As You Like It ~ Shakespeare
France was divided into provinces Camin These provinces were called dukedoms.
In one of these provinces, there refined usurper, named Fredrick.
He had banished his elder brother, Sencor Duke. Senior Duke was the lawful Duke
Senior Duke, with a few faithful followers, Jacques and others went to the Forest of Arden. There they lived like the old Robindood of England.
In summer, they lay along the fine Shades of large forest trees.
The cold winds of winter were terrible to endure. But the Duke loved it patiently.
He said, "There chilling winds” which blow upon my body are true counsellors; they do not flatter but represent truly to me my conditions and though they bite Sharply, their tooth is nothing like to keen as that of unkindness and ingratitude…. "
In this manner, the patient duke tried to draw a useful moral from everything that he saw in nature.
He found tongues in trees, brooks in the running brooks, Sermons in stones and good in everything. (sensuousness of keats se compare ko karo)
The banished Duke had a daughter. Her name was Rosalind. She was kept at the court to accompany her cousin Celia.
So Fredrick, the usurper, her uncle kept her at the court.
Celia was a good friend of Rosalind.
Celia made every attempt to make Rosalind comfortable. She said, “I pray you, Rosalind my sweet cousin, be merry.”
A messenger came from the court asking the girls, that, if they wanted to see a wrestling match, they could come.
Celia thought this would be as amusing to Rosalind. So both decided to go.
Those days the Princes participated in wrestling matches. These matches were conducted before the ladies and princesses.
There was a fear that in these matches would be a tragical sight. The powerful would slain the inexperienced.
There was a young man, a participant whom the beholders thought would be killed.
Seeing Celia and Rosalind Fredrick said, “How now, daughter and nieces are you crept here to see the wrestling? you will take little delight in it, there is such odds in the men."
About the young man the Duks said to them, “... in pity to this young man, I would wish to persuade him from wrestling. Speak to him ladies and see if you can move him."
Celia entreated the stranges. But he refused
Rosalind spoke very kindly to him with genuine consideration about the danger that was to come.
But, instead to forego the purpose, the youth decided to prove his courage in the lady's eyes.
He said very gently, "I am Sorry to deny such fair and excellent ladies. anything, But let your fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my trial, wherein if I conquered there is one shame that was never very gracious.....
He continued “... if I am Killed, there is one dead that is willing to die; I shall do my friends no wrong, for I have none to lament me....”
He further said, “... no injury for in it I have nothing; for I only fill up a place in the world which may be better supplied when I have made it empty.....”
The match began both the ladies were having a deep concern for the youth.
Rosalind identified herself with him as she was also in the same state, Unfortunately.
It seemed as if she fell in love with him.
The kindness and the concern of the ladies Seemed to give courage to the young man.
He won the match, All were pleased.
He performed wonders. The Duke was also impressed.
The youth was Orlando. The was the youngest son of Rowland de Boys. His father was no more
On hearing the name of his father, his father was the friend of the senior Duke, he banished Duke, and his liking changed into displeasure.
Frederick told him, he wished that he was the son of some other person.
Rosalind was delighted to hear that Orlando was the son of her father’s friend.
The ladies were sorry for the displeasure of the duke.
Rosalind gave a chain to Orlando saying, “Gentleman wear this for me. I am out of suits with fortune or I would have given you a more valuable person.
The ladies spoke about Orlando. Celia perceived that her cousin had fallen in love with the youth.
She asked Rosalind, “It is possible you should fall in love so suddenly?”
Rosalind told Celia that he was her father’s friend.
To this Celia said, “.. for them I ought to Hate him, for my father hated his father, yet I do not hate Orlando…”
While the ladies were talking about Orlando, the Duke entered.
He heard their conversation. He was full of anger.
Orlando reminded him of the friends of his brother, the senior Duke, whom he had banished.
Moreover, he was displeased to hear the praises of Rosalind. His malice broke out against his niece. He ordered her to leave the palace.
And that to follow her father into Banishment.
Celia pleaded for Rosalind. To this he told his daughter that he had to keep Rosalind for her sake.
To this Celia said, “I did not then entreat you to let her stay, for I was too young at that time to value her, but now that I know her worth… I cannot live out of her company”.
He further said about Rosalind that ‘She is too subtle’ her silence and her patience takes the people to pity her. They speak for her.
And that Celia would be “more bright and virtuous without her”.
Frederick tells his daughter not to plead for her.
