Duke S. I do remember in this shepherd-boy Some lively touches of my daughter's favor.1

Orl. My lord, the first time that I ever saw him, Methought he was a brother to your daughter. But, my good lord, this boy is forest-born; And hath been tutor'd in the rudiments Of many desperate studies by his uncle, Whom he reports to be a great magician, Obscured in the circle of this forest.

Enter TOUCHSTONE and Audrey.

Jaques. There is, sure, another flood toward, and these couples are coming to the ark! Here comes a pair of very strange beasts, which in all tongues are called fools.

Touch. Salutation and greeting to you all!

Jaques. Good my lord, bid him welcome. This is the motley-minded gentleman, that I have so often met in the forest: he hath been a courtier, he

swears.

Touch. If any man doubt that, let him put me to my purgation. I have trod a measure; I have flattered a lady; I have been politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy; I have undone three tailors; I have had four quarrels, and like to have fought one.

Jaques. And how was that ta'en up?

1 Countenance.

2 A stately, solemn dance.

Touch. Faith, we met, and found the quarrel was upon the seventh cause.

Jaques. How seventh cause?-Good, my lord, like this fellow.

Duke S. I like him very well.

Touch. God ild1 you, sir; I desire you of the like. I press in here, sir, amongst the rest of the country copulatives, to swear and to forswear, according as marriage binds and blood breaks. A poor virgin, sir, an ill-favored thing, sir, but mine own; a poor humor of mine, sir, to take that that no man else will. Rich honesty dwells like a miser, sir, in a poor house, as your pearl in your foul oyster.

Duke S. By my faith, he is very swift and sententious.

Touch. According to the fool's bolt, sir, and such dulcet diseases.2

;

Jaques. But, for the seventh cause find the quarrel on the seventh cause?

how did you

Touch. Upon a lie seven times removed: (bear your body more seeming,3 Audrey!) as thus, sir. I did dislike the cut of a certain courtier's beard; he sent me word, if I said his beard was not cut well, he was in the mind it was: this is called the retort courteous. If I sent him word again, it was

1 Reward.

2 Malone thinks that this word is capriciously used by Shakspeare for sayings.

3 Seemly.

not well cut, he would send me word, he cut it to please himself: this is called the quip modest. If again it was not well cut, he disabled my judgment: this is called the reply churlish. If again it was not well cut, he would answer, I spake not true: this is called the reproof valiant. If again it was not well cut, he would say, I lie: this is called the countercheck quarrelsome: and so to the lie circumstantial, and the lie direct.

Jaques. And how oft did you say, his beard was not well cut?

Touch. I durst go no farther than the lie circumstantial, nor he durst not give me the lie direct; and so we measured swords, and parted.

Jaques. Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie?

Touch. O, sir, we quarrel in print, by the book,1 as you have books for good manners: I will name you the degrees. The first, the retort courteous ; the second, the quip modest; the third, the reply churlish; the fourth, the reproof valiant; the fifth, the countercheck quarrelsome; the sixth, the lie with circumstance; the seventh, the lie direct. All these you may avoid, but the lie direct; and you may avoid that too, with an if. I knew when seven 'justices could not take up a quarrel; but when the parties were met themselves, one of them thought

1 Shakspeare is here supposed to allude to a formal treatise on duelling, by Vincentio Saviolo, printed in 1594.

but of an if, as, if you said so, then I said so;' and they shook hands, and swore brothers. Your 'if' is the only peace-maker; much virtue in ‘if.'

Jaques. Is not this a rare fellow, my lord? He's as good at any thing, and yet a fool.

Duke S. He uses his folly like a stalking-horse; 1 and, under the presentation of that, he shoots his wit.

Enter HYMEN, leading ROSALIND in women's clothes;

and CELIA.

Still music.

Hymen. Then is there mirth in heaven,
When earthly things made even
Atone together.

Good Duke, receive thy daughter;
Hymen from heaven brought her,

Yea, brought her hither;

That thou mightst join her hand with his,
Whose heart within her bosom is.

Ros. To you I give myself, for I am yours:

[to Duke S.

To you I give myself, for I am yours. [to Orl. Duke S. If there be truth in sight, you are my

daughter.

Orl. If there be truth in sight, you are my Rosalind.

'A horse either real or fictitious, by which the fowler sheltered himself from the sight of the game.'-Steevens.

Phe. If sight and shape be true,

Why then, my love, adieu!

Ros. I'll have no father, if you be not he :

[to Duke S.

I'll have no husband, if you be not he;—

[to Orl.

Nor ne'er wed woman, if you be not she.

[to Phe.

Hymen. Peace, ho! I bar confusion : 'Tis I must make conclusion

Of these most strange events;
Here's eight that must take hands,
To join in Hymen's bands,

If truth holds true contents.1

You and you no cross shall part;

[to Orl. and Ros.

You and you are heart in heart :

[to Oli. and Cel.

You [to Phe.] to his love must accord,
Or have a woman to your lord :—
You and you are sure together,

[to Touch. and Aud.

As the winter to foul weather.
Whiles a wedlock-hymn we sing,
Feed yourselves with questioning;
That reason wonder may diminish,
How thus we met, and these things finish.

Unless truth fail of veracity.