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- Edition: As You Like It
As You Like It (Modern)
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Is't possible that on so little acquaintance you 2410should like her? That, but seeing, you should love her? 2411And loving, woo? And, wooing, she should grant? And 2412will you persevere to enjoy her?
Neither call the giddiness of it in question, the 2414poverty of her, the small acquaintance, my sudden wooing, 2415nor her sudden consenting; but say with me, "I love 2416Aliena"; say with her that she loves me; consent with both 2417that we may enjoy each other. It shall be to your 2418good; for my father's house and all the revenue that 2419was old Sir Rowland's will I estate upon you, and here 2420live and die a shepherd.
2421Enter Rosalind.
You have my consent. 2423Let your wedding be tomorrow. Thither will I 2424invite the Duke and all 's contented followers. 2425Go you and prepare Aliena; for, look you, 2426here comes my Rosalind.
God save you, brother.
And you, fair sister.
[Exit.]
O my dear Orlando, how it grieves me to see 2430thee wear thy heart in a scarf!
It is my arm.
I thought thy heart had been wounded with 2433the claws of a lion.
Wounded it is, but with the eyes of a lady.
Did your brother tell you how I counterfeited 2436to swoon when he showed me your handkerchief?
Ay, and greater wonders than that.
Oh, I know where you are. Nay, 'tis true. There 2439was never anything so sudden but the fight of two rams 2440and Caesar's thrasonical brag of "I came, saw, 2441and overcame." For your brother and my sister no sooner met 2442but they looked; no sooner looked but they 2443loved; no sooner loved but they sighed; no sooner sighed 2444but they asked one another the reason; no sooner knew 2445the reason but they sought the remedy; and in these 2446degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage, 2447which they will climb incontinent, or else be incontinent 2448before marriage. They are in the very wrath of 2449love, and they will together. Clubs cannot part 2450them.
They shall be married tomorrow; and I will 2452bid the Duke to the nuptial. But, oh, how bitter a thing 2453it is to look into happiness through another man's eyes! 2454By so much the more shall I tomorrow be at the height 2455of heart-heaviness, by how much I shall think my brother 2456happy in having what he wishes for.
Why, then, tomorrow I cannot serve your turn 2458for Rosalind?
I can live no longer by thinking.
I will weary you, then, no longer with idle talking. 2461Know of me, then -- for now I speak to some purpose -- 2462that I know you are a gentleman of good conceit. 2463I speak not this that you should bear a good opinion 2464of my knowledge, insomuch I say I know you are; neither 2465do I labor for a greater esteem than may in some 2466little measure draw a belief from you to do yourself 2467good, and not to grace me. Believe then, if you please, 2468that I can do strange things. I have, since I was three 2469year old, conversed with a magician, most profound in 2470his art and yet not damnable. If you do love Rosalind 2471so near the heart as your gesture cries it out, when your 2472brother marries Aliena shall you marry her. I know into 2473what straits of fortune she is driven, and it is not impossible 2474to me, if it appear not inconvenient to you, 2475to set her before your eyes tomorrow, human as she is, 2476and without any danger.
Speak'st thou in sober meanings?
By my life, I do, which I tender dearly, though 2479I say I am a magician. Therefore put you in your best array, 2480bid your friends; for if you will be married tomorrow, 2481you shall; and to Rosalind, if you will.
2482Enter Silvius and Phoebe.
2483Look, here comes a lover of mine, and a lover of hers.
[To Rosalind]
Youth, you have done me much ungentleness
I care not if I have. It is my study
[To Silvius]
Good shepherd, tell this youth what 'tis to love.
It is to be all made of sighs and tears;
And I for Ganymede.
And I for Rosalind.
And I for no woman.
It is to be all made of faith and service;
And I for Ganymede.
And I for Rosalind.
And I for no woman.
It is to be all made of fantasy,
And so am I for Ganymede.
And so am I for Rosalind.
And so am I for no woman.
[To Rosalind]
If this be so, why blame you me to love you?
[To Phoebe]
If this be so, why blame you me to love you?
If this be so, why blame you me to love you?
Why do you speak too, "Why blame you me 2514to love you?"
To her that is not here, nor doth not hear.
Pray you, no more of this; 'tis like the howling 2517of Irish wolves against the moon.
[To Silvius]I will help you 2518if I can.[To Phoebe]I would love you if I could. -- Tomorrow meet 2519me all together.[To Phoebe]I will marry you if ever I marry woman, 2520and I'll be married tomorrow.[To Orlando]I will satisfy you 2521if ever I satisfied man, and you shall be married tomorrow.2522[To Silvius]I will content you if what pleases you contents 2523you, and you shall be married tomorrow.[To Orlando]As you love 2524Rosalind, meet.[To Silvius]As you love Phoebe, meet. And as I love no 2525woman, I'll meet. So, fare you well. I have left you 2526commands.
I'll not fail, if I live.
Nor I.
Nor I.
Exeunt.