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Act 1, Scene 1
As You Like It Translation Act 1, Scene 2
Enter CELIA and ROSALIND
CELIA
I pray thee, Rosalind, sweet my coz, be merry.
CELIA
Please, Rosalind, my sweet cousin, be happy.
ROSALIND
Dear Celia, I show more mirth than I am mistress of, and would you yet I were merrier? Unless you could teachme to forget a banished father, you must not learn me how to remember any extraordinary pleasure.
ROSALIND
Dear Celia, I already look happier than I feel, and you want me to look even happier? Unless you can teach me to forget my banished father, you shouldn't try to teach me to remember any great happiness.
CELIA
Herein I see thou lov’st me not with the full weight that I love thee. If my uncle, thy banished father, had banished thy uncle, the duke my father, so thou hadst been still with me, I could have taught my love to take thy father for mine. So wouldst thou, if the truth of thy love to me were so righteously tempered as mine is to thee.
CELIA
Now I see that you don't love me as much as I love you. If instead my uncle (your banished father), had banished your uncle (the duke my father), I could have learned to love your father as my own as long as you were still with me. You would do the same, if your love for me was as true and well-forged as mine is for you.
ROSALIND
Well, I will forget the condition of my estate to rejoice in yours.
ROSALIND
Well, then I'll try to forget my situation and instead rejoice in yours.
CELIA
You know my father hath no child but I, nor none is like to have, and, truly, when he dies, thou shalt be his heir, for what he hath taken away from thy father perforce, I will render thee again in affection. By minehonor I will, and when I break that oath, let me turn monster. Therefore, my sweet Rose, my dear Rose, be merry.
CELIA
You know that I'm my father's only child, and he isn't likely to have another. So when he dies you will be his heir—because whatever he took from your father by force, I will return to you with affection. By my honor I will do this, and if I break this oath let me turn into a monster. So my sweet Rose, my dear Rose, be happy.
ROSALIND
From henceforth I will, coz, and devise sports. Let mesee—what think you of falling in love?
ROSALIND
From now on I will, cousin. And I'll make up games for us to play. Let me see—what do you think about falling in love?
CELIA
Marry, I prithee do, to make sport withal, but love no man in good earnest, nor no further in sport neither than with safety of a pure blush thou mayst in honor come off again.
CELIA
Oh yes, please do, so we can make a game of it. But don't fall in love with a man in earnest, or take the game too far. Otherwise you won't be able to get out of it easily and with your honor intact.
ROSALIND
What shall be our sport, then?
ROSALIND
What game should we play, then?
CELIA
Let us sit and mock the good housewife Fortune from herwheel, that her gifts may henceforth be bestowed equally.
CELIA
Let us sit and mock the good housewife Fortune, until she starts bestowing her gifts more equally.
ROSALIND
I would we could do so, for her benefits are mightily misplaced, and the bountiful blind woman doth most mistake in her gifts to women.
ROSALIND
I wish that we could, for her gifts are indeed wrongly distributed. And Fortune makes the most mistakes in the gifts she gives to women.
CELIA
'Tis true, for those that she makes fair she scarce makes honest, and those that she makes honest she makes very ill- favoredly.
CELIA
It's true, because the women she makes beautiful she rarely makes chaste. And those that she makes chaste she also makes ugly.
ROSALIND
Nay, now thou goest from Fortune’s office to Nature’s.Fortune reigns in gifts of the world, not in the lineaments ofNature.
ROSALIND
No, now you're getting Fortune and Nature confused. Fortune determines what happens to us, while Nature decides how we're made.
Enter TOUCHSTONE
CELIA
No? When Nature hath made a fair creature, may she not by Fortune fall into the fire? Though Nature hath given us wit to flout at Fortune, hath not Fortune sent in this fool to cut off the argument?
CELIA
Really? If Nature has made a beautiful woman, can't Fortune then make her fall into a fire? Even though Nature has given us the wit to mock Fortune, hasn't Fortune then sent in this fool to interrupt our conversation?
ROSALIND
Indeed, there is Fortune too hard for Nature, when Fortune makes Nature’s natural the cutter-off of Nature’s wit.
