As You Like It

by William Shakespeare

The courtesy of nations allows you my better in that you are the first-born; but the same tradition takes not away my blood, were there twenty brothers betwixt us: I have as much of my father in me as you, albeit; I confess, your coming before me is nearer to his reverence.

Dear Celia, I show more mirth than I am mistress of; and would you yet I were merrier? Unless you could teach me to forget a banished father, you must not learn me how to remember any extraordinary pleasure.

Fortune reigns in gifts of the world, not in the lineaments of Nature.

The more pity that fools may not speak wisely what wise men do foolishly.

CELIA Hem them away. ROSALIND I would try, if I could cry hem and have him.

Now go we in content To liberty, and not to banishment.

And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything. I would not change it.

We that are true lovers run into strange capers; but as all is mortal in nature, so is all nature in love mortal in folly.

[Exeunt severally.]

All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts,

Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion; Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

ORLANDO I do desire we may be better strangers.

Rosalind is your love's name? ORLANDO Yes, just. JAQUES I do not like her name. ORLANDO There was no thought of pleasing you when she was christened.

ROSALIND It is not the fashion to see the lady the epilogue; but it is no more unhandsome than to see the lord the prologue. If it be true that good wine needs no bush, 'tis true that a good play needs no epilogue.