As You Like It, Act 1, Scene 3, 87-135
Arden 3 | Juliet Dusinberre | London: Bloomsbury, 2006 | 184-188
“O my poor Rosalind, whither wilt thou go?”
Scene
Arden 3
(Exeunt Duke [Frederick] and Lords.)
CELIA
O my poor Rosalind, whither wilt thou go?
Wilt thou change fathers? I will give thee mine.
I charge thee, be not thou more grieved than I am.
ROSALIND
I have more cause. 90
CELIA
——————–Thou hast not, cousin.
Prithee, be cheerful. Knowst thou not the Duke
Hath banished me, his daughter?
ROSALIND
———————————That he hath not.
CELIA
No, hath not? Rosalind lacks then the love
Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one.
Shall we be sundered? Shall we part, sweet girl? 95
No, let my father seek another heir!
Therefore devise with me how we may fly,
Whither to go and what to bear with us,
And do not seek to take your change upon you
To bear your griefs yourself and leave me out. 100
For by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale,
Say what thou canst, I’ll go along with thee.
ROSALIND
Why, whither shall we go?
CELIA
To seek my uncle in the Forest of Arden.
ROSALIND
Alas, what danger will it be to us, 105
Maids as we are, to travel forth so far!
Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold.
CELIA
I’ll put myself in poor and mean attire,
And with a kind of umber smirch my face –
The like do you; so shall we pass along 110
And never stir assailants.
ROSALIND
————————–Were it not better,
Because that I am more than common tall,
That I did suit me all points like a man?
A gallant curtal-axe upon my thigh,
A boar-spear in my hand, and in my heart, 115
Lie there what hidden woman’s fear there will,
We’ll have a swashing and a martial outside,
As many other mannish cowards have
That do outface it with their semblances.
CELIA
What shall I call thee when thou art a man? 120
ROSALIND
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?
CELIA
Something that hath a reference to my state:
No longer Celia, but Aliena. 125
ROSALIND
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 travail?
CELIA
He’ll go along o’er the wide world with me.
Leave me alone to woo him. Let’s away, 130
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. 135
(Exeunt.)
Words and Pronunciation +
Arden 3
Words
Charge task, responsibility, duty; order, command, instruction (Crystal)
Cause reason, motive, ground (Crystal)
Prithee please, may I ask (Crystal)
Whither to which place; to what result (Crystal)
Sundered separated, kept apart (Crystal)
Change new circumstances (Arden)
Maid virgin, unmarried woman (Crystal)
Mean shabby (Arden)
Common average, usual, general, ordinary (Crystal)
Umber brown-coloured earth (Crystal)
Smirch smear, spread on (Crystal)
Suit dress, clothe, equip (Crystal)
Points in every part, completely (Crystal)
Gallant fine, splendid, grand (Crystal)
Curtal common, household (Crystal)
Swashing swaggering, blustering, dashing (Crystal)
Martial: war-like, valiant, brave (Crystal); military, warlike, for combat (Crystal)
Mannish: masculine, macho (Crystal)
Outface: present a bold front, maintain a defiant image (Crystal)
Semblance: depiction; appearance, outward show (Crystal)
Worse evil, harmful, wicked (Crystal)
Jove alternative name for Jupiter, the Roman supreme god (Crystal)
Page servant (Crystal)
Ganymede beautiful boy, son of a Trojan prince, taken by Jove to be cup-bearer (Crystal)
Assayed attempt, try, venture (Crystal)
Comfort assist, help, give aid to (Crystal)
Travail: travel, journey (Crystal)
Pronunciation +
lookest: possibly “look’st” (Leung, also: Arden CWRE, 1998)
shamest: (line 23) Q2–3; sham’st Q4, F; not in Q1 (Weis)
Jesu: (line 29) jeez-yoo or jee-zoo; jayz-yoo or jay-zoo
you: (line 29) The more formal pronoun is used consistently by Nurse when addressing Juliet, while the 13-year-old uses the familiar thou, thee, thy to her servant, in conformity with the etiquette of the day in which social class overrides age. (Weis)
marry: (line 62) mah-ree (UK); meh-ree (US) (OED)
trow: (line 62) tr-ah-oo (UK); tr-oh (US) (OED)
hie: (line 68) hah-ee
wanton: (line 70) want-en or want-in
+prose: (lines 38-45) The nurse switches to prose for this speech.
Translation
No Fear Shakespeare
Exeunt DUKE FREDERICK and lords
CELIA
Oh, my poor Rosalind, where will you go? Do you want to exchange fathers? I’ll give you mine. I insist, don’t be more distressed than I am.
ROSALIND
I have more reason to be distressed.
CELIA
No you haven’t, cousin. Please, be cheerful. Don’t you realize the duke has also banished me, his daughter?
ROSALIND
No, he hasn’t.
CELIA
Oh, he hasn’t? Well, then, you don’t have the affection that would teach you that you and I are one. Will we be separated? Should we part, sweet girl? No. Let my father find another heir. So, help me plan how we’ll escape, where we’ll go, and what we’ll take with us. Don’t even try to take this all upon yourself, bearing your grief alone and leaving me out. I swear by the heavens, which have grown pale in sympathy with us, I’m going with you, whatever you say.
ROSALIND
But where will we go?
CELIA
To the forest of Arden to find your father.
ROSALIND
But what danger we’ll put ourselves in, two young, innocent women traveling so far! Fresh beauty attracts thugs and thieves even more than money.
CELIA
I’ll put on some poor and ragged clothes and smudge my face with dirt. You do the same, and we’ll be able to travel without attracting any attackers’ attention.
ROSALIND
Wouldn’t it be better—since I’m unusually tall for a woman—to dress myself like a man?
