Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

First Page. Shall we clap into't roundly, without hawking, or spitting, or saying we are hoarse, which are the only (150) prologues to a bad voice?

Sec. Page. I'faith, i'faith; and both in a tune, like two gipsies on a horse.

Song.

It was a lover and his lass,

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
That o'er the green corn-field did pass

In spring-time, the only pretty ring-time, (151)
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding:
Sweet lovers love the spring.

Between the acres of the rye,

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
These pretty country-folks would lie
In spring-time, &c.

This carol they began that hour,

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,

How that a life was but a flower

In spring-time, &c.

And therefore take the present time,

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino;

For love is crownèd with the prime

Touch.

In spring-time, &c.

Truly, young gentlemen, though there was no great matter in the ditty, yet the note was very untimeable. (152)

First Page. You are deceived, sir: we kept time, we lost not our time.

Touch. By my troth, yes; I count it but time lost to hear such a foolish song. God b'wi' you; and God mend your voices!-Come, Audrey.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. Another part of the forest. (153)

Enter Duke senior, AMIENS, JAQUES, ORLANDO, OLIVER, and CELIA.

Duke S. Dost thou believe, Orlando, that the boy

Can do all this that he hath promised?

Orl. I sometimes do believe, and sometimes do not; As those that fear they hope, and know they fear. (154)

Enter ROSALIND, SILVIUS, and PHEBE.

Ros. Patience once more, whiles our compact is urg'd :—
if I bring in your Rosalind,
[To the Duke.

You say,
You will bestow her on Orlando here?

Duke S. That would I, had I kingdoms to give with her.
Ros. And you say, you will have her, when I bring her?

[To Orlando.

Orl. That would I, were I of all kingdoms king.
Ros. You say, you'll marry me, if I be willing? [To Phebe.
Phe. That will I, should I die the hour after.

Ros. But if you do refuse to marry me,

You'll give yourself to this most faithful shepherd?
Phe. So is the bargain.

Ros. You say, that you'll have Phebe, if she will?

[To Silvius. Sil. Though to have her and death were both one thing. Ros. I've promis'd to make all this matter even. Keep you your word, O duke, to give your daughter ;— You yours, Orlando, to receive his daughter :Keep your word,(155) Phebe, that you'll marry me, Or else, refusing me, to wed this shepherd:— Keep your word, Silvius, that you'll marry her, If she refuse me :-and from hence I go,

To make these doubts all even. [Exeunt Rosalind and Celia. Duke S. I do remember in this shepherd boy

Some lively touches of my daughter's favour.

Orl. My lord, the first time that I ever saw him
Methought he was a brother to your daughter:
But, my good lord, this boy is forest-born,
And hath been tutor'd in the rudiments
Of many desperate studies by his uncle,
Whom he reports to be a great magician,
Obscured in the circle of this forest.

Jaq. There is, sure, another flood toward, and these couples are coming to the ark. Here comes a pair of very strange beasts, which in all tongues are called fools.

Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY.

Touch. Salutation and greeting to you all!

Jaq. Good my lord, bid him welcome: this is the motleyminded gentleman that I have so often met in the forest; he hath been a courtier, he swears.

Touch. If any man doubt that, let him put me to my purgation. I have trod a measure; I have flattered a lady; I have been politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy; I have undone three tailors; I have had four quarrels, and like to have fought one.

Jaq. And how was that ta'en up?

Touch. Faith, we met, and found the quarrel was upon the seventh cause.

Jaq. How, the(156) seventh cause?-Good my lord, like this fellow.

Duke S. I like him very well.

Touch. God ild you, sir; I desire you of the like. (157) I press in here, sir, amongst the rest of the country copulatives, to swear and to forswear; according as marriage binds and blood breaks :—a poor virgin, sir, an ill-favoured thing, sir, but mine own; a poor humour of mine, sir, to take that that no man else will: rich honesty dwells like a miser, sir, in a poor house; as your pearl in your foul oyster.

