William Shakespeare - The Complete Works/William Shakespeare - The Complete Works on CD-ROM.iso/library/line/ayl/ayl22.txt

Text File | 1994-05-22 | 5.6 KB | 166 lines

Act 5 Scene 4

All the lovers meet in the Forest. Rosalind reminds
them of their promises, and then disappears. While
she is away, Touchstone amuses the other
characters ù and gives Rosalind time to exchange
GanymedeÆs clothes for her own. There is a poetic
wedding, celebrated by Hymen, the classical god
of marriage. Jaques de Boys, a character we have
not seen before, comes to tell Duke Senior that his
brother has repented and given up the dukedom.
Duke Senior and all the other characters except
Jaques decide to return to the court.
4    They fear that their hopes may be
unfounded, and they know that they are afraid.
5    whiles . . . urged: whilst our agreement is
stated again.
18    to make . . . even: solve all these
problems.
27    lively: life-like.
favour: appearance.
32    desperate: dangerous.
34    Obscured: hidden.
circle. A magician had to draw a circle round
himself, so that he could not be harmed by any evil
spirits that came in response to his conjuring.
35    toward: coming.
41    motley-minded: having the mind of a fool
(as well as the costume).
44    purgation: proof.
trod a measure: danced a stately dance.
45    politic: cunning.
smooth: polite.
46    undone: ruined (by not paying their
bills).
47    like to have fought: almost had to fight.
48    taÆen up: settled.
50    the seventh cause: Touchstone explains
this in lines 67û101.
54    GodÆield you: may God reward you.
I . . . like: I hope you continue to like me.
55    country copulatives: country folk who
are going to be married.
57    As marriage binds us together, and as
my lust (ôbloodö) forces me to break the bonds.
58    ill-favoured: ugly.
humour: whim.
59, 60    Rich honesty: Precious chastity.
62    swift: quick-witted.
sententious: full of epigrams.
63    foolÆs bolt. There is a proverb, ôA foolÆs
bolt [arrow] is soon shotö, meaning that a fool
speaks before he thinks.
64    dulcet diseases: pleasant weaknesses;
Touchstone is very humble about his profession
when he talks to the duke.
65    find: solve.
68    seeming: decently.
70    was in the mind: thought that.
73    Quip: retort.
74    disabled my judgement: said I wasnÆt fit
to judge.
79, 80    Circumstantial: depending on the
circumstances.
85    measured swords. Before a duel, the
opponents had to make sure that their swords were
of equal length; in the case Touchstone describes,
the measuring was a mere formality, since no fight
took place.
86    nominate: name.
88    in print: according to the book of rules.
96    justices: magistrates.
take up: settle.
98    thought but of: simply thought of.
99, 100    swore brothers: swore to behave like
brothers.
104    stalking-horse: a horse which the hunter
hides behind when stalking his prey.
105    presentation of that: appearance of
foolishness.
105sd    Hymen: the Roman god of marriage.
When this play is performed, the director must
decide whether to have the part of Hymen acted by
one of the other characters in the play (under
RosalindÆs instructions); the alternative is to allow
the god himself to appear, thus suggesting that
there is real magic in this happy ending.
107    made even: smoothed out.
108    Atone: harmonize.
113    Whose: i.e. RosalindÆs; many love poems
of this period speak of the interchange of hearts ù
so that the manÆs heart is in the womanÆs body,
and vice versa.
123    bar: forbid.
127    HymenÆs bands: bonds of marriage.
128    If, now that you know the truth, you are
still contented (with your partners).
131    accord: consent.
133    sure together: as suitable for one another.
137    When you understand, you will not be so
surprised.
139    Juno: queen of the classical gods, and
goddess of marriage.
140    board: table.
146    Even daughter: as though you were my
daughter.
148    Your faithfulness binds my love to you.
151    tidings: news.
153    great worth: high rank.
154    Addressed: made ready.
power: army.
154    which . . . conduct: which had already set
out under his own leadership.
155    purposely: with the intention.
156    to the sword: to death.
157    skirts: outskirts.
158    religious man: hermit.
159    question: conversation.
160    the world: worldly things.
164    engage: pledge.
165    offerÆst fairly: bring a handsome present.
166    To one . . . withheld: to Oliver, the lands
which Duke Frederick had taken from him (in Act
2, Scene 2).
167    at large: complete.
potent: mighty.
168    do those ends: finish those things.
170    every: each one.
171    shrewd: sharp.
173    According . . . states: in proportion to
their ranks.
174    new-fallen: recent.
177    measure . . . joy: cup full of happiness;
Duke Senior may be referring to Psalm 23: 5, ômy
cup runneth overö.
to . . . fall: join in the dancing.
178    Sir . . . patience.: This is addressed to
Duke Senior; Jaques excuses himself before
speaking to Jaques de Boys.
180    pompous: full of pomp.
182    out of: from.
convertites: religious converts.
189    wrangling: quarrelling.
189 Your marriage is like a ship that carries food
for no more than two months.
193    would have: want to know.
197    the lady the epilogue: one of the female
characters speak the epilogue.
199, 200    good wine . . . bush: if a thing is good, it
needs no advertising. This is a proverb, referring
to the branches which a wine-merchant hung
outside his shop for an advertisement.
203    case: situation; Rosalind puns on another
meaning, ôcostumeö.
204    insinuate: plead.
205    furnished: dressed.
206    become: suit.
207    conjure: charm (as though Rosalind were
the magician she claimed to be in 5, 2, 56û7).
211    simpering: smiling.
212    If I were a woman. Remember that boy
actors played female roles at this time.
214    liked: pleased.
215    defied: disliked.
217    bid me farewell: i.e. by clapping.