As You Like It – Act Four – “… men have died from time to time and worms have eaten them, but not for love.”

As You Like It – Act Four – “… men have died from time to

time and worms have eaten them, but not for love.”

The pace of the play slow downs for Act Four when Jaques talks to Ganymede (Rosalind in disguise) about his melancholy and his travels. She/he tells Jacques that “ I fear you have sold your own lands to see other men's; then, to have seen much and to have nothing, is to have rich eyes and poor hands.”

Orlando arrives for his first love lesson and Jacques leaves. Apologizing to Ganymede for his lateness, Orlando addressing him/her as Rosalind (as agreed prior). Ganymede/Rosalind refuses to accept the apology claiming that lovers divide “a part of the thousand part of a minute in the affairs of love”. She then states that she “…had as lief be wooed of a snail...”  since at least a snail carries his house on his back. Rosalind as Ganymede then allows Orlando to woo him/her Ganymede and pretend that he/she id Rosalind. The love lesson starts with Orlando wanting to kiss the woman he woos and she says that a kiss should only come when there is gap in the conversation. Orlando then wonders what happens if his kiss is rejected and Rosalind says that this would create a new matter for interesting conversation. Then Rosalind rejects Orlando and Orlando he would die if rejected. She then rejects this saying “… men have died from time to time and worms have eaten them, but not for love.”

Rosalind changes to Lesson Two in love and starts to return Orlando’s affections with a “more coming on disposition” and then urges Celia to pretend to play a priest and join them in marriage. Orlando goes along with this and then suddenly remembers that he had promised Duke Senior that he would have a dinner with him. Orlando promises he will return in two hours after dinner. Orlando leaves and then Celia criticizes Rosalind because she has “… simply misused our sex in your love-prate…” Rosalind says she will wait for Orlando and Celia says she will sleep.

Deeper in the forest we find Jaques and some of Duke Senior’s merry men after they have killed a deer for the Duke to feast on. They plan to place the deer horns on the killer’s head as a sign of victory over nature. Jacques asks them to sing a song which suits the occasion and they exit singing a bawdy crude song about horns of another nature.

Back to Rosalind and Celia’s part of the forest where, still in disguise, Orlando seems to be late and have stood up Ganymede (Rosalind in disguise) again. Silvius arrives with what he thinks is a stern letter from his love Phoebe to Ganymede. Silvius warns that the letter may have railing and chiding in it. Ganymede (Rosalind) reads the letter and find its tone of a different manner. She asserts, ironically, that the letter does indeed rail and reads the letter aloud. Silvius is astounded to find out that the letter he has delivered is, in fact, a love letter from Phoebe to Ganymede (Rosalind), comparing Ganymede to a god. Celia feels sorry for Silvius but Rosalind sees that love has made Silvius too much like a tamed snake and she rallies against Phoebe and gives Silvius a reply for Phoebe that Ganymede, he/she will never love Phoebe until Phoebe is able to show love for Silvius.

For a quiet part in the forest, this patch is an extremely busy thoroughfare for no sooner does Silvius exit than Oliver (Orlando’s courtly but deceptive) enters. However, it seems like the Arcadian serendipitous air of the Forest of Ardenne can even sooth the soul of one such as Oliver. Oliver asks to be directed to the cottage of Ganymede and Aliena. They reveal that they are the aforementioned brother and sister. Oliver then delivers a blood covered handkerchief from Orlando for Ganymede and then reveals the explanation for Orlando’s non-arrival. It seems that Orlando came across a man asleep in the forest, who was about to be bitten by a green venomous snake. Orlando scared the snake away but in doing so awakes a lioness who moves towards the sleeping man. It was then that Orlando recognized the sleeping man to be his vengeful brother and then Orlando the lion off his brother. Oliver sees the virtue and selflessness of his brother and renounces his old ways. It was then realized that Orlando was hurt in the attack and he faints through loss of blood. Just before losing consciousness completely, Orlando asks Oliver to deliver the blood soaked handkerchief and an apology to the young lad Ganymede who “in sport” Orlando calls Rosalind. It is revealed that Oliver is the much changed brother too. Rosalind faints and then as Ganymede tries to cover up for her weakness. She claims that she “counterfeited” this reaction but Oliver seems not convinced. They then leave and Rosalind as Ganymede asks Oliver to commend her/his “counterfeiting” to the injured Orlando.