As You Like It: Act 5, Scene 4
Enter DUKE SENIOR, AMIENS,
JAQUES, ORLANDO, OLIVER, CELIA.
DUKE SENIOR
1
Dost thou believe, Orlando, that the boy 2
Can do all this that he hath promised?
ORLANDO
3
I sometimes do believe, and sometimes do not;4. fear they hope, and know they fear: i.e., fear that they are only hoping for the best, and know that they fear the worst.
4
As those that fear they hope, and know they fear.
Enter ROSALIND, SILVIUS, and PHEBE.
ROSALIND
5. whiles our compact is urg'd: while our agreement is put forward [for review and confirmation].
5
Patience once more, whiles our compact is urg'd: 6
You say, if I bring in your Rosalind, 7
You will bestow her on Orlando here?
DUKE SENIOR
8. had I: even if I had. In the real life of Shakespeare's time, a man who had kingdoms to give with his daughter would want to give them to a future son-in-law who was equally wealthy, but in this As You Like It world the fact that Orlando has nothing is fine with Rosalind's father.
8
That would I, had I kingdoms to give with her.
ROSALIND
9
And you say, you will have her, when I bring her?
ORLANDO
10
That would I, were I of all kingdoms king.
ROSALIND
11
You say, you'll marry me, if I be willing?
PHEBE
12
That will I, should I die the hour after.
ROSALIND
13
But if you do refuse to marry me, 14
You'll give yourself to this most faithful shepherd?
PHEBE
15
So is the bargain.
ROSALIND
16
You say, that you'll have Phebe, if she will?
SILVIUS
17
Though to have her and death were both one thing.
ROSALIND
18. I have promised to make all this matter even: I have promised to clear the way, in order that all of this can happen.
18
I have promised to make all this matter even. 19
Keep you your word, O duke, to give your daughter; 20
You yours, Orlando, to receive his daughter: 21
Keep your word, Phebe, that you'll marry me, 22
Or else refusing me, to wed this shepherd: 23
Keep your word, Silvius, that you'll marry her. 24
If she refuse me: and from hence I go,25. make these doubts all even: i.e., make these seeming impossibilities come true.
25
To make these doubts all even.
Exeunt ROSALIND and CELIA.
DUKE SENIOR
26. do remember: am reminded (of).
27. lively: lifelike. touches: aspects, details. favour: appearance.
27. lively: lifelike. touches: aspects, details. favour: appearance.
26
I do remember in this shepherd boy 27
Some lively touches of my daughter's favour.
ORLANDO
28
My lord, the first time that I ever saw him 29
Methought he was a brother to your daughter: 30
But, my good lord, this boy is forest-born, 31
And hath been tutor'd in the rudiments32. desperate: dangerous [because magical].
32
Of many desperate studies by his uncle, 33
Whom he reports to be a great magician,34. Obscured: hidden. the circle of this forest: Perhaps this is an allusion to the circle within which a magician was supposedly safe during his dealing with spirits.
34
Obscured in the circle of this forest.
Enter Clown [TOUCHSTONE] and AUDREY.
JAQUES
35. toward: on the way.
35
There is, sure, another flood toward, and these 36
couples are coming to the ark. Here comes a 37
pair of very strange beasts, which in all tongues 38
are called fools.
TOUCHSTONE
39
Salutation and greeting to you all!
JAQUES
40
Good my lord, bid him welcome: this is the41. motley-minded: scatter-brained.
41
motley-minded gentleman that I have so often met 42. courtier: a companion or advisor to a king. Now (CE 2017) this type of person, one who trades the illusion of friendship for political favors, would be called a lobbyist. 43‑44. put me to my purgation: challenge me to clear myself (of the charge of lying). 44. measure: a slow, stately dance.
42
in the forest: he hath been a courtier, he swears.
TOUCHSTONE
43
If any man doubt that, let him put me to my 44
purgation. I have trod a measure; I have flattered 45
a lady; I have been politic with my friend, smooth46. undone three tailors: bankrupted three tailors. The English upper classes have long considered paying tailors to be an optional act of generosity.
47. and like to have fought one: and almost had to fight one.
