As You Like It: Act 3, Scene 4
Enter ROSALIND and CELIA.
ROSALIND
1
Never talk to me; I will weep.
CELIA
2
Do, I prithee; but yet have the grace to 3
consider that tears do not become a man.
ROSALIND
4
But have I not cause to weep?
CELIA
5
As good cause as one would desire; 6
therefore weep.
ROSALIND
7
His very hair is of the dissembling colour.
CELIA
8-9. Something . . . children: i.e., Orlando's hair is a bit browner than the red hair of Judas Iscariot, but, indeed, his kisses are just as false as the one with which Judas betrayed Christ. Celia is teasing Rosalind, who has just made the melodramatic statement that Orlando's "very hair is of the dissembling colour," meaning he's a deceiver from head to toe. Celia teases her dear friend Rosalind by appearing to agree with her assertion that Orlando is a terrible deceiver.
11-12. your chestnut was ever the only colour: i.e., Everyone has always agreed that chestnut is the most attractive hair color.
11-12. your chestnut was ever the only colour: i.e., Everyone has always agreed that chestnut is the most attractive hair color.
8
Something browner than Judas's; marry, 9
his kisses are Judas's own children.
ROSALIND
10
I' faith, his hair is of a good colour.
CELIA
11
An excellent colour: your chestnut 12
was ever the only colour.
ROSALIND
13
And his kissing is as full of sanctity 14. holy bread: bread blessed by a priest.
14
as the touch of holy bread.
CELIA
15. cast: cast-off. i.e., Anyone he kissed might think his lips once belonged to Diana, the goddess of chastity.
16. of winter's sisterhood: i.e., devoted to cold and barren chastity. Celia continues to tease her friend by amplifying the emotion of Rosalind's already melodramatic statements.
16. of winter's sisterhood: i.e., devoted to cold and barren chastity. Celia continues to tease her friend by amplifying the emotion of Rosalind's already melodramatic statements.
15
He hath bought a pair of cast lips of Diana: 16
a nun of winter's sisterhood kisses not more 17
religiously; the very ice of chastity is in them.
ROSALIND
18
But why did he swear he would come this 19
morning, and comes not?
CELIA
20
Nay, certainly, there is no truth in him.
ROSALIND
21
Do you think so?
CELIA
22
Yes; I think he is not a pick-purse nor a23. verity: truthfulness.
23
horse-stealer, but for his verity in love, 24-25. concave: hollow. covered goblet: A goblet would have its cover on only when not in use, therefore empty.
24
I do think him as concave as a covered 25
goblet or a worm-eaten nut.
ROSALIND
26
Not true in love?
CELIA
27
Yes, when he is in; but I think he is not in.
ROSALIND
28
You have heard him swear downright he 29
was.
CELIA
30
'Was' is not 'is:' besides, the oath of a lover 31. tapster: bartender.
31
is no stronger than the word of a tapster; 32. false reckonings: 1) false bar bills 2) people's false or mistaken life stories confirmed by the bartender.
32
they are both the confirmer of false reckonings. 33
He attends here in the forest on the duke your 34
father.
ROSALIND
35
I met the duke yesterday and had much question 36. question: conversation.
36
with him: he asked me of what parentage I was; 37
I told him, of as good as he; so he laughed and 38. what: why.
38
let me go. But what talk we of fathers, when 39
there is such a man as Orlando?
CELIA
40. brave: handsome, excellent, splendid.
42. traverse: awry. Celia compares Orlando to a jouster . . . 43. puisny: inexperienced. 44. staff: spear.
45. noble goose: aristocratic idiot. 45-46. all's brave that youth mounts / and folly guides: Celia continues her sarcastic commentary by comparing a person in love to a foolish knight mounted on a wild horse.
42. traverse: awry. Celia compares Orlando to a jouster . . . 43. puisny: inexperienced. 44. staff: spear.
45. noble goose: aristocratic idiot. 45-46. all's brave that youth mounts / and folly guides: Celia continues her sarcastic commentary by comparing a person in love to a foolish knight mounted on a wild horse.
40
O, that's a brave man! he writes brave verses, 41
speaks brave words, swears brave oaths and 42
breaks them bravely, quite traverse, athwart 43
the heart of his lover; as a puisny tilter, that 44
spurs his horse but on one side, breaks his staff 45
like a noble goose: but all's brave that youth 46
mounts and folly guides. Who comes here?
Enter CORIN.
CORIN
47
Mistress and master, you have oft inquired 48
After the shepherd that complain'd of love, 49
Who you saw sitting by me on the turf, 50
Praising the proud disdainful shepherdess 51
That was his mistress.
CELIA
51
Well, and what of him?
CORIN
52. pageant: drama, scene.
52
If you will see a pageant truly play'd,53. pale: Stereotypically, a true lover is pale because every sigh drains a drop of blood from his heart.
53
Between the pale complexion of true love 54
And the red glow of scorn and proud disdain,55. conduct you: guide you to the place.
55
Go hence a little and I shall conduct you,56. If you will mark it: if you want to see it.
56
If you will mark it.
ROSALIND
56. remove: go [away from here].
56
O, come, let us remove: 57
The sight of lovers feedeth those in love. 58
Bring us to this sight, and you shall say59. I'll prove a busy actor in their play: i.e., I'll take a key part in their pageant of love.
59
I'll prove a busy actor in their play.
Exeunt.