ROSALIND
Indeed, here Fortune is stronger than Nature. Fortune sends a natural fool to cut off we two women using our Nature-bestowed wit.
CELIA
Peradventure this is not Fortune’s work neither, but Nature’s, who perceiveth our natural wits too dull to reason of such goddesses, and hath sent this natural forour whetstone, for always the dullness of the fool is the whetstone of the wits. How now, wit, whither wander you?
CELIA
Although maybe this isn't Fortune's work after all, but Nature's instead. Maybe Nature perceives that we aren't witty enough to be discussing goddesses, so she sent us this fool to sharpen our wits against. The dullness of fools always acts as a sharpening stone for witty people.
[To TOUCHSTONE] How are you, you wit? Where are you wandering off to?
TOUCHSTONE
Mistress, you must come away to your father.
TOUCHSTONE
Mistress, you must come and see your father.
CELIA
Were you made the messenger?
CELIA
Did he make you the messenger?
TOUCHSTONE
No, by mine honor, but I was bid to come for you.
TOUCHSTONE
No, by my honor. But I was told to come for you.
ROSALIND
Where learned you that oath, fool?
ROSALIND
Where did you learn to swear "by my honor," fool?
TOUCHSTONE
Of a certain knight that swore by his honor they were good pancakes, and swore by his honor the mustard was naught. Now, I’ll stand to it, the pancakes were naught and the mustard was good, and yet was not the knight forsworn.
TOUCHSTONE
I learned it from a certain knight who swore by his honor that the pancakes he was eating were good, and swore by his honor that the mustard on them was bad. Now, I'll swear that the pancakes were bad and the mustard was good, and yet even so the knight wasn't a liar.
CELIA
How prove you that in the great heap of your knowledge?
CELIA
How are you going to prove that, out of your great heap of knowledge?
ROSALIND
Ay, marry, now unmuzzle your wisdom.
ROSALIND
Yes, please, now unleash your wisdom.
TOUCHSTONE
Stand you both forth now: stroke your chins and swear by your beards that I am a knave.
TOUCHSTONE
Both of you come forward now: stroke your chins and swear by your beards that I am a dishonest man.
CELIA
By our beards (if we had them), thou art.
CELIA
By our beards (if we had them), you are a dishonest man.
TOUCHSTONE
By my knavery (if I had it), then I were. But if you swear by that that is not, you are not forsworn. No morewas this knight swearing by his honor, for he never hadany; or if he had, he had sworn it away before ever he saw those pancakes or that mustard.
TOUCHSTONE
And I swear by my dishonesty (if I had it) that I am. But if you swear by something that doesn't exist, then your oath isn't binding. So this knight couldn't swear by his honor, for he never had any honor. Or if he ever did, he had sworn it away long before he ever saw those pancakes and that mustard.
CELIA
Prithee, who is ’t that thou mean’st?
CELIA
Do tell, who is this knight that you're referring to?
TOUCHSTONE
One that old Frederick, your father, loves.
TOUCHSTONE
Someone that old Frederick, your father, loves.
CELIA
My father’s love is enough to honor him. Enough. Speak no more of him; you’ll be whipped for taxation one of these days.
CELIA
If he has my father's love, then that is honor enough. Speak no more of him. You'll be whipped for slander one of these days.
TOUCHSTONE
The more pity that fools may not speak wisely what wisemen do foolishly.
TOUCHSTONE
It's a pity that fools aren't allowed to speak wisely about what wise men do foolishly.
CELIA
By my troth, thou sayest true. For, since the little wit that fools have was silenced, the little foolery that wise men have makes a great show. Here comes Monsieur Le Beau.
CELIA
I swear, you speak the truth. For ever since the fools' small wisdom was silenced, the wise men's small foolishness has become much more apparent. Here comes Sir Le Beau.
Enter LE BEAU
ROSALIND
With his mouth full of news.
ROSALIND
With his mouth full of news.
CELIA
Which he will put on us as pigeons feed their young.
CELIA
Which he'll shove down our throats like a pigeon feeding its young.
ROSALIND
Then shall we be news-crammed.
ROSALIND
Then we'll be crammed full of news.
CELIA
All the better. We shall be the more marketable.—Bonjour,Monsieur Le Beau. What’s the news?
