Page:As You Like It (1919) Yale.djvu/117

As You Like It, Epilogue 

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; yet to good wine they

do use 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 epi-

logue, nor cannot insinuate with you in the be-

half of a good play! I am not furnished 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, women! for the love

you bear to men, to like as much of this play as

please you: and I charge you, men! for the

love you bear to women,—as I perceive by your

simpering none of you hate them,—that between

you and the women, the play may please. If I

were a woman I would kiss as many of you as

had beards that pleased me, complexions that

liked me, and breaths that I defied not; and,

I am sure, as many as have good beards, or

good faces, or sweet breaths, will, for my kind

offer, when I make curtsy, bid me farewell.

Exit.

 Epilogue—

1 the lady; cf. n.

2 unhandsome: improper, unseemly

4 wine bush; cf. n.

9 insinuate: i.e., wheedle myself into your favor

12 conjure: call solemnly upon

18 If woman; cf. n

21 defied: distrusted