| [Enter ROSALIND for Ganymede, CELIA for Aliena, and TOUCHSTONE] |
|
| ROSALIND | O Jupiter, how weary are my spirits! |
| TOUCHSTONE | I care not for my spirits, if my legs were not weary. |
| ROSALIND | I could find in my heart to disgrace my man's apparel and to cry like a woman; but I must comfort the weaker vessel, as doublet and hose ought to show itself courageous to petticoat: therefore courage, good Aliena! |
| CELIA | I pray you, bear with me; I cannot go no further. |
| TOUCHSTONE | For my part, I had rather bear with you than bear you; yet I should bear no cross if I did bear you, for I think you have no money in your purse. |
| ROSALIND | Well, this is the forest of Arden. |
| TOUCHSTONE | Ay, now am I in Arden; the more fool I; when I was at home, I was in a better place: but travellers must be content. |
| ROSALIND | Ay, be so, good Touchstone. |
| [Enter CORIN and SILVIUS] | |
| Look you, who comes here; a young man and an old in solemn talk. |
|
| CORIN | That is the way to make her scorn you still. |
| SILVIUS | O Corin, that thou knew'st how I do love her! |
| CORIN | I partly guess; for I have loved ere now. |
| SILVIUS | No, Corin, being old, thou canst not guess, Though in thy youth thou wast as true a lover As ever sigh'd upon a midnight pillow: But if thy love were ever like to mine-- As sure I think did never man love so-- How many actions most ridiculous Hast thou been drawn to by thy fantasy? |
| CORIN | Into a thousand that I have forgotten. |
| SILVIUS | O, thou didst then ne'er love so heartily! If thou remember'st not the slightest folly That ever love did make thee run into, Thou hast not loved: Or if thou hast not sat as I do now, Wearying thy hearer in thy mistress' praise, Thou hast not loved: Or if thou hast not broke from company Abruptly, as my passion now makes me, Thou hast not loved. O Phebe, Phebe, Phebe! |
| [Exit] | |
| ROSALIND | Alas, poor shepherd! searching of thy wound, I have by hard adventure found mine own. |
| TOUCHSTONE | And I mine. I remember, when I was in love I broke my sword upon a stone and bid him take that for coming a-night to Jane Smile; and I remember the kissing of her batlet and the cow's dugs that her pretty chopt hands had milked; and I remember the wooing of a peascod instead of her, from whom I took two cods and, giving her them again, said with weeping tears 'Wear these for my sake.' We that are true lovers run into strange capers; but as all is mortal in nature, so is all nature in love mortal in folly. |
| ROSALIND | Thou speakest wiser than thou art ware of. |
| TOUCHSTONE | Nay, I shall ne'er be ware of mine own wit till I break my shins against it. |
| ROSALIND | Jove, Jove! this shepherd's passion Is much upon my fashion. |
| TOUCHSTONE | And mine; but it grows something stale with me. |
| CELIA | I pray you, one of you question yond man If he for gold will give us any food: I faint almost to death. |
| TOUCHSTONE | Holla, you clown! |
| ROSALIND | Peace, fool: he's not thy kinsman. |
| CORIN | Who calls? |
| TOUCHSTONE | Your betters, sir. |
| CORIN | Else are they very wretched. |
| ROSALIND | Peace, I say. Good even to you, friend. |
| CORIN | And to you, gentle sir, and to you all. |
| ROSALIND | I prithee, shepherd, if that love or gold Can in this desert place buy entertainment, Bring us where we may rest ourselves and feed: Here's a young maid with travel much oppress'd And faints for succor. |
| CORIN | Fair sir, I pity her And wish, for her sake more than for mine own, My fortunes were more able to relieve her; But I am shepherd to another man And do not shear the fleeces that I graze: My master is of churlish disposition And little recks to find the way to heaven By doing deeds of hospitality: Besides, his cote, his flocks and bounds of feed Are now on sale, and at our sheepcote now, By reason of his absence, there is nothing That you will feed on; but what is, come see. And in my voice most welcome shall you be. |
| ROSALIND | What is he that shall buy his flock and pasture? |
| CORIN | That young swain that you saw here but erewhile, That little cares for buying any thing. |
| ROSALIND | I pray thee, if it stand with honesty, Buy thou the cottage, pasture and the flock, And thou shalt have to pay for it of us. |
| CELIA | And we will mend thy wages. I like this place. And willingly could waste my time in it. |
| CORIN | Assuredly the thing is to be sold: Go with me: if you like upon report The soil, the profit and this kind of life, I will your very faithful feeder be And buy it with your gold right suddenly. |
| [Exeunt] |