CELIA
All the better. We'll be worth more when we're fattened up. Good morning, Sir Le Beau. What's the news?
LE BEAU
Fair princess, you have lost much good sport.
LE BEAU
Fair princess, you've missed some good sport.
CELIA
Sport? Of what color?
CELIA
Sport? Of what color?
LE BEAU
What color, madam? How shall I answer you?
LE BEAU
What color, madam? I don't understand. How should I answer that?
ROSALIND
As wit and fortune will.
ROSALIND
As your wit and fortune permit you.
TOUCHSTONE
Or as the Destinies decrees.
TOUCHSTONE
Or as the Fates say you should.
CELIA
Well said. That was laid on with a trowel.
CELIA
Well said. You laid that on thick.
TOUCHSTONE
Nay, if I keep not my rank—
TOUCHSTONE
Well, if I don't perform as I should according to my rank—
ROSALIND
Thou losest thy old smell.
ROSALIND
You'll lose your old smell.
LE BEAU
You amaze me, ladies. I would have told you of good wrestling, which you have lost the sight of.
LE BEAU
You confuse me, ladies. I was going to tell you about a good wrestling match, which you have missed.
ROSALIND
You tell us the manner of the wrestling.
ROSALIND
Tell us what kind of wrestling.
LE BEAU
I will tell you the beginning, and if it please your Ladyships, you may see the end, for the best is yet to do, and here, where you are, they are coming to perform it.
LE BEAU
I'll tell you about the beginning, and if it's still interesting to your Ladyships, then you can go see the end. The best is yet to come, and they're coming to perform it right here where you are.
CELIA
Well, the beginning that is dead and buried.
CELIA
Well, the beginning is already dead and buried.
LE BEAU
There comes an old man and his three sons—
LE BEAU
There comes an old man and his three sons—
CELIA
I could match this beginning with an old tale.
CELIA
It sounds like the beginning of a folk tale.
LE BEAU
Three proper young men of excellent growth and presence.
LE BEAU
Three proper young men, all good looking and with charismatic presence—
ROSALIND
With bills on their necks: “Be it known unto all men bythese presents.”
ROSALIND
With signs around their necks saying: "Let it be known to all men by these presents."
LE BEAU
The eldest of the three wrestled with Charles, the duke’s wrestler, which Charles in a moment threw him andbroke three of his ribs, that there is little hope of life in him. So he served the second, and so the third. Yonder they lie, the poor old man their father making such pitiful dole over them that all the beholders take his part with weeping.
LE BEAU
The eldest of the three brothers wrestled with Charles, the duke's wrestler, and Charles threw him quickly, breaking three of his ribs. There's not much hope that he will survive. Charles then did the same to the second brother, and then to the third. They're lying over there. And the poor old man, their father, weeps so pitifully over them that all the onlookers are crying too.
ROSALIND
Alas!
ROSALIND
Oh my!
TOUCHSTONE
But what is the sport, monsieur, that the ladies have lost?
TOUCHSTONE
But what was the sport, sir, that the ladies missed?
LE BEAU
Why, this that I speak of.
LE BEAU
Why, the wrestling I just spoke of.
TOUCHSTONE
Thus men may grow wiser every day. It is the first timethat ever I heard breaking of ribs was sport for ladies.
TOUCHSTONE
Men must be getting wiser every day. This is the first time I ever heard about rib-breaking as a sport for ladies.
CELIA
Or I, I promise thee.
CELIA
Me too, I promise you.
ROSALIND
But is there any else longs to see this broken music inhis sides? Is there yet another dotes upon rib-breaking? Shall we see this wrestling, cousin?
ROSALIND
But doesn't anyone else want to hear the broken music of breathing through broken ribs? Does anyone else love rib-breaking? Should we go see this wrestling, cousin?
LE BEAU
You must if you stay here, for here is the place appointed for the wrestling, and they are ready to perform it.
LE BEAU
You'll have to if you stay here, as this is the place where the wrestling is scheduled, and they are ready to begin.
CELIA
Yonder sure they are coming. Let us now stay and see it.
CELIA
Yes, I see them coming from over there. Let's stay and watch.
