Note to As You Like It, 3.1.11-12: "Till thou canst quit thee by thy brother's mouth / Of what we think against thee"


Return
to
As You Like It,
Act 3, Scene 1, lines 11-12.
Till thou canst quit thee by thy brother's mouth / Of what we think against thee: Until you can acquit yourself, by your brother's testimony, of what I think you're guilty of. —Apparently Duke Frederick is demanding that Oliver not only bring Orlando back, but force him to confess to some sort of treachery; otherwise, Duke Frederick will consider Oliver to be guilty of that treachery. We never learn exactly what treachery Duke Frederick has in mind, but we have already seen the Duke full of irrational fears and resentments.