The Chautauquan, Vol. 03, May 1883Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
History
The Chautauquan, Vol. 03, May 1883
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
Chautauqua Institution -- Periodicals; Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle -- Periodicals
This seemingly wonderful event, which, as Ganimed was the lady
Rosalind, he could so easily perform, he pretended he would bring to
pass by the aid of magic, which he said he had learnt from an uncle who
was a famous magician. The fond lover, Orlando, half believing and half
doubting what he heard, asked Ganimed if he spoke in sober meaning. “By
my life I do,” said Ganimed; “therefore put on your best clothes, and
bid the duke and your friends to your wedding; for, if you desire to be
married to-morrow to Rosalind, she shall be here.” The next morning,
Oliver having obtained the consent of Aliena, they came into the
presence of the duke, and with them also came Orlando. They being all
assembled to celebrate this double marriage, and as yet only one of the
brides appearing, there was much of wondering and conjecture, but they
mostly thought that Ganimed was making a jest of Orlando.
The duke, hearing that it was his own daughter that was to be brought
in this strange way, asked Orlando if he believed the shepherd boy
could really do what he had promised; and while Orlando was answering
that he knew not what to think, Ganimed entered, and asked the duke, if
he brought his daughter, whether he would consent to her marriage with
Orlando. “That I would,” said the duke, “If I had kingdoms to give with
her.” Ganimed then said to Orlando, “And you say you will marry her if
I bring her here.” “That I would,” said Orlando, “if I were king of
many kingdoms.” Ganimed and Aliena then went out together, and Ganimed,
throwing off his male attire, and being once more dressed in woman’s
apparel, quickly became Rosalind, without the power of magic; and
Aliena, changing her country garb for her own rich clothes, was with as
little trouble transformed into the lady Celia.
While they were gone, the duke said to Orlando, that he thought the
shepherd Ganimed, very like his daughter Rosalind; and Orlando said, he
also had observed the resemblance. They had no time to wonder how all
this would end, for Rosalind and Celia in their own clothes entered;
and no longer pretending that it was by the power of magic that she
came there, Rosalind threw herself on her knees before her father, and
begged his blessing. It seemed so wonderful to all present that she
should so suddenly appear that it might well have passed for magic; but
Rosalind would no longer trifle with her father, and told him the story
of her banishment, and of her dwelling in the forest as a shepherd boy,
her cousin Celia passing as her sister.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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