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 the world; here comes the man you mean.

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 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. The 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; 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.

Clo.

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