I’ll wear a big sword in my belt, carry a boar-spear in my hand, and hide all my womanish fear in my heart. We’ll maintain a swaggering, warrior look, like so many cowardly men, whose manner has nothing to do with what they’re feeling.
CELIA
What should I call you when you’re a man?
ROSALIND
I’ll take no lesser name than that of Jove’s own servant. So call me Ganymede. And what will you be called?
CELIA
Something that refers to my current state. Instead of Celia, call me Aliena.
ROSALIND
Cousin, what if we brought that clownish fool of your father’s court, Touchstone? Wouldn’t he be a comfort to us in our travels?
CELIA
He’d walk the whole wide world with me. Leave me alone to go convince him. Let’s go gather our jewels and money. We’ll figure out the best time and safest route to avoid being found out by my father’s guards, whom he’ll send out as soon as he discovers I’ve gone. Now, we go contentedly to freedom—not banishment.
They exit.
Assonance
Arden 3
(Exeunt Duke [Frederick] and Lords.)
CELIA
O my poor Rosalind, whither wilt thou go?
Wilt thou change fathers? I will give thee mine.
I charge thee, be not thou more grieved than I am.
ROSALIND
I have more cause. 90
CELIA
——————–Thou hast not, cousin.
Prithee, be cheerful. Knowst thou not the Duke
Hath banished me, his daughter?
ROSALIND
———————————That he hath not.
CELIA
No, hath not? Rosalind lacks then the love
Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one.
Shall we be sundered? Shall we part, sweet girl? 95
No, let my father seek another heir!
Therefore devise with me how we may fly,
Whither to go and what to bear with us,
And do not seek to take your change upon you
To bear your griefs yourself and leave me out. 100
For by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale,
Say what thou canst, I’ll go along with thee.
ROSALIND
Why, whither shall we go?
CELIA
To seek my uncle in the Forest of Arden.
ROSALIND
Alas, what danger will it be to us, 105
Maids as we are, to travel forth so far!
Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold.
CELIA
I’ll put myself in poor and mean attire,
And with a kind of umber smirch my face –
The like do you; so shall we pass along 110
And never stir assailants.
ROSALIND
————————–Were it not better,
Because that I am more than common tall,
That I did suit me all points like a man?
A gallant curtal-axe upon my thigh,
A boar-spear in my hand, and in my heart, 115
Lie there what hidden woman’s fear there will,
We’ll have a swashing and a martial outside,
As many other mannish cowards have
That do outface it with their semblances.
CELIA
What shall I call thee when thou art a man? 120
ROSALIND
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?
CELIA
Something that hath a reference to my state:
No longer Celia, but Aliena. 125
ROSALIND
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 travail?
CELIA
He’ll go along o’er the wide world with me.
Leave me alone to woo him. Let’s away, 130
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. 135
(Exeunt.)
Alliteration
Arden 3
(Exeunt Duke [Frederick] and Lords.)
CELIA
O my poor Rosalind, whither wilt thou go?
Wilt thou change fathers? I will give thee mine.
I charge thee, be not thou more grieved than I am.
ROSALIND
I have more cause. 90
CELIA
——————–Thou hast not, cousin.
Prithee, be cheerful. Knowst thou not the Duke
Hath banished me, his daughter?
ROSALIND
———————————That he hath not.
CELIA
No, hath not? Rosalind lacks then the love
Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one.
Shall we be sundered? Shall we part, sweet girl? 95
No, let my father seek another heir!
Therefore devise with me how we may fly,
Whither to go and what to bear with us,
And do not seek to take your change upon you
To bear your griefs yourself and leave me out. 100
For by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale,
Say what thou canst, I’ll go along with thee.
ROSALIND
Why, whither shall we go?
CELIA
To seek my uncle in the Forest of Arden.
ROSALIND
Alas, what danger will it be to us, 105
Maids as we are, to travel forth so far!
Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold.
CELIA
I’ll put myself in poor and mean attire,
And with a kind of umber smirch my face –
The like do you; so shall we pass along 110
And never stir assailants.
ROSALIND
————————–Were it not better,
Because that I am more than common tall,
That I did suit me all points like a man?
A gallant curtal-axe upon my thigh,
A boar-spear in my hand, and in my heart, 115
Lie there what hidden woman’s fear there will,
We’ll have a swashing and a martial outside,
As many other mannish cowards have
That do outface it with their semblances.
CELIA
What shall I call thee when thou art a man? 120
ROSALIND
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?
CELIA
Something that hath a reference to my state:
No longer Celia, but Aliena. 125
ROSALIND
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 travail?
CELIA
He’ll go along o’er the wide world with me.
Leave me alone to woo him. Let’s away, 130
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. 135
(Exeunt.)
Consonance
Arden 3
(Exeunt Duke [Frederick] and Lords.)
CELIA
O my poor Rosalind, whither wilt thou go?
Wilt thou change fathers? I will give thee mine.
I charge thee, be not thou more grieved than I am.
ROSALIND
I have more cause. 90
CELIA
——————–Thou hast not, cousin.
Prithee, be cheerful. Knowst thou not the Duke
Hath banished me, his daughter?
ROSALIND
———————————That he hath not.
CELIA
No, hath not? Rosalind lacks then the love
Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one.
Shall we be sundered? Shall we part, sweet girl? 95
No, let my father seek another heir!
Therefore devise with me how we may fly,
Whither to go and what to bear with us,
And do not seek to take your change upon you
To bear your griefs yourself and leave me out. 100
For by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale,
Say what thou canst, I’ll go along with thee.
ROSALIND
Why, whither shall we go?
CELIA
To seek my uncle in the Forest of Arden.
ROSALIND
Alas, what danger will it be to us, 105
Maids as we are, to travel forth so far!
Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold.
CELIA
I’ll put myself in poor and mean attire,
And with a kind of umber smirch my face –
The like do you; so shall we pass along 110
And never stir assailants.
