As You Like It, Act 3 scene 4 - Orlando is late for a date with Ganymede (Rosalind)

As You Like It

Please see the bottom of the page for extensive explanatory notes and other helpful As You Like It resources.

ACT III SCENE IV	The forest.
[Enter ROSALIND and CELIA]
ROSALIND	Never talk to me; I will weep.
CELIA	Do, I prithee; but yet have the grace to consider
	that tears do not become a man.
ROSALIND	But have I not cause to weep?
CELIA	As good cause as one would desire; therefore weep.
ROSALIND	His very hair is of the dissembling colour.
CELIA	Something browner than Judas's marry, his kisses are
	Judas's own children.
ROSALIND	I' faith, his hair is of a good colour.
CELIA	An excellent colour: your chestnut was ever the only colour.	10
ROSALIND	And his kissing is as full of sanctity as the touch
	of holy bread.
CELIA	He hath bought a pair of cast lips of Diana: a nun
	of winter's sisterhood kisses not more religiously;
	the very ice of chastity is in them.
ROSALIND	But why did he swear he would come this morning, and
	comes not?
CELIA	Nay, certainly, there is no truth in him.	20
ROSALIND	Do you think so?
CELIA	Yes; I think he is not a pick-purse nor a
	horse-stealer, but for his verity in love, I do
	think him as concave as a covered goblet or a
	worm-eaten nut.
ROSALIND	Not true in love?
CELIA	Yes, when he is in; but I think he is not in.
ROSALIND	You have heard him swear downright he was.
CELIA	'Was' is not 'is:' besides, the oath of a lover is
	no stronger than the word of a tapster; they are
	both the confirmer of false reckonings. He attends
	here in the forest on the duke your father.	31
ROSALIND	I met the duke yesterday and had much question with
	him: he asked me of what parentage I was; I told
	him, of as good as he; so he laughed and let me go.
	But what talk we of fathers, when there is such a
	man as Orlando?
CELIA	O, that's a brave man! he writes brave verses,
	speaks brave words, swears brave oaths and breaks
	them bravely, quite traverse, athwart the heart of
	his lover; as a puisny tilter, that spurs his horse
	but on one side, breaks his staff like a noble
	goose: but all's brave that youth mounts and folly
	guides. Who comes here?	42
[Enter CORIN]
CORIN	Mistress and master, you have oft inquired
	After the shepherd that complain'd of love,
	Who you saw sitting by me on the turf,
	Praising the proud disdainful shepherdess
	That was his mistress.
CELIA	Well, and what of him?
CORIN	If you will see a pageant truly play'd,
	Between the pale complexion of true love
	And the red glow of scorn and proud disdain,	50
	Go hence a little and I shall conduct you,
	If you will mark it.
ROSALIND	O, come, let us remove:
	The sight of lovers feedeth those in love.
	Bring us to this sight, and you shall say
	I'll prove a busy actor in their play.
[Exeunt]

Next: As You Like It, Act 3, Scene 5
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Explanatory notes for Act 3, Scene 4
From As You Like It. Ed. Samuel Thurber, Jr. and Louise Wetherbee. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1922.
(Line numbers have been altered.)
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This scene probably takes place the morning after the second scene of this act. Rosalind is almost in tears at the non-appearance of her lover, but Celia, with delightful tact, diverts her.

Line 7. dissembling color: A person with red hair was supposed to be deceitful and treacherous. The comparison to Judas's hair in the next line carries on the idea, for Judas is said to have had red hair and all paintings of him show that.

10. Note how quickly Rosalind defends Orlando when he is criticized.

14. holy bread: the bread used at the sacrament.

15. cast: cast off.

22. pick-up purse: pick-pocket.

23. verity: honor.

28. tapster: anyone employed to draw liquor and therefore one who might cheat in his reckoning.

32. This charming indifference to her father shows how completely Rosalind is in love.

39. quite traverse: across, which showed awkwardness on the part of the tilter or fighter.

40. puisny: inferior or weak.

48. pageant: scene, as in "Midsummer Night's Dream," "Shall we their fond pageant see?"

49. pale complexion: the proper color for a true lover.

55. A bit of foreshadowing here.

QUESTIONS

1. What is the purpose of the scene?

2. Is Celia a good comforter? Why?

3. Why did the Duke ask Rosalind about her parentage?

4. Why does Rosalind wish to see the pageant?

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How to cite the explanatory notes:
Shakespeare, William. As You Like It. Eds. Samuel Thurber, Jr. and Louise Wetherbee. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1922. Shakespeare Online. 10 Aug. 2010. (date when you accessed the information) < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/asu_3_4.html >.

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