Duke Frederick. You are a fool. You, niece, provide your

self.

If you outstay the time, upon mine honor,
And in the greatness of my word, you die.

[Exit R.]

Celia. Oh, my poor Rosalind, whither wilt thou go?
Prithee, be cheerful; knowest thou not, the Duke
Hath banished me, his daughter?

Rosalind. That he hath not.

Celia. Hath not? Rosalind lacks then the love
Which teacheth me that thou and I are one.
Let my father seek another heir.

Therefore devise with me how we may fly,
For, by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale,1
Say what thou canst, I'll go along with thee.

Rosalind. Why, whither shall we go?

Celia. (With sudden inspiration.) To seek my uncle in the forest of Arden.

[Exeunt L.] 2

[Prolog.]

ACT II

In the forest of Arden

The Duke, Amiens, and Jaques enter [C.].

Duke. Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile,
Hath not old custom made this life more sweet
Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods
More free from peril than the envious court?

Here feel we not the penalty of Adam.

[Exit.]

1 heaven, now at our sorrows pale: The stage lights may be dimmed perceptibly just before Celia's cry of alarm, "Look, here comes the Duke, with his eyes full of anger." The sudden dimming of stage lights has an influence upon an audience greater than one can entirely realize. 2 Unless the stage has no curtain, it is better for the actors to hold their pose until the curtain falls, in such a scene as this.

The seasons' difference, as the icy fang

And churlish chiding of the winter's wind,
Which, when it bites and blows upon my body,
Even till I shrink with cold, I smile and say,
"This is no flattery: these are counsellors
That feelingly persuade me what I am."
Sweet are the uses of adversity,

Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel1 in his head;

And this our life, exempt from public haunt,

Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.

I would not change it.

Amiens.

Happy is your Grace,

That can translate the stubbornness of fortune
Into so quiet and so sweet a style.

Duke. Come, shall we go and kill us venison?

And yet it irks2 me the poor dappled deer,

Being natives of this desert city,

Should in their own confines with forkéd heads,3

Have their round haunches gored.

Jaques.

I have often grieved at that;

Indeed, my lord,

And in that kind, think you do more usurp

Than doth your brother that hath banished you.

They leave [R.].

And Rosalind appears [L.], travel-stained and dressed in boy's clothes, with Celia, who is dressed like a shepherdess.

Rosalind. O Jupiter, how weary are my spirits!

Celia. I care not for my spirits, if my legs were not weary.

1 jewel: toadstone, which people thought grew in the heads of old and large toads.

2irks: pains.

3 forked heads: the barbed heads of arrows.

Rosalind. I could find in my heart' to disgrace mv man's apparel and cry like a woman; but I must comfort the weaker vessel; therefore, courage, good Aliena.2

Celia. I pray you, bear with me; I can go no further. Rosalind. I had rather bear with you than bear you. this is the forest of Arden.

Celia. Ay, and travellers must be content.

They drag their way on farther into the forest [R.].

- Well,

Orlando and Adam have also sought refuge in the forest. They come in [L.], Orlando almost carrying Adam.

Adam. Dear master, I can go no further. O, I die for food!3 Here lie I down and measure out my grave. Farewell, kind master.

Orlando. Why, how now, Adam! no greater heart in thee?4 Comfort a little; cheer thyself a little. If this uncouth forest yield anything wild, I will either be food for it or bring it for food to thee. Well said! thou look'st cheerly, and I'll be with thee quickly. Yet thou liest in the bleak air. Come, I will bear thee to some shelter. Thou shalt not die for lack of dinner if there live anything in this forest.

Orlando carries him away [R.].

The Duke, Jaques, and Amiens appear with food. [They spread a cloth and sit down to eat.]

Orlando reappears, with his sword drawn.

Orlando. Forbear, and eat no more.

Jaques.

Why, I have eat none yet.

Orlando. Nor shalt not, till necessity be served.

Duke. [Rising.] Art thou thus boldened, man, by thy distress?

Or else a rude despiser of good manners?

1 could find in my heart: I feel almost inclined.

2 Aliena (ǎl-I-ē'na), a name they have adopted for Celia in her dis

guise as a shepherdess.

3 die for food: die for want of food.

4 no greater heart in thee? no greater courage?

Orlando. You touched my vein at first. The thorny point

Of bare distress hath taken from me the show

Of smooth civility.

Duke. What would you have? Your gentleness shall force, More than your force move us to gentleness.

Orlando. I almost die for food; and let me have it.

Duke. Sit down and eat, and welcome to our table. Orlando. Speak you so gently? Pardon me, I pray you. I thought that all things had been savage here,

And therefore put I on the countenance

Of stern commandment.

But whate'er you are,

That in this forest inaccessible,

Under the shade of melancholy boughs,

Lose and neglect the creeping hours of time;

If ever you have looked on better days,

If ever been where bells have knolled to church,
If ever sat at any good man's feast;

If ever from your eyelids wiped a tear,

And know what 'tis to pity and be pitied,
Let gentleness my strong enforcement be;
In the which hope I blush, and hide my sword.
Duke. True is it that we have seen better days,
And have with holy bell been knolled to church,
And sat at good men's feasts, and wiped our eyes
Of drops that sacred pity hath engendered;
And therefore sit you down in gentleness
And take upon command what help we have,
That to your wanting may be ministered.

Orlando. Then forbear your food a little while.
There is an old poor man,

Who after me hath many a weary step

Limped in pure love; till he be first sufficed,
I will not touch a bit.