Audrey.
Clown.
We shall find a time, Audrey; patience, gentle
Audrey.
Aud.
Faith, the Priest was good enough, for all
the old gentleman's saying.
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 ev'n, Audrey.
Aud.
God ye good ev'n, William.
Will.
And good ev'n to you, Sir.
Clo.
Good ev'n, 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'th' forest here?
Will.
Ay, Sir, I thank God.
Clo.
Thank God: a good answer: art rich?
Will.
'Faith, Sir, so, so.
Clo.
So, so, is good, very good, very excellent
-- 371 --
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. 1 noteThe heathen philosopher,
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; 2 noteI will deal in poison with thee, or in
bastinado, or in steel; I will bandy with thee in
-- 372 --
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.
Enter Corin.
Cor.
Our master and mistress seek you; come away,
away.
Clo.
Trip, Audrey; trip, Audrey; I attend, I attend.
[Exeunt.
Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
