Rosalind is complaining to Celia that Orlando is late once again when they are interrupted by the shepherd Silvius. The shepherd hands the letter written by Phoebe to Rosalind. Silvius thinks that Phoebe wrote in anger because Rosalind (as Ganymede) had spoken so harshly and so scornfully to Phoebe when they had last met. Silvius does not know that Phoebe has truly fallen in love with Ganymede or that the letter is a declaration of her love.
Rosalind is infuriated at what she calls the cold and direct style of Phoebe’s letter in which the shepherdess, according to Rosalind, calls Ganymede unattractive (“not fair”), unmannerly, and proud (lines 15-16). Rosalind had earlier made the same criticisms of Phoebe, and Phoebe is, according to Rosalind, throwing those same criticisms back at Ganymede. Phoebe also declares that she could not love Ganymede even if men were as rare as the phoenix (at line 17), the legendary bird that lives for hundreds of years. Only one phoenix is alive at one time, so Phoebe is declaring that she would not love Ganymede even if he were the only man on earth.
Rosalind is, though, actually bothered by the real contents of the letter. Obviously, she does not want Phoebe’s love. However, Rosalind does not wish to hurt Silvius by telling him the true contents of the note.
So, Rosalind then tells Silvius that Phoebe’s letter must have really been written by Silvius or