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Fulfillment in As You Like It1 1 9rarefied ability to ascend a hierarchy of love. One could, however, overemphasizethis egalitarian perspective, for the thorough, mutual understandingthat characterizes Rosalind’s relationship with Celia, and the potential depthof her intimacy with Orlando—who, as we have seen, values her wit, beauty,and “majesty” as well as her “modesty” (3.2.144–48)—would be beyond thereach of many happily married couples.The traditions, laws, and poetry of particular regimes can clearly beinstrumental in confirming the ordinary citizen’s respect for marriage andthus in improving his chances of pursuing a fulfilling life. One critic commentsthat the “exceptional elaboration” of the play’s conclusion is a sign thatit is “informed to an exceptional degree by Shakespeare’s ideal of love’s order,”and notes further the importance of the injunction, addressed in the epilogueto the men in the audience, “that between you and the women the play mayplease” (line 17), arguing that the play should be seen as a “conjuration,”inviting us to celebrate “love’s harmony.” 13 The slightly unusual preposition“between” in the above quotation indicates Shakespeare’s determination thatthis play should reinforce the reciprocity of married life for his audience. Hewants them to feel the power of Hymen, “god of every town,” as somethinglarger than their own desires—even though the deepest part of their natureyearns for a lasting union anyway—which is why he has the god interruptauthoritatively to “bar confusion” and “make conclusion,” in order to set anofficial stamp on Rosalind and Orlando’s passion (5.4.125–26). This should beseen as the culmination of his attempt throughout the play to present loyaldevotion as admirable.Friendship, according to Shakespeare, is not for something higher thanitself, but is our natural goal whether we know it or not, and one, therefore,that should be pursued without moderation. Rosalind, echoing Bottom inTwelfth Night, says that her “affection hath an unknown bottom, like the bayof Portugal” (4.1.207–8). All other passions should be subordinated to ourdesire for deep attachments, and the slow build up of gratitude and trustwhich is the mark of true friendship requires great self-restraint and a radicalhumility. Even one’s “wit” is best employed in thoroughly understandingone’s need for such attachments, and attempting to transcend the elementsin one’s own soul that obstruct one’s search for a true friend. Whereas thephilosopher sees himself as harnessing or channelling his self-love, the sameends can be achieved through a thorough habituation in a religious and moral13Brown, “Love’s Order and the Judgment of As You Like It,” 74, 87.