Ros. But, if you do refuse to marry me, You'll give yourself to this most faithful shepherd. Phe. So is the bargain. Ros. You say, that you'll have Phebe, if she will? [To Silvius. Sil. Though to have her and death were both one thing. Ros. I have promis'd to make all this matter even. Keep you your word, O duke, to give your daugh ter; You yours, Orlando, to receive his daughter :- [Exeunt Rosalind and Celia. Enter Touchstone and Audrey. Jaq. There is, sure, another flood toward, and these couples are coming to the ark! Here comes a pair of very strange beasts, which in all tongues are called fools. Touch. Salutation and greeting to you all! Jaq. Good, my lord, bid him welcome; This is the motley-minded gentleman, that I have so often met in the forest: he hath been a courtier, he swears. Touch. If any man doubt that, let him put me to my purgation. I have trod a measure, I have * A stately solemn dance. flattered a lady; I have been politick with my friend, smooth with mine enemy; I have undone three tailors; I have had four quarrels, and like to have fought one. Jaq. And how was that ta'en up? Touch. 'Faith, we met, and found the quarrel was upon the seventh cause. Jaq. How seventh cause?-Good, my lord, like this fellow. Duke S. I like him very well. Touch. God 'ild you, sir; I desire you of the like, I press in here, sir, amongst the rest of the country copulatives, to swear, and to forswear; according as marriage binds, and blood breaks :-A poor virgin, sir, an ill-favoured thing, sir, but mine own; a poor humour of mine, sir, to take that that no man else will: Rich honesty dwells like a miser, sir, in a poor-house; as your pearl, in your foul oyster. Duke S. By my faith, he is very swift and sententious. Touch. According to the fool's bolt, sir, and such dulcet diseases. Jaq. But, for the seventh cause; how did you find the quarrel on the seventh cause? Touch. Upon a lie seven times removed;-Bear your body more seeming*, Audrey :—as thus, sir. I did dislike the cut of a certain courtier's beard ; he sent me word, if I said his beard was not cut well, he was in the mind it was: This is called the retort courteous. If I sent him word again, it was not well cut, he would send me word, he cut it to please himself: This is called the quip modest. If again, it was not well cut, he disabled my judgement: This is called the reply churlish. If again, it was not well cut, he would answer, I spake not true: This is called the reproof valiant. If again, it was not well cut, he would say, I lie: This is * Seemly. called the countercheck quarrelsome and so to the lie circumstantial, and the lie direct. : Jaq. And how oft did you say, his beard was not well cut? Touch. I durst go no further than the lie circumstantial, nor he durst not give me the lie direct; and so we measured swords, and parted. Jaq. Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie? Touch. O, sir, we quarrel in print, by the book; as you have books for good manners: I will name you the degrees. The first, the retort courteous; the second, the quip modest; the third, the reply churlish; the fourth, the reproof valiant; the fifth, the countercheck quarrelsome; the sixth, the lie with circumstance; the seventh, the lie direct. All these you may avoid, but the lie direct; and you may avoid that too, with an if. I knew when seven justices could not take up a quarrel; but when the parties were met themselves, one of them thought but of an if, as, if you said so, then I said so; and they shook hands, and swore brothers. Your if is the only peace-maker; much virtue in if. Jaq. Is not this a rare fellow, my lord? he's as good at any thing, and yet a fool. Duke S. He uses his folly like a stalking-horse, and under the presentation of that, he shoots his wit. Enter Hymen, leading Rosalind in woman's clothes; and Celia. Still musick. Hym. Then is there mirth in heaven, Good duke, receive thy daughter, Yea, brought her hither; That thou might'st join her hand with his, Ros. To you I give myself, for I am yours. To you I give myself, for I am yours. [To Duke S. [To Orlando. Duke S. If there be truth in sight, you are my daughter. Orl. If there be truth in sight, you are my Rosa lind. Phe. If sight and shape be true, Why then, my love adieu ! Ros. I'll have no father, if you be not he : I'll have no husband, if you be not he [To Duke S. [To Orlando. Nor ne'er wed woman, if you be not she. Hym. Peace, ho! I bar confusion : "Tis I must make conclusion [To Phebe. Of these most strange events: If truth holds true contents *. [To Orlando and Rosalind. You and you are heart in heart : [To Oliver and Celia. To Touchstone and Audrey. As the winter to foul weather. Wedding is great Juno's crown; O blessed bond of board and bed! "Tis Hymen peoples every town; High wedlock then be honoured: * Unless truth fails of veracity. Honour, high honour and renown, To Hymen, god of every town! Duke S. Omy dear niece, welcome thou art to me; Even daughter, welcome in no less degree. Phe. I will not eat my word, now thou art mine; Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine*. Enter Jaques de Bois. [To Silvius. : Jaq. de B. Let me have audience for a word or two; Duke S. That have endur'd shrewd days and nights with us, Meantime, forget this new-fall'n dignity, And fall into our rustick revelry :— Play, musick;-and you brides and bridegrooms all, With measure heap'd in joy, to the measures fall. * Bind. |