Ros. Good my complexion! dost thou think, though I am caparison'd like a man, I have a doublet and hose in my disposition? One inch of delay more is a South-sea of discovery; I prithee, tell me who is it quickly, and speak apace. I would thou couldst stammer, that thou mightst pour this concealed man out of thy mouth, as wine comes out of a narrow-mouth'd bottle; either too much at once, or none at all. I prithee, take the cork out of thy mouth, that I may drink thy tidings. Cel. So you may put a man in your belly. Ros. Is he of God's making? What manner of man? Is his head worth a hat, or his chin worth a beard? Cel. Nay, he hath but a little beard. Ros. Why, God will send more, if the man will be thankful. Let me stay the growth of his beard, if thou delay me not the knowledge of his chin. Cel. It is young Orlando, that tripped up the wrestler's heels and your heart both in an instant. Ros. Nay, but the devil take mocking: speak, sad brow and true maid. Cel. I' faith, coz, 'tis he. Cel. Orlando. 216 220 224 228 Ros. Alas the day! what shall I do with my doublet and hose? What did he when thou 233 What said he? How looked he? sawest him? 205 Good my complexion; cf. n. 207 doublet and hose: i.e., typical male attire; cf. n. covery; cf. n. 217 God's making; cf. n. 222 stay: wait for 228 sad ... One... dis maid: i.e., in earnest and as you are a true maiden 229 I' faith: on my faith Wherein went he? he ask for me? Where remains he? How parted he with thee, and when shalt thou see him again? Answer me in one word. What makes he here? Did Cel. You must borrow me Gargantua's mouth first: 'tis a word too great for any mouth of this age's size. To say ay and no to these particulars is more than to answer in a catechism. Ros. But doth he know that I am in this forest and in man's apparel? Looks he as freshly as he did the day he wrestled? Cel. It is as easy to count atomies as to resolve the propositions of a lover; but take a taste of my finding him, and relish it with good observance. I found him under a tree, like a dropped acorn. Ros. It may well be called Jove's tree, when it drops forth such fruit. Cel. Give me audience, good madam. Ros. Proceed. Cel. There lay he, stretch'd along like a wounded knight. Ros. Though it be pity to see such a sight, it well becomes the ground. Cel. Cry 'holla!' to thy tongue, I prithee; it curvets unseasonably. He was furnish'd like a hunter. Ros. O, ominous! he comes to kill my heart. 235 Wherein went he: i.e., how was he dressed 248 relish: appreciate 251 Jove's tree; cf. n. makes: does 238 242 245 252 256 261 246 atomies: atoms, motes propositions: questions 247 resolve: answer logically 260 curvets unseasonably: prances ill-timedly 262 heart: with quibble on 'hart' good observance: respectful attention 258 becomes: adorns Cel. I would sing my song without a burthen: thou bringest me out of tune. Ros. Do you not know I am a woman? when I think, I must speak. Sweet, say on. Enter Orlando and Jaques. Cel. You bring me out. Soft! comes he not here? Ros. 'Tis he: slink by, and note him. Jaq. I thank you for your company; but, good faith, I had as lief have been myself alone. Orl. And so had I; but yet, for fashion's sake, I thank you too for your society. Jaq. God be wi' you: let's meet as little as we can. Orl. I do desire we may be better strangers. Jaq. I pray you, mar no more trees with writing love-songs in their barks. Orl. I pray you mar no moe of my verses with reading them ill-favouredly. Jaq. Rosalind is your love's name? Orl. Yes, just. Jaq. I do not like her name. Orl. There was no thought of pleasing you when she was christened. Jaq. What stature is she of? Orl. Just as high as my heart. Jaq. You are full of pretty answers. you not been acquainted with goldsmiths' and conn'd them out of rings? 263 burthen: refrain, bass, or undersong 264 bringest: puttest 271 myself alone: all by myself 280 ill-favouredly: badly 289 goldsmiths' wives rings; cf. n. 290 conn'd: learned by heart 264 268 273 280 285 Have wives, 289 269 by: aside 279 moe: more 282 just: exactly that Orl. Not so; but I answer you right painted cloth, from whence you have studied your ques tions. Jaq. You have a nimble wit: I think 'twas made of Atalanta's heels. Will you sit down with me? and we two will rail against our mistress the world, and all our misery. Orl. I will chide no breather in the world but myself, against whom I know most faults. Jaq. The worst fault you have is to be in love. Orl. 'Tis a fault I will not change for your best virtue. I am weary of you. Jaq. By my troth, I was seeking for a fool when I found you. Orl. He is drowned in the brook: look but in, you shall see him. and Jaq. There I shall see mine own figure. Orl. Which I take to be either a fool or a cipher. Jaq. I'll tarry no longer with you. Farewell, good Signior Love. Orl. I am glad of your departure. good Monsieur Melancholy. Adieu, 293 297 305 308 312 [Exit Jaques.] Ros. I will speak to him like a saucy lackey, and under that habit play the knaye with him. Do you hear, forester? Orl. Very well: what would you? Ros. I pray you, what is 't o'clock? Orl. You should ask me, what time o' day; there's no clock in the forest. Ros. Then there is no true lover in the forest; else sighing every minute and groaning every 291 painted cloth; cf. n. 316 habit: garb 317 321 298 breather: living creature hour would detect the lazy foot of Time as well as a clock. Orl. And why not the swift foot of Time? had not that been as proper? Ros. By no means, sir. Time travels in divers paces with divers persons. I'll tell you who Time ambles withal, who Time trots withal, who Time gallops withal, and who he stands still withal. Orl. I prithee, who doth he trot withal? Ros. Marry, he trots hard with a young maid between the contract of her marriage and the day it is solemnized; if the interim be but a se'nnight, Time's pace is so hard that it seems the length of seven year. Orl. Who ambles Time withal? Ros. With a priest that lacks Latin, and a rich man that hath not the gout; for the one sleeps easily because he cannot study, and the other lives merrily because he feels no pain; the one lacking the burden of lean and wasteful learning, the other knowing no burden of heavy tedious penury. These Time ambles withal. Orl. Who doth he gallop withal? Ros. With a thief to the gallows; for though he go as softly as foot can fall he thinks himself too soon there. Orl. Who stays it still withal? Ros. With lawyers in the vacation; for they sleep between term and term, and then they perceive not how Time moves. Orl. Where dwell you, pretty youth? 334 hard: uneasily 344 wasteful: consuming 325 332 338 348 352 356 337 se'nnight: seven-night, week 354 term: period of court sessions |