Orla.

Is't possible, that on so little acquaintance you should like her? that, but seeing, you should love her? and loving, woo? and wooing, she should grant? and will you persevere to enjoy her?

Oli.

Neither call the giddiness of it in question, the poverty of her, the small acquaintance, my sudden wooing, nor her sudden consenting; but say with me, I love Aliena; say with her, that she loves me; consent with both that we may enjoy each other; it shall be to your good: for my father's house, and all the revenue that was old Sir Rowland's, will I estate upon you, and here live and die a shepherd.

Orla.

You have my consent. Let your wedding be to-morrow; thither will I invite the Duke, and all his contented followers: go you and prepare Aliena; for look you, here comes my Rosalind.

Ros.

God save you, brother.

Oli.

And you, fair sister.

Ros.

Oh my dear Orlando, how it grieves me to see thee wear thy heart in a scarf.

Orla.

It is my arm.

Ros.

I thought thy heart had been wounded with the claws of a lion.

Orla.

Wounded it is, but with the eyes of a lady.

Ros.

Did your brother tell you how I counterfeited to swoon, when he shew'd me your handkerchief?

Orla.

Ay, and greater wonders than that.

Ros.

O, I know where you are: nay, 'tis true: there was never any thing so sudden, but the sight of two rams, and Cæsar's thrasonical brag of I came, saw and overcame: for your brother and my sister no sooner met, but they look'd; no sooner look'd, but they lov'd; no sooner lov'd, but they sigh'd; no sooner sigh'd, but they ask'd one another the reason; no sooner knew the reason, but they sought the remedy; and in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage, which they will climb incontinent, or else be incontinent before marriage; they are in the very wrath of love, and they will together. Clubs cannot part them.

Orla.

They shall be married to-morrow; and I will bid the Duke to the nuptial. But O, how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man's eyes; by so much the more shall I to-morrow be at the height of heart-heaviness, by how much I shall think my brother happy, in having what he wishes for.

Ros.

Why then to-morrow I cannot serve your turn for Rosalind.

Orla.

I can live no longer by thinking.

Ros.

I will weary you then no longer with idle talking. Know of me then, for now I speak to some purpose, that I know you are a gentleman of good conceit. I speak not this that you should bear a good opinion of my knowledge; insomuch, I say, I know what you are; neither do I labour for a greater esteem than may in some little measure draw a belief from you to do your self good, and not to grace me. Believe then, if you please, that I can do strange things; I have, since I was three years old, converst with a magician, most profound in

his art, and yet not damnable. If you do love Rosalind so near the heart, as your gesture cries it out, when your brother marries Aliena you shall marry her. I know into what streights of fortune she is driven, and it is not impossible to me, if it appear not inconvenient to you, to set her before your eyes to-morrow; human as she is, and without any danger.

Orla.

Speak'st thou in sober meanings?

Ros.

By my life I do, which I tender dearly, tho' I say I am a magician: therefore put you on your best array, bid your friends: for if you will be married to-morrow, you shall; and to Rosalind, if you will.