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As You Like It - Act 1, scene 2
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As You Like It - Act 1, scene 2Act 1, scene 2
Scene 2
Synopsis:
Orlando wins the wrestling match and, at the same time, wins the heart of Rosalind, daughter of the legitimate duke, now banished by his usurping brother, Duke Frederick. Orlando is equally attracted to Rosalind.
Enter Rosalind and Celia.CELIA 0171 I pray thee, Rosalind, sweet my coz, be merry.
ROSALIND 0172 Dear Celia, I show more mirth than I am
0173 mistress of, and would you yet ⌜I⌝ were merrier?
0174 Unless you could teach me to forget a banished
0175 5 father, you must not learn me how to remember
0176 any extraordinary pleasure.
CELIA 0177 Herein I see thou lov’st me not with the full
0178 weight that I love thee. If my uncle, thy banished
0179 father, had banished thy uncle, the Duke my father,
0180 10 so thou hadst been still with me, I could have taught
0181 my love to take thy father for mine. So wouldst thou,
0182 if the truth of thy love to me were so righteously
0183 tempered as mine is to thee.
ROSALIND 0184 Well, I will forget the condition of my estate
0185 15 to rejoice in yours.
p.
19
CELIA
0186
You know my father hath no child but I, nor0187 none is like to have; and truly, when he dies, thou
0188 shalt be his heir, for what he hath taken away from
0189 thy father perforce, I will render thee again in
0190 20 affection. By mine honor I will, and when I break
0191 that oath, let me turn monster. Therefore, my sweet
0192 Rose, my dear Rose, be merry.
ROSALIND 0193 From henceforth I will, coz, and devise
0194 sports. Let me see—what think you of falling in
0195 25 love?
CELIA 0196 Marry, I prithee do, to make sport withal; but
0197 love no man in good earnest, nor no further in
0198 sport neither than with safety of a pure blush thou
0199 mayst in honor come off again.
ROSALIND 0200 30What shall be our sport, then?
CELIA 0201 Let us sit and mock the good housewife Fortune
0202 from her wheel, that her gifts may henceforth be
0203 bestowed equally.
ROSALIND 0204 I would we could do so, for her benefits are
0205 35 mightily misplaced, and the bountiful blind woman
0206 doth most mistake in her gifts to women.
CELIA 0207 ’Tis true, for those that she makes fair she scarce
0208 makes honest, and those that she makes honest she
0209 makes very ill-favoredly.
ROSALIND 0210 40Nay, now thou goest from Fortune’s office to
0211 Nature’s. Fortune reigns in gifts of the world, not in
0212 the lineaments of nature.
CELIA 0213 No? When Nature hath made a fair creature,
0214 may she not by fortune fall into the fire?
Enter ⌜Touchstone.⌝
0215 45 Though Nature hath given us wit to flout at Fortune,
0216 hath not Fortune sent in this fool to cut off the
0217 argument?
p.
21
ROSALIND
0218
Indeed, there is Fortune too hard for Nature,0219 when Fortune makes Nature’s natural the
0220 50 cutter-off of Nature’s wit.
CELIA 0221 Peradventure this is not Fortune’s work neither,
0222 but Nature’s, who perceiveth our natural wits too
0223 dull to reason of such goddesses, ⌜and⌝ hath sent
0224 this natural for our whetstone, for always the dullness
0225 55 of the fool is the whetstone of the wits. ⌜To
Touchstone.⌝ 0226 How now, wit, whither wander you?
TOUCHSTONE 0227 Mistress, you must come away to your
0228 father.
CELIA 0229 Were you made the messenger?
TOUCHSTONE 0230 60No, by mine honor, but I was bid to come
0231 for you.
ROSALIND 0232 Where learned you that oath, fool?
TOUCHSTONE 0233 Of a certain knight that swore by his
0234 honor they were good pancakes, and swore by his
0235 65 honor the mustard was naught. Now, I’ll stand to it,
0236 the pancakes were naught and the mustard was
0237 good, and yet was not the knight forsworn.
CELIA 0238 How prove you that in the great heap of your
0239 knowledge?
