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Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY , and JAQUES behind
Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY , and JAQUES behind

TOUCHSTONE

Come apace, good Audrey. I will fetch up your goats, Audrey. And how, Audrey? Am I the man yet? Doth my simple feature content you?

TOUCHSTONE

Come apace, good Audrey. I will fetch up your goats, Audrey. And how, Audrey? Am I the man yet? Doth my simple feature content you?

AUDREY

Your features, Lord warrant us! What features?

AUDREY

Your features, Lord warrant us! What features?

TOUCHSTONE

I am here with thee and thy goats, as the most capricious poet, honest Ovid, was among the Goths.

TOUCHSTONE

I am here with thee and thy goats, as the most capricious poet, honest Ovid, was among the Goths.

JAQUES

(aside) O knowledge ill-inhabited, worse than Jove in a thatched house.

JAQUES

(aside) O knowledge ill-inhabited, worse than Jove in a thatched house.

TOUCHSTONE

When a man’s verses cannot be understood nor a man’s good wit seconded with the forward child, understanding, it strikes a man more dead than a great reckoning in a little room. Truly, I would the gods had made thee poetical.

TOUCHSTONE

When a man’s verses cannot be understood nor a man’s good wit seconded with the forward child, understanding, it strikes a man more dead than a great reckoning in a little room. Truly, I would the gods had made thee poetical.

AUDREY

I do not know what “poetical” is. Is it honest in deed and word? Is it a true thing?

AUDREY

I do not know what “poetical” is. Is it honest in deed and word? Is it a true thing?

TOUCHSTONE

No, truly, for the truest poetry is the most feigning, and lovers are given to poetry, and what they swear in poetry may be said as lovers they do feign.

TOUCHSTONE

No, truly, for the truest poetry is the most feigning, and lovers are given to poetry, and what they swear in poetry may be said as lovers they do feign.

AUDREY

Do you wish then that the gods had made me poetical?

AUDREY

Do you wish then that the gods had made me poetical?

TOUCHSTONE

I do, truly, for thou swear’st to me thou art honest. Now, if thou wert a poet, I might have some hope thou didst feign.

TOUCHSTONE

I do, truly, for thou swear’st to me thou art honest. Now, if thou wert a poet, I might have some hope thou didst feign.

AUDREY

Would you not have me honest?

AUDREY

Would you not have me honest?

TOUCHSTONE

No, truly, unless thou wert hard-favored, for honesty coupled to beauty is to have honey a sauce to sugar.

TOUCHSTONE

No, truly, unless thou wert hard-favored, for honesty coupled to beauty is to have honey a sauce to sugar.

JAQUES

(aside) A material fool.

JAQUES

(aside) A material fool.

AUDREY

Well, I am not fair, and therefore I pray the gods make me honest.

AUDREY

Well, I am not fair, and therefore I pray the gods make me honest.

TOUCHSTONE

Truly, and to cast away honesty upon a foul slut were to put good meat into an unclean dish.

TOUCHSTONE

Truly, and to cast away honesty upon a foul slut were to put good meat into an unclean dish.

AUDREY

I am not a slut, though I thank the gods I am foul.

AUDREY

I am not a slut, though I thank the gods I am foul.

TOUCHSTONE

Well, praised be the gods for thy foulness; sluttishness may come hereafter. But be it as it may be, I will marry thee; and to that end I have been with Sir Oliver Martext, the vicar of the next village, who hath promised to meet me in this place of the forest and to couple us.

TOUCHSTONE

Well, praised be the gods for thy foulness; sluttishness may come hereafter. But be it as it may be, I will marry thee; and to that end I have been with Sir Oliver Martext, the vicar of the next village, who hath promised to meet me in this place of the forest and to couple us.

JAQUES

(aside) I would fain see this meeting.

JAQUES

(aside) I would fain see this meeting.

AUDREY

Well, the gods give us joy.

AUDREY

Well, the gods give us joy.

TOUCHSTONE

Amen. A man may, if he were of a fearful heart, stagger in this attempt, for here we have no temple but the wood, no assembly but horn-beasts. But what though? Courage. As horns are odious, they are necessary. It is said, “Many a man knows no end of his goods.” Right: many a man has good horns and knows no end of them.

