Original: O! I know where you are. Nay, ‘tis true: there was never anything so sudden but the fight of two rams, Caesar’s thrasonical brag of ‘I came, saw, and overcame:’ for your brother and my sister no sooner met, but they looked; no sooner looked but they loved; no sooner loved but they sighed; no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason; no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy: and in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage which they will climb incontinent, or else be incontinent before marriage.
Modern: Oh! I know what you’re thinking. Yes, it’s true: nothing has ever happened as quickly as two rams charging at each other, or Caesar’s boastful claim “I came, I saw, I conquered.” Your brother and my sister met and immediately looked at each other; as soon as they looked, they fell in love; as soon as they loved, they sighed; as soon as they sighed, they asked each other why; as soon as they knew why, they looked for a solution. Step by step, they’ve built a stairway to marriage that they’ll climb right away, or else they’ll give in to their desires before marriage.

Original: They are in the very wrath of love, and they will together: clubs cannot part them.
Modern: They’re in the fierce grip of love, and they will be together—nothing can separate them.

Original: Why then, to-morrow I cannot serve your turn for Rosalind?
Modern: So then, tomorrow I can’t help you with your Rosalind problem?

Original: I will weary you then no longer with idle talking.
Modern: Then I won’t tire you any longer with meaningless conversation.

Original: Know of me then,’for now I speak to some purpose,’that I know you are a gentleman of good conceit.
Modern: Let me tell you—because now I’m speaking with a real purpose—that I know you’re an intelligent gentleman.

Original: I speak not this that you should bear a good opinion of my knowledge, insomuch I say I know you are; neither do I labour for a greater esteem than may in some little measure draw a belief from you, to do yourself good, and not to grace me.
Modern: I’m not saying this so you’ll think highly of my intelligence—I’m just stating that I know you are smart. I’m not trying to earn your respect for my own benefit, but just enough trust from you to help yourself, not to make myself look good.

Original: Believe then, if you please, that I can do strange things.
Modern: So believe, if you want to, that I can do amazing things.

Original: I have, since I was three years old, conversed with a magician, most profound in his art and yet not damnable.
Modern: Since I was three years old, I’ve talked with a magician who is deeply skilled in his craft, but not evil.

Original: If you do love Rosalind so near the heart as your gesture cries it out, when your brother marries Aliena, shall you marry her.
Modern: If you truly love Rosalind as deeply as your behavior shows, then when your brother marries Aliena, you will marry her too.

Original: I know into what straits of fortune she is driven; and it is not impossible to me, if it appear not inconvenient to you, to set her before your eyes to-morrow, human as she is, and without any danger.
Modern: I know what difficult circumstances she’s facing, and it’s not impossible for me—if it doesn’t seem troublesome to you—to bring her before you tomorrow, as human as she is, and completely safe.

In Act V, Scene ii of “As You Like It,” Orlando encounters Oliver in the Forest of Arden and learns of his brother’s dramatic transformation. Oliver recounts how he was attacked by a lioness while sleeping under a tree, and how Orlando, despite having every reason to abandon him due to their troubled past, chose to rescue him from the wild beast. This act of mercy and brotherly love has completely changed Oliver’s heart, leading him to repent for his previous cruelty toward Orlando. Oliver also reveals that he has fallen deeply in love with Aliena (Celia in disguise) and wishes to marry her, renouncing his claim to their father’s estate in favor of Orlando.

Orlando expresses joy at his brother’s transformation and readily agrees to the proposed marriage between Oliver and Aliena. The brothers reconcile fully, with their relationship now restored to what it should have been from the beginning. Oliver plans to live as a shepherd in the forest with his bride, abandoning his former life of wealth and status. The scene establishes the resolution of the conflict between the two brothers while setting up one of the multiple marriages that will conclude the play, as Oliver’s union with Celia represents another couple finding love and happiness in the transformative environment of Arden.

As You Like It follows the story of Rosalind, daughter of the banished Duke Senior, who lives at court with her cousin Celia under the rule of the usurping Duke Frederick. When the young nobleman Orlando defeats the court wrestler Charles, Rosalind and Orlando fall instantly in love. However, Duke Frederick suddenly banishes Rosalind, fearing her popularity threatens his power. Celia chooses to flee with her beloved cousin, and together they escape to the Forest of Arden where Rosalind’s father lives in exile with his loyal followers.

To ensure their safety during their journey and life in the forest, Rosalind disguises herself as a young man named Ganymede, while Celia takes the identity of a shepherdess called Aliena. Meanwhile, Orlando, having been warned by the faithful servant Adam that his jealous older brother Oliver plans to kill him, also flees to the forest. In Arden, Orlando encounters “Ganymede” and, not recognizing his beloved Rosalind, agrees to cure his lovesickness by wooing the disguised young man as if he were Rosalind herself.

The forest becomes a place of romantic confusion and resolution, populated by various couples including the melancholy Jaques, the fool Touchstone (who pursues the country wench Audrey), and the shepherdess Phebe (who falls for “Ganymede” while spurning her devoted Silvius). The play’s complications multiply when Oliver arrives in the forest, transformed by Orlando’s heroic rescue of him from a lioness, and immediately falls in love with Celia. In the final act, Rosalind orchestrates the resolution of all romantic entanglements by revealing her true identity, leading to multiple marriages. Duke Frederick experiences a religious conversion and restores his brother to power, allowing the court characters to choose between returning to civilization or remaining in the pastoral world of Arden.