ROSALIND 0240 70Ay, marry, now unmuzzle your wisdom.
TOUCHSTONE 0241 Stand you both forth now: stroke your
0242 chins, and swear by your beards that I am a knave.
CELIA 0243 By our beards (if we had them), thou art.
TOUCHSTONE 0244 By my knavery (if I had it), then I were.
0245 75 But if you swear by that that is not, you are not
0246 forsworn. No more was this knight swearing by his
0247 honor, for he never had any, or if he had, he had
0248 sworn it away before ever he saw those pancakes or
0249 that mustard.
CELIA 0250 80Prithee, who is ’t that thou mean’st?
TOUCHSTONE 0251 One that old Frederick, your father, loves.
⌜CELIA⌝ 0252 My father’s love is enough to honor him.
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23
0253
Enough. Speak no more of him; you’ll be whipped0254 for taxation one of these days.
TOUCHSTONE 0255 85The more pity that fools may not speak
0256 wisely what wise men do foolishly.
CELIA 0257 By my troth, thou sayest true. For, since the little
0258 wit that fools have was silenced, the little foolery
0259 that wise men have makes a great show. Here
0260 90 comes Monsieur ⌜Le⌝ Beau.
Enter Le Beau.
ROSALIND 0261 With his mouth full of news.
CELIA 0262 Which he will put on us as pigeons feed their
0263 young.
ROSALIND 0264 Then shall we be news-crammed.
CELIA 0265 95All the better. We shall be the more
0266 marketable.—Bonjour, Monsieur Le Beau. What’s
0267 the news?
LE BEAU 0268 Fair princess, you have lost much good sport.
CELIA 0269 Sport? Of what color?
LE BEAU 0270 100What color, madam? How shall I answer you?
ROSALIND 0271 As wit and fortune will.
TOUCHSTONE 0272 Or as the destinies decrees.
CELIA 0273 Well said. That was laid on with a trowel.
TOUCHSTONE 0274 Nay, if I keep not my rank—
ROSALIND 0275 105Thou losest thy old smell.
LE BEAU 0276 You amaze me, ladies. I would have told you of
0277 good wrestling, which you have lost the sight of.
ROSALIND 0278 Yet tell us the manner of the wrestling.
LE BEAU 0279 I will tell you the beginning, and if it please
0280 110 your Ladyships, you may see the end, for the best is
0281 yet to do, and here, where you are, they are coming
0282 to perform it.
CELIA 0283 Well, the beginning that is dead and buried.
LE BEAU 0284 There comes an old man and his three sons—
CELIA 0285 115I could match this beginning with an old tale.
p.
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LE BEAU
0286
Three proper young men of excellent growth0287 and presence.
ROSALIND 0288 With bills on their necks: “Be it known unto
0289 all men by these presents.”
LE BEAU 0290 120The eldest of the three wrestled with Charles,
0291 the Duke’s wrestler, which Charles in a moment
0292 threw him and broke three of his ribs, that there is
0293 little hope of life in him. So he served the second,
0294 and so the third. Yonder they lie, the poor old man
0295 125 their father making such pitiful dole over them that
0296 all the beholders take his part with weeping.
ROSALIND 0297 Alas!
TOUCHSTONE 0298 But what is the sport, monsieur, that the
0299 ladies have lost?
LE BEAU 0300 130Why, this that I speak of.
TOUCHSTONE 0301 Thus men may grow wiser every day. It is
0302 the first time that ever I heard breaking of ribs was
0303 sport for ladies.
CELIA 0304 Or I, I promise thee.
ROSALIND 0305 135But is there any else longs to see this broken
0306 music in his sides? Is there yet another dotes upon
0307 rib-breaking? Shall we see this wrestling, cousin?
LE BEAU 0308 You must if you stay here, for here is the place
0309 appointed for the wrestling, and they are ready to
0310 140 perform it.
CELIA 0311 Yonder sure they are coming. Let us now stay
0312 and see it.
Flourish. Enter Duke ⌜Frederick,⌝ Lords, Orlando,
Charles, and Attendants.