ROSALIND
————————–Were it not better,
Because that I am more than common tall,
That I did suit me all points like a man?
A gallant curtal-axe upon my thigh,
A boar-spear in my hand, and in my heart, 115
Lie there what hidden woman’s fear there will,
We’ll have a swashing and a martial outside,
As many other mannish cowards have
That do outface it with their semblances.
CELIA
What shall I call thee when thou art a man? 120
ROSALIND
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?
CELIA
Something that hath a reference to my state:
No longer Celia, but Aliena. 125
ROSALIND
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 travail?
CELIA
He’ll go along o’er the wide world with me.
Leave me alone to woo him. Let’s away, 130
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. 135
(Exeunt.)
Thoughts
Arden 3
(Exeunt Duke [Frederick] and Lords.)
CELIA
1. O my poor Rosalind, whither wilt thou go?
2. Wilt thou change fathers? 3. I will give thee mine.
4. I charge thee, be not thou more grieved than I am.
ROSALIND
1. I have more cause. 90
CELIA
——————–1. Thou hast not, cousin.
2. Prithee, be cheerful. 3. Knowst thou not the Duke
Hath banished me, his daughter?
ROSALIND
——————————— 1. That he hath not.
CELIA
1. No, hath not? 2. Rosalind lacks then the love
Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one.
3. Shall we be sundered? 4. Shall we part, sweet girl? 95
5. No, let my father seek another heir!
6. Therefore devise with me how we may fly,
Whither to go and what to bear with us,
And do not seek to take your change upon you
To bear your griefs yourself and leave me out. 100
7. For by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale,
Say what thou canst, I’ll go along with thee.
ROSALIND
1. Why, whither shall we go?
CELIA
1. To seek my uncle in the Forest of Arden.
ROSALIND
1. Alas, what danger will it be to us, 105
Maids as we are, to travel forth so far!
2. Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold.
CELIA
1. I’ll put myself in poor and mean attire,
And with a kind of umber smirch my face –
2. The like do you; b. so shall we pass along 110
And never stir assailants.
ROSALIND
————————– 1. Were it not better,
Because that I am more than common tall,
That I did suit me all points like a man?
2. A gallant curtal-axe upon my thigh,
A boar-spear in my hand, and in my heart, 115
Lie there what hidden woman’s fear there will,
We’ll have a swashing and a martial outside,
As many other mannish cowards have
That do outface it with their semblances.
CELIA
1. What shall I call thee when thou art a man? 120
ROSALIND
1. I’ll have no worse a name than Jove’s own page,
And therefore look you call me Ganymede.
2. But what will you be called?
CELIA
1. Something that hath a reference to my state:
b. No longer Celia, but Aliena. 125
ROSALIND
1. But cousin, what if we assayed to steal
The clownish fool out of your father’s court?
2. Would he not be a comfort to our travail?
CELIA
1. He’ll go along o’er the wide world with me.
2. Leave me alone to woo him. 3. Let’s away, 130
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. 4. Now go we in content
To liberty and not to banishment. 135
(Exeunt.)
CELIA
Long: 0
Medium: 5
Short: 18
Complex:2 | 2, 2
End stopped: 16
Midline: 7
Period: 14
Exclamation: 1
Question: 7
Dash: 1
Total: 23
ROSALIND
Long: 1
Medium: 4
Short: 6
Complex:
End stopped: 8
Midline: 3
Period: 5
Exclamation: 1
Question: 5
Dash: 1
Total: 11
Rhythm
Arden 3
(Exeunt Duke [Frederick] and Lords.)
CELIA
O my poor Rosalind, whither wilt thou go? 11
Wilt thou change fathers? I will give thee mine. 10 | 10R
I charge thee, be not thou more grieved than I am. 11W
ROSALIND
I have more cause. 4 90
CELIA
——————–Thou hast not, cousin. 5
Prithee, be cheerful. Knowst thou not the Duke 10
Hath banished me, his daughter? 7
ROSALIND
———————————That he hath not. 4 | 4W
CELIA
No, hath not? Rosalind lacks then the love 10| 10R
Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one. 10R
Shall we be sundered? Shall we part, sweet girl? 10R 95
No, let my father seek another heir! 10|10R
Therefore devise with me how we may fly, 10R
Whither to go and what to bear with us, 10
And do not seek to take your change upon you 11W
To bear your griefs yourself and leave me out. 10R 100
For by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale, 11
Say what thou canst, I’ll go along with thee. 10
ROSALIND
Why, whither shall we go? 6
CELIA
To seek my uncle in the Forest of Arden. 11W
ROSALIND
Alas, what danger will it be to us, 10R 105
Maids as we are, to travel forth so far! 10
Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold. 10
CELIA
I’ll put myself in poor and mean attire, 10R
And with a kind of umber smirch my face – 10R
The like do you; so shall we pass along 10 110
And never stir assailants. 7
ROSALIND
————————–Were it not better, 5W
Because that I am more than common tall, 10R
That I did suit me all points like a man? 10|10R
A gallant curtal-axe upon my thigh, 10R
A boar-spear in my hand, and in my heart, 10R 115
Lie there what hidden woman’s fear there will, 10R
We’ll have a swashing and a martial outside, 11W
As many other mannish cowards have 10R
That do outface it with their semblances. 10R
CELIA
What shall I call thee when thou art a man? 10R 120
ROSALIND
I’ll have no worse a name than Jove’s own page, 10R
And therefore look you call me Ganymede. 10R
But what will you be called? 6
CELIA
Something that hath a reference to my state: 10|10R
No longer Celia, but Aliena. 11W 125
ROSALIND
But cousin, what if we assayed to steal 10R
The clownish fool out of your father’s court? 10|10R
Would he not be a comfort to our travail? 11W
CELIA
He’ll go along o’er the wide world with me. 10
Leave me alone to woo him. Let’s away, 10 130
And get our jewels and our wealth together, 11W
Devise the fittest time and safest way 10R
To hide us from pursuit that will be made 10R
After my flight. Now go we in content 10
To liberty and not to banishment. 10R 135
(Exeunt.)
