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As You Like It
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READ STUDY GUIDE: Act II, scenes i–iv

 
Act II, Scene iv:
The Forest of Arden.
 
[Enter ROSALIND in boy's clothes, CELIA dressed like ashepherdess, 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.
[Exeunt.]
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