TOUCHSTONE

Amen. A man may, if he were of a fearful heart, stagger in this attempt, for here we have no temple but the wood, no assembly but horn-beasts. But what though? Courage. As horns are odious, they are necessary. It is said, “Many a man knows no end of his goods.” Right: many a man has good horns and knows no end of them.
Well, that is the dowry of his wife; ’tis none of his own getting. Horns? Even so. Poor men alone? No, no. The noblest deer hath them as huge as the rascal. Is the single man therefore blessed? No. As a walled town is more worthier than a village, so is the forehead of a married man more honorable than the bare brow of a bachelor. And by how much defense is better than no skill, by so much is a horn more precious than to want.
Well, that is the dowry of his wife; ’tis none of his own getting. Horns? Even so. Poor men alone? No, no. The noblest deer hath them as huge as the rascal. Is the single man therefore blessed? No. As a walled town is more worthier than a village, so is the forehead of a married man more honorable than the bare brow of a bachelor. And by how much defense is better than no skill, by so much is a horn more precious than to want.
Enter SIR OLIVER MARTEXT
Enter SIR OLIVER MARTEXT
Here comes Sir Oliver.—Sir Oliver Martext, you are well met. Will you dispatch us here under this tree, or shall we go with you to your chapel?
Here comes Sir Oliver.—Sir Oliver Martext, you are well met. Will you dispatch us here under this tree, or shall we go with you to your chapel?

SIR OLIVER MARTEXT

Is there none here to give the woman?

SIR OLIVER MARTEXT

Is there none here to give the woman?

TOUCHSTONE

55 I will not take her on gift of any man.

TOUCHSTONE

I will not take her on gift of any man.

SIR OLIVER MARTEXT

Truly, she must be given, or the marriage is not lawful.

SIR OLIVER MARTEXT

Truly, she must be given, or the marriage is not lawful.

JAQUES

(advancing) Proceed, proceed. I’ll give her.

JAQUES

(advancing) Proceed, proceed. I’ll give her.

TOUCHSTONE

Good even, good Monsieur What-ye-call’t. How do you, sir? You are very well met. God 'ild you for your last company. I am very glad to see you. Even a toy in hand here, sir. Nay, pray be covered.

TOUCHSTONE

Good even, good Monsieur What-ye-call’t. How do you, sir? You are very well met. God 'ild you for your last company. I am very glad to see you. Even a toy in hand here, sir. Nay, pray be covered.

JAQUES

Will you be married, motley?

JAQUES

Will you be married, motley?

TOUCHSTONE

As the ox hath his bow, sir, the horse his curb, and the falcon her bells, so man hath his desires; and as pigeons bill, so wedlock would be nibbling.

TOUCHSTONE

As the ox hath his bow, sir, the horse his curb, and the falcon her bells, so man hath his desires; and as pigeons bill, so wedlock would be nibbling.

JAQUES

And will you, being a man of your breeding, be married under a bush like a beggar? Get you to church, and have a good priest that can tell you what marriage is. This fellow will but join you together as they join wainscot. Then one of you will prove a shrunk panel and, like green timber, warp, warp.

JAQUES

And will you, being a man of your breeding, be married under a bush like a beggar? Get you to church, and have a good priest that can tell you what marriage is. This fellow will but join you together as they join wainscot. Then one of you will prove a shrunk panel and, like green timber, warp, warp.

TOUCHSTONE

(aside) I am not in the mind but I were better to be married of him than of another, for he is not like to marry me well, and not being well married, it will be a good excuse for me hereafter to leave my wife.

TOUCHSTONE

(aside) I am not in the mind but I were better to be married of him than of another, for he is not like to marry me well, and not being well married, it will be a good excuse for me hereafter to leave my wife.

JAQUES

Go thou with me, and let me counsel thee.

JAQUES

Go thou with me, and let me counsel thee.

TOUCHSTONE

Come, sweet Audrey. We must be married, or we must live in bawdry.—Farewell, good Master Oliver, not
O sweet Oliver,
O brave Oliver,
Leave me not behind thee
But
Wind away,
Begone, I say,
I will not to wedding with thee.

TOUCHSTONE

Come, sweet Audrey. We must be married, or we must live in bawdry.—Farewell, good Master Oliver, not
O sweet Oliver,
O brave Oliver,
Leave me not behind thee
But
Wind away,
Begone, I say,
I will not to wedding with thee.
Exeunt JAQUES , TOUCHSTONE , and AUDREY
Exeunt JAQUES , TOUCHSTONE , and AUDREY

SIR OLIVER MARTEXT

'Tis no matter. Ne'er a fantastical knave of them all shall flout me out of my calling.

