Comedy plays; Exiles -- Drama; Fathers and daughters -- Drama; Pastoral drama
of them. Well, that is the dowry of his wife; 'tis none of
his
own getting. Horns? Even so. Poor men alone? No, no; the
noblest
deer hath them as huge as the rascal. Is the single man
therefore
blessed? No; as a wall'd town is more worthier than a
village, so
is the forehead of a married man more honourable than the
bare
brow of a bachelor; and by how much defence is better than no
skill, by so much is horn more precious than to want. Here
comes
Sir Oliver.
Enter SIR OLIVER MARTEXT
Sir Oliver Martext, you are well met. Will you dispatch us
here
under this tree, or shall we go with you to your chapel?
MARTEXT. Is there none here to give the woman?
TOUCHSTONE. I will not take her on gift of any man.
MARTEXT. Truly, she must be given, or the marriage is not
lawful.
JAQUES. [Discovering himself] Proceed, proceed; I'll give her.
TOUCHSTONE. Good even, good Master What-ye-call't; how do you,
sir?
You are very well met. Goddild you for your last company. I
am
very glad to see you. Even a toy in hand here, sir. Nay; pray
be
cover'd.
JAQUES. Will you be married, motley?
TOUCHSTONE. As the ox hath his bow, sir, the horse his curb,
and
the falcon her bells, so man hath his desires; and as pigeons
bill, so wedlock would be nibbling.
JAQUES. And will you, being a man of your breeding, be married
under a bush, like a beggar? Get you to church and have a
good
priest that can tell you what marriage is; this fellow will
but
join you together as they join wainscot; then one of you will
prove a shrunk panel, and like green timber warp, warp.
TOUCHSTONE. [Aside] I am not in the mind but I were better to
be
married of him than of another; for he is not like to marry
me
well; and not being well married, it will be a good excuse
for me
hereafter to leave my wife.
JAQUES. Go thou with me, and let me counsel thee.
TOUCHSTONE. Come, sweet Audrey;
We must be married or we must live in bawdry.
Farewell, good Master Oliver. Not-
O sweet Oliver,
O brave Oliver,
Leave me not behind thee.
But-
Wind away,
Begone, I say,
I will not to wedding with thee.
Exeunt JAQUES, TOUCHSTONE, and AUDREY
MARTEXT. 'Tis no matter; ne'er a fantastical knave of them all
shall flout me out of my calling. Exit
SCENE IV.
The forest
Enter ROSALIND and CELIA
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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