48. how was that ta'en up?: how did that turn out?
47. and like to have fought one: and almost had to fight one.
48. how was that ta'en up?: how did that turn out?
46
with mine enemy; I have undone three tailors; I 47
have had four quarrels, and like to have fought one.
JAQUES
48
And how was that ta'en up?
TOUCHSTONE
49
Faith, we met, and found the quarrel was upon 50
the seventh cause.
JAQUES
51-52. like this fellow: you have to love this guy.
51
How seventh cause? Good my lord, like this 52
fellow.
DUKE SENIOR
53
I like him very well.
TOUCHSTONE
54. God 'ild you, sir; I desire you of the like: i.e., thank you sir; I wish you the same.
56. copulatives: i.e., people desiring to couple. to swear and forswear: to swear love to one and to forswear all others, as in the common marriage vow: "forsaking all others keep thee only unto her/him" 57. as marriage binds and blood breaks: i.e., as marriage binds people to their wedding vows and as passion makes them break those vows. a poor virgin: i.e., Audrey. 59. humour: whim. 60. honesty: chastity.
56. copulatives: i.e., people desiring to couple. to swear and forswear: to swear love to one and to forswear all others, as in the common marriage vow: "forsaking all others keep thee only unto her/him" 57. as marriage binds and blood breaks: i.e., as marriage binds people to their wedding vows and as passion makes them break those vows. a poor virgin: i.e., Audrey. 59. humour: whim. 60. honesty: chastity.
54
God 'ild you, sir; I desire you of the like. I 55
press in here, sir, amongst the rest of the country 56
copulatives, to swear and to forswear: according 57
as marriage binds and blood breaks: a poor virgin, 58
sir, an ill-favoured thing, sir, but mine own; a poor 59
humour of mine, sir, to take that that no man else 60
will: rich honesty dwells like a miser, sir, in a 61
poor house; as your pearl in your foul oyster.
DUKE SENIOR
62. swift and sententious: quick-witted and pithy.
62
By my faith, he is very swift and sententious.
TOUCHSTONE
63-64. According to the fool's bolt, sir, and such dulcet diseases: i.e., It's like the proverb says, "A fool's bolt [arrow] is soon shot," meaning that wittiness is the sweet disease of fools, so that a fool can't keep himself from making witty remarks. The Duke has just praised Touchstone for being "swift and sententious," and this is Touchstone's answer.
63
According to the fool's bolt, sir, and such dulcet 64
diseases.
JAQUES
65
But, for the seventh cause; how did you find 66
the quarrel on the seventh cause?
TOUCHSTONE
67-68. bear your body more seeming, Audrey: Audrey must be doing some impossibly awkward lolling about.
69. dislike: find fault with.
69. dislike: find fault with.
67
Upon a lie seven times removedbear your 68
body more seeming, Audreyas thus, sir. I 69
did dislike the cut of a certain courtier's beard: 70
he sent me word, if I said his beard was not cut 71
well, he was in the mind it was: this is called the 72
Retort Courteous. If I sent him word again 'it was 73
not well cut,' he would send me word, he cut it 74. Modest: moderate.
74
to please himself: this is called the Quip Modest. 75-76. disabled my judgment: i.e., said I didn't know what I was talking about.
75
If again 'it was not well cut,' he disabled my 76
judgment: this is called the Reply Churlish. If 77
again 'it was not well cut,' he would answer, I 78
spake not true: this is called the Reproof Valiant. 79
If again 'it was not well cut,' he would say I lied: 80. Countercheck: counter-rebuff.
80
this is called the Countercheck Quarrelsome: 81. Circumstantial: indirect.
81
and so to the Lie Circumstantial and the Lie 82
Direct.
JAQUES
83
And how oft did you say his beard was not well 84
cut?
TOUCHSTONE
85
I durst go no further than the Lie Circumstantial, 86
nor he durst not give me the Lie Direct; and so we87. measur'd swords: i.e., only prepared for duelling. One of the preliminaries of a duel was measuring of the duelists' swords, to make sure that one wasn't longer than the other.
87
measured swords and parted.
JAQUES
88. nominate: name over.
