Seeing Orlando, it unlinked itself,
And, with indented glides did slip away
Into a bush:
A lioness
Lay couching, head on ground, with catlike watch,
When that the sleeping man should stir.
This seen, Orlando did approach the man

And found it was his brother, his elder brother.
Celia. O, I have heard him speak of that same brother

The most unnatural that lived 'mongst men.
Rosalind. But to Orlando. Did he leave him there,

Food to the hungry lioness?
Oliver. Twice did he turn his back and purposed 1 so;

But kindness, nobler ever than revenge,
And nature, stronger than his just occasion,
Made him give battle to the lioness,
Who quickly fell before him; in which hurtling

From miserable slumber I awaked.
Celia. Are you his brother?
Rosalind.

Was it you he rescued?
Celia. Was it you that did so oft contrive to kill him?
Oliver. 'Twas I, but 'tis not I. I do not shame

To tell you what I was, since my conversion

So sweetly tastes, being the thing I am. Rosalind. But, for the bloody handkerchief? Oliver.

Upon his arm
The lioness had torn some flesh away,
Which all the while had bled; and now he fainted

And cried, in fainting, upon Rosalind.
Celia. Why, how now, Rosalind, sweet Rosalind!

Rosalind faints.
Oliver. Look, he recovers.

1 purposed (pûr'půst): intended.
2 occasion: provocation.

Rosalind.

I would I were at home.
Celia. We'll lead you thither.
Oliver. Be of good cheer, youth. You a man!

(Exeunt, helping her, R.]

ACT IV

[Scene, the same] 1

There enter Orlando and Oliver (L.). Orlando. Is't possible that on so little acquaintance you

should like her? That but seeing you should love her?

And loving woo? And, wooing, she should grant? Oliver. Neither call the giddiness of it in question, the

poverty of her, the small acquaintance, my sudden wooing, nor her sudden consenting; but say with me, I love Aliena; say with her that she loves me; consent with both: it shall be to your good; for my father's house and all the revenue that was old Sir Roland's will I estate 2 upon you, and here

live and die a shepherd. Orlando. You have my consent. Let your wedding be to

morrow; thither will I invite the Duke and all his contended followers. Go you and prepare Aliena; for look you, here comes my Rosalind. [Oliver leaves R.]

(Enter Rosalind L.] Rosalind. Your brother and my sister no sooner met but

they looked; no sooner looked but they loved; no sooner loved but they sighed; no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason; no sooner knew the reason than they sought the remedy; and in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage.

Orlando. They shall be married tomorrow, and I will bid

the Duke to the wedding. But, o, how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man's eyes!

Tomorrow I shall be at the height of heart-heaviness. Rosalind. Why then, tomorrow I cannot serve your turn for

Rosalind? Orlando. I can live no longer by thinking. Rosalind. I will weary you, then, no longer with idle talking. If

you do love Rosalind, I know into what straits of fortune she is driven, and it is not impossible for me to set her

before your eyes. Orlando. Speak'st thou in sober meaning? Rosalind. By my life, I do; which I value dearly, though I say I am a magician. (Exeunt R.]

ACT V

[Scene, the same]
The Duke, Orlando, Oliver, and Jaques have assembled.
Duke. Dost thou believe, Orlando, that the boy

Can do all this that he hath promised?
Orlando. I sometimes do believe, and sometimes do not;

As those that fear they hope,

And know they fear.
Duke. I do remember in this shepherd boy

Some lively touches of my daughter's favor.
Orlando. My lord, the first time that ever I saw him,

Methought he was a brother to your daughter.
But, my good lord, the boy is forest-born.

Jaques de Boys 1 enters (L.).
Jaques de Boys. Let me have audience for a word or two.

I am the second son of old Sir Roland,
That bring these tidings to this fair assembly.

Jaques de Boys is the brother of Oliver and Orlando.

1

Duke Frederick, purposing to take
His brother here and put him to the sword,
Came to the skirts of this wild wood;
But meeting with an old religious man,
Has been converted from the world:1
His crown bequeathing to his banished brother,
And all their lands restored to them again

That were with him exiled.
Duke. Welcome, young man:
Thou offer'st2 fairly to thy brother's wedding.

Rosalind and Celia enter, dressed as at the court (C.). Rosalind. [To the Duke.] To you I give myself, for I am

yours.

[Gives him her hand.] [To Orlando.) To you I give myself, for I am yours.

[Orlando takes her other hand.) Duke. If there be truth in sight, you are my daughter. Orlando. If there be truth in sight, you are my Rosalind. Duke. (And to Celia, who now approaches and gives her hands

to Oliver and the Duke.) Oh, my dear niece, welcome thou

art to me! Even daughter, welcome in no less degree. — Jaques. •[Addressing Jaques de Boys.] Sir, if I heard you

rightly,
The Duke hath put on a religious life

And thrown into neglect the pompous court?
Jaques de Boys. He hath.
Jaques. To him will I. Out of his conversion

There is much to be heard and learned.
Duke. Stay, Jaques, stay.

1 converted from the world. The old “religious man or hermit referred to has converted him to withdraw from public life and become a monk.

2 offerest: Jaques de Boys brings a good present to offer at the wedding.

3 Even daughter, welcome: you are as welcome as if you were my daughter; or I welcome you as an adopted daughter.

Jaques. To see no pastime, I. What you would have I'll stay to know at your abandoned cave.

(E.cit R.) Duke. Proceed, proceed. We will begin these rites, As we do trust they'll end, in true delights.

[Music, as they exeunt L.) 1