SIR OLIVER MARTEXT

'Tis no matter. Ne'er a fantastical knave of them all shall flout me out of my calling.
Exit
Exit

Original Text

Modern Text
Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY , and JAQUES behind
Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY , and JAQUES behind

TOUCHSTONE

Come apace, good Audrey. I will fetch up your goats, Audrey. And how, Audrey? Am I the man yet? Doth my simple feature content you?

TOUCHSTONE

Come apace, good Audrey. I will fetch up your goats, Audrey. And how, Audrey? Am I the man yet? Doth my simple feature content you?

AUDREY

Your features, Lord warrant us! What features?

AUDREY

Your features, Lord warrant us! What features?

TOUCHSTONE

I am here with thee and thy goats, as the most capricious poet, honest Ovid, was among the Goths.

TOUCHSTONE

I am here with thee and thy goats, as the most capricious poet, honest Ovid, was among the Goths.

JAQUES

(aside) O knowledge ill-inhabited, worse than Jove in a thatched house.

JAQUES

(aside) O knowledge ill-inhabited, worse than Jove in a thatched house.

TOUCHSTONE

When a man’s verses cannot be understood nor a man’s good wit seconded with the forward child, understanding, it strikes a man more dead than a great reckoning in a little room. Truly, I would the gods had made thee poetical.

TOUCHSTONE

When a man’s verses cannot be understood nor a man’s good wit seconded with the forward child, understanding, it strikes a man more dead than a great reckoning in a little room. Truly, I would the gods had made thee poetical.

AUDREY

I do not know what “poetical” is. Is it honest in deed and word? Is it a true thing?

AUDREY

I do not know what “poetical” is. Is it honest in deed and word? Is it a true thing?

TOUCHSTONE

No, truly, for the truest poetry is the most feigning, and lovers are given to poetry, and what they swear in poetry may be said as lovers they do feign.

TOUCHSTONE

No, truly, for the truest poetry is the most feigning, and lovers are given to poetry, and what they swear in poetry may be said as lovers they do feign.

AUDREY

Do you wish then that the gods had made me poetical?

AUDREY

Do you wish then that the gods had made me poetical?

TOUCHSTONE

I do, truly, for thou swear’st to me thou art honest. Now, if thou wert a poet, I might have some hope thou didst feign.

TOUCHSTONE

I do, truly, for thou swear’st to me thou art honest. Now, if thou wert a poet, I might have some hope thou didst feign.

AUDREY

Would you not have me honest?

AUDREY

Would you not have me honest?

TOUCHSTONE

No, truly, unless thou wert hard-favored, for honesty coupled to beauty is to have honey a sauce to sugar.

TOUCHSTONE

No, truly, unless thou wert hard-favored, for honesty coupled to beauty is to have honey a sauce to sugar.

JAQUES

(aside) A material fool.

JAQUES

(aside) A material fool.

AUDREY

Well, I am not fair, and therefore I pray the gods make me honest.

AUDREY

Well, I am not fair, and therefore I pray the gods make me honest.

TOUCHSTONE

Truly, and to cast away honesty upon a foul slut were to put good meat into an unclean dish.

TOUCHSTONE

Truly, and to cast away honesty upon a foul slut were to put good meat into an unclean dish.

AUDREY

I am not a slut, though I thank the gods I am foul.

AUDREY

I am not a slut, though I thank the gods I am foul.

TOUCHSTONE

Well, praised be the gods for thy foulness; sluttishness may come hereafter. But be it as it may be, I will marry thee; and to that end I have been with Sir Oliver Martext, the vicar of the next village, who hath promised to meet me in this place of the forest and to couple us.

TOUCHSTONE

Well, praised be the gods for thy foulness; sluttishness may come hereafter. But be it as it may be, I will marry thee; and to that end I have been with Sir Oliver Martext, the vicar of the next village, who hath promised to meet me in this place of the forest and to couple us.

JAQUES

(aside) I would fain see this meeting.

JAQUES

(aside) I would fain see this meeting.

AUDREY

Well, the gods give us joy.

AUDREY

Well, the gods give us joy.

TOUCHSTONE

Amen. A man may, if he were of a fearful heart, stagger in this attempt, for here we have no temple but the wood, no assembly but horn-beasts. But what though? Courage. As horns are odious, they are necessary. It is said, “Many a man knows no end of his goods.” Right: many a man has good horns and knows no end of them.

