Journal of the OUTDOOR LIFE Important Notice to When your subscription expires, renew at A renewal blank will be enclosed in the final copy of your subscription. IN THE FOREST OF ARDEN Shakespere Adapted to a Health Playlet BY HESTER DONALDSON JENKINS, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL BETTERMENT BROOKLYN, (N. Y.), BUREAU OF CHARITIES My masters all and mistresses, pray pardon us if we have seemed to twist Friend Will Shakespere to our uses. We love children and youth, and would fain show them some of the helps to good health that we have learned. We would introduce them to the best doctors, Fresh Air and Sunshine and Healthful Exercise, and bid them shun those bitter enemies, Closed Windows and Intemperance. Who keep his body strong and clean is able to resist germs of illness. So, ladies all, follow Rosalind and Celia into the Forest of Good Health, and gentlemen, agree with the Duke that a strong body is better than iches. For your kind attention, I thank you all. (Bows as curtain falls) SCENE I A PALACE ROOM: Some rugs, flowers on a table two or three easy chairs. CELIA: CELIA: Rosalind sitting back I pray thee, Rosalind, sweet my ROSALIND: By my troth, dear Celia, my little body is aweary of this great world. 'Tis true, you are languid, I've noticed it these days, and pale withal. Where are fled the roses from your cheeks? ROSALIND: Ah, this great palace, within which we are caged like two starlings! It seems as though I could not breathe, my narrow windows scarce let in the spring breezes, and a ray of sunshine would die of loneliness in my dim chamber. You too, are lily white, my cousin. Nay, I have not thought, but if you suffer then I suffer too. We have grown together. CELIA: Like to a double cherry, seeming But yet a union in partition: stem So with two seeming bodies but one heart. If 'tis not well with thee here, where wouldst thou go? AMIENS and LORDS sing: Under the greenwood tree Who loves to lie with me, And tune his merry note ROSALIND: Celia, I will be frank, I long to follow my exiled father into his sylvan forest. Thy father is truly kind, but here I languish. Life is become a burden. I can scarce do my embroidery. The country calls me, I need the sun and freshly springing green. Why then, let's run away. We soon can find the Forest of Arden, and there bring back your roses. I'll go along with thee, and we'll take Touchstone as effective guard; the fool will gladly help us. He'll go along over the wide world with me. CELIA: ROSALIND: But shall we not be in danger, garbed as ladies? CELIA: Then let us go as peasants in gay short skirts and easy setting blouses. We'll be both safer and more comfortable than in this dress. ROSALIND (Getting up and walking): Good, how I hate these dragging skirts and tight, confining waists. (Turns and puts her hand on Celia's shoulders). Ah then, 'tis arranged. It freshens me but to think of it. Ah, Celia dear, thou art my dearest cousin! And let me whisper a word (bends close to her) dost think that in our travels we might perchance encounter that brave youth Orlando who visited the court but lately and who, men said, had gone to seek a free life? CELIA (archly): Ah, cousin, now I have thy true reason. DUKE: AMIENS: DUKE: ALL: DUKE: Unto the birds' sweet throat Come hither, come hither, come hither But winter and rough weather. And winter hath proved no enemy, for we are all braver fellows than when we were cooped in court. Oft have I wished that I had brought my daughter, Rosalind, with me, to wax as hearty as the shepherds' lassies, not left her to pine in a palace. ONE LORD: 'Tis true that you are lusty as an ox, but as I think it, you were ever so, tho' never young since I have dwelt with thee. DUKE: Tho' I look old, yet I am lusty, For in my youth I never did apply Hot and rebellious liquors in my blood Nor did not with unbashful forehead woo The means of weakness and debility: Therefore my age is as a lusty winter. (Exeunt.) (Enter Celia, Rosalind and Touchstone.) ROSALIND: Ah me, how weary are my spirits. TOUCHSTONE: I care not for my spirits if my legs were not weary. ROSALIND: I could find it in my heart to cry. CELIA: I pray you bear with me, I can go no farther. TOUCHSTONE: For my part I would rather bear with you than bear you. ROSALIND: Well, this is the forest of Arden. TOUCHSTONE: Ay, now I am in Arden; the more fool I: where I was at home I was in a better place; but travellers must be content. Aye, be so, good Touchstone. ROSALIND: Let us rest us under the shades of this tree (withdraw to tree in rear and dispose themselves on a log around it). CELIA: (Enter, from PUCK: opposite sides, a Fairy and Puck.) How now, spirit! Whither wander you? AUDREY: SYLVIA: He's mine. (Goes to William). And he is truly mine (to Silvius). ROSALIND (aside): I've no Orlando. SILVIUS (moves to center and meets Touchstone): How like you this shepherd's life, Master Fool? TOUCHSTONE: Truly, shepherd, in respect of itself, it is a good life, but in respect that it is a shepherd's life, it is naught. In respect that it is solitary, I like it very well, but in respect that it is private, it is a very vile life. Now in respect that it is in the fields, it pleaseth me well, but in respect that it is not in the court, it is tedious. What here my Rosalind? Alone? Nay for there is Celia-and there the fool Touchstone. Welcome all, thrice welcome-but why didst leave the court? Fair uncle, Rosalind here, thy child, was pining in our palace, and longed for thee, and for thy forest life. Yes, she is pale and thin, and needs our sunshine. Come daughter mine, a welcome to Arden. (To Ceclia) And you too, wel come. TOUCHSTONE: But as for me, I'd rather have a bite of venison than all the, sunshine in your sky. FIRST LORD: Why, come, and we'll see that you have your fill. (Enter other lords with Orlando in stained travel garments.) SECOND LORD: Sir Duke, here is a wearied traveller who saith he's sought you long. ROSALIND (aside to Celia): 'Tis he, my heart! 'Tis Orlando. ORLANDO (aside): What do I see, fair Rosalind who hath kept my heart these many weeks? DUKE: Who art thou, pray? |