As You Like It: Act 5, Scene 1
Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY. TOUCHSTONE
1 We shall find a time, Audrey; patience, gentle 2 Audrey. AUDREY
3 Faith, the priest was good enough, for all the 4 old gentleman's saying. TOUCHSTONE
5 A most wicked Sir Oliver, Audrey, a most vile 6 Martext. But, Audrey, there is a youth here in 7 the forest lays claim to you. AUDREY
8. he hath no interest in me: he has no claim to me.
8 Ay, I know who 'tis; he hath no interest in me 9 in the world: here comes the man you mean. Enter WILLIAM. TOUCHSTONE
10. clown: yokel. —Ironically, Touchstone is also a clown. "Clown" was used to refer to both country bumpkins and to professional fools such as Touchstone.
12. we shall be flouting: i.e., we are always mocking, making fun. hold: hold back, refrain.
12. we shall be flouting: i.e., we are always mocking, making fun. hold: hold back, refrain.
10 It is meat and drink to me to see a clown: by my 11 troth, we that have good wits have much to 12 answer for; we shall be flouting; we cannot hold. WILLIAM
13 Good ev'n, Audrey. AUDREY
14. God ye: God give you.
14 God ye good ev'n, William. WILLIAM
15 And good ev'n to you, sir. TOUCHSTONE
16. Cover thy head: — Perhaps William has respectfully removed his hat, or perhaps Touchstone is reminding William that he should have respectfully removed his hat.
16 Good ev'n, gentle friend. Cover thy head, cover 17 thy head; nay, prithee, be covered. How old are 18 you, friend? WILLIAM
19 Five and twenty, sir.
TOUCHSTONE
20 A ripe age. Is thy name William? WILLIAM
21 William, sir. TOUCHSTONE
22 A fair name. Wast born i' the forest here? WILLIAM
23 Ay, sir, I thank God. TOUCHSTONE
24 'Thank God;' a good answer. Art rich? WILLIAM
25 Faith, sir, so so. TOUCHSTONE
26. 'So so': —When William described his wealth as "so so," he meant that it was satisfactory but not excessive. However, "so so" could also mean "just so," "exactly right," and Touchstone plays upon both meanings.
28. wise: —"Wise" was used to mean both "having wisdom" and "witty." William thinks that Touchstone is asking if he is witty, but Touchstone mocks William by using the word to mean "having wisdom."
28. wise: —"Wise" was used to mean both "having wisdom" and "witty." William thinks that Touchstone is asking if he is witty, but Touchstone mocks William by using the word to mean "having wisdom."
26 'So so' is good, very good, very excellent 27 good; and yet it is not; it is but so so. Art 28 thou wise? WILLIAM
29 Ay, sir, I have a pretty wit. TOUCHSTONE
30 Why, thou sayest well. I do now remember a saying, 31 'The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man32-34. The heathen philosopher, when he had a desire to eat a grape, would open his lips: —I don't know if Touchstone is referring to a particular heathen philosopher or a typical heathen philosopher, but I think Touchstone's general point is that even a person of very sophisticated intelligence can understand a reality (such as a delicious grape) that is right in front of his nose. In this case, the reality right in front of William's nose is that Audrey, who William wants, is standing beside Touchstone, signifying that she wants Touchstone.
32 knows himself to be a fool.' The heathen 33 philosopher, when he had a desire to eat a grape, 34 would open his lips when he put it into his mouth; 35 meaning thereby that grapes were made to eat and 36 lips to open. You do love this maid? WILLIAM
37 I do, sir. TOUCHSTONE
38 Give me your hand. Art thou learned? WILLIAM
39 No, sir. TOUCHSTONE
40 Then learn this of me: to have, is to have; for it 41 is a figure in rhetoric that drink, being poured out 42 of a cup into a glass, by filling the one doth empty43. your writers: i.e., all the authorities you might have heard of. ipse: he himself. This Latin word would be quite familiar to any man who had gone to grammar school. William Shakespeare was such a man, but the William in the play is not.
43 the other; for all your writers do consent that ipse 44 is he: now, you are not ipse, for I am he. WILLIAM
45 Which he, sir? TOUCHSTONE
46 He, sir, that must marry this woman. Therefore, you 47 clown, abandon—which is in the vulgar leave—the 48 society—which in the boorish is company—of this 49 female—which in the common is woman; which 50 together is, abandon the society of this female, or, 51 clown, thou perishest; or, to thy better understanding, 52. to wit: namely. translate: change.
52 diest; or, to wit I kill thee, make thee away, translate 53 thy life into death, thy liberty into bondage: I will 54. bastinado: beating with a stick. steel: a sword.
54 deal in poison with thee, or in bastinado, or in steel; 55-56. bandy with thee in faction: i.e., get my gang to assault you and yours. o'errun thee with policy: overwhelm you with cunning political maneuvers.
55 I will bandy with thee in faction; I will o'errun thee 56 with policy; I will kill thee a hundred and fifty ways: 57 therefore tremble and depart. AUDREY
58 Do, good William. WILLIAM
59. God rest you merry: God keep you happy. —This was a common way of saying goodbye, but "merry" also meant "witty" and "full of fun."
59 God rest you merry, sir. Exit [William]. Enter CORIN. CORIN
60 Our master and mistress seeks you; come, 61 away, away! TOUCHSTONE
62 Trip, Audrey! trip, Audrey! I attend, I attend. Exeunt.