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,

When earthly things made even

Atone together.
Good duke, receive thy daughter,
Hymen from heaven brought her,

Yeu, brought her hither;
That thou mighť st join her hand with his,
Whose heart within her bosom is.

Ros. To you I give myself, for I am yours.

[To Duke S. To you I give myself, for I am yours.

[To ORLANDO. Duke S. If there be truth in sight, you are my

daughter. Orl. If there be truth in sight, you are my Ro«

salind.
Phe. If sight and shape be true,
Why then,-my love adieu !
Ros. I'll have no father, if you be not he:-

[To Duke S. I'll have no husband, if you be not he:-

[To ORLANDO,

Nor ne'er wed woman, if you be not she.

[To PHEBE. Hym. Peace, ho! I bar confusion :

'Tis I must make conclusion

Of these most strange events :
Here's eight that must take hands,
To join in Hymen's bands,

If truth holds true contents.7
You and you no cross shall part:

[To ORLANDO and RoSALIND. You and you are heart in heart :

[To Oliver and CELIA. You [To PHEBE] to his love must accord, Or have a woman to your

lord :-
You and you are sure together,

[To TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY.
As the winter to foul weather.
Whiles a wedlock-hymn we sing,
Feed yourselves with questioning;
That reason wonder

may

diminish,
How thus we met, and these things finish.

SONG.

Wedding is great Juno's crown;

O blessed bond of board and bed!
'Tis Hymen peoples every town;

High wedlock then be honoured :
Honour, high honour and renown,

To Hymen, god of every town!
Duke S. O my dear niece, welcome thou art to me;
Even daughter, welcome in no less degree.

7 Unless truth fails of veracity.

Phe. I will not eat my word, now thou art mine; Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine.8

[To SILVIUS.

Enter JAQUES DE Bois.

Jaq. de B. Let me have audience for a word, or

two;

I am the second son of old sir Rowland,
That bring these tidings to this fair assembly:-
Duke Frederick, hearing how that every day
Men of great worth resorted to this forest,
Address’d a mighty power! which were on foot,
In his own conduct, purposely to take
His brother here, and put him to the sword:
And to the skirts of this wild wood he came;
Where, meeting with an old religious man,
After some question with him, was converted
Both from his enterprize, and from the world:
His crown bequeathing to his banish'd brother,
And all their lands restor'd to them again
That were with him exil'd: This to be true,
I do engage my

life.
Duke S.

Welcome, young man ; Thou offer'st fairly to thy brothers' wedding : To one, his lands with-held; and to the other, A land itself at large, a potent dukedom. First, in this forest, let us do those ends That here were well begun, and well begot: And after, every of this happy number, That have endur'd shrewd days and nights with us, Shall share the good of our returned fortune,

8 Bind.

According to the measure of their states.
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.

Jaq. Sir, by your patience; If I heard you rightly,
The duke hath put on a religious life,
And thrown into neglect the pompous court?

Jaq. de B. He hath.

Jaq. To him will I: out of these convertites There is much matter to be heard and learn'd. You to your former honour I bequeath ;

[To Duke S. Your patience, and your virtue, well deserves it :You [To ORLANDO] to a love, that your true faith

doth merit : You [TO OLIVER] to your land, and love, and great

allies :You [To Silvius] to a long and well deserved

bed ;

And you [To TouchSTONE] to wrangling; for thy

loving voyage Is but for two nionths victual'd :-So to your plea

sures ;
I am for other than for dancing measures.

Duke S. Stay, Jaques, stay.
Jaq. To see no pastime, I:-what you would

have I'll stay to know at your abandon'd cave. [Exit.

Duke S. Proceed, proceed: we will begin these rites, And we do trust they'll end, in true delights.

[A dance.

EPILOGUE.

Ros. It is not the fashion to see the lady the epilogue: but it is no more unhandsome, than to see the lord the prologue. If it be true, that good wine needs no bush, 'tis true, that a good play needs no epilogue: Yet to good wine they do use good bushes; and good plays prove the better by the help of good epilogues. What a case am I in then, that am neither a good epilogue, nor cannot insinuate with you in the behalf of a good play? I am not furnished 9 like a beggar, therefore to beg will not become me: my way is, to conjure you; and I'll begin with the women. I charge you, O women, for the love you bear to men, to like as much of this play as please them: and so I charge you, O men, for the love you bear to women, (as I perceive by your simpering, none of you hate them,) that between you and the women, the play may please. If I were a woman, I would kiss as many

of you as had beards that pleased me, complexions that liked me,' and breaths that I defied not: ánd, I am sure, as many as have good beards, or good faces, or sweet breaths, will, for my

kind offer, when I make curt'sy, bid me farewell.

[Exeunt.