As You Like It
Act II, Scene 4
The Forest of Arden.
In the Forest of Arden
John Collier, 1892
- Enter Rosalind for Ganymede, Celia for Aliena, and Clown,
- alias Touchstone.
Rosalind
1- O Jupiter, how weary are my spirits!
Touchstone
2- I care not for my spirits, if my legs were not weary.
Rosalind
3 - 6- 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
7- I pray you bear with me, I cannot go no further.
Touchstone
8 - 10- 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
11- Well, this is the forest of Arden.
Touchstone
12 - 13- Ay, now am I in Arden, the more fool I. When I was at home,
- I was in a better place, but travelers must be content.
- Enter Corin and Silvius.
Rosalind
14 - 15- Ay, be so, good Touchstone. Look you, who comes here, a
- young man and an old in solemn talk.
Corin
16- That is the way to make her scorn you still.
Silvius
17- O Corin, that thou knew’st how I do love her!
Corin
18- I partly guess; for I have lov’d ere now.
Silvius
19 - 25- 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
26- Into a thousand that I have forgotten.
Silvius
27 - 37- O, thou didst then never love so heartily!
- If thou rememb’rest 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.
Rosalind
38 - 39- Alas, poor shepherd, searching of thy wound,
- I have by hard adventure found mine own.
Touchstone
40 - 48- 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 chopp’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
49- Thou speak’st wiser than thou art ware of.
O Jupiter, how weary are my spirits!
Hugh Thomson, 1910
Touchstone
50 - 51- Nay, I shall ne’er be ware of mine own wit till I break my
- shins against it.
Rosalind
52 - 53- Jove, Jove! This shepherd’s passion
- Is much upon my fashion.
Touchstone
54- And mine, but it grows something stale with me.
Celia
55 - 57- I pray you, one of you question yond man,
- If he for gold will give us any food;
- I faint almost to death.
Touchstone
58- Holla! You clown!
Rosalind
59- Peace, fool, he’s not thy kinsman.
Corin
60- Who calls?
Touchstone
61- Your betters, sir.
Corin
62- Else are they very wretched.
Rosalind
63- Peace, I say. Good even to you, friend.
Corin
64- And to you, gentle sir, and to you all.
Rosalind
65 - 69- 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 oppressed,
- And faints for succor.
Corin
70 - 82- 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 reaks 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 sheep-cote 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
83- What is he that shall buy his flock and pasture?
Corin
84 - 85- That young swain that you saw here but erewhile,
- That little cares for buying any thing.
Rosalind
86 - 88- 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
89 - 90- And we will mend thy wages. I like this place,
- And willingly could waste my time in it.
Corin
91 - 95- 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.
Ay, now am I in Arden, the more fool I.
Hugh Thomson, 1910