Pacing
Arden 3
(Exeunt Duke [Frederick] and Lords.)
CELIA
O my poor Rosalind, whither wilt thou go? PAUSE?
Wilt thou change fathers? <c> I will give thee mine. PAUSE?
I charge thee, <c> be not thou more grieved than I am. PAUSE?
ROSALIND
I have more cause. PAUSE? 90
CELIA
——————–Thou hast not, cousin. PAUSE?
Prithee, be cheerful. <c> Knowst thou not the Duke
Hath banished me, his daughter?
ROSALIND
———————————That he hath not. PAUSE?
CELIA
No, hath not? <c> Rosalind lacks then the love
Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one. PAUSE?
Shall we be sundered? <c> Shall we part, sweet girl? PAUSE? 95
No, let my father seek another heir! PAUSE?
Therefore devise with me how we may fly,
Whither to go and what to bear with us,
And do not seek to take your change upon you
To bear your griefs yourself and leave me out. PAUSE? 100
For by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale,
Say what thou canst, I’ll go along with thee. PAUSE?
ROSALIND
Why, whither shall we go? PAUSE?
CELIA
To seek my uncle in the Forest of Arden. PAUSE?
ROSALIND
Alas, what danger will it be to us, 105
Maids as we are, <c> to travel forth so far! PAUSE?
Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold. PAUSE?
CELIA
I’ll put myself in poor and mean attire,
And with a kind of umber smirch my face – PAUSE?
The like do you; <c> so shall we pass along 110
And never stir assailants. PAUSE?
ROSALIND
————————–Were it not better,
Because that I am more than common tall,
That I did suit me all points like a man? PAUSE?
A gallant curtal-axe upon my thigh,
A boar-spear in my hand, <c> and in my heart, 115
Lie there what hidden woman’s fear there will,
We’ll have a swashing and a martial outside,
As many other mannish cowards have
That do outface it with their semblances. PAUSE?
CELIA
What shall I call thee when thou art a man? PAUSE? 120
ROSALIND
I’ll have no worse a name than Jove’s own page,
And therefore <c> look you call me Ganymede. PAUSE?
But what will you be called? PAUSE?
CELIA
Something that hath a reference to my state: PAUSE?
No longer Celia, <c> but Aliena. PAUSE? 125
ROSALIND
But cousin, <c> what if we assayed to steal >>
The clownish fool out of your father’s court? PAUSE?
Would he not be a comfort to our travail? PAUSE?
CELIA
He’ll go along o’er the wide world with me. PAUSE?
Leave me alone to woo him. <c> Let’s away, 130
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. <c> Now go we in content
To liberty and not to banishment. PAUSE? 135
(Exeunt.)
Beats
Arden 3
(Exeunt Duke [Frederick] and Lords.)
CELIA
O my poor Rosalind, whither wilt thou go?
Wilt thou change fathers? I will give thee mine.
I charge thee, be not thou more grieved than I am.
ROSALIND
I have more cause. 90
CELIA
——————–Thou hast not, cousin.
Prithee, be cheerful. Knowst thou not the Duke
Hath banished me, his daughter?
ROSALIND
———————————That he hath not.
CELIA
No, hath not? Rosalind lacks then the love
Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one.
Shall we be sundered? Shall we part, sweet girl? 95
No, let my father seek another heir!
Therefore devise with me how we may fly,
Whither to go and what to bear with us,
And do not seek to take your change upon you
To bear your griefs yourself and leave me out. 100
For by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale,
Say what thou canst, I’ll go along with thee.
ROSALIND
Why, whither shall we go?
CELIA
To seek my uncle in the Forest of Arden.
ROSALIND
Alas, what danger will it be to us, 105
Maids as we are, to travel forth so far!
Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold.
CELIA
I’ll put myself in poor and mean attire,
And with a kind of umber smirch my face –
The like do you; so shall we pass along 110
And never stir assailants.
ROSALIND
————————–Were it not better,
Because that I am more than common tall,
That I did suit me all points like a man?
A gallant curtal-axe upon my thigh,
A boar-spear in my hand, and in my heart, 115
Lie there what hidden woman’s fear there will,
We’ll have a swashing and a martial outside,
As many other mannish cowards have
That do outface it with their semblances.
CELIA
What shall I call thee when thou art a man? 120
ROSALIND
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?
CELIA
Something that hath a reference to my state:
No longer Celia, but Aliena. 125
ROSALIND
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 travail?
CELIA
He’ll go along o’er the wide world with me.
Leave me alone to woo him.
—————————–Let’s away, 130
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. 135
(Exeunt.)
Pronunciation +
shamest: (line 23) Q2–3; sham’st Q4, F; not in Q1 (Weis)
Jesu: (line 29) jeez-yoo or jee-zoo; jayz-yoo or jay-zoo
you: (line 29) The more formal pronoun is used consistently by Nurse when addressing Juliet, while the 13-year-old uses the familiar thou, thee, thy to her servant, in conformity with the etiquette of the day in which social class overrides age. (Weis)
marry: (line 62) mah-ree (UK); meh-ree (US) (OED)
trow: (line 62) tr-ah-oo (UK); tr-oh (US) (OED)
hie: (line 68) hah-ee
wanton: (line 70) want-en or want-in
Scene
Arden 3
[3.2]
Enter [Oberon].
OBERON
I wonder if Titania be awaked;
Then what it was that next came in her eye,
Which she must dote on in extremity.
Enter [Robin Goodfellow].
Here comes my messenger. How now, mad spirit?
5What night-rule now about this haunted grove?
