Ros. Why, whither shall we go? Cel. To seek my uncle in the forest of Arden. Cel. I'll put myself in poor and mean attire, Ros. 'Were it not better, Because that I am more than common tall, A boar-spear in my hand; and (in my heart That do outface it with their semblances. Cel. What shall I call thee, when thou art a man? Ros. I'll have no worse a name than Jove's own page, And therefore, look you, call me Ganymede. But what will you be called? Cel. Something that hath a reference to my state; No longer Celia, but Aliena. Ros. But, cousin, what if we assayed to steal The clownish fool out of your father's court? Would he not be a comfort to our travel? Cel. He'll go along o'er the wide world with me; Leave me alone to woo him. Let's away, And get our jewels and our wealth together; Devise the fittest time, and safest way To hide us from pursuit that will be made After my flight. Now go we, in content, To liberty, and not to banishment. [Exeunt. 1 "A kind of umber," a dusky yellow-colored earth, brought from Umbria in Italy, well known to artists. 2 This was one of the old words for a cutlass, or short, crooked sword; coutelas (French). It was variously spelled, courtlas, courtlax, curtlax. 3 i. e. as we now say, dashing. ACT II. SCENE I. The Forest of Arden. Enter Duke senior, AMIENS, and other Lords, in the dress of Foresters. Duke S. Now, my co-mates, and brothers in exile, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Ami. I would not change it. Happy is your grace, That can translate the stubbornness of fortune Into so quiet and so sweet a style. Duke S. Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me, the poor dappled fools,Being native burghers of this desert city,Should, in their own confines, with forked heads Have their round haunches gored. 1 Lord. Indeed, my lord, The melancholy Jaques grieves at that; 1 The old copy reads thus. Theobald proposed to read but, and has been followed by subsequent editors. 2 It was currently believed, in the time of Shakspeare, that the toad had a stone contained in its head, which was endued with singular virtues. This was called the toad-stone. 1 And, in that kind, swears you do more usurp Stood on the extremest verge of the swift brook, Duke S. 1 Lord. O yes, into a thousand similes. you look And never stays to greet him; Ay, quoth Jaques, Yea, and of this our life; swearing that we Duke S. And did you leave him in this contemplation? 2 Lord. We did, my lord, weeping and commenting Upon the sobbing deer. Duke S. Show me the place; I love to cope1 him in these sullen fits, 2 Lord. I'll bring you to him straight, [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Room in the Palace. Enter DUKE FREDERICK, Lords, and Attendants. Duke F. Can it be possible that no man saw them? It cannot be; some villains of my court Are of consent and sufferance in this. 1 Lord. I cannot hear of any that did see her. The ladies, her attendants of her chamber, Saw her abed; and, in the morning early, They found the bed untreasured of their mistress. 2 Lord. My lord, the roynish clown, at whom so oft Your grace was wont to laugh, is also missing. Your daughter and her cousin much commend That youth is surely in their company. Duke F. Send to his brother; fetch that gallant hither; If he be absent, bring his brother to me; 1 i. e. to encounter him. [Exeunt. 2 "The roynish clown," mangy or scurvy, from roigneux (French). The word is used by Chaucer. 3 To quail," says Steevens, "is to faint, to sink into dejection;" but the word is here used in a different and quite obvious sense. SCENE III. Before Oliver's House. Enter ORLANDO and ADAM, meeting. Orl. Who's there? Adam. What! my young master?-O, my gentle master, O, my sweet master, O, you memory Of old sir Rowland! Why, what make you here? 2 The bony priser of the humorous duke? O, what a world is this, when what is comely Orl. Why, what's the matter? Adam. O, unhappy youth, Your brother-(no, no brother: yet the son- 4 This is no place, this house is but a butchery; 1 i. e. rash, foolish. 2 A prise was a term in wrestling for a grappling or hold taken. 31. e. treacherous devices. 4 Place here signifies a seat, a mansion, a residence: it is not yet obsolete in this sense. |