As You Like It subverts the traditional rules of romance. Gender roles, nature and politics are confused in a play that reflects on how bewildering yet utterly pleasurable life can be. The plot includes a wrestling match, disguised lovers, gods, exile in the Forest of Arden, shepherds and fierce strife between two noble brothers. The obligatory final scene reveals the characters for who they really are, and love triumphs.

The quote appears in a letter to Rosalind, disguised as male Ganymede, written by Phoebe. It hinges on the fact that there was believed to be only one phoenix in the world; in other words the writer could not love the reader were he to be the last man on earth.

The phoenix on this 17th century vestment symbolises the Christian resurrection. The mythical phoenix, after death, rose again from his own ashes, as Christ did three days after his crucifixion.

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