If Is the Only Peacemaker: The Catholic Humanist Rhetoric of "As You Like It."

Description: Identifies the "Catholic Humanist rhetorical" ideal that combines "wit and wisdom" in Shakespeare's "As You Like It," examining ten individual scenes. Opens with background to this ideal in European humanism, especially Italian and English, including discussion of Chaucer's place in its development. Focuses on WBP, emphasizing the question of speaking authoritatively about marriage, and on the gentilesse speech in WBT (1109–215), claiming that the latter may suggest "some of the virtues that make life-long monogamy both possible and enjoyable." Suggests Chaucer's "sentence" and "solas" entail "wisdom" and "spiritual joy."