I’ll Tell You Who Time Gallops Withal

Rosalind explains to Orlando that Time moves at different paces depending on who you are.

1599

Introduction

William Shakespeare’s As You Like It is believed to be the play that opened the New Globe theatre in 1599. After Frederick usurped the throne of his brother Duke Senior (so the story goes) he exiled his own daughter Rosalind for disobedience. Disguised as a boy, Rosalind fled to the Forest of Arden only to run into a long-time admirer, Orlando. To hide her confusion, and still incognito, she accosts him ‘like a saucy lackey’.

by William Shakespeare 1564-1616

ROSALIND: I pray you, what is’t o’clock?

Orlando: You should ask me what time o’day: there’s no clock in the forest.

Rosalind: Then there is no true lover in the forest; else sighing every minute and groaning every hour would detect the lazy foot of Time as well as a clock.

Orlando: And why not the swift foot of Time? had not that been as proper?

Rosalind: Time travels in divers paces with divers persons. I’ll tell you who Time ambles withal, who Time trots withal, who Time gallops withal and who he stands still withal.*

Orlando: I prithee, who doth he trot withal?

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‘Withal’ is an archaic word not used in modern English. It can be an adverb meaning ‘besides, too’, e.g. “I must have liberty withal” (Jaques). Or it can be a preposition meaning ‘with’, e.g. “I’ll tell you who Time ambles with[al]”. ‘Withal’ is preferred when ‘with’ is being used postpositively, i.e. after the object it governs. So for example, Rosalind uses ‘with’ and ‘withal’ in one sentence:

I thank God I am not a woman, to be touched with so many giddy offences as he hath generally taxed their whole sex with[al].

Précis

When Rosalind, dressed as a boy, accosts Orlando in the Forest of Arden she opens by asking him the time. It proves to be a good opening, as they begin to exchange banter about time, and how its passage is experienced according to the situation. Rosalind promises examples of time trotting, ambling and galloping, and Orlando asks to hear them.

Sevens

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

What is as good as a clock for telling the time, according to Rosalind?

Suggestion

Being in love, and counting the minutes.

Jigsaws

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

Orlando was in love with Rosalind. Rosalind was disguised as a boy. Orlando did not recognise her.

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