Flourish. Enter DUKE FREDERICK, lords, ORLANDO, CHARLES, and attendants
DUKE FREDERICK
Come on. Since the youth will not be entreated, his ownperil on his forwardness.
DUKE FREDERICK
Come on. Since the youth can't be reasoned with, let him suffer for his eagerness.
ROSALIND
Is yonder the man?
ROSALIND
Is that the man?
LE BEAU
Even he, madam.
LE BEAU
Indeed it is, madam.
CELIA
Alas, he is too young. Yet he looks successfully.
CELIA
Oh dear, he is too young. But he looks capable.
DUKE FREDERICK
How now, daughter and cousin? Are you crept hither to see the wrestling?
DUKE FREDERICK
How goes it, daughter and niece? Have you snuck over here to see the wrestling?
ROSALIND
Ay, my liege, so please you give us leave.
ROSALIND
Yes, my lord, if you'll give us your permission.
DUKE FREDERICK
You will take little delight in it, I can tell you, there is such odds in the man. In pity of the challenger’s youth, I would fain dissuade him, but he will not be entreated. Speak to him, ladies; see if you can move him.
DUKE FREDERICK
You won't enjoy it very much, I can tell you, as the odds are stacked against this man. Because of the challenger's youth, I've been trying to discourage him from fighting. But he won't listen. You speak to him, ladies. See if you can convince him.
CELIA
Call him hither, good Monsieur Le Beau.
CELIA
Call him here, good Sir Le Beau.
DUKE FREDERICK
Do so. I’ll not be by.
DUKE FREDERICK
You go ahead—I won't be here.
He steps aside.
LE BEAU
Monsieur the challenger, the Princess calls for you.
LE BEAU
Sir Challenger, the Princess calls for you.
ORLANDO
I attend them with all respect and duty.
ORLANDO
I'll wait on them with all respect and duty.
ROSALIND
Young man, have you challenged Charles the wrestler?
ROSALIND
Young man, have you challenged Charles the wrestler?
ORLANDO
No, fair princess. He is the general challenger. I comebut in as others do, to try with him the strength of myyouth.
ORLANDO
No, lovely princess. He is the general challenger. I have only come in, like the others, to test the strength of my youth against him.
CELIA
Young gentleman, your spirits are too bold for your years. You have seen cruel proof of this man’s strength. If you saw yourself with your eyes or knew yourself with your judgment, the fear of your adventure would counsel you to a more equal enterprise. We pray you for your own sake to embrace your own safety and give over this attempt.
CELIA
Young gentleman, your spirits are too bold for your age. You have seen the cruel proof of this man's strength. If you would take a step back and look at yourself and then use your judgment, your fear of what you are about to try to do would teach you to find an endeavor more suitable for your abilities. We beg you, for your own sake, to embrace your own safety and give up this attempt.
ROSALIND
Do, young sir. Your reputation shall not therefore be misprized. We will make it our suit to the duke that thewrestling might not go forward.
ROSALIND
Please do, young sir. Your reputation won't be hurt. We will beg the duke ourselves that the wrestling match be cancelled.
ORLANDO
I beseech you, punish me not with your hard thoughts, wherein I confess me much guilty to deny so fair and excellent ladies anything. But let your fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my trial, wherein, if I be foiled, there is but one shamed that was never gracious; if killed, but one dead that was willing to be so. I shall do my friends no wrong, for I have none to lament me; the world no injury, for in it I have nothing. Only in the world I fill up a place which may be better supplied when I have made it empty.
ORLANDO
I beg you, don't punish me by thinking poorly of me, though I confess that I must be guilty if I can deny anything to such beautiful and excellent ladies as you. Instead, may your fair eyes and good wishes support me in this fight. If I'm beaten, then the shame belongs solely to me, a man who was never gracious. And if I'm killed, it will only mean the death of a man already willing to die. I won't be hurting any of my friends, for I have no friends to grieve for me. And I won't be hurting the world, for I have nothing in it. I only take up space in the world, and maybe my space can be filled by someone worthier once I'm gone.
ROSALIND
The little strength that I have, I would it were with you.
ROSALIND
I wish that the little strength I have were with you.
CELIA
And mine, to eke out hers.
