William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Oxford Shakespeare. 1914.
Act II. Scene IV.As You Like It
Ros.O Jupiter! how weary are my spirits.
Touch.I care not for my spirits if my legs were not weary.
Ros.I could find it 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.
Cel.I pray you, bear with me: I cannot go no further.
Touch.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.
Ros.Well, this is the forest of Arden.
Touch.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.
Ros.Ay, be so, good Touchstone. Look you, who comes here; a young man and an old in solemn talk.
Cor.That is the way to make her scorn you still.
Sil.O Corin, that thou knew’st how I do love her!
Cor.I partly guess, for I have lov’d ere now.
Sil.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?
Cor.Into a thousand that I have forgotten.
Sil.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 lov’d:
Or if thou hast not sat as I do now,
Wearing thy hearer with 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.
Ros.Alas, poor shepherd! searching of thy wound,
I have by hard adventure found mine own.
Touch.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 batler, and the cow’s dugs that her pretty chopped 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.
Ros.Thou speakest wiser than thou art ware of.
Touch.Nay, I shall ne’er be ware of mine own wit till I break my shins against it.
Ros.Jove, Jove! this shepherd’s passion
Is much upon my fashion.
Touch.And mine; but it grows something stale with me.
Cel.I pray you, one of you question yond man,
If he for gold will give us any food:
I faint almost to death.
Touch.Holla, you clown!
Ros.Peace, fool: he’s not thy kinsman.
Cor.Who calls?
Touch.Your betters, sir.
Cor.Else are they very wretched.
Ros.Peace, I say. Good even to you, friend.
Cor.And to you, gentle sir, and to you all.
Ros.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 succour.
Cor.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.
Ros.What is he that shall buy his flock and pasture?
Cor.That young swain that you saw here but erewhile,
That little cares for buying anything.
Ros.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.
Cel.And we will mend thy wages. I like this place,
And willingly could waste my time in it.
Cor.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.