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Enter ROSALIND and CELIA |
ROSALIND and CELIA enter. |
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ROSALIND
Never talk to me. I will weep. |
ROSALIND
Don’t talk to me. I’m going to cry. |
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CELIA
Do, I prithee, but yet have the grace to consider that tears do not become a man. |
CELIA
Go ahead if you want, but remember that crying doesn’t suit a man. |
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ROSALIND
But have I not cause to weep? |
ROSALIND
But don’t I have good reason to cry? |
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CELIA
As good cause as one would desire. Therefore weep. |
CELIA
As good a reason as any. So go ahead and cry. |
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ROSALIND
His very hair is of the dissembling color. |
ROSALIND
I mean, his hair is even red—the same color as that lying Judas. |
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CELIA
Something browner than Judas’. Marry, his kisses are Judas’ own children. |
CELIA
No, it’s a shade browner than Judas’—but his kisses are just like Judas’. |
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ROSALIND
I’ faith, his hair is of a good color. |
ROSALIND
No, really, his hair is a nice color. |
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CELIA
An excellent color. Your chestnut was ever the only color. |
CELIA
A very good color, this chestnut. |
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ROSALIND
And his kissing is as full of sanctity as the touch of holy bread. |
ROSALIND
His kiss is as holy as bread blessed by a priest. |
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CELIA
He hath bought a pair of cast lips of Diana. A nun of winter’s sisterhood kisses not more religiously. The very ice of chastity is in them. |
CELIA
He must have bought a cast-iron pair of Diana’s lips: an elderly nun isn’t anymore devoted in her kissing than he is. His kiss is cold and chaste. |
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ROSALIND
But why did he swear he would come this morning, and comes not? |
ROSALIND
But why would he promise to come visit me this morning and then not come? |
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CELIA
Nay, certainly, there is no truth in him. |
CELIA
Really, he’s a total liar. |
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ROSALIND
Do you think so? |
ROSALIND
Do you think so? |
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CELIA
Yes, I think he is not a pick-purse nor a horse-stealer, but for his verity in love, I do think him as concave as a covered goblet or a worm-eaten nut. |
CELIA
Yes. He’s not a pickpocket or a horse thief, but when it comes to truth in love, he’s as hollow as a cup or a nut hollowed out by a worm. |
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ROSALIND
Not true in love? |
ROSALIND
You think his feelings aren’t true? |
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CELIA
Yes, when he is in, but I think he is not in. |
CELIA
Oh, I think they are—when he’s in love. But he’s not in love. |
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ROSALIND
You have heard him swear downright he was. |
ROSALIND
But you heard him swear up and down that he was. |
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CELIA
“Was” is not “is.” Besides, the oath of a lover is no stronger than the word of a tapster. They are both the confirmer of false reckonings. He attends here in the forest on the duke your father. |
CELIA
He “was,” but that doesn’t mean he is anymore. Besides, the promises of a lover are as untrustworthy as a bartender handing you an inflated tab: they both swear to their lies. He’s staying in the forest with your father now. |
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ROSALIND
I met the duke yesterday and had much question with him. He asked me of what parentage I was. I told him, of as good as he. So he laughed and let me go. But what talk we of fathers when there is such a man as Orlando? |
ROSALIND
I met my father in the woods yesterday and had a long conversation with him. He asked me who my parents were, and I told him they were as good as he was. He laughed at that and let me go. But why are we talking about my father, when a man like Orlando exists? |
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CELIA
Oh, that’s a brave man. He writes brave verses, speaks brave words, swears brave oaths, and breaks them bravely, quite traverse, athwart the heart of his lover, as a puny tilter that spurs his horse but on one side breaks his staff like a noble goose; but all’s brave that youth mounts and folly guides. |
CELIA
Oh, sure, he’s a brave man! He writes brave poems, speaks brave words, makes brave promises, and then breaks them just as bravely. He’s like a cowardly jouster, who breaks his lance across his opponent’s shield, rather than directly against it. But everything’s brave that a young man does and foolishness leads. |
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Enter CORIN |
CORIN enters. |
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Who comes here? |
Who’s coming here? |
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CORIN
Mistress and master, you have oft inquired After the shepherd that complained of love, Who you saw sitting by me on the turf, Praising the proud disdainful shepherdess That was his mistress. |
CORIN
Mistress and master, you’ve often asked about that lovelorn shepherd you once saw me sitting with, the one who complained about the disdainful shepherdess he was in love with. |
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CELIA
(as Aliena) Well, and what of him? |
CELIA
Yes, what about him? |
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CORIN
If you will see a pageant truly played Between the pale complexion of true love And the red glow of scorn and proud disdain, Go hence a little, and I shall conduct you, If you will mark it. |
CORIN
If you’d like to see a scene played out between a man growing pale with unrequited love and a woman glowing with scorn and proud disdain, come with me a short distance and you’ll witness it. |
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ROSALIND
(aside to CELIA) O, come, let us remove. The sight of lovers feedeth those in love. —(as Ganymede) Bring us to this sight, and you shall say I’ll prove a busy actor in their play. |
ROSALIND
(speaking so that only CELIAcan hear) Come on, let’s go. The sight of lovers nourishes whoever else is in love. (to CORIN) Bring us to this little show, and I’ll take a part in their play. |
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Exeunt |
They all exit. |