88
Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the 89
lie?
TOUCHSTONE
90. by the book: according to established rules. Touchstone is making fun of such books as Vincent Saviolo's Practice of the Rapier and Dagger (1594-5), the second part of which is entitled "Honor and Honorable Quarrels," with a section headed "Of the Manner and Diversity of Lies."
90
O sir, we quarrel in print, by the book; as you have 91
books for good manners: I will name you the degrees. 92
The first, the Retort Courteous; the second, the 93
Quip Modest; the third, the Reply Churlish; the 94
fourth, the Reproof Valiant; the fifth, the 95
Countercheck Quarrelsome; the sixth, the Lie with 96
Circumstance; the seventh, the Lie Direct. All 97
these you may avoid but the Lie Direct; and you may 98
avoid that too, with an If. I knew when seven99. take up: settle.
99
justices could not take up a quarrel, but when the100
parties were met themselves, one of them thought 101
but of an If, as, 'If you said so, then I said so;' and102. swore brothers: i.e., swore eternal brotherhood.
102
they shook hands and swore brothers. Your If is the103
only peacemaker; much virtue in If.
JAQUES
104
Is not this a rare fellow, my lord? he's as good at105
any thing and yet a fool.
DUKE SENIOR
106. stalking-horse: a deceptive cover used by a hunter to get within shooting distance of his quarry.
107. the presentation of that: i.e., the appearance of being a fool. Hymen: god of marriage.
107. the presentation of that: i.e., the appearance of being a fool. Hymen: god of marriage.
106
He uses his folly like a stalking-horse and under107
the presentation of that he shoots his wit.
Enter HYMEN, ROSALIND, and CELIA.Still music: soft music.
Still Music.
HYMEN
108. mirth: joy.
108
Then is there mirth in heaven,109-110. When earthly things made even / Atone together: i.e., when human affairs are smoothed out and everyone sings the same tune.
109
When earthly things made even110
Atone together.111
Good duke, receive thy daughter112
Hymen from heaven brought her,Hymen
by
Andrea Commodi (1560-1648)
113
Yea, brought her hither,114
That thou mightst join her hand with his115
Whose heart within his bosom is.
ROSALIND
[To Duke Senior.] 116
To you I give myself, for I am yours.
[To Orlando.]117
To you I give myself, for I am yours.
DUKE SENIOR
118
If there be truth in sight, you are my daughter.
ORLANDO
119
If there be truth in sight, you are my Rosalind.
PHEBE
120
If sight and shape be true,121
Why then, my love adieu!
ROSALIND
[To Duke Senior.]122
I'll have no father, if you be not he:
[To Orlando.]123
I'll have no husband, if you be not he:
[To Phebe.]124
Nor ne'er wed woman, if you be not she.
HYMEN
125
Peace, ho! I bar confusion:126
'Tis I must make conclusion127
Of these most strange events:128
Here's eight that must take hands129
To join in Hymen's bands,130. If truth holds true contents: i.e., if truth is true.
130
If truth holds true contents.
[To Orlando and Rosalind.]131. cross: disagreement.
131
You and you no cross shall part:
[To Oliver and Celia.]132
You and you are heart in heart
[To Phebe.]133. accord: assent.
133
You to his love must accord,134. to: for.
134
Or have a woman to your lord:
[To Touchstone and Audrey.]135. sure together: securely joined.
135
You and you are sure together,136
As the winter to foul weather.
[To all four couples.]137
Whiles a wedlock-hymn we sing,138. Feed: satisfy. questioning: mutual conversation.
139. That reason wonder may diminish: so that rational explanation may diminish amazement.
139. That reason wonder may diminish: so that rational explanation may diminish amazement.
138
Feed yourselves with questioning;139
That reason wonder may diminish,140
How thus we met, and these things finish.
SONG141. Juno's: Juno was the goddess of marriage.
141
Wedding is great Juno's crown:142
O blessed bond of board and bed!143
'Tis Hymen peoples every town;144. High: solemn.
144
High wedlock then be honoured:145
Honour, high honour and renown,146
To Hymen, god of every town!
