Act V · Scene I
The forest.
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Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY
TOUCHSTONE
We shall find a time, Audrey; patience, gentle Audrey.
AUDREY
Faith, the priest was good enough, for all the oldgentleman's saying.
TOUCHSTONE
A most wicked Sir Oliver, Audrey, a most vileMartext. But, Audrey, there is a youth here in theforest lays claim to you.
AUDREY
Ay, I know who 'tis; he hath no interest in me inthe world: here comes the man you mean.
TOUCHSTONE
It is meat and drink to me to see a clown: by mytroth, we that have good wits have much to answerfor; we shall be flouting; we cannot hold.
Enter WILLIAM
WILLIAM
Good even, Audrey.
AUDREY
God ye good even, William.
WILLIAM
And good even to you, sir.
TOUCHSTONE
Good even, gentle friend. Cover thy head, cover thyhead; nay, prithee, be covered. How old are you, friend?
WILLIAM
Five and twenty, sir.
TOUCHSTONE
A ripe age. Is thy name William?
WILLIAM
William, sir.
TOUCHSTONE
A fair name. Wast born i' the forest here?
WILLIAM
Ay, sir, I thank God.
TOUCHSTONE
'Thank God;' a good answer. Art rich?
WILLIAM
Faith, sir, so so.
TOUCHSTONE
'So so' is good, very good, very excellent good; andyet it is not; it is but so so. Art thou wise?
WILLIAM
Ay, sir, I have a pretty wit.
TOUCHSTONE
Why, thou sayest well. I do now remember a saying,'The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise manknows himself to be a fool.' The heathenphilosopher, when he had a desire to eat a grape,would open his lips when he put it into his mouth;meaning thereby that grapes were made to eat andlips to open. You do love this maid?
WILLIAM
I do, sir.
TOUCHSTONE
Give me your hand. Art thou learned?
WILLIAM
No, sir.
TOUCHSTONE
Then learn this of me: to have, is to have; for itis a figure in rhetoric that drink, being poured outof a cup into a glass, by filling the one doth emptythe other; for all your writers do consent that ipseis he: now, you are not ipse, for I am he.
WILLIAM
Which he, sir?
TOUCHSTONE
He, sir, that must marry this woman. Therefore, youclown, abandon,--which is in the vulgar leave,--thesociety,--which in the boorish is company,--of thisfemale,--which in the common is woman; whichtogether is, abandon the society of this female, or,clown, thou perishest; or, to thy betterunderstanding, diest; or, to wit I kill thee, makethee away, translate thy life into death, thyliberty into bondage: I will deal in poison withthee, or in bastinado, or in steel; I will bandywith thee in faction; I will o'errun thee withpolicy; I will kill thee a hundred and fifty ways:therefore tremble and depart.
AUDREY
Do, good William.
WILLIAM
God rest you merry, sir.
Exit
Enter CORIN
CORIN
Our master and mistress seeks you; come, away, away!
TOUCHSTONE
Trip, Audrey! trip, Audrey! I attend, I attend.
Exeunt