ROBIN
My mistress with a monster is in love.
Near to her close and consecrated bower,
While she was in her dull and sleeping hour,
A crew of patches, rude mechanicals
10That work for bread upon Athenian stalls,
Were met together to rehearse a play
Intended for great Theseus’ nuptial day.
The shallowest thickskin of that barren sort,
Who Pyramus presented in their sport,
15Forsook his scene and entered in a brake,
When I did him at this advantage take:
An ass’s nole I fixed on his head.
Anon his Thisbe must be answered,
And forth my minic comes. When they him spy,
20As wild geese that the creeping fowler eye,
Or russet-pated choughs, many in sort
Rising and cawing at the gun’s report,
Sever themselves and madly sweep the sky,
So at his sight away his fellows fly;
25And at our stamp, here o’er and o’er one falls,
He ‘Murder’ cries, and help from Athens calls.
Their sense, thus weak, lost with their fears thus strong,
Made senseless things begin to do them wrong;
For briers and thorns at their apparel snatch –
30Some sleeves, some hats; from yielders, all things catch.
I led them on in this distracted fear,
And left sweet Pyramus translated there;
When in that moment, so it came to pass,
Titania waked, and straightway loved an ass.
OBERON
35This falls out better than I could devise.
But hast thou yet latched the Athenian’s eyes
With the love-juice, as I did bid thee do?
ROBIN
I took him sleeping (that is finished too)
And the Athenian woman by his side,
40That when he waked, of force she must be eyed.
Enter Demetrius and Hermia. [Oberon and Robin stand apart.]
OBERON
Stand close. This is the same Athenian.
ROBIN
This is the woman, but not this the man.
DEMETRIUS
O, why rebuke you him that loves you so?
Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe.
HERMIA
45Now I but chide; but I should use thee worse,
For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse.
If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep,
Being o’er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep
And kill me too.
50The sun was not so true unto the day
As he to me. Would he have stolen away
From sleeping Hermia? I’ll believe as soon
This whole earth may be bored, and that the moon
May through the centre creep, and so displease
55Her brother’s noontide with th’antipodes.
It cannot be but thou hast murdered him.
So should a murderer look: so dead, so grim.
DEMETRIUS
So should the murdered look, and so should I,
Pierced through the heart with your stern cruelty.
60Yet you, the murderer, look as bright, as clear
As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere.
HERMIA
What’s this to my Lysander? Where is he?
Ah, good Demetrius, wilt thou give him me?
DEMETRIUS
I had rather give his carcass to my hounds.
HERMIA
65Out, dog, out, cur! Thou driv’st me past the bounds
Of maiden’s patience. Hast thou slain him then?
Henceforth be never numbered among men.
O, once tell true: tell true, even for my sake,
Durst thou have looked upon him, being awake,
70And hast thou killed him sleeping? O brave touch!
Could not a worm, an adder do so much?
An adder did it; for with doubler tongue
Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung.
DEMETRIUS
You spend your passion on a misprised mood.
75I am not guilty of Lysander’s blood,
Nor is he dead, for aught that I can tell.
HERMIA
I pray thee, tell me then that he is well.
DEMETRIUS
And if I could, what should I get therefor?
HERMIA
A privilege never to see me more.
80And from thy hated presence part I so.
See me no more, whether he be dead or no.(Exit.)
DEMETRIUS
There is no following her in this fierce vein;
Here, therefore, for a while I will remain.
So sorrow’s heaviness doth heavier grow
85For debt that bankrupt sleep doth sorrow owe,
Which now in some slight measure it will pay,
If for his tender here I make some stay.
(Lie[s] down [and sleeps].)
[Oberon and Robin come forward.]
OBERON
What hast thou done? Thou hast mistaken quite,
And laid the love-juice on some true love’s sight.
90Of thy misprision must perforce ensue
Some true love turned, and not a false turned true.
ROBIN
Then fate o’errules, that one man holding troth,
A million fail, confounding oath on oath.
OBERON
About the wood go swifter than the wind,
95And Helena of Athens look thou find.
All fancy-sick she is and pale of cheer,
With sighs of love that costs the fresh blood dear.
By some illusion see thou bring her here.
I’ll charm his eyes, against she do appear.
ROBIN
100I go, I go, look how I go,
Swifter than arrow from the Tartar’s bow.(Exit.)
OBERON
[Squeezes the flower on Demetrius’ eyelids.]
Flower of this purple dye,
Hit with Cupid’s archery,
Sink in apple of his eye.
105When his love he doth espy,
Let her shine as gloriously
As the Venus of the sky.
When thou wak’st, if she be by,
Beg of her for remedy.
Enter [Robin Goodfellow].
ROBIN
110Captain of our fairy band,
Helena is here at hand,
And the youth mistook by me
Pleading for a lover’s fee.
Shall we their fond pageant see?
115Lord, what fools these mortals be!
OBERON
Stand aside. The noise they make
Will cause Demetrius to awake.
ROBIN
Then will two at once woo one:
That must needs be sport alone.
120And those things do best please me
That befall preposterously.
Enter Lysander and Helena. [Oberon and Robin stand apart.]
LYSANDER
Why should you think that I should woo in scorn?
Scorn and derision never come in tears.
Look when I vow, I weep; and vows so born,
125In their nativity all truth appears.
How can these things in me seem scorn to you,
Bearing the badge of faith to prove them true?
HELENA
You do advance your cunning more and more.
When truth kills truth, O devilish holy fray!
130These vows are Hermia’s: will you give her o’er?
Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh.
Your vows to her and me, put in two scales,
Will even weigh, and both as light as tales.
LYSANDER
I had no judgement when to her I swore.
HELENA
135Nor none, in my mind, now you give her o’er.
LYSANDER
Demetrius loves her, and he loves not you.
