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)

    Enter Orlando and Oliver.
    Orlando
    Is't possible that on so little acquaintance you 2410should like her? That, but seeing, you should love her? And loving, woo? And, wooing, she should grant? And will you persevere to enjoy her?
    Oliver
    Neither call the giddiness of it in question, the poverty of her, the small acquaintance, my sudden wooing, 2415nor her sudden consenting; but say with me, "I love Aliena"; say with her that she loves me; consent with both that we may enjoy each other. It shall be to your good; for my father's house and all the revenue that was old Sir Rowland's will I estate upon you, and here 2420live and die a shepherd.
    Enter Rosalind.
    Orlando
    You have my consent. Let your wedding be tomorrow. Thither will I invite the Duke and all 's contented followers. 2425Go you and prepare Aliena; for, look you, here comes my Rosalind.
    Rosalind
    God save you, brother.
    Oliver
    And you, fair sister.
    [Exit.]
    Rosalind
    O my dear Orlando, how it grieves me to see 2430thee wear thy heart in a scarf!
    Orlando
    It is my arm.
    Rosalind
    I thought thy heart had been wounded with the claws of a lion.
    Orlando
    Wounded it is, but with the eyes of a lady.
    2435Rosalind
    Did your brother tell you how I counterfeited to swoon when he showed me your handkerchief?
    Orlando
    Ay, and greater wonders than that.
    Rosalind
    Oh, I know where you are. Nay, 'tis true. There was never anything so sudden but the fight of two rams 2440and Caesar's thrasonical brag of "I came, saw, and overcame." For your brother and my sister no sooner met but they looked; no sooner looked but they loved; no sooner loved but they sighed; no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason; no sooner knew 2445the reason but they sought the remedy; and in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage, which they will climb incontinent, or else be incontinent before marriage. They are in the very wrath of love, and they will together. Clubs cannot part 2450them.
    Orlando
    They shall be married tomorrow; and I will bid the Duke to the nuptial. But, oh, how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man's eyes! By so much the more shall I tomorrow be at the height 2455of heart-heaviness, by how much I shall think my brother happy in having what he wishes for.
    Rosalind
    Why, then, tomorrow I cannot serve your turn for Rosalind?
    Orlando
    I can live no longer by thinking.
    2460Rosalind
    I will weary you, then, no longer with idle talking. Know of me, then -- for now I speak to some purpose -- that I know you are a gentleman of good conceit. I speak not this that you should bear a good opinion of my knowledge, insomuch I say I know you are; neither 2465do I labor for a greater esteem than may in some little measure draw a belief from you to do yourself good, and not to grace me. Believe then, if you please, that I can do strange things. I have, since I was three year old, conversed with a magician, most profound in 2470his art and yet not damnable. If you do love Rosalind so near the heart as your gesture cries it out, when your brother marries Aliena shall you marry her. I know into what straits of fortune she is driven, and it is not impossible to me, if it appear not inconvenient to you, 2475to set her before your eyes tomorrow, human as she is, and without any danger.
    Orlando
    Speak'st thou in sober meanings?
    Rosalind
    By my life, I do, which I tender dearly, though I say I am a magician. Therefore put you in your best array, 2480bid your friends; for if you will be married tomorrow, you shall; and to Rosalind, if you will.
    Enter Silvius and Phoebe.
    Look, here comes a lover of mine, and a lover of hers.
    Phoebe
    [To Rosalind]
    Youth, you have done me much ungentleness
    2485To show the letter that I writ to you.
    Rosalind
    I care not if I have. It is my study
    To seem despiteful and ungentle to you.
    You are there followed by a faithful shepherd;
    Look upon him, love him; he worships you.
    2490Phoebe
    [To Silvius]
    Good shepherd, tell this youth what 'tis to love.
    Silvius
    It is to be all made of sighs and tears;
    And so am I for Phoebe.
    Phoebe
    And I for Ganymede.
    Orlando
    And I for Rosalind.
    2495Rosalind
    And I for no woman.
    Silvius
    It is to be all made of faith and service;
    And so am I for Phoebe.
    Phoebe
    And I for Ganymede.
    Orlando
    And I for Rosalind.
    2500Rosalind
    And I for no woman.
    Silvius
    It is to be all made of fantasy,
    All made of passion, and all made of wishes;
    All adoration, duty, and observance,
    All humbleness, all patience and impatience,
    2505All purity, all trial, all obedience;
    And so am I for Phoebe.
    Phoebe
    And so am I for Ganymede.
    Orlando
    And so am I for Rosalind.
    Rosalind
    And so am I for no woman.
    2510Phoebe
    [To Rosalind]
    If this be so, why blame you me to love you?
    Silvius
    [To Phoebe]
    If this be so, why blame you me to love you?
    Orlando
    If this be so, why blame you me to love you?
    Rosalind
    Why do you speak too, "Why blame you me to love you?"
    2515Orlando
    To her that is not here, nor doth not hear.
    Rosalind
    Pray you, no more of this; 'tis like the howling of Irish wolves against the moon.
    [To Silvius]I will help you if I can.[To Phoebe]I would love you if I could. -- Tomorrow meet me 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 if ever I satisfied man, and you shall be married tomorrow.[To Silvius]I will content you if what pleases you contents you, and you shall be married tomorrow.[To Orlando]As you love Rosalind, 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 commands.
    Silvius
    I'll not fail, if I live.
    Phoebe
    Nor I.
    Orlando
    Nor I.
    Exeunt.