Clo. According to the fool's bolt, Sir, and fuch dulcet diseases. Jaq. But, for the feventh caufe; how did you find the quarrel on the feventh caufe? Clo. Upon a lie feven times removed; (bear your body more feeming, Audrey) as thus, Sir; I did diflike the cut of a certain Courtier's beard; he fent me word, if I faid his beard was not cut well, he was in the mind it was. This is call'd the Retort courteous. If I fent him word again, it was not well cut, he would fend me word, he cut it to please himself. This is call'd the Quip modeft. If again, it was not well cut, he difabled my judgment. This is call'd the Reply churlifh. If again, it was not well cut, he would answer, I fpake not true. This is call'd the Reproof valiant. If again, it was not well cut, he would fay, I lie. This is call'd the Countercheck quarrelsome; and fo the Lie circumftantial, and the Lie direct. Jaq. And how oft did you fay, his beard was not well cut? Clo. I durft go no further than the Lie circumftantial; nor he durft not give me the Lie direct, me the Lie direct, and fo we meafur'd swords and parted. Jaq. Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the Lie? Clo. O Sir, we quarrel in print, by the book; as you have books for good manners. (27) I will name you the degrees. The first, the Retort courteous; the fecond, (27) O, Sir, we quarrel in Print; by the Book; as You have Books for good Manners.] The Poet throughout this Scene has with great Humour and Address rallied the Mode, fo prevailing in his Time, of formal Duelling. Nor could he treat it with a happier Contempt, than by making his Clown fo knowing in all its Forms and Preliminaries. It was in Queen Elizabeth's Reign, that pufhing with the Rapier, or fmall Sword, was firft practis'd in England. And the boisterous Gallants fell into the Fashion with fo much Zeal, that they did not content themfelves with practifing at the Sword in the Schools; but they ftudied the Theory of the Art, the Grounding of Quarrels, and the Process of giving and receiving Challenges, from Lewis de Caranza's Treatife of Fencing, Vincentio Saviola's Practice of the Rapier and Dagger, and Giacomo Di Graffi's Art of Defence; with many other _Inftructions upon the feveral Branches of the Science. the the Quip modeft; the third, the Reply churlish; the fourth,the Reproof valiant; the fifth, the Countercheck quarrelfome; the fixth, the Lie with circumstance; the feventh, 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 Juftices could not take up a quarrel; but when the parties were met themselves, one of them thought but of an If; as, if you faid fo, then I said fo; and they thook hands, and fwore brothers. Your If is the only peace-maker; much virtue in If. Jaq. Is not this a rare fellow, my lord? he's good at any thing, and yet a fool. Duke Sen. He uses his folly like a ftalking horse, and under the presentation of that he shoots his wit. Enter Hymen, Rofalind in woman's cloaths, and Celia. Hym. Then is there mirth in heav'n, Good Duke receive thy daughter, That thou might'ft join her hand with his, Rof. To you I give my felf; for I am yours. To you I give my [To the Duke. I give my felf; for I am yours. [To Orlando. Duke Sen. If there be truth in fight, you are my daughter. Orla. If there be truth in fight, you are my Rofalind. Phe. If fight and shape be true, Why, then my love adieu! Rof. I'll have no father, if you be not he; I'll have no husband, if you be not he; Nor ne'r wed woman, if you be not she. Hym. Hym. Peace, hoa; I bar confufion: If truth holds true contents. SONG. Wedding is great Juno's Crown, Duke Sen. O my dear neice, 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. Enter Jaques de Boys. Jaq. de B. Let me have audience for a word or two: I am the second fon of old Sir Rowland, That bring these tidings to this fair affembly. In his own conduct purposely to take Duke Sen. Welcome, young man: Thou offer'ft fairly to thy brother's wedding; Play, mufick; and you brides and bridegrooms all, And thrown into neglect the pompous Court. Jaq. To him will I: out of these convertites There is much matter to be heard and learn'd. You to your former Honour I bequeath, [To the Duke. Your patience and your virtue well deserve it. You to a love, that your true faith doth merit; You to your land, and love, and great allies; [To Orla. You to a long and well deserved bed; [To Oli. [To Silv. [To the Clown. Is but for two months victual'd: fo to your pleasures: I I am for other than for dancing measures. Jaq. To fee no paftime, I: what you would have, I'll stay to know at your abandon'd Čave. [Exit. Duke Sen. Proceed, proceed; we will begin these rites; As, we do trust they'll end, in true delights. Rof. It is not the fashion to fee the lady the Epilogue; but it is no more unhandsome, than to fee the lord the Prologue. If it be true, that good wine needs no bush, 'tis true, that a good Play needs no Epilogue. Yet to good wine they do ufe good bushes; and good Plays prove the better by the help of good Epilogues. What a case am I in then, that am neither a good Epilogue, nor can infinuate with you in the behalf of a good Play? I am not furnish'd like a beggar; therefore to beg will not become me. My way is to conjure you, and I'll begin with the women. I charge you, O women, for the love you bear to men, to like as much of this Play as pleases you: and I charge you, O men, for the love you bear to women, (as I perceive by your fimpring, none of you hate them) that between you and the women, the Play may pleafe. If I were a woman, I would kifs as many of you as had beards that pleas'd me, complexions that lik'd me, and breaths that I defy'd not: and I am fure, as many as have good beards, or good faces, or fweet breaths, will for my kind offer, when I make curt'fie, bid me farewel. [Exeunt omnes. THE |