Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • Title: As You Like It (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: David Bevington
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-369-4

    Copyright David Bevington. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: David Bevington
    Peer Reviewed

    As You Like It (Folio 1, 1623)

    Scœna Quarta.
    Enter Rosalind & Celia.
    1710Ros. Neuer talke to me, I wil weepe.
    Cel. Do I prethee, but yet haue the grace to consider,
    that teares do not become a man.
    Ros. But haue I not cause to weepe?
    Cel. As good cause as one would desire,
    1715Therefore weepe.
    Ros. His very haire
    Is of the dissembling colour.
    Cel. Something browner then Iudasses:
    Marrie his kisses are Iudasses owne children.
    1720Ros. I'faith his haire is of a good colour.
    Cel. An excellent colour:
    Your Chessenut was euer the onely colour:
    Ros. And his kissing is as ful of sanctitie,
    As the touch of holy bread.
    1725Cel. Hee hath bought a paire of cast lips of Diana: a
    Nun of winters sisterhood kisses not more religiouslie,
    the very yce of chastity is in them.
    Rosa. But why did hee sweare hee would come this
    morning, and comes not?
    1730Cel. Nay certainly there is no truth in him.
    Ros. Doe you thinke so?
    Cel. Yes, I thinke he is not a picke purse, nor a horse-
    stealer, but for his verity in loue, I doe thinke him as
    concaue as a couered goblet, or a Worme-eaten nut.
    1735Ros. Not true in loue?
    Cel. Yes, when he is in, but I thinke he is not in.
    Ros. You haue heard him sweare downright he was.
    Cel. Was, is not is: besides, the oath of Louer is no
    stronger then the word of a Tapster, they are both the
    1740confirmer of false reckonings, he attends here in the for-
    rest on the Duke your father.
    Ros. I met the Duke yesterday, and had much que-
    stion with him: he askt me of what parentage I was; I
    told him of as good as he, so he laugh'd and let mee goe.
    1745But what talke wee of Fathers, when there is such a man
    as Orlando?
    Cel. O that's a braue man, hee writes braue verses,
    speakes braue words, sweares braue oathes, and breakes
    them brauely, quite trauers athwart the heart of his lo-
    1750uer, as a puisny Tilter, y^t spurs his horse but on one side,
    breakes his staffe like a noble goose; but all's braue that
    youth mounts, and folly guides: who comes heere?
    Enter Corin.
    Corin. Mistresse and Master, you haue oft enquired
    1755After the Shepheard that complain'd of loue,
    Who you saw sitting by me on the Turph,
    Praising the proud disdainfull Shepherdesse
    That was his Mistresse.
    Cel. Well: and what of him?
    1760Cor. If you will see a pageant truely plaid
    Betweene the pale complexion of true Loue,
    And the red glowe of scorne and prowd disdaine,
    Goe hence a little, and I shall conduct you
    If you will marke it.
    1765Ros. O come, let vs remoue,
    The sight of Louers feedeth those in loue:
    Bring vs to this sight, and you shall say
    Ile proue a busie actor in their play. Exeunt.