DUKE FREDERICK 0313 Come on. Since the youth will not be
0314 entreated, his own peril on his forwardness.
ROSALIND, ⌜to Le Beau⌝ 0315 145Is yonder the man?
LE BEAU 0316 Even he, madam.
CELIA 0317 Alas, he is too young. Yet he looks successfully.
p.
27
DUKE FREDERICK
0318
How now, daughter and cousin? Are0319 you crept hither to see the wrestling?
ROSALIND 0320 150Ay, my liege, so please you give us leave.
DUKE FREDERICK 0321 You will take little delight in it, I can
0322 tell you, there is such odds in the man. In pity of the
0323 challenger’s youth, I would fain dissuade him, but
0324 he will not be entreated. Speak to him, ladies; see if
0325 155 you can move him.
CELIA 0326 Call him hither, good Monsieur Le Beau.
DUKE FREDERICK 0327 Do so. I’ll not be by.
⌜He steps aside.⌝
LE BEAU, ⌜to Orlando⌝ 0328 Monsieur the challenger, the
0329 Princess calls for you.
ORLANDO 0330 160I attend them with all respect and duty.
ROSALIND 0331 Young man, have you challenged Charles the
0332 wrestler?
ORLANDO 0333 No, fair princess. He is the general challenger.
0334 I come but in as others do, to try with him the
0335 165 strength of my youth.
CELIA 0336 Young gentleman, your spirits are too bold for
0337 your years. You have seen cruel proof of this man’s
0338 strength. If you saw yourself with your eyes or knew
0339 yourself with your judgment, the fear of your adventure
0340 170 would counsel you to a more equal enterprise.
0341 We pray you for your own sake to embrace your
0342 own safety and give over this attempt.
ROSALIND 0343 Do, young sir. Your reputation shall not
0344 therefore be misprized. We will make it our suit to
0345 175 the Duke that the wrestling might not go forward.
ORLANDO 0346 I beseech you, punish me not with your hard
0347 thoughts, wherein I confess me much guilty to deny
0348 so fair and excellent ladies anything. But let your
0349 fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my trial,
0350 180 wherein, if I be foiled, there is but one shamed that
0351 was never gracious; if killed, but one dead that is
0352 willing to be so. I shall do my friends no wrong, for
p.
29
0353
I have none to lament me; the world no injury, for0354 in it I have nothing. Only in the world I fill up a
0355 185 place which may be better supplied when I have
0356 made it empty.
ROSALIND 0357 The little strength that I have, I would it
0358 were with you.
CELIA 0359 And mine, to eke out hers.
ROSALIND 0360 190Fare you well. Pray heaven I be deceived in
0361 you.
CELIA 0362 Your heart’s desires be with you.
CHARLES 0363 Come, where is this young gallant that is so
0364 desirous to lie with his mother Earth?
ORLANDO 0365 195Ready, sir; but his will hath in it a more
0366 modest working.
DUKE FREDERICK, ⌜coming forward⌝ 0367 You shall try but
0368 one fall.
CHARLES 0369 No, I warrant your Grace you shall not entreat
0370 200 him to a second, that have so mightily persuaded
0371 him from a first.
ORLANDO 0372 You mean to mock me after, you should not
0373 have mocked me before. But come your ways.
ROSALIND 0374 Now Hercules be thy speed, young man!
CELIA 0375 205I would I were invisible, to catch the strong
0376 fellow by the leg.
⌜Orlando and Charles⌝ wrestle.
ROSALIND 0377 O excellent young man!
CELIA 0378 If I had a thunderbolt in mine eye, I can tell who
0379 should down.
⌜Orlando throws Charles.⌝ Shout.
DUKE FREDERICK 0380 210No more, no more.
ORLANDO 0381 Yes, I beseech your Grace. I am not yet well
0382 breathed.
DUKE FREDERICK 0383 How dost thou, Charles?
LE BEAU 0384 He cannot speak, my lord.
DUKE FREDERICK 0385 215Bear him away.
⌜Charles is carried off by Attendants.⌝
0386 What is thy name, young man?
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31
ORLANDO
0387
Orlando, my liege, the youngest son of Sir0388 Rowland de Boys.