CELIA
And mine too, to join hers.
ROSALIND
Fare you well. Pray heaven I be deceived in you.
ROSALIND
Good luck. I pray to God that I'm wrong about you.
CELIA
Your heart’s desires be with you.
CELIA
May you get your heart's desires.
CHARLES
Come, where is this young gallant that is so desirous to lie with his mother earth?
CHARLES
Come, where is this young show-off who is so eager to lie with his mother earth?
ORLANDO
Ready, sir; but his will hath in it a more modest working.
ORLANDO
Ready, sir; but I have a more modest desire.
DUKE FREDERICK
You shall try but one fall.
DUKE FREDERICK
You will only get one round.
CHARLES
No, I warrant your Grace you shall not entreat him to asecond, that have so mightily persuaded him from a first.
CHARLES
No, I'm sure your Grace won't be able to convince him to try a second round, just as you couldn't convince him not to try a first round.
ORLANDO
You mean to mock me after, you should not have mocked me before. But come your ways.
ORLANDO
You should mock me after the match, not before. But come on.
ROSALIND
Now Hercules be thy speed, young man!
ROSALIND
Now Hercules give you speed, young man!
CELIA
I would I were invisible, to catch the strong fellow bythe leg.
CELIA
I wish I were invisible, so I could trip the legs of the strong fellow to help the young man.
They wrestle
ROSALIND
O excellent young man!
ROSALIND
Oh, excellent young man!
CELIA
If I had a thunderbolt in mine eye, I can tell who should down.
CELIA
If I could shoot thunderbolts from my eyes, I can tell you who would be thrown down.
CHARLES is thrown. Shout
DUKE FREDERICK
No more, no more.
DUKE FREDERICK
No more, no more.
ORLANDO
Yes, I beseech your Grace. I am not yet well breathed.
ORLANDO
Yes, more, I beg your Grace. I'm hardly warmed up yet.
DUKE FREDERICK
How dost thou, Charles?
DUKE FREDERICK
How are you doing, Charles?
LE BEAU
He cannot speak, my lord.
LE BEAU
He cannot speak, my lord.
DUKE FREDERICK
Bear him away. What is thy name, young man?
DUKE FREDERICK
Carry him away. What is your name, young man?
CHARLES is carried off
ORLANDO
Orlando, my liege, the youngest son of Sir Rowland deBoys.
ORLANDO
Orlando, my lord, the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys.
DUKE FREDERICK
I would thou hadst been son to some man else. The world esteemed thy father honorable, But I did find him still mine enemy. Thou shouldst have better pleased me with this deed Hadst thou descended from another house. But fare thee well. Thou art a gallant youth. I would thou hadst told me of another father.
DUKE FREDERICK
I wish you had been some other man's son. The world admired your father as an honorable man, but he was still my enemy. Your victory would have better pleased me if you came from a different family. But good luck. You are a brave youth. I wish you had told me you had another father.
Exeunt DUKE FREDERICK, train, and LE BEAU
CELIA
Were I my father, coz, would I do this?
CELIA
Cousin, if I were my father, would I act as he did?
ORLANDO
I am more proud to be Sir Rowland’s son,His youngest son, and would not change that calling To be adopted heir to Frederick.
ORLANDO
I am proud to be Sir Rowland's son—his youngest son—and I wouldn't change that even to be Frederick's adopted heir.
ROSALIND
My father loved Sir Rowland as his soul, And all the world was of my father’s mind. Had I before known this young man his son, I should have given him tears unto entreaties Ere he should thus have ventured.
ROSALIND
My father loved Sir Rowland like he loved his own soul, and the rest of the world shared my father's opinion. If had known before that this young man was Sir Rowland's son, I would have wept and tried even harder to persuade him not to wrestle.
CELIA
Gentle cousin, Let us go thank him and encourage him. My father’s rough and envious disposition Sticks me at heart.— Sir, you have well deserved. If you do keep your promises in love But justly, as you have exceeded all promise, Your mistress shall be happy.
CELIA
Dear cousin, let us go thank him and encourage him. My father's rough and jealous behavior toward him hurts me in my heart.
[To ORLANDO] Sir, your victory was well deserved. If you keep and exceed your promises in love just as you have exceeded your promises in this wrestling match, your wife will be a happy woman.
