Page 1941 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

Enter Orlando (with a paper).

ORLANDO
Hang there my verse, in witness of my love,
And thou thrice-crowned queen of night, survey
With thy chaste eye, from thy pale sphere above,
Thy huntress’ name, that my full life doth sway.

O Rosalind, these trees shall be my books, [5]
And in their barks my thoughts I’ll character,
That every eye which in this forest looks,

Shall see thy virtue witness’d everywhere.
Run, run Orlando, carve on every tree
The fair, the chaste, and unexpressive she. [10]
Exit.

Enter Corin and Touchstone.

CORIN

And how like you this shepherd’s life, Master Touchstone?

TOUCHSTONE

Truly shepherd, in respect of itself, it is a good life; but in respect that it is a
shepherd’s life, it is naught. In respect that it is solitary, I like it very well; but
[15] in respect that it is private, it is a very vile life. Now in respect it is in the
fields, it pleaseth me well; but in respect it is not in the court, it is tedious. As

it is a spare life, look you, it fits my humour well; but as there is no more
plenty in it, it goes much against my stomach. Hast [20] any philosophy in
thee, shepherd?

CORIN
No more but that I know the more one sickens the worse at ease he is; and

that he that wants money, means, and content is without three good friends;
that the property of rain is to wet and fire to burn; that good [25] pasture
makes fat sheep; and that a great cause of the night is lack of the sun; that
he that hath learned no wit by nature nor art may complain of good breeding
or comes of a very dull kindred.

TOUCHSTONE