DEMETRIUS
(Wakes.)
O Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine,
To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne?
Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show
140Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!
That pure congealed white, high Taurus’ snow,
Fanned with the eastern wind, turns to a crow
When thou hold’st up thy hand. O let me kiss
This impress of pure white, this seal of bliss!
HELENA
145O spite! O hell! I see you all are bent
To set against me for your merriment.
If you were civil and knew courtesy,
You would not do me thus much injury.
Can you not hate me, as I know you do,
150But you must join in souls to mock me too?
If you were men, as men you are in show,
You would not use a gentle lady so,
To vow and swear and superpraise my parts
When I am sure you hate me with your hearts.
155You both are rivals and love Hermia,
And now both rivals to mock Helena.
A trim exploit, a manly enterprise,
To conjure tears up in a poor maid’s eyes
With your derision! None of noble sort
160Would so offend a virgin, and extort
A poor soul’s patience, all to make you sport.
LYSANDER
You are unkind, Demetrius; be not so,
For you love Hermia: this you know I know.
And here with all good will, with all my heart,
165In Hermia’s love I yield you up my part;
And yours of Helena to me bequeath,
Whom I do love, and will do till my death.
HELENA
Never did mockers waste more idle breath.
DEMETRIUS
Lysander, keep thy Hermia; I will none.
170If e’er I loved her, all that love is gone.
My heart to her but as guestwise sojourned,
And now to Helen is it home returned,
There to remain.
LYSANDER
——————–Helen, it is not so.
DEMETRIUS
Disparage not the faith thou dost not know,
175Lest, to thy peril, thou abye it dear.
Look where thy love comes: yonder is thy dear.
Enter Hermia.
HERMIA
Dark night, that from the eye his function takes,
The ear more quick of apprehension makes;
Wherein it doth impair the seeing sense,
180It pays the hearing double recompense.
Thou art not by mine eye, Lysander, found;
Mine ear, I thank it, brought me to thy sound.
But why, unkindly, didst thou leave me so?
LYSANDER
Why should he stay, whom love doth press to go?
HERMIA
185What love could press Lysander from my side?
LYSANDER
Lysander’s love, that would not let him bide:
Fair Helena, who more engilds the night
Than all yon fiery oes and eyes of light.
Why seek’st thou me? Could not this make thee know,
190The hate I bare thee made me leave thee so?
HERMIA
You speak not as you think. It cannot be.
HELENA
Lo, she is one of this confederacy.
Now I perceive, they have conjoined all three
To fashion this false sport in spite of me.
195Injurious Hermia, most ungrateful maid,
Have you conspired, have you with these contrived
To bait me with this foul derision?
Is all the counsel that we two have shared,
The sisters’ vows, the hours that we have spent,
200When we have chid the hasty-footed time
For parting us – O, is all forgot?
All schooldays’ friendship, childhood innocence?
We, Hermia, like two artificial gods,
Have with our needles created both one flower,
205Both on one sampler, sitting on one cushion,
Both warbling of one song, both in one key,
As if our hands, our sides, voices and minds
Had been incorporate. So we grew together
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted
210But yet an union in partition,
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;
So with two seeming bodies but one heart,
Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,
Due but to one, and crowned with one crest.
215And will you rent our ancient love asunder
To join with men in scorning your poor friend?
It is not friendly, ’tis not maidenly.
Our sex, as well as I, may chide you for it,
Though I alone do feel the injury.
HERMIA
220I am amazed at your passionate words.
I scorn you not; it seems that you scorn me.
HELENA
Have you not set Lysander, as in scorn,
To follow me and praise my eyes and face?
And made your other love Demetrius,
225Who even but now did spurn me with his foot,
To call me goddess, nymph, divine and rare,
Precious, celestial? Wherefore speaks he this
To her he hates? And wherefore doth Lysander
Deny your love, so rich within his soul,
230And tender me, forsooth, affection,
But by your setting on, by your consent?
What though I be not so in grace as you,
So hung upon with love, so fortunate,
But miserable most, to love unloved?
235This you should pity rather than despise.
HERMIA
I understand not what you mean by this.
HELENA
I do. Persevere, counterfeit sad looks,
Make mouths upon me when I turn my back,
Wink each at other, hold the sweet jest up.
240This sport, well carried, shall be chronicled.
If you have any pity, grace or manners,
You would not make me such an argument.
But fare ye well. ’Tis partly my own fault,
Which death or absence soon shall remedy.
LYSANDER
245Stay, gentle Helena; hear my excuse,
My love, my life, my soul, fair Helena.
HELENA
O excellent!
HERMIA
[to Lysander]Sweet, do not scorn her so.
DEMETRIUS
[to Lysander]
If she cannot entreat, I can compel.
LYSANDER
Thou canst compel no more than she entreat.
250Thy threats have no more strength than her weak prayers.
Helen, I love thee, by my life I do.
I swear by that which I will lose for thee
To prove him false that says I love thee not.
DEMETRIUS
[to Helena]
I say, I love thee more than he can do.
LYSANDER
[to Demetrius]
255If thou say so, withdraw, and prove it too.
DEMETRIUS
Quick, come.
HERMIA
Lysander, whereto tends all this?
LYSANDER
Away, you Ethiop.
DEMETRIUS
[to Hermia]No, no: he’ll seem
To break loose, take on as you would follow,
But yet come not. [to Lysander] You are a tame man, go.
LYSANDER
260Hang off, thou cat, thou burr, vile thing let loose,
Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent.
HERMIA
Why are you grown so rude? What change is this,
Sweet love?
LYSANDER
Thy love? Out, tawny Tartar, out!
Out, loathed medicine; O hated potion, hence.
HERMIA
265Do you not jest?
HELENA
265Yes, sooth, and so do you.
LYSANDER
Demetrius, I will keep my word with thee.