Finally, Rosalind leaves for her father’s place, and Celia also accompanies him. Those ladies take with them Touchstone. Touchstone was a faithful servant at the court. He always appreciated Rosalind and Celia.
They could not go in their rich dress. So they decided to disguise themselves.
Rosalind being taller, wore a man’s dress. She called herself ‘Ganymede’
Celia dressed up as a country lass, named ‘Aliena’ both were brother and sister.
They set out for the forest of ‘Arden’ Ganymede put on a manly courage.
In return for Celia’s faithful friendship and love, Ganymede showed herself a concerned and caring brother to Aliena.
Finally they reached the border of the forest of Arden. They were too tired and exhausted.
Ganymede thought she could not disgrace her man’s disguise. She encouraged saying, “Come have a good heart, my sister Aliena, we are now at the end of our travel, in the forest of Arden.
But how far could they justify their disguise? They were in want of good. They could not find the Senior Duke now they had lost hope of getting any help.
Fortunately, a count of Ryman passed that way. With manly boldness, Ganymede said, ‘Shepherd… I pray you to bring us where we may rest ourselves..’
Further, she said, “... this young maid my sister is much fatigued with travelling and faints for want of food”.
The man replied that he was a servant to Sheperd and that his master’s house was just going to be sold. So whatever possible will be done for them. The ladies followed him.
They decided to stay at the cottage till they would find the duke.
They were happy and fancied themself the Shepherd and Shepherdess.
Ganymede could not forget Orlando. Fortunately, it so happened that Orlando was also in the forest of Arden.
Orlando was the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys.
Oliver the elder brother of Orlando was entrusted to take cure of Orlando, after the death of their father.
But Oliver proved to be an unworthy brother and guardian.
Oliver didn’t take proper care of Orlando. He left him uneducated.
But Orlando resembled his father, despite being uneducated he was dignified and noble in his ways.
Oliver envied him. So he persuaded him to go to the wrestling match. Oliver ordered his servant Denis, to convince Orlando to Participate in the match. Oliver knew that the wrestler had killed many people, but by the grace of God, Orlando won the match.
Oliver couldn’t bear his victory, he told Denis that he would burn the chamber where Orlando slept. Denis had brought the wrestler.
Adam, a faithful servant of their father heard this. He advised Orlando to escape this danger. He also gave Orlando some money. He said, “... take that, he that cloth the ravens feed be comfort to my age! Here is the gold; all this I give to you. Let me be your servant; though I look old I will service of a Younger man in all your business and necessities…”
Both of them set out, uncertain of what course to pursue. They reached the Forest of Arden. They were also in the same condition as Ganymede and Aliena.
Adam was too much fatigued. He could not pursue further. He laid to rest as if he would make that place his grave.
Orlando asked him to rest and to talk about dying. He set out in search of some help. He happened to arrive at that part of the forest, where the senior duke was. They were having meals then.
Orlando was fatigued in want of food. He drew out his sword, saying “Forbear and eat no more, I must have your food”.
The Duke with patience asked him if distress had made him so bold, or he was rude and ill-mannered.
Orlando was ashamed of himself on hearing the gentle words of the Duke.
He told the Duke that whatever men you are in this desert, do me human courtesy.
Orlando continued by saying that under the shade of the melancholy boughs, lose and neglect the creeping hours of time and that if you have looked on better days, heard the church bells or you have wiped a tear and that if you know what it is to pity or pitied- have mercy on him.
To this, the duke replied that he had better days but now he had to live in this wild forest. He invited Orlando to accompany them.
Orlando told them about Adam. the duke asked him to bring the old man. That he would wait to bring till Orlando would return with the old man.
Orlando went like a doe to find its fawn and give it food. They ate and recovered health and strength again.
The duke inquired who Orlando was when he came to know that he was the son of his friend, he was very happy. They all lived in the forest happily.
Ganymede and Aliena were surprised to see the name of Rosalind on the trees of the forest. There was love - sonnets tied up. All were addressed to Rosalind.
Rosalind saw the chain that she had given.
Orlando didn’t recognise Ganymede but in their conversation, he always spoke about her. He also said that Ganymede resembled Rosalind not knowing that Ganymede was Rosalind herself.
Rosalind disguised as the youth told Orlando about a certain lover, “who haunts our forest and spoils our younger trees carving Rosalind on the barks…”
She continued saying “... if I could find this lover, I would give him some good counsel that would soon use him of his love…”
Orlando confessed that he was the fond lover. He asked Ganymede for the counsel that would be a remedy.
