Peer Reviewed
- Edition: As You Like It
Galathea (Modern)
- Introduction
- Texts of this edition
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It is pity that Nature framed you not a woman, having a face so fair, so lovely a countenance, so modest a behavior.
There is a tree in Tylos whose nuts have shells like fire, and, 512being cracked, the kernel is but water.
What a toy is it to tell me of that tree, being nothing to the purpose? I say it is pity you are not a woman.
I would not wish to be a woman unless it were because thou art a man.
Nay, I do not wish to be a woman, for then I should not love thee, for I have sworn never to love a woman.
A strange humor in so pretty a youth, and according to mine, for myself will never love a woman.
It were a shame, if a maiden should be a suitor (a thing 518hated in that sex), that thou shouldst deny to be her servant.
If it be a shame in me, it can be no commendation in you, for yourself is of that mind.
Suppose I were a virgin (I blush in supposing myself one), and that 521under the habit of a boy were the person of a maid: if I should utter my 522affection with sighs, manifest my sweet love by my salt tears, and prove my loyalty unspotted and 523my griefs intolerable, would not then that fair face pity this true heart?
Admit that I were as you would have me suppose that you are, 525and that I should with entreaties, prayers, oaths, bribes, and whatever can be invented in love desire 526your favor, would you not yield?
Tush, you come in with "admit."
And you with "suppose."
[Aside] What doubtful speeches be these! I fear me he is as I am, a maiden.
[Aside] What dread riseth in my mind! I fear the boy to be as I am, a maiden.
[Aside] Tush, it cannot be. His voice shows the contrary.
[Aside] Yet I do not think it, for he would then have blushed.
Have you ever a sister?
If I had but one, my brother must needs have two. But I pray, have you ever a one?
My father had but one daughter, and therefore I could have no sister.
[Aside] Ay me! He is as I am, for his speeches be as mine are.
[Aside] What shall I do? Either he is subtle or my sex simple.
[Aside] I have known divers of Diana's nymphs enamored of him, yet 539hath he rejected all, either as too proud to disdain, or too childish not to understand, or 540for that he knoweth himself to be a virgin.
I am in a quandary. Diana's nymphs have followed him, and he despised 542them, either knowing too well the beauty of his own face or that himself is of the 543same mold. I will once again try him.[To Galatea] You promised me in the woods that 544you would love me before all Diana's nymphs.
Ay, so you would love me before all Diana's nymphs.
Can you prefer a fond boy as I am before so fair ladies as they are?
Why should not I as well as you?
Come, let us into the grove, and make much one of another, that cannot tell what to think one of another.