DEMETRIUS
I would I had your bond; for I perceive
A weak bond holds you. I’ll not trust your word.
LYSANDER
What, should I hurt her, strike her, kill her dead?
270Although I hate her, I’ll not harm her so.
HERMIA
What, can you do me greater harm than hate?
Hate me, wherefore? O me, what news, my love?
Am not I Hermia? Are not you Lysander?
I am as fair now as I was erewhile.
275Since night you loved me, yet since night you left me.
Why then, you left me (O the gods forbid)
In earnest, shall I say?
LYSANDER
Ay, by my life,
And never did desire to see thee more.
Therefore be out of hope, of question, of doubt;
280Be certain, nothing truer: ’tis no jest
That I do hate thee, and love Helena.
HERMIA
[to Helena]
O me, you juggler, you canker-blossom,
You thief of love! What, have you come by night
And stolen my love’s heart from him?
HELENA
Fine, i’ faith.
285Have you no modesty, no maiden shame,
No touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear
Impatient answers from my gentle tongue?
Fie, fie, you counterfeit, you puppet, you!
HERMIA
Puppet? Why so? Aye, that way goes the game.
290Now I perceive that she hath made compare
Between our statures: she hath urged her height,
And with her personage, her tall personage,
Her height, forsooth, she hath prevailed with him.
And are you grown so high in his esteem
295Because I am so dwarfish and so low?
How low am I, thou painted maypole? Speak,
How low am I? I am not yet so low
But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes.
HELENA
I pray you, though you mock me, gentlemen,
300Let her not hurt me. I was never curst;
I have no gift at all in shrewishness.
I am a right maid for my cowardice:
Let her not strike me. You perhaps may think
Because she is something lower than myself,
305That I can match her.
HERMIA
305Lower? Hark again.
HELENA
Good Hermia, do not be so bitter with me.
I evermore did love you, Hermia,
Did ever keep your counsels, never wronged you,
Save that in love unto Demetrius,
310I told him of your stealth unto this wood.
He followed you; for love, I followed him.
But he hath chid me hence, and threatened me
To strike me, spurn me, nay to kill me too.
And now, so you will let me quiet go,
315To Athens will I bear my folly back,
And follow you no further. Let me go.
You see how simple and how fond I am.
HERMIA
Why, get you gone. Who is’t that hinders you?
HELENA
A foolish heart, that I leave here behind.
HERMIA
320What, with Lysander?
HELENA
320With Demetrius.
LYSANDER
Be not afraid. She shall not harm thee, Helena.
DEMETRIUS
No, sir, she shall not, though you take her part.
HELENA
O, when she is angry, she is keen and shrewd.
She was a vixen when she went to school;
325And though she be but little, she is fierce.
HERMIA
Little again? Nothing but low and little?
Why will you suffer her to flout me thus?
Let me come to her.
LYSANDER
Get you gone, you dwarf,
You minimus, of hindering knot-grass made,
330You bead, you acorn.
DEMETRIUS
330You are too officious
In her behalf that scorns your services.
Let her alone. Speak not of Helena,
Take not her part. For if thou dost intend
Never so little show of love to her,
335Thou shalt abye it.
LYSANDER
335Now she holds me not.
Now follow, if thou dar’st, to try whose right,
Of thine or mine, is most in Helena.
DEMETRIUS
Follow? Nay, I’ll go with thee, cheek by jowl.
([Exeunt] Lysander and Demetrius.)
HERMIA
You, mistress, all this coil is long of you.
340Nay, go not back.
HELENA
340I will not trust you, I,
Nor longer stay in your curst company.
Your hands than mine are quicker for a fray;
My legs are longer, though, to run away.[Exit.]
HERMIA
I am amazed, and know not what to say.[Exit.]
[Oberon and Robin come forward.]
OBERON
345This is thy negligence. Still thou mistak’st,
Or else commit’st thy knaveries wilfully.
ROBIN
Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook.
Did not you tell me I should know the man
By the Athenian garments he had on?
350And so far blameless proves my enterprise,
That I have ’nointed an Athenian’s eyes;
And so far am I glad it so did sort,
As this their jangling I esteem a sport.
OBERON
Thou seest these lovers seek a place to fight.
355Hie therefore, Robin, overcast the night;
The starry welkin cover thou anon
With drooping fog as black as Acheron,
And lead these testy rivals so astray
As one come not within another’s way.
360Like to Lysander sometime frame thy tongue,
Then stir Demetrius up with bitter wrong,
And sometime rail thou like Demetrius,
And from each other look thou lead them thus
Till o’er their brows, death-counterfeiting, sleep
365With leaden legs and batty wings doth creep.
Then crush this herb into Lysander’s eye,
Whose liquor hath this virtuous property
To take from thence all error with his might,
And make his eyeballs roll with wonted sight.
370When they next wake, all this derision
Shall seem a dream and fruitless vision,
And back to Athens shall the lovers wend
With league whose date till death shall never end.
Whiles I in this affair do thee employ,
375I’ll to my queen and beg her Indian boy;
And then I will her charmed eye release
From monster’s view, and all things shall be peace.
ROBIN
My fairy lord, this must be done with haste,
For night’s swift dragons cut the clouds full fast
380And yonder shines Aurora’s harbinger,
At whose approach ghosts, wandering here and there,
Troop home to churchyards. Damned spirits all,
That in cross-ways and floods have burial,
Already to their wormy beds are gone.
385For fear lest day should look their shames upon,
They wilfully themselves exile from light,
And must for ay consort with black-browed night.
OBERON
But we are spirits of another sort.
I with the morning’s love have oft made sport,
390And like a forester the groves may tread
Even till the eastern gate, all fiery red,
Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams,
Turns into yellow gold his salt green streams.
But notwithstanding, haste, make no delay.
