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 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. JAQ. 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-horse2, and under the presentation of that, he shoots his wit. Enter HYMEN3, leading ROSALIND in woman's cloaths; and CELIA. Still Musick. HYMм. Then is there mirth in heaven, for Men, Servants, and Children, with stans puer ad mensam ; 12mo. black letter, without date. It was written by Hugh Rhodes, a gentleman, or musician, of the Chapel Royal; and was first published in 4to. in the reign of King Edward VI. STEEVENS. Another is, Galateo of Maister John Casa, Archbishop of Benevento; or rather, a Treatise of the Manners and Behaviours it behoveth a Man to use and eschewe in his familiar Conversation. A Work very necessary and profitable for all Gentlemen or other; translated from the Italian, by Robert Peterson of Lincoln's Inn, 4to. 1576. REED. 2 like a stalking-horse,] See my note on Much Ado About Nothing, Act II. Sc. III. STEEVENS. 3 Enter HYMEN,] Rosalind is imagined by the rest of the Good duke, receive thy daughter, company to be brought by enchantment, and is therefore introduced by a supposed aerial being in the character of Hymen. JOHNSON. In all the allegorical shows exhibited at ancient weddings, Hymen was a constant personage. Ben Jonson, in his Hymenæi, or the Solemnities of Masque and Barriers, at a Marriage, has left instructions how to dress this favourite character. "On the other hand entered Hymen, the god of marriage, in a saffron-coloured robe, his under vestures white, his sockes yellow, a yellow veile of silke on his left arme, his head crowned with roses and marjoram, in his right hand a torch." STEEVENS. ♦ That thou might'st join HER hand with his, Whose heart within HER bosom is.] The old copy, instead of her, reads his in both lines. Mr. Rowe corrected the first, and I once thought that emendation sufficient, and that whose might have referred not to the last antecedent his, but to her, i. e. Rosalind. Our author frequently takes such licences. But on further consideration it appears to me probable, that the same abbreviation was used in both lines, and that as his was certainly a misprint in the first line for her, so it also was in the second, the construction being so much more easy in that way than the other. "That thou might'st join her hand with the hand of him whose heart is lodged in her bosom," i. e. whose affection she already possesses. So, in Love's Labour's Lost, the King says to the Princess : "Hence ever then my heart is in thy breast." Again, in our author's Venus and Adonis : "Bids him farewell, and look well to her heart, "The which, by Cupid's bow she doth protest, "He carried thence incaged in his breast." Again, in King Richard III.: "Even so thy breast incloseth my poor Again, in Romeus and Juliet, 1562: 66 heart." Thy heart thou leav'st with her, when thou dost hence depart, "And in thy breast inclosed bear'st her tender friendly heart." In Love's Labour's Lost, vol. iv. p. 412, we meet with the error that has happened here. The Princess addressing the ladies who attend her, says: "But while 'tis spoke, each turn away his face." Ros. To you I give myself, for I am yours. To you I give myself, for I am yours. [TO ORLANDO. DUKE S. If there be truth in sight, you are my PHE. If sight and shape be true, Why then, my love adieu! daughter. 5 ORL. If there be truth in sight 3, you are my Rosalind. [To Duke S. Ros. I'll have no father, if you be not he : [To Duke S. I'll have no husband, if you be not he: HYм. Peace, ho! I bar confusion : 'Tis I must make conclusion Nor ne'er wed woman, if you be be not she. [TO ORLANDO. Of these most strange events: If truth holds true contents 6. [TO ORLANDO and ROSALIND. You and you are heart in heart: [To PHEBE. [TO OLIVER and CELIA. You [To PHEBE] to his love must accord, Or have a woman to your lord: Again, in a former scene of the play before us : 5 If there be truth in sight,] The answer of Phebe makes it probable that Orlando says: "If there be truth in shape: that is, if a form may be trusted; if one cannot usurp the form of another. JOHNSON. If my sight does not deceive me: Phebe's answer will support one word as well as the other. BosWELL. 6 If truth holds true contents.] That is, if there be truth in truth, unless truth fails of veracity. JOHNSON. You and you are sure together, [To TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY. SONG. Wedding is great Juno's crown"; O blessed bond of board and bed! High wedlock then be honoured: DUKE S. O my dear niece, welcome thou art to me; Even daughter, welcome in no less degree. PHE. I will not eat my word, now thou art mine; Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine". 7 with QUESTIONING;] Though Shakspeare frequently uses question for conversation, in the present instance questioning may have its common and obvious signification. STEEVENS. 8 Wedding is, &c.] Catullus, addressing himself to Hymen, has this stanza : [TO SILVIUS. Quæ tuis careat sacris, Quis huic deo 9 combine.] Shakspeare is licentious in his use of this verb, which here, as in Measure for Measure, only signifies to bind: "I am combined by a sacred vow, Enter JAQUES DE BOIS. JAQ. DE B. Let me have audience for a word, or two; I am the second son of old sir Rowland, His brother here, and put him to the sword : 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 : 1 Duke Frederick, &c.] In Lodge's novel the usurping Duke is not diverted from his purpose by the pious counsel of a hermit, but is subdued and killed by the twelve peers of France, who were brought by the third brother of Rosader (the Orlando of this play) to assist him in the recovery of his right. STEEVEns. |