Ganymede asked him to come and meet him and his sister Aliena at the cottage.
The counsel was that Ganymede would feign to be Rosalind and Orlando would court Ganymede as Rosalind.
Orlando sounds no remedy in this counsel but all the same, he agreed to come to the cottage daily.
Both enjoyed the meeting. Orlando was happy as this gave him the opportunity to deliver fond speeches.
Rosalind was happy that these speeches were addressed to her.
In this way, days passed happily.
Rosalind comes to know about the Duke her father. One day she goes to meet him. She tells her father that she was also from a good parentage as the Duke himself.
On the other hand, Fredrick the usurper had sent Oliver in Search of his daughter. Oliver had left for the forest of Arden.
One day when Orlando was going to visit Ganymede, on the way he saw a man lying on the ground. A snake was twisted around his neck.
On seeing Orlando the snake moved away. Near it was a lioness crouching on the ground as if waiting for the man to move.
It is said lions do not attack a sleeping or dead man. Orlando found that the man lying was his own brother Oliver.
For a moment he thought he would leave his brother as prey to the lioness.
But Orlando was a different man the could not leave his brother. He took out his sword and attack the lioness and thus saved his brother.
Oliver was ashamed; that despite all his cruel behaviour his brother saved him, putting his own life at stake.
Orlando had gone very weak. He couldn’t go to meet Ganymede. He asked his brother to go and tell Ganymede about the accident. He also tells his brother that in sport he called ‘Ganymede’ ‘Rosalind’.
Orlando goes to meet the ladies at the cottage. He tells them how Orlando had saved him, putting his own life at stake. He also tells them that he was Oliver, the elder brother of Orlando.
Oliver confesses how he was cruel to his brother.
Aliena pitied Oliver she fell in love with him. Oliver also fell in love with Aliena.
Ganymede fainted on hearing about the accident. When she recovered she said that she pretended to faint because Orlando addressed him as Rosalind.
But Oliver perceived that the swooning was not counterfeited.
On his return, Oliver relates the whole story to how Ganymede fainted. He also tells how Oliver and Aliena fell in love.
Oliver tells his brother that he would marry Aliena and live as a Sheperd here.
That he would settle his estate to Orlando.
Orlando decides to get Oliver and Aliena married. He asked his brother to go and talk to Aliena on this matter.
Ganymede had come to ask about the wound of Orlando. Orlando tells Ganymede that he had persuaded his brother to court Aliena so that they would get married the next day.
He also added that he wished he could also marry his Rosalind.
Ganymede tells him that his wish would be fulfilled. That she would bring Rosalind here by magic. He said that he learned magic.
Orlando could not believe Ganymedeasked him to come in good clothes, prepared to get married. He also asked him to invite the Duke and his friends to the wedding.
The senior duke was glad to hear all this. He couldn’t believe that Ganymede that Shepherd boy would bring his daughter Rosalind.
He asked Orlando if Ganymede would really bring his daughter Rosalind here.
Ganymede came & asked the Duke if he would give his consent to allow Rosalind be married to Orlando.
The Duke said, “... That I would if I had kingdoms to give her …”
Orlando says the same words that he would give her many kingdoms.
Aliena and Ganymede leave to bring Rosalind. They changed their attire & both returned to their real appearance.
After they left, the duke said that Ganymede resemble his daughter.
Orlando said that he also perceived the same.
Back in their form, Rosalind begged for the blessings before her father.
Rosalind related the story that all this was not magic. She tells her father how her cousin, Celia Pleaded and then how Celia and Touchstone left for the forest of Arden.
The wedding bells were rung. Touchstone was married to Audrey. Sylvius gets married to Phoebe.
The duke couldn’t celebrate this with splendour but all were happy. Nothing could have been more pleasant.
But just then a messenger came with the good news that the kingdom had been restored to the lawful duke. The messenger was Jacques De Boys, another son of Sir Rowland De Boys.
It so happened that the usurper, Frederick brother of the duke was enraged at the fact that people respected his brother in his adversity.
So he planned to seize his brother and put an end to him & all his faithful followers.
On the way he met a hermit. This religious man changed the heart of Fredrick. He decided to spend his days in a religious house. He returned the kingdom to his brother.
All ended happily. They returned to the kingdom with their lawful Duke and lived with peace and happiness ever after.
0 Comments