DUKE FREDERICK
0389 I would thou hadst been son to some man else.
0390 220 The world esteemed thy father honorable,
0391 But I did find him still mine enemy.
0392 Thou shouldst have better pleased me with this
0393 deed
0394 Hadst thou descended from another house.
0395 225 But fare thee well. Thou art a gallant youth.
0396 I would thou hadst told me of another father.
Duke exits ⌜with Touchstone, Le Beau,
Lords, and Attendants.⌝
CELIA, ⌜to Rosalind⌝
0397 Were I my father, coz, would I do this?
ORLANDO
0398 I am more proud to be Sir Rowland’s son,
0399 His youngest son, and would not change that calling
0400 230 To be adopted heir to Frederick.
ROSALIND, ⌜to Celia⌝
0401 My father loved Sir Rowland as his soul,
0402 And all the world was of my father’s mind.
0403 Had I before known this young man his son,
0404 I should have given him tears unto entreaties
0405 235 Ere he should thus have ventured.
CELIA 0406 Gentle cousin,
0407 Let us go thank him and encourage him.
0408 My father’s rough and envious disposition
0409 Sticks me at heart.—Sir, you have well deserved.
0410 240 If you do keep your promises in love
0411 But justly, as you have exceeded all promise,
0412 Your mistress shall be happy.
ROSALIND, ⌜giving Orlando a chain from her neck⌝
0413 Gentleman,
0414 Wear this for me—one out of suits with Fortune,
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33
0415
245 That could give more but that her hand lacks0416 means.—
0417 Shall we go, coz?
CELIA 0418 Ay.—Fare you well, fair gentleman.
ORLANDO, ⌜aside⌝
0419 Can I not say “I thank you”? My better parts
0420 250 Are all thrown down, and that which here stands up
0421 Is but a quintain, a mere lifeless block.
ROSALIND, ⌜to Celia⌝
0422 He calls us back. My pride fell with my fortunes.
0423 I’ll ask him what he would.—Did you call, sir?
0424 Sir, you have wrestled well and overthrown
0425 255 More than your enemies.
CELIA 0426 Will you go, coz?
ROSALIND 0427 Have with you. ⌜To Orlando.⌝ Fare you well.
⌜Rosalind and Celia⌝ exit.
ORLANDO
0428 What passion hangs these weights upon my tongue?
0429 I cannot speak to her, yet she urged conference.
0430 260 O poor Orlando! Thou art overthrown.
0431 Or Charles or something weaker masters thee.
Enter Le Beau.
LE BEAU
0432 Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you
0433 To leave this place. Albeit you have deserved
0434 High commendation, true applause, and love,
0435 265 Yet such is now the Duke’s condition
0436 That he misconsters all that you have done.
0437 The Duke is humorous. What he is indeed
0438 More suits you to conceive than I to speak of.
ORLANDO
0439 I thank you, sir, and pray you tell me this:
0440 270 Which of the two was daughter of the duke
0441 That here was at the wrestling?
p.
35
LE BEAU 0442 Neither his daughter, if we judge by manners,
0443 But yet indeed the ⌜smaller⌝ is his daughter.
0444 The other is daughter to the banished duke,
0445 275 And here detained by her usurping uncle
0446 To keep his daughter company, whose loves
0447 Are dearer than the natural bond of sisters.
0448 But I can tell you that of late this duke
0449 Hath ta’en displeasure ’gainst his gentle niece,
0450 280 Grounded upon no other argument
0451 But that the people praise her for her virtues
0452 And pity her for her good father’s sake;
0453 And, on my life, his malice ’gainst the lady
0454 Will suddenly break forth. Sir, fare you well.
0455 285 Hereafter, in a better world than this,
0456 I shall desire more love and knowledge of you.
ORLANDO
0457 I rest much bounden to you. Fare you well.
⌜Le Beau exits.⌝
0458 Thus must I from the smoke into the smother,
0459 From tyrant duke unto a tyrant brother.
0460 290 But heavenly Rosalind!
He exits.