That were with him exíl'd: This to be true,
I do engage my life.

DUKE S.
Welcome, young man ;
Thou offer'st fairly to thy brothers wedding:
To one his lands with-held; and to the other,
A land itself at large, a potent dukedom.
First, in this forest, let us do those ends
That here were well begun, and well begot:
And after, every of this happy number,

That have endur'd shrewd days and nights with us,
Shall share the good of our returned fortune,
According to the measure of their states.
Meantime, forget this new-fall'n dignity,
And fall into our rustick revelry:-

Play, musick;—and you brides and bridegrooms all,
With measure heap'd in joy, to the measures fall.
JAQ. Sir, by your patience; If I heard you

rightly,

The duke hath put on a religious life,

And thrown into neglect the

JAQ. DE B. He hath.

pompous court?

JAQ. To him will I: out of these convertites There is much matter to be heard and learn'd.

You to your former honour I bequeath;

[To Duke S. Your patience, and your virtue, well deserves it :You [To ORLANDO] to a love, that your true faith doth merit:

You [TO OLIVER] to your land, and love, and great

allies:

You [TO SILVIUs] to a long and well deserved bed ;And you [To TOUCHSTONE] to wrangling; for thy loving voyage

Is but for two months victual'd:-So to your plea

sures;

I am for other than for dancing measures.

a With measure heap'd in joy, to the measures fall] i. e. with a full measure, overflowing with joy, lead up the dance. See M. ado &c. II. 1. Beatr.

DUKE S. Stay, Jaques, stay.

JAQ. To see no pastime I:-what you would have

I'll stay to know at your abandon'd cave. [Exit. DUKE S. Proceed, proceed: we will begin these

rites,

And we do trust they'll end, in true delights."

a

[A dance.

we do trust they'll end, in true delights] It may be observed, with concern, that Shakespeare has, on this occasion, forgot old Adam, the servant of Orlando, whose fidelity should have entitled him to notice at the end of the piece, as well as to that happiness which he would naturally have found, in the return of fortune to his master. STEEVENS.

I

EPILOGUE.

a

Ros. It is not the fashion to see the lady the epilogue: but it is no more unhandsome, than to see the lord the prologue. If it be true, that good wine needs no bush, (17) 'tis true, that a good play needs no epilogue: Yet to good wine they do use good bushes; and good plays prove the better by the help of good epilogues. What a case am I in then, that am neither a good epilogue, nor cannot insinuate(18) with you in the behalf of a good play? I am not furnished like a beggar, therefore to beg will not become me: my way is, to conjure you; and I'll begin with the women. I charge you, O women, for the love you bear to men, to like as much of this play as please you: and I charge you, O men, for the love you bear to women, (as I perceive by your simpering, none of you hates them,) that between you and the women, the play may please. If I were a woman, I would kiss as many of you as had beards that pleased me, com

a

b

furnished like a beggar] i. e. dressed: so before, he was furnished like a huntsman. JOHNSON.

b I charge you, O women, for the love you bear to men, to like as much of this play as please you: &c.] i. e. as much of this play as is your will and pleasure; and I charge you, O men, for the love you bear to women (and the symptoms that appear of your not being averse to them, pretty plainly show your disposition,) that by your united aid, the play may please."

Of the use of please, for does, or shall please, Malone produces many instances:

"Where every horse bears his commanding rein,
"And may direct his course, as please himself." R. III.

a pipe for fortune's finger,

"To sound what stop she please." Haml.

"All men's honours

"Lie like one lump before him, to be fashion'd

"Into what pitch he please." H. VIII.

plexions that liked me," and breaths that I defied not:(19) and, I am sure, as many as have good beards, or good faces, or sweet breaths, will, for my kind offer, when I make curt'sy, bid me farewell. [Exeunt.

complexions that liked me] i. e. I liked. "This likes me well." Haml. STEEVENS.

b Of this play the fable is wild and pleasing. I know not how the ladies will approve of the facility with which both Rosalind and Celia give away their hearts. To Celia much may be forgiven for the heroism of her friendship. The character of Jaques is natural and well preserved. The comick dialogue is very sprightly, with less mixture of low buffoonery than in some other plays; and the graver part is elegant and harmonious. By hastening to the end of this work, Shakespeare suppressed the dialogue between the usurper and the hermit, and lost an opportunity of exhibiting a moral lesson in which he might have found matter worthy of his highest powers. JOHNSON.