ROSALIND
Gentleman, [giving him a chain from her neck] Wear this for me—one out of suits with fortune That could give more but that her hand lacks means. —Shall we go, coz?
ROSALIND
[Giving him a chain from her neck] Gentleman, wear this for me. I have fallen on hard times, and I wish I could give you more.
[To CELIA] Should we go, cousin?
CELIA
Ay.—Fare you well, fair gentleman.
CELIA
Yes. Good luck, fair gentleman.
ORLANDO
Can I not say “I thank you?” My better parts Are all thrown down, and that which here stands up Is but a quintain, a mere lifeless block.
ORLANDO
[To himself] Can I not even say "I thank you?" My better nature and good manners are overwhelmed as if they have been thrown down in a wrestling match, and what's left of me is but a mannequin—just a lifeless block.
ROSALIND
He calls us back. My pride fell with my fortunes. I’ll ask him what he would.— Did you call, sir? Sir, you have wrestled well and overthrown More than your enemies.
ROSALIND
He's calling us back. I lost my pride when I lost my fortunes, so I'll ask him what he wants.
[To ORLANDO] Did you call us, sir? Sir, you wrestled well, and defeated more than just your enemies.
CELIA
Will you go, coz?
CELIA
Will you come on, cousin?
ROSALIND
Have with you. Fare you well.
ROSALIND
Just a second. Farewell.
Exeunt ROSALIND and CELIA
ORLANDO
What passion hangs these weights upon my tongue? I cannot speak to her, yet she urged conference. O poor Orlando! Thou art overthrown. Or Charles or something weaker masters thee.
ORLANDO
What is this passion that makes my tongue so heavy? I can't speak to her, even though she urged me to. Oh, poor Orlando! You are defeated. Either Charles or some more delicate thing has mastered you.
Enter LE BEAU
LE BEAU
Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you To leave this place. Albeit you have deserved High commendation, true applause, and love, Yet such is now the duke’s condition That he misconsters all that you have done. The duke is humorous. What he is indeed More suits you to conceive than I to speak of.
LE BEAU
Good sir, let me advise you, as a friend, to leave this place. Although you deserve high praise, true applause, and love, right now the duke is misinterpreting all of your actions. The duke is moody. And what he really is I can't say, but I'm sure you can figure it out.
ORLANDO
I thank you, sir, and pray you tell me this:Which of the two was daughter of the dukeThat here was at the wrestling?
ORLANDO
I thank you, sir, and ask you to tell me this: which of the two ladies at the wrestling match was the daughter of the duke?
LE BEAU
Neither his daughter, if we judge by manners, But yet indeed the smaller is his daughter The other is daughter to the banished duke, And here detained by her usurping uncle To keep his daughter company, whose loves Are dearer than the natural bond of sisters. But I can tell you that of late this duke Hath ta'en displeasure 'gainst his gentle niece, Grounded upon no other argument But that the people praise her for her virtues And pity her for her good father’s sake; And, on my life, his malice 'gainst the lady Will suddenly break forth. Sir, fare you well. Hereafter, in a better world than this, I shall desire more love and knowledge of you.
LE BEAU
Neither is his daughter, if we are only judging whether they have inherited his bad manners. But in actuality the smaller lady, Celia, is his daughter. The other, Rosalind, is the daughter of the banished duke, kept here by her uncle who usurped the throne, to keep his daughter company. The love between the two cousins is stronger than the natural bond between sisters. But I can tell you that lately this duke has grown displeased with his refined niece, for no other reason than that the people praise her virtues and pity her for her good father's sake. I swear on my life, the duke's malice against the lady Rosalind will erupt very soon. Sir, farewell. Later, in a better world than this one, I would like to get to know you and love you better.
ORLANDO
I rest much bounden to you. Fare you well.
ORLANDO
I am indebted to you. Farewell.
Exit LE BEAU
Thus must I from the smoke into the smother, From tyrant duke unto a tyrant brother.But heavenly Rosalind!
So now I must go from the frying pan and into the fire, from a duke who is a tyrant to my brother who is a tyrant. But oh, heavenly Rosalind!
Exit
