AS YOU LIKE IT - Contextual Question 2
Read the following passage and answer the questions below it:
[Enter HYMEN, ROSALIND and CELIA. Still music.]
Hymen:
Then is there mirth in heaven,
When earthly things made even
Atone together.
Good Duke receive thy daughter,
Hymen from heaven brought her,
Yea brought her hither,
That thou mightst join her hand with his
Whose heart within his bosom is.
Ros. [To the Duke.] To you I give myself, for I am yours.
[To Orl.] To you I give myself, for I am yours.
Duke Senior. If there be truth in sight, you are my daughter.
Orl. If there be truth in sight, you are my Rosalind.
Phebe. If sight and shape be true,
Why then my love adieu.
Ros. I’ll have no father, if you be not he.
I’ll have no husband, if you be not he.
Nor ne’er wed woman, if you be not she.
Hymen.
Peace ho! I bar confusion.
‘Tis I must make conclusion
Of these most strange events.
Here’s eight that must take hands
To join in Hymen’s bands,
If truth holds true contents.
You and you no cross shall part.
You and you are heart in heart.
You to his love must accord,
Or have a woman to your lord.
You and you are sure together,
As the winter to foul weather.
Whiles a wedlock hymn we sing,
Feed yourselves with questioning,
That reason wonder may diminish
How thus we met, and these things finish.
Song.
Wedding is great Juno’s crown,
O blessed bond of board and bed.
‘Tis Hymen peoples every town;
High wedlock then be honoured.
Honour, high honour and renown
To Hymen, god of every town.
A. Explain the meaning of the following:
1. Wedding is great Juno’s crown (line 34)
2. ‘Tis Hymen peoples every town (line 36)
B. …”reason wonder may diminish” (line 32). What occasions are there for “wonder” in this passage, and how might “reason” be said to diminish it?
1. The passage quoted above forms the spectacular climax to the play. Assess the contribution made by one or more of the following to the success of the scene: symbolism, ceremonial, pageantry, song, paradox.