395We may effect this business yet ere day.[Exit.]
ROBIN
Up and down, up and down,
I will lead them up and down.
I am feared in field and town.
Goblin, lead them up and down.
400Here comes one.
Enter Lysander.
LYSANDER
Where art thou, proud Demetrius? Speak thou now.
ROBIN
Here, villain, drawn and ready. Where art thou?
LYSANDER
I will be with thee straight.
ROBIN
Follow me then
To plainer ground.
[Exit Lysander, as though following Demetrius.]
Enter Demetrius.
DEMETRIUS
Lysander, speak again.
405Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled?
Speak: in some bush? Where dost thou hide thy head?
ROBIN
Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars,
Telling the bushes that thou look’st for wars,
And wilt not come? Come, recreant, come, thou child.
410I’ll whip thee with a rod: he is defiled
That draws a sword on thee.
DEMETRIUS
Yea, art thou there?
ROBIN
Follow my voice. We’ll try no manhood here.(Exeunt.)
[Enter Lysander.]
LYSANDER
He goes before me, and still dares me on;
When I come where he calls, then he is gone.
415The villain is much lighter heeled than I:
I followed fast, but faster he did fly, (shifting places)
That fallen am I in dark uneven way,
And here will rest me. (Lie[s] down.)
Come, thou gentle day,
For if but once thou show me thy gray light,
420I’ll find Demetrius, and revenge this spite. [Sleeps.]
Enter Robin and Demetrius.
ROBIN
Ho, ho, ho! Coward, why com’st thou not?
DEMETRIUS
Abide me, if thou dar’st. For well I wot,
Thou run’st before me, shifting every place,
And dar’st not stand nor look me in the face.
425Where art thou now?
ROBIN
425Come hither. I am here.
DEMETRIUS
Nay then, thou mockst me. Thou shalt buy this dear
If ever I thy face by daylight see;
Now go thy way. Faintness constraineth me
To measure out my length on this cold bed. [Lies down.]
430By day’s approach look to be visited. [Sleeps.]
Enter Helena.
HELENA
O weary night, O long and tedious night,
Abate thy hours. Shine, comforts, from the east,
That I may back to Athens by daylight
From these that my poor company detest;
435And sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow’s eye,
Steal me a while from mine own company.
([Lies down and] sleep[s].)
ROBIN
Yet but three? Come one more.
Two of both kinds makes up four.
Here she comes, curst and sad.
440Cupid is a knavish lad,
Thus to make poor females mad.
Enter Hermia.
HERMIA
Never so weary, never so in woe,
Bedabbled with the dew, and torn with briers,
I can no further crawl, no further go;
445My legs can keep no pace with my desires.
Here will I rest me till the break of day. [Lies down.]
Heavens shield Lysander, if they mean a fray. [Sleeps.]
ROBIN
[Squeezes the juice on Lysander’s eyelids.]
On the ground
Sleep sound.
450 I’ll apply
To your eye,
Gentle lover, remedy.
When thou wak’st,
Thou tak’st
455 True delight
In the sight
Of thy former lady’s eye;
And the country proverb known,
That every man should take his own,
460 In your waking shall be shown.
Jack shall have Jill,
Nought shall go ill,
The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be well.
[Exit Robin. The lovers remain onstage, sleeping.]
Beats
Arden 3
(Exeunt Duke [Frederick] and Lords.)
CELIA
O my poor Rosalind, whither wilt thou go?
Wilt thou change fathers? I will give thee mine.
I charge thee, be not thou more grieved than I am.
ROSALIND
I have more cause. 90
CELIA
——————–Thou hast not, cousin.
Prithee, be cheerful. Knowst thou not the Duke
Hath banished me, his daughter?
ROSALIND
———————————That he hath not.
CELIA
No, hath not? Rosalind lacks then the love
Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one.
Shall we be sundered? Shall we part, sweet girl? 95
No, let my father seek another heir!
Therefore devise with me how we may fly,
Whither to go and what to bear with us,
And do not seek to take your change upon you
To bear your griefs yourself and leave me out. 100
For by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale,
Say what thou canst, I’ll go along with thee.
ROSALIND
Why, whither shall we go?
CELIA
To seek my uncle in the Forest of Arden.
ROSALIND
Alas, what danger will it be to us, 105
Maids as we are, to travel forth so far!
Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold.
CELIA
I’ll put myself in poor and mean attire,
And with a kind of umber smirch my face –
The like do you; so shall we pass along 110
And never stir assailants.
ROSALIND
————————–Were it not better,
Because that I am more than common tall,
That I did suit me all points like a man?
A gallant curtal-axe upon my thigh,
A boar-spear in my hand, and in my heart, 115
Lie there what hidden woman’s fear there will,
We’ll have a swashing and a martial outside,
As many other mannish cowards have
That do outface it with their semblances.
CELIA
What shall I call thee when thou art a man? 120
ROSALIND
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?
CELIA
Something that hath a reference to my state:
No longer Celia, but Aliena. 125
ROSALIND
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 travail?
CELIA
He’ll go along o’er the wide world with me.
Leave me alone to woo him.
—————————–Let’s away, 130
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. 135
(Exeunt.)
Pronunciation +
shamest: (line 23) Q2–3; sham’st Q4, F; not in Q1 (Weis)
Jesu: (line 29) jeez-yoo or jee-zoo; jayz-yoo or jay-zoo
you: (line 29) The more formal pronoun is used consistently by Nurse when addressing Juliet, while the 13-year-old uses the familiar thou, thee, thy to her servant, in conformity with the etiquette of the day in which social class overrides age. (Weis)
marry: (line 62) mah-ree (UK); meh-ree (US) (OED)
trow: (line 62) tr-ah-oo (UK); tr-oh (US) (OED)
hie: (line 68) hah-ee
wanton: (line 70) want-en or want-in