The Forest of Arden
[Enter ROSALIND in boy’s clothes,
CELIA dressed like a shepherdess,
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 can 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.–Look you,
who comes here?, a young man and an old in solemn talk.
[Enter CORIN and SILVIUS.]
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 lov’d 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 never love so heartily:
If thou remember’st not the slightest folly
That ever love did make thee run into,
Thou hast not lov’d:
Or if thou hast not sat as I do now,
Wearing thy hearer in thy mistress’ praise,
Thou hast not lov’d:
Or if thou hast not broke from company
Abruptly, as my passion now makes me,
Thou hast not lov’d: O Phebe, Phebe, Phebe!
[Exit Silvius.]
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 chapp’d hands had milk’d: 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 speak’st 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 pr’ythee, 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 succour.
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 anything.
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.
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