Rosalind, Celia, and Touchstone reach the Forest of Arden. Rosalind is in disguise as a boy named Ganymede and Celia as a country girl named Aliena. They overhear a conversation between an old shepherd (Corin) and a lovelorn young shepherd (Silvius). “Ganymede” and “Aliena” persuade Corin to help them buy a cottage.
Enter Rosalind for Ganymede, Celia for Aliena, and Clown, alias Touchstone.
ROSALIND 0777O Jupiter, how ⌜weary⌝ are my spirits! TOUCHSTONE0778
I care not for my spirits, if my legs were 0779not weary. ROSALIND0780
I could find in my heart to disgrace my 07815man’s apparel and to cry like a woman, but I must 0782comfort the weaker vessel, as doublet and hose 0783ought to show itself courageous to petticoat. Therefore 0784courage, good Aliena. CELIA0785
I pray you bear with me. I cannot go no further. TOUCHSTONE078610For my part, I had rather bear with you 0787than bear you. Yet I should bear no cross if I did 0788bear you, for I think you have no money in your 0789purse. ROSALIND0790
Well, this is the Forest of Arden. TOUCHSTONE079115Ay, now am I in Arden, the more fool I. 0792When I was at home I was in a better place, but 0793travelers must be content. ROSALIND0794
Ay, be so, good Touchstone.
Enter Corin and Silvius.
0795Look you who comes here, a young man and an old 079620in solemn talk.
⌜Rosalind, Celia, and Touchstone step aside and eavesdrop.⌝
CORIN, ⌜to Silvius⌝ 0797That is the way to make her scorn you still. SILVIUS 0798O Corin, that thou knew’st how I do love her! CORIN 0799I partly guess, for I have loved ere now.
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SILVIUS 0800No, Corin, being old, thou canst not guess, 080125Though in thy youth thou wast as true a lover 0802As ever sighed upon a midnight pillow. 0803But if thy love were ever like to mine— 0804As sure I think did never man love so— 0805How many actions most ridiculous 080630Hast thou been drawn to by thy fantasy? CORIN 0807Into a thousand that I have forgotten. SILVIUS 0808O, thou didst then never love so heartily. 0809If thou rememb’rest not the slightest folly 0810That ever love did make thee run into, 081135Thou hast not loved. 0812Or if thou hast not sat as I do now, 0813Wearing thy hearer in thy mistress’ praise, 0814Thou hast not loved. 0815Or if thou hast not broke from company 081640Abruptly, as my passion now makes me, 0817Thou hast not loved. 0818O Phoebe, Phoebe, Phoebe!He exits. ROSALIND 0819Alas, poor shepherd, searching of ⌜thy wound,⌝ 0820I have by hard adventure found mine own. TOUCHSTONE082145And I mine. I remember when I was in 0822love I broke my sword upon a stone and bid him 0823take that for coming a-night to Jane Smile; and I 0824remember the kissing of her batler, and the cow’s 0825dugs that her pretty chopped hands had milked; 082650and I remember the wooing of a peascod instead of 0827her, from whom I took two cods and, giving her 0828them again, said with weeping tears “Wear these for 0829my sake.” We that are true lovers run into strange 0830capers. But as all is mortal in nature, so is all nature 083155in love mortal in folly.
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ROSALIND0832
Thou speak’st wiser than thou art ware of. TOUCHSTONE0833
Nay, I shall ne’er be ware of mine own 0834wit till I break my shins against it. ROSALIND 0835Jove, Jove, this shepherd’s passion 083660Is much upon my fashion. TOUCHSTONE0837
And mine, but it grows something stale 0838with me. CELIA0839
I pray you, one of you question yond man, if he 0840for gold will give us any food. I faint almost to death. TOUCHSTONE, ⌜to Corin⌝084165Holla, you clown! ROSALIND0842
Peace, fool. He’s not thy kinsman. CORIN0843
Who calls? TOUCHSTONE0844
Your betters, sir. CORIN0845
Else are they very wretched. ROSALIND, ⌜to Touchstone⌝ 084670Peace, I say.⌜As Ganymede, to Corin.⌝ Good even to 0847⌜you,⌝ friend. CORIN 0848And to you, gentle sir, and to you all. ROSALIND, ⌜as Ganymede⌝ 0849I prithee, shepherd, if that love or gold 0850Can in this desert place buy entertainment, 085175Bring us where we may rest ourselves and feed. 0852Here’s a young maid with travel much oppressed, 0853And faints for succor. CORIN0854Fair sir, I pity her 0855And wish for her sake more than for mine own 085680My fortunes were more able to relieve her. 0857But I am shepherd to another man 0858And do not shear the fleeces that I graze. 0859My master is of churlish disposition 0860And little recks to find the way to heaven 086185By doing deeds of hospitality. 0862Besides, his cote, his flocks, and bounds of feed 0863Are now on sale, and at our sheepcote now,
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0864By reason of his absence, there is nothing 0865That you will feed on. But what is, come see, 086690And in my voice most welcome shall you be. ROSALIND, ⌜as Ganymede⌝ 0867What is he that shall buy his flock and pasture? CORIN 0868That young swain that you saw here but erewhile, 0869That little cares for buying anything. ROSALIND, ⌜as Ganymede⌝ 0870I pray thee, if it stand with honesty, 087195Buy thou the cottage, pasture, and the flock, 0872And thou shalt have to pay for it of us. CELIA, ⌜as Aliena⌝ 0873And we will mend thy wages. I like this place, 0874And willingly could waste my time in it. CORIN 0875Assuredly the thing is to be sold. 0876100Go with me. If you like upon report 0877The soil, the profit, and this kind of life, 0878I will your very faithful feeder be 0879And buy it with your gold right suddenly. They exit.
