so fair and excellent ladies anything. But let your fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my trial, 350wherein if I be foiled, there is but one shamed that was never gracious; if killed, but one dead that is willing to be so. I shall do my friends no wrong, for I have none to lament me; the world no injury, for in it I have nothing. Only in the world I fill up a place, which may be better 355supplied when I have made it empty.
    Rosalind
    The little strength that I have, I would it were with you.
    Celia
    And mine, to eke out hers.
    Rosalind
    Fare you well. Pray heaven I be deceived in you!
    360Celia
    Your heart's desires be with you!
    Charles
    Come, where is this young gallant that is so desirous to lie with his mother earth?
    Orlando
    Ready, sir, but his will hath in it a more modest working.
    365Duke Frederick
    You shall try but one fall.
    Charles
    No, I warrant Your Grace you shall not entreat him to a second, that have so mightily persuaded him from a first.
    Orlando
    You mean to mock me after; you should not 370have mocked me before. But come your ways.
    Rosalind
    Now, Hercules be thy speed, young man!
    Celia
    I would I were invisible, to catch the strong fellow by the leg.
    [Orlando and Charles] wrestle.
    Rosalind
    Oh, excellent young man!
    375Celia
    If I had a thunderbolt in mine eye, I can tell who should down.
    [Charles is thrown.] Shout.
    Duke Frederick
    No more, no more.
    Orlando
    Yes, I beseech Your Grace. I am not yet well breathed.
    380Duke Frederick
    How dost thou, Charles?
    Le Beau
    He cannot speak, my lord.
    Duke Frederick
    Bear him away.
    [Charles is carried out.]
    What is thy name, young man?
    Orlando
    Orlando, my liege, the youngest son of Sir Rowland 385de Boys.
    Duke Frederick
    I would thou hadst been son to some man else.
    The world esteemed thy father honorable,
    But I did find him still mine enemy.
    Thou shouldst have better pleased me with this deed
    390Hadst thou descended from another house.
    But fare thee well; thou art a gallant youth.
    I would thou hadst told me of another father.
    Exit Duke [with train, and Le Beau. Rosalind and Celia remain, standing apart from Orlando].
    [To Rosalind]
    Were I my father, coz, would I do this?
    395Orlando
    [Talking to himself]
    I am more proud to be Sir Rowland's son,
    His youngest son, and would not change that calling
    To be adopted heir to Frederick.
    Rosalind
    [To Celia]
    My father loved Sir Rowland as his soul,
    And all the world was of my father's mind.
    400Had I before known this young man his son,
    I should have given him tears unto entreaties
    Ere he should thus have ventured.
    Celia
    Gentle cousin,
    Let us go thank him, and encourage him.
    405My father's rough and envious disposition
    Sticks me at heart.[To Orlando]Sir, you have well deserved.
    If you do keep your promises in love
    But justly as you have exceeded all promise,
    Your mistress shall be happy.
    410Rosalind
    Gentleman,
    [Giving him a chain from her neck]
    Wear this for me, one out of suits with fortune,
    That could give more, but that her hand lacks means.
    [To Celia]
    Shall we go, coz?
    Ay. Fare you well, fair gentleman.
    [Rosalind and Celia start to leave.]
    415Orlando
    [Aside]
    Can I not say "I thank you"? My better parts
    Are all thrown down, and that which here stands up
    Is but a quintain, a mere lifeless block.
    Rosalind
    [To Celia]
    He calls us back. My pride fell with my fortunes;
    I'll ask him what he would. -- Did you call, sir?
    420Sir, you have wrestled well, and overthrown
    More than your enemies.
    Will you go, coz?
    Rosalind
    Have with you. -- Fare you well.
    Exit [with Celia].
    Orlando
    What passion hangs these weights upon my tongue?
    425I cannot speak to her, yet she urged conference.
    Enter Le Beau.
    O poor Orlando, thou art overthrown!
    Or Charles or something weaker masters thee.
    Le Beau
    Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you
    430To leave this place. Albeit you have deserved
    High commendation, true applause, and love,
    Yet such is now the Duke's condition
    That he misconsters all that you have done.
    The Duke is humorous. What he is indeed
    435More suits you to conceive than I to speak of.
    Orlando
    I thank you, sir. And pray you tell me this:
    Which of the two was daughter of the Duke
    That here was at the wrestling?
    Le Beau
    Neither his daughter, if we judge by manners,
    440But yet indeed the taller is his daughter.
    The other is daughter to the banished Duke,
    And here detained by her usurping uncle
    To keep his daughter company, whose loves
    Are dearer than the natural bond of sisters.
    445But I can tell you that of late this Duke
    Hath ta'en displeasure 'gainst his gentle niece,
    Grounded upon no other argument
    But that the people praise her for her virtues
    And pity her for her good father's sake;
    450And, on my life, his malice 'gainst the lady
    Will suddenly break forth. Sir, fare you well.
    Hereafter, in a better world than this,
    I shall desire more love and knowledge of you.
    Orlando
    I rest much bounden to you. Fare you well.
    [Exit Le Beau.]
    455Thus must I from the smoke into the smother;
    From tyrant Duke unto a tyrant brother.
    But heavenly Rosalind!
    Exit.