SCENE III.S

The Forest.

Enter ROSALIND and CELIA. Ros. Ilow say you now? Is it not past two o'clock? and here much Orlando !9

Cel. I warrant you, with pure love, and troubled brain, he hath ta'en his bow and arrows, and is gone

forth-to sleep: Look, who comes here.

Enter SILVIUS. Sil. My errand is to you, fair youth;My gentle ''hebe bid me? give you this: [Giving a letter.

9

Unless your great infernal majesty
“ Do solemnly proclaim, no devil shall scorn

“Hereafter still to wear the goodly horn." To take scorn is a phrase that occurs again in King Henry VI, P. I, Act IV, sc. iv:

“ And take foul scorn, to fawn on him by sending.” Steevens. 8 The foregoing noisy scene was introduced only to fill up an interval, which is to represent two hours. This contraction of the time we might impute to poor Rosalind's impatience, but that a few minutes after we find Orlando sending his excuse.

I do not see that by any probable division of the Acts this absurdity can be obviated. Johnson.

and here much Orlando!] Thus the old copy. Some of the modern editors read, but without the least authority:

I wonder much, Orlando is not here. Steevens. The word muc should explained. It is an expression of latitude, and taken in various senses. Here's much Orlandoi. e. Here is no Orlando, or we may look for him. We have still this use of it, as when we say, speaking of a person who we suspect will not keep his appointment, “ Ay, you will be sure to see him there much !” Whalley.

So the vulgar yet say, “I shall get much by that no doubt," meaning that they shall get nothing. Malone.

Here much Orlando! is spoken ironically on Rosalind perceiving that Orlando had failed in his engagement. H. White.

Much, in our author's time, was an expression denoting admi. ration. So, in King Henry IV, P.II, Act II, sc. iv:

“What, with two points on your shoulder? much!” Again, in The Taming of a Shrew:

“'Tis much !--Servant, leave me and her alone.” Malone. Much! was more frequently used to indicate disdain. See notes on the first of the two passages quoted by Mr. Malone.

Steevens. bid me - ] The old copy redundantly reads—did bid me.

Steevens.

I know not the contents; but, as I guess,
By the stern brow, and waspish action
Which she did use as she was writing of it,
It bears an angry tenour: pardon me,
I am but as a guiltless messenger.

Ros. Patience herself would startle at this letter,
And play the swaggerer;2 bear this, bear all:
She says, I am not fair; that I lack manners;
She calls me proud; and that she could not love me
Were man as rare as phænix; Od's my will!
Her love is not the hare that I do hunt:
Why writes she so to me?-Well, shepherd, well,
This is a letter of your own device. .

Sil. No, I protest: I know not the contents;
Phebe did write it.
Ros.

Come, come, you are a fool,
And turn'd into the extremity of love.
I saw her hand; she has a leathern hand,
A freestone-colour'd hand ;3 I verily did think
That her old gloves were on, but 'twas her hands;
She has a huswife's hand: but that's no matter:
1
say,

she never did invent this letter; This is a man's invention, and his hand.

Sil. Sure, it is hers.

Ros. Why, 'tis a boisterous and a cruel style, A style for challengers; why, she defies me, Like Turk to Christian; woman's gentle brain Could not drop forth such giant-rude invention,

Patience herself would startle at this letter,
And play the swaggerer;] So, in Measure for Measure:
“ This would make mercy swear, and play the tyrant."

Steevens. 3 Phebe did write it.

Ros. Come, come, you are a fool.
I saw her hand: she has a leathern hand,

A freestone-colourd hand;] As this passage now stands, the metre of the first line is imperfect, and the sense of the whole ; for why should Rosalind dwell so much upon Phebe's hands, unless Silvius had said something about them?-I have no doubt but the line originally ran thus:

Plebe did write it with her own fair liand.
And then Rosalind's reply will naturally follow. M. Mason.

woman's gentle brain —] Old copy-quomen's. Corrected by Mr. Rowe. Malone.

know not the contents; but, as I guess,
By the stern brow, and waspish action
Which she did use as she was writing of it,
It bears an angry tenour: pardon me,
I am but as a guiltless messenger.

Ros. Patience herself would startle at this letter,
And play the swaggerer;2 bear this, bear all:
She says, I am not fair; that I lack manners;
She calls me proud; and that she could not love me
Were man as rare as phænix; Od's my will!
Her love is not the hare that I do hunt:
Why writes she so to me?-Well, shepherd, well,
This is a letter of your own device.

Sil. No, I protest: I know not the contents;
Phebe did write it.
Ros.

Come, come, you are a fool,
And turn'd into the extremity of love.
I saw her hand; she has a leathern hand,
A freestone-colour'd hand ;3 I verily did think
That her old gloves were on, but 'twas her hands;
She has a huswife's hand: but that's no matter:

say, she never did invent this letter; This is a man's invention, and his hand.

Sil. Sure, it is hers.
Ros. Why, 'tis a boisterous and a cruel style,
A style for challengers; why, she defies me,
Like Turk to Christian; woman's gentle brain*
Could not drop forth such giant-rude invention,

Patience herself would startle at this letter,
And play the swaggerer;] So, in Measure for Measure:
“ This would make mercy swear, and play the tyrant."

Steevens.
Phebe did write it.

Ros. Come, come, you are a fool.
I saw her hand: she has a leathern hand,

A freestone-color .? As this passage now stands, the jetre of the first

ct, and the sense of the whole; r why should I

much upon Phebe's hands, unOs Silvius ha?

hout them ?-I have no doubt hit the line ori Phebe di

fair hand. and then Rosa

lly follow. M. Mason womai

copy--women’s. Correoty by Mr. Rowe

Such Ethiop words, blacker in their effect
Than in their countenance: ---Will you hear the letter?

Sil. So please you, for I never heard it yet;
Yet heard too much of Phebe's cruelty.
Ros. She Phebes me: Mark how the tyrant writes.

Art thou god to shepherd turn’d, [Reads.

That a maiden's heart hath burn'd?_
Can a woman rail thus?

Sil. Call you this railing?
Ros. Why, thy godhead laid apart,

Warr'st thou with a woman's heart?
Did you ever hear such railing?-

Whiles the eye of man did woo me,

That could do no vengeances to me.-
Meaning me a beast.-

If the scorn of your bright eyne
Have power to raise such love in mine,
Alack, in me what strange effect
Would they work in mild aspéct?
Whiles

уои
chid
me,

I did love;
How then might your prayers move?
He, that brings this love to thee,
Little knows this love in me:
And by himn seal up thy mind;
Whether that thy youth and kinde
Will the faithful offer take
Of me, and all that I can make ;7
Or else by him iny love deny,

And then I'li study how to die.
Sil. Call you this chiding?
Cel. Alas, poor shepherd!
Ros. Do you pity him? no, he deserves no pity.--

5

6

- vengeance — ] is used for mischief. Fohnson.
- youth and kind – ] Kind is the old word for nature,

Fohnson. So, in Antony and Cleopatra: “You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his hind.” Steevens.

-all that I can make;] i. e. raise as profit from any thing. So, in Measure for Measure: “ He's in for a commodity of brown paper; of which he made five marks ready money.” Steevens.