As You Like It by William Shakespeare
Act 3 - Scene 4
The forest
(stage directions) : Enter ROSALIND and CELIA
Rosalind : Never talk to me; I will weep.
Celia : Do, I prithee; but yet have the grace to consider that tears
[p]do not
become a man.
Rosalind : But have I not cause to weep?
Celia : As good cause as one would desire; therefore weep.
Rosalind : His very hair is of the dissembling colour.
Celia : Something browner than Judas's.
[p]Marry, his kisses are Judas's own
children.
Rosalind : I' faith, his hair is of a good colour.
Celia : An excellent colour: your chestnut was ever the only colour.
Rosalind : And his kissing is as full of sanctity as the touch of
[p]holy bread.
Celia : He hath bought a pair of cast lips of Diana. A nun of
[p]winter's
sisterhood kisses not more religiously; the very ice of
[p]chastity is
in them.
Rosalind : But why did he swear he would come this morning, and
[p]comes not?
Celia : Nay, certainly, there is no truth in him.
Rosalind : Do you think so?
Celia : Yes; I think he is not a pick-purse nor a horse-stealer; but
[p]for
his verity in love, I do think him as concave as covered
[p]goblet or
a worm-eaten nut.
Rosalind : Not true in love?
Celia : Yes, when he is in; but I think he is not in.
Rosalind : You have heard him swear downright he was.
Celia : 'Was' is not 'is'; besides, the oath of a lover is no
[p]stronger than
the word of a tapster; they are both the confirmer
[p]of false
reckonings. He attends here in the forest on the Duke,
[p]your
father.
Rosalind : I met the Duke yesterday, and had much question with him.
[p]He asked
me of what parentage I was; I told him, of as good as
[p]he; so he
laugh'd and let me go. But what talk we of fathers when
[p]there is
such a man as Orlando?
Celia : O, that's a brave man! He writes brave verses, speaks brave
[p]words,
swears brave oaths, and breaks them bravely, quite
[p]traverse,
athwart the heart of his lover; as a puny tilter, that
[p]spurs his
horse but on one side, breaks his staff like a noble
[p]goose. But
all's brave that youth mounts and folly guides. Who
[p]comes here?
(stage directions) : Enter CORIN
Corin : Mistress and master, you have oft enquired
[p]After the shepherd that
complain'd of love,
[p]Who you saw sitting by me on the
turf,
[p]Praising the proud disdainful shepherdess
[p]That was his
mistress.
Celia : Well, and what of him?
Corin : If you will see a pageant truly play'd
[p]Between the pale complexion
of true love
[p]And the red glow of scorn and proud disdain,
[p]Go
hence a little, and I shall conduct you,
[p]If you will mark it.
Rosalind : O, come, let us remove!
[p]The sight of lovers feedeth those in
love.
[p]Bring us to this sight, and you shall say
[p]I'll prove a
busy actor in their play. Exeunt
Previous: Act 3 - Scene 3
Next: Act 3 - Scene 5



