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 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 as the touch of holy bread.
CELIA
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 a
23 horse-stealer, but for his verity in love,
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 is no stronger than the word of a tapster;
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 with him: he asked me of what parentage I was;
37 I told him, of as good as he; so he laughed and
38 let me go. But what talk we of fathers, when
39 there is such a man as Orlando?
CELIA
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 If you will see a pageant truly play'd,
53 Between the pale complexion of true love
54 And the red glow of scorn and proud disdain,
55 Go hence a little and I shall conduct you,
56 If you will mark it.
ROSALIND
56 O, come, let us remove:
57 The sight of lovers feedeth those in love.
58 Bring us to this sight, and you shall say
59 I'll prove a busy actor in their play.
Exeunt.