Touch.

We shall find a time, Audrey; patience, gentle Audrey.

Aud.

'Faith, the priest was good enough, for all the old gentleman's saying.

Touch.

A most wicked sir Oliver, Audrey, a most vile Mar-text. But, Audrey, there is a youth here in the forest lays claim to you.

Aud.

Ay, I know who 'tis; he hath no interest in me in the world: here comes the man you mean.

Touch.

It is meat and drink to me to see a clown: By my troth, we that have good wits, have much to answer for; we shall be flouting; we cannot hold.

Will.

Good even, Audrey.

Aud.

God ye good even, William.

Will.

And good even to you, sir.

Touch.

Good even, gentle friend: Cover thy head, cover thy head; nay, pr'ythee, be covered. How old are you, friend?

Will.

Five and twenty, sir.

Touch.

A ripe age: Is thy name William?

Will.

William, sir.

Touch.

A fair name: Wast born i'the forest here?

Will.

Ay, sir, I thank God.

Touch.

Thank God;—a good answer: Art rich?

Will.

'Faith, sir, so, so.

Touch.

So, so, is good, very good, very excellent

good:—and yet it is not: it is but so so. Art thou wise?

Will.

Ay, sir, I have a pretty wit.

Touch.

Why, thou say'st well. I do now remember a saying; The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool. The heathen philosopher, when he had a desire to eat a grape, would open his lips when he put it into his mouth^{5 note}

Will.

I do, sir.

Touch.

Give me your hand: Art thou learned?

Will.

No, sir.

Touch.

Then learn this of me; To have, is to have: For it is a figure in rhetorick, that drink, being poured out of a cup into a glass, by filling the one doth empty the other: For all your writers do consent, that ipse is he; now you are not ipse, for I am he.

Will.

Which he, sir?

Touch.

He, sir, that must marry this woman: Therefore, you clown, abandon,—which is in the vulgar, leave,—the society,—which in the boorish

is, company,—of this female,—which in the common is,—woman, which together is, abandon the society of this female; or, clown thou perishest; or, to thy better understanding, diest; or, to wit, I kill thee^{7 note}, make thee away, translate thy life into death, thy liberty into bondage: I will deal in poison with thee, or in bastinado, or in steel; I will bandy with thee in faction; I will o'er-run thee with policy; I will kill thee a hundred and fifty ways; therefore tremble, and depart.

Aud.

Do, good William.

Will.

God rest you merry, sir.

Cor.

Our master and mistress seek you; come, away, away.

Touch.

Trip, Audrey, trip, Audrey;—I attend, I attend.