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Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].
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SCENE I. The Forest. Enter Clown, and Audrey.

Clo.

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

Aud.

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

-- 368 --

Clo.

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.

Enter William.

Clo.

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.

Clo.

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

Will.

Five and twenty, sir.

Clo.

A ripe age: Is thy name, William?

Will.

William, sir.

Clo.

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

Will.

Ay, sir, I thank God.

Clo.

Thank God;—a good answer: Art rich?

Will.

'Faith, sir, so, so.

Clo.

So, so; 'Tis 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.

Clo.

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. 7 note

The heathen philosopher,

-- 369 --

when he had a desire to eat a grape, would open his lips when he put it into his mouth; meaning thereby, that grapes were made to eat, and lips to open. You do love this maid?

Will.

I do sir.

Clo.

Give me your hand: Art thou learned?

Will.

No, sir.

Clo.

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.

Clo.

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, make thee away, translate thy life into death, thy liberty into bondage: 8 note

I will deal in poison with thee, or in bastinado, or in steel; I will bandy with thee in faction; I will over-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.

[Exit.

-- 370 --

Enter Corin.

Cor.

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

Clo.

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

[Exeunt.

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Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].
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