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nd saved his brother's life。
While Orlando was fighting the lioness; Oliver woke to see his brother; whom he had treated so badly; saving him from a wild beast at the risk of his own life。 This made him repent of his wickedness; and he begged Orlando's pardon; and from thenceforth they were dear brothers。 The lioness had wounded Orlando's arm so much; that he could not go on to see the shepherd; so he sent his brother to ask Ganymede to come to him。
Oliver went and told the whole story to Ganymede and Aliena; and Aliena was so charmed with his manly way of confessing his faults; that she fell in love with him at once。 But when Ganymede heard of the danger Orlando had been in she fainted; and when she came to herself; said truly enough; 〃I should have been a woman by right。〃
Oliver went back to his brother and told him all this; saying; 〃I love Aliena so well that I will give up my estates to you and marry her; and live here as a shepherd。〃
〃Let your wedding be to…morrow;〃 said Orlando; 〃and I will ask the Duke and his friends。〃
When Orlando told Ganymede how his brother was to be married on the morrow; he added: 〃Oh; how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man's eyes。〃
Then answered Rosalind; still in Ganymede's dress and speaking with his voic〃If you do love Rosalind so near the heart; then when your brother marries Aliena; shall you marry her。〃
Now the next day the Duke and his followers; and Orlando; and Oliver; and Aliena; were all gathered together for the wedding。
Then Ganymede came in and said to the Duke; 〃If I bring in your daughter Rosalind; will you give her to Orlando here?〃 〃That I would;〃 said the Duke; 〃if I had all kingdoms to give with her。〃
〃And you say you will have her when I bring her?〃 she said to Orlando。 〃That would I;〃 he answered; 〃were I king of all kingdoms。〃
Then Rosalind and Celia went out; and Rosalind put on her pretty woman's clothes again; and after a while came back。
She turned to her father〃I give myself to you; for I am yours。〃 〃If there be truth in sight;〃 he said; 〃you are my daughter。〃
Then she said to Orlando; 〃I give myself to you; for I am yours。〃 〃If there be truth in sight;〃 he said; 〃you are my Rosalind。〃
〃I will have no father if you be not he;〃 she said to the Duke; and to Orlando; 〃I will have no husband if you be not he。〃
So Orlando and Rosalind were married; and Oliver and Celia; and they lived happy ever after; returning with the Duke to the kingdom。 For Frederick had been shown by a holy hermit the wickedness of his ways; and so gave back the dukedom of his brother; and himself went into a monastery to pray for forgiveness。
The wedding was a merry one; in the mossy glades of the forest。 A shepherd and shepherdess who had been friends with Rosalind; when she was herself disguised as a shepherd; were married on the same day; and all with such pretty feastings and merrymakings as could be nowhere within four walls; but only in the beautiful green wood。
THE WINTER'S TALE
Leontes was the King of Sicily; and his dearest friend was Polixenes; King of Bohemia。 They had been brought up together; and only separated when they reached man's estate and each had to go and rule over his kingdom。 After many years; when each was married and had a son; Polixenes came to stay with Leontes in Sicily。
Leontes was a violent…tempered man and rather silly; and he took it into his stupid head that his wife; Hermione; liked Polixenes better than she did him; her own husband。 When once he had got this into his head; nothing could put it out; and he ordered one of his lords; Camillo; to put a poison in Polixenes' wine。 Camillo tried to dissuade him from this wicked action; but finding he was not to be moved; pretended to consent。 He then told Polixenes what was proposed against him; and they fled from the Court of Sicily that night; and returned to Bohemia; where Camillo lived on as Polixenes' friend and counselor。
Leontes threw the Queen into prison; and her son; the heir to the throne; died of sorrow to see his mother so unjustly and cruelly treated。
While the Queen was in prison she had a little baby; and a friend of hers; named Paulina; had the baby dressed in its best; and took it to show the King; thinking that the sight of his helpless little daughter would soften his heart towards his dear Queen; who had never done him any wrong; and who loved him a great deal more than he deserved; but the King would not look at the baby; and ordered Paulina's husband to take it away in a ship; and leave it in the most desert and dreadful place he could find; which Paulina's husband; very much against his will; was obliged to do。
Then the poor Queen was brought up to be tried for treason in preferring Polixenes to her King; but really she had never thought of anyone except Leontes; her husband。 Leontes had sent some messengers to ask the god; Apollo; whether he was not right in his cruel thoughts of the Queen。 But he had not patience to wait till they came back; and so it happened that they arrived in the middle of the trial。 The Oracle said
〃Hermione is innocent; Polixenes blameless; Camillo a true subject; Leontes a jealous tyrant; and the King shall live without an heir; if that which is lost be not found。〃
Then a man came and told them that the little Prince was dead。 The poor Queen; hearing this; fell down in a fit; and then the King saw how wicked and wrong he had been。 He ordered Paulina and the ladies who were with the Queen to take her away; and try to restore her。 But Paulina came back in a few moments; and told the King that Hermione was dead。
Now Leontes' eyes were at last opened to his folly。 His Queen was dead; and the little daughter who might have been a comfort to him he had sent away to be the prey of wolves and kites。 Life had nothing left for him now。 He gave himself up to his grief; and passed in any sad years in prayer and remorse。
The baby Princess was left on the seacoast of Bohemia; the very kingdom where Polixenes reigned。 Paulina's husband never went home to tell Leontes where he had left the baby; for as he was going back to the ship; he met a bear and was torn to pieces。 So there was an end of him。
But the poor deserted little baby was found by a shepherd。 She was richly dressed; and had with her some jewels; and a paper was pinned to her cloak; saying that her name was Perdita; and that she came of noble parents。
The shepherd; being a kind…hearted man; took home the little baby to his wife; and they brought it up as their own child。 She had no more teaching than a shepherd's child generally has; but she inherited from her royal mother many graces and charms; so that she was quite different from the other maidens in the village where she lived。
One day Prince Florizel; the son of the good King of Bohemia; was bunting near the shepherd's house and saw Perdita; now grown up to a charming woman。 He made friends with the shepherd; not telling him that he was the Prince; but saying that his name was Doricles; and that he was a private gentleman; and then; being deeply in love with the pretty Perdita; he came almost daily to see her。
The King could n