DUKE SENIOR [To Celia.]
147
O my dear niece, welcome thou art to me!148. Even daughter, welcome, in no less degree: i.e., as much as a daughter, welcome.
148
Even daughter, welcome, in no less degree.
PHEBE
149
I will not eat my word, now thou art mine;150. Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine: i.e., your faithful devotion to me now makes me unite with you in love.
150
Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine.
Enter Second Brother [JAQUES DE BOYS].
JAQUES DE BOYS
151
Let me have audience for a word or two:152
I am the second son of old Sir Rowland,153
That bring these tidings to this fair assembly.154
Duke Frederick, hearing how that every day155
Men of great worth resorted to this forest,156. Address'd: made ready, called up. power: army.
157. In his own conduct: under his personal command.
157. In his own conduct: under his personal command.
156
Address'd a mighty power; which were on foot,157
In his own conduct, purposely to take158
His brother here and put him to the sword:159
And to the skirts of this wild wood he came;160
Where meeting with an old religious man,161. question: conversation.
161
After some question with him, was converted162
Both from his enterprise and from the world,163
His crown bequeathing to his banish'd brother,164
And all their lands restored to them again165
That were with him exiled. This to be true,166. engage: pledge.
166
I do engage my life.
DUKE SENIOR
166
Welcome, young man;167. Thou offer'st fairly: you bring handsome gifts. The gifts are named in the next two lines. To Oliver, the gift is the lands that Duke Frederick seized when Oliver failed to deliver Orlando to him. To Orlando the gift is the restored dukedom of Duke Senior, which Orlando, as husband of the Duke's only child (Rosalind), will inherit after the Duke's death.
171. begot: conceived. 172. every: every one.
173. shrewd: sorely difficult.
171. begot: conceived. 172. every: every one.
173. shrewd: sorely difficult.
167
Thou offer'st fairly to thy brothers' wedding:168
To one his lands withheld, and to the other169
A land itself at large, a potent dukedom.170
First, in this forest, let us do those ends171
That here were well begun and well begot:172
And after, every of this happy number173
That have endured shrewd days and nights with us174
Shall share the good of our returned fortune,175. states: ranks.
175
According to the measure of their states.176. new-fall'n: newly acquired.
176
Meantime, forget this new-fall'n dignity177
And fall into our rustic revelry.178. music: band of musicians.
179. to the measures fall: dance to the music.
179. to the measures fall: dance to the music.
178
Play, music! And you, brides and bridegrooms all,179
With measure heap'd in joy, to the measures fall.
JAQUES
180. by your patience: with your indulgence.
180
Sir, by your patience. If I heard you rightly,181
The duke hath put on a religious life182. pompous: i.e., full of pomp and circumstance.
182
And thrown into neglect the pompous court?
JAQUES DE BOYS
183
He hath.
JAQUES
184. convertites: converts.
185. matter: sound sense.
185. matter: sound sense.
184
To him will I : out of these convertites185
There is much matter to be heard and learn'd.
[To DUKE SENIOR.]186
You to your former honour I bequeath;187
Your patience and your virtue well deserves it:
[To ORLANDO.]188
You to a love that your true faith doth merit:
[To OLIVER.]189. great allies: i.e., powerful relations. Oliver is brother to Orlando, who is now the next heir (by the right of Rosalind) to the dukedom. Oliver's previous vow to live and die a shepherd in the forest with "Aliena" has been forgotten.
190. long: i.e., long awaited and desired.
190. long: i.e., long awaited and desired.
189
You to your land and love and great allies:
[To SILVIUS.]190
You to a long and well-deserved bed:
[To TOUCHSTONE.]191
And you to wrangling; for thy loving voyage192
Is but for two months victuall'd. So, to your pleasures:193
I am for other than for dancing measures.
DUKE SENIOR
194
Stay, Jaques, stay.
JAQUES
195. What you would have: i.e., whatever you want of me before I leave.
195
To see no pastime I. What you would have196
I'll stay to know at your abandon'd cave.
DUKE SENIOR
197
Proceed, proceed. We'll begin these rites,198
As I do trust they'll end, in true delights.
Exeunt.