Act II - Act II, Scene 2

SCENE II. A Room in the Palace.

[Enter DUKE FREDERICK, Lords, and Attendants.]

DUKE FREDERICK.
Can it be possible that no man saw them?
It cannot be: some villains of my court
Are of consent and sufferance in this.

FIRST LORD.
I cannot hear of any that did see her.
The ladies, her attendants of her chamber,
Saw her a-bed; and in the morning early
They found the bed untreasur'd of their mistress.

SECOND LORD.
My lord, the roynish clown, at whom so oft
Your grace was wont to laugh, is also missing.
Hesperia, the princess' gentlewoman,
Confesses that she secretly o'erheard
Your daughter and her cousin much commend
The parts and graces of the wrestler
That did but lately foil the sinewy Charles;
And she believes, wherever they are gone,
That youth is surely in their company.

DUKE FREDERICK.
Send to his brother; fetch that gallant hither:
If he be absent, bring his brother to me,
I'll make him find him: do this suddenly;
And let not search and inquisition quail
To bring again these foolish runaways.

[Exeunt.]

Act II - Act II, Scene 3
Act II - Act II, Scene 1

Footnotes

  1. The two Dukes have a series of unnamed lords in their procession. In both courts, these lords are simply numbered, referred to as “First Lord” and “Second Lord.” This mirrored naming system illustrates the mirrored nature of the two courts. The anonymity of the lords bespeaks the conformity rampant in courtly society.

    — Zachary, Owl Eyes Editor

  2. “Gallant” means heroic or chivalrous. Duke Frederick’s favorable characterization of Oliver underscores the larger parallel between these two sets of brothers: Duke Frederick is to Oliver as Duke Senior is to Orlando. With this scene, Frederick and Oliver are no longer just comparable but allies.

    — Caitlin, Owl Eyes Staff

  3. In Greek mythology, Hesperia is a nymph who, as one of the Hesperides, attends a beautiful, peaceful garden in a far land to the west--the perfect name for Celia's attendant who goes with her to the forest of Arden.

    — Stephen Holliday

  4. That is, some misguided villains of my court have allowed this to happen.

    — Stephen Holliday