TOUCHSTONE

Amen. A man may, if he were of a fearful heart, stagger in this attempt, for here we have no temple but the wood, no assembly but horn-beasts. But what though? Courage. As horns are odious, they are necessary. It is said, “Many a man knows no end of his goods.” Right: many a man has good horns and knows no end of them.
Well, that is the dowry of his wife; ’tis none of his own getting. Horns? Even so. Poor men alone? No, no. The noblest deer hath them as huge as the rascal. Is the single man therefore blessed? No. As a walled town is more worthier than a village, so is the forehead of a married man more honorable than the bare brow of a bachelor. And by how much defense is better than no skill, by so much is a horn more precious than to want.
Well, that is the dowry of his wife; ’tis none of his own getting. Horns? Even so. Poor men alone? No, no. The noblest deer hath them as huge as the rascal. Is the single man therefore blessed? No. As a walled town is more worthier than a village, so is the forehead of a married man more honorable than the bare brow of a bachelor. And by how much defense is better than no skill, by so much is a horn more precious than to want.
Enter SIR OLIVER MARTEXT
Enter SIR OLIVER MARTEXT
Here comes Sir Oliver.—Sir Oliver Martext, you are well met. Will you dispatch us here under this tree, or shall we go with you to your chapel?
Here comes Sir Oliver.—Sir Oliver Martext, you are well met. Will you dispatch us here under this tree, or shall we go with you to your chapel?

SIR OLIVER MARTEXT

Is there none here to give the woman?

SIR OLIVER MARTEXT

Is there none here to give the woman?

TOUCHSTONE

55 I will not take her on gift of any man.

TOUCHSTONE

I will not take her on gift of any man.

SIR OLIVER MARTEXT

Truly, she must be given, or the marriage is not lawful.

SIR OLIVER MARTEXT

Truly, she must be given, or the marriage is not lawful.

JAQUES

(advancing) Proceed, proceed. I’ll give her.

JAQUES

(advancing) Proceed, proceed. I’ll give her.

TOUCHSTONE

Good even, good Monsieur What-ye-call’t. How do you, sir? You are very well met. God 'ild you for your last company. I am very glad to see you. Even a toy in hand here, sir. Nay, pray be covered.

TOUCHSTONE

Good even, good Monsieur What-ye-call’t. How do you, sir? You are very well met. God 'ild you for your last company. I am very glad to see you. Even a toy in hand here, sir. Nay, pray be covered.

JAQUES

Will you be married, motley?

JAQUES

Will you be married, motley?

TOUCHSTONE

As the ox hath his bow, sir, the horse his curb, and the falcon her bells, so man hath his desires; and as pigeons bill, so wedlock would be nibbling.

TOUCHSTONE

As the ox hath his bow, sir, the horse his curb, and the falcon her bells, so man hath his desires; and as pigeons bill, so wedlock would be nibbling.

JAQUES

And will you, being a man of your breeding, be married under a bush like a beggar? Get you to church, and have a good priest that can tell you what marriage is. This fellow will but join you together as they join wainscot. Then one of you will prove a shrunk panel and, like green timber, warp, warp.

JAQUES

And will you, being a man of your breeding, be married under a bush like a beggar? Get you to church, and have a good priest that can tell you what marriage is. This fellow will but join you together as they join wainscot. Then one of you will prove a shrunk panel and, like green timber, warp, warp.

TOUCHSTONE

(aside) I am not in the mind but I were better to be married of him than of another, for he is not like to marry me well, and not being well married, it will be a good excuse for me hereafter to leave my wife.

TOUCHSTONE

(aside) I am not in the mind but I were better to be married of him than of another, for he is not like to marry me well, and not being well married, it will be a good excuse for me hereafter to leave my wife.

JAQUES

Go thou with me, and let me counsel thee.

JAQUES

Go thou with me, and let me counsel thee.

TOUCHSTONE

Come, sweet Audrey. We must be married, or we must live in bawdry.—Farewell, good Master Oliver, not
O sweet Oliver,
O brave Oliver,
Leave me not behind thee
But
Wind away,
Begone, I say,
I will not to wedding with thee.

TOUCHSTONE

Come, sweet Audrey. We must be married, or we must live in bawdry.—Farewell, good Master Oliver, not
O sweet Oliver,
O brave Oliver,
Leave me not behind thee
But
Wind away,
Begone, I say,
I will not to wedding with thee.
Exeunt JAQUES , TOUCHSTONE , and AUDREY
Exeunt JAQUES , TOUCHSTONE , and AUDREY

SIR OLIVER MARTEXT

'Tis no matter. Ne'er a fantastical knave of them all shall flout me out of my calling.

SIR OLIVER MARTEXT

'Tis no matter. Ne'er a fantastical knave of them all shall flout me out of my calling.
Exit
Exit
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