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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. 216

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.

224 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.

228 Cel. I' faith, coz, 'tis he. Ros. Orlando? Cel. Orlando.

Ros. Alas the day! what shall I do with my doublet and hose? What did he when thou 233

Wherein went he? What makes he here? Did he ask for me? Where remains he? How parted he with thee, and when shalt thou see him again? Answer me in one word.

238 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.

242 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?

245 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.

252 Cel. Give me audience, good madam. Ros. Proceed.

Cel. There lay he, stretch'd along like a wounded knight.

256 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.

261 Ros. O, ominous! he comes to kill my

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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.

273 Jaq. God be wi' you: let's meet as little as

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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.

280 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.

285 Jaq. What stature is she of? Orl. Just as high as my heart. Jaq. You are full of pretty answers.

Have you not been acquainted with goldsmiths' wives, 289 and conn'd them out of rings?

Orl. Not so; but I answer you right painted cloth, from whence you have studied your questions.

293 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.

297 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.

305 Orl. He is drowned in the brook: look but in, and you

shall see him. Jaq. There I shall see mine own figure. 308

Orl. Which I take to be either a fool or a cipher.

Jaq. I'll tarry no longer with you. Farewell, good Signior Love.

312 Orl. I am glad of your departure. Adieu, good Monsieur Melancholy. [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.

321 Ros. Then there is no true lover in the forest; else sighing every minute and groaning every 291 painted cloth; cf. n.

317

I'll tell you

338

hour would detect the lazy foot of Time as well as a clock.

825 Orl. And why not the swift foot of Time? had not that been as proper? Ros. By means,

sir. Time travels in divers paces with divers persons. who Time ambles withal, who Time trots withal, who Time gallops withal, and who he stands still withal.

332 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

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