Duke S. By my faith, he is very swift and sententious. Touch. According to the fool's bolt, sir, and such dulcet diseases. (158)

Jaq. But, for the seventh cause; how did you find the quarrel on the seventh cause?

Touch. Upon a lie seven times removed :-bear your body more seeming, Audrey :-as thus, sir. I did dislike the cut of a certain courtier's beard: he sent me word, if I said his beard was not cut well, he was in the mind it was: this is called the Retort Courteous. If I sent him word again, it was not well cut, he would send me word, he cut it to please himself: this is called the Quip Modest. If again, it was not well cut, he disabled my judgment: this is called the Reply Churlish. If again, it was not well cut, he would answer, I spake not true; this is called the Reproof Valiant. If again, it was not well cut, he would say, I lied :(159) this is called the Coun

tercheck Quarrelsome: and so to the(160) Lie Circumstantial and the Lie Direct.

Jaq. And how oft did you say, his beard was not well cut?

Touch. I durst go no further than the Lie Circumstantial, nor he durst not give me the Lie Direct; and so we measured swords, and parted.

Jaq. Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie?

Touch. O sir, we quarrel in print, by the book; as you have books for good manners: I will name you the degrees. The first, the Retort Courteous; the second, the Quip Modest; the third, the Reply Churlish; the fourth, the Reproof Valiant; the fifth, the Countercheck Quarrelsome; the sixth, the Lie with Circumstance; the seventh, the Lie Direct. All these you may avoid, but the Lie Direct; and you may avoid that too with an "if." I knew when seven justices could not take up a quarrel; but when the parties were met themselves, one of them thought but of an "if," as, "If you said so, then I said so;" and they shook hands, and swore brothers. Your "if" is the only peace-maker; much virtue in "if.”

Jaq. Is not this a rare fellow, my lord? he's as(161) good at any thing, and yet a fool.

Duke S. He uses his folly like a stalking-horse, and under the presentation of that, he shoots his wit.

Still music. Enter a person representing HYMEN, leading ROSALIND in woman's clothes; and CELIA.

Hym. Then is there mirth in heaven,
When earthly things made even
Atone together.

Good duke, receive thy daughter:

Hymen from heaven brought her,

Yea, brought her hither,

That thou mightst join her(162) hand with his

Whose heart within her bosom is.

Ros. To you I give myself, for I am yours.-[To Duke S. [To Orlando.

To you I give myself, for I am yours.

Duke S. If there be truth in sight, you are my daughter.
Orl. If there be truth in shape, you are my Rosalind.

Phe. If sight and shape be true,

Why, then, my love adieu !(163)

Ros. I'll have no father, if you be not he:- [To Duke S. I'll have no husband, if you be not he :

Nor ne'er wed woman, if you be not she.
Hym. Peace, ho! I bar confusion:

'Tis I must make conclusion

Of these most strange events:
Here's eight that must take hands
To join in Hymen's bands,

If truth holds true contents.
You and you no cross shall part :—

[To Orlando. [To Phebe.

[To Orlando and Rosalind.

You and you are heart in heart :

[To Oliver and Celia. [To Phebe.

You to his love must accord,
Or have a woman to your lord: :-
You and you are sure together,

[To Touchstone and Audrey.

As the winter to foul weather.
Whiles a wedlock-hymn we sing,
Feed yourselves with questioning;
That reason wonder may diminish,
How thus we met, and these things finish.

Song.

Wedding is great Juno's crown:

O blessed bond of board and bed!

'Tis Hymen peoples every town;
High wedlock, then, be honoured:
Honour, high honour, and renown,
To Hymen, god of every town!

Duke S. O my dear niece, welcome thou art to me,
Even daughter-welcome, in no less degree !(164)

Phe. I will not eat my word, now thou art mine; Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine.

Enter JAQUES DE BOIS.

[To Silvius.

Jaq. de B. Let me have audience for a word or two:

« VorigeDoorgaan »