Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Allusion #7 - Veni, Vidi, Vici (I Came, I Saw, I Conquered)


As You Like It Act 5 Scene 2

                ROSALIND ... (this part removed)
                           Nay, ’tis true. There was never anything so sudden but the fight of two rams and Caesar’s                        
                          thrasonical brag of “I came, saw, and overcame.”

Rosalind (as Ganymede) is talking to Orlando about how swiftly his brother and "Aliena" have fallen in love. In the quote, Caesar is basically saying, "I came, I saw, I conquered." It is commonly used when conveying an image of something that happens fast In this case it describes Oliver and and "Aliena" falling for each other. Their almost immediate relationship mirrors this saying pretty well.
I came: After Orlando saves him from the lioness and the snake, he goes to find the "Ganymede" and "Aliena" who Orlando told to deliver the bloody handkerchief. 
I saw: Oliver stops to ask for directions from Rosalind and Celia but realizes they are who he is looking for. This is the first time he sees "Aliena". It is also the same case for Celia.
I conquered: Oliver and Celia conquer, not a country, but each other's hearts! (This happens in the process explained later by Rosalind.) 
When Rosalind quotes Caesar, she is describing not only how quickly they fell in love, but also a shortened version of how too.

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