As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 4

Rosalind

O Jupiter, how weary are my spirits!

Oh, Jupiter, how exhausted I feel!

Touchstone

I care not for my spirits, if my legs were not weary.

I wouldn’t care how I felt if my legs weren’t so tired.

Rosalind

I could find in my heart to disgrace my man’s apparel, and to cry like a woman, but I must comfort the weaker vessel, as doublet and hose ought to show itself courageous to petticoat. Therefore, courage, good Aliena.

I feel ready to disgrace these men’s clothes and cry like a woman. But I must encourage the weaker sex, since someone in a jacket and trousers ought to act brave for someone in a skirt. So take heart, good Aliena.

Celia

I pray you bear with me, I cannot go no further.

Please be patient with me. I cannot go any farther.

Touchstone

For my part, I had rather bear with you than bear you. Yet I should bear no cross if I did bear you, for I think you have no money in your purse.

For my part, I would rather put up with you than carry you. Still, carrying you would be no burden of money, since I don’t think you have a single coin in your purse.

Rosalind

Well, this is the forest of Arden.

Well, this is the forest of Arden.

Touchstone

Ay, now am I in Arden, the more fool I! When I was at home I was in a better place, but travellers must be content.

Yes, here I am in Arden, fool that I am! I was better off at home, but travelers must be content.

Rosalind

Ay, be so, good Touchstone. Look you, who comes here? A young man and an old in solemn talk.

Yes, be content, good Touchstone. Look, who is coming here? A young man and an old man, deep in serious conversation.

Corin

That is the way to make her scorn you still.

That is how to make her keep scorning you.

Silvius

O Corin, that thou knew’st how I do love her!

Oh, Corin, if only you knew how much I love her!

Corin

I partly guess, for I have loved ere now.

I can guess a little, since I have been in love before.

Silvius

No, Corin, being old, thou canst not guess,Though in thy youth thou wast as true a loverAs ever sighed upon a midnight pillow.But if thy love were ever like to mine—As sure I think did never man love so—How many actions most ridiculousHast thou been drawn to by thy fantasy?

No, Corin, you are old and cannot guess, even if in your youth you were as faithful a lover as any man who ever sighed into his pillow at midnight. But if your love was ever like mine—though I’m sure no man ever loved like this—how many truly ridiculous things did your passion make you do?

Corin

Into a thousand that I have forgotten.

A thousand that I have forgotten.

Silvius

O, thou didst then never love so heartily!If thou rememb’rest not the slightest follyThat ever love did make thee run into,Thou hast not loved.Or if thou hast not sat as I do now,Wearing thy hearer in thy mistress’ praise,Thou hast not loved.Or if thou hast not broke from companyAbruptly, as my passion now makes me,Thou hast not loved.O Phoebe, Phoebe, Phoebe!

Oh, then you never loved so deeply! If you cannot remember even the smallest foolish thing that love ever made you do, you have not loved. Or if you have not sat as I do now, wearing out your listener with praise of the woman you love, you have not loved. Or if you have not abruptly left your companions, as my passion now makes me do, you have not loved. Oh, Phoebe, Phoebe, Phoebe!

Rosalind

Alas, poor shepherd, searching of thy wound,I have by hard adventure found mine own.

Oh, poor shepherd, in examining your wound, I have painfully stumbled on my own.

Touchstone

And I mine. I remember when I was in love I broke my sword upon a stone and bid him take that for coming a-night to Jane Smile; and I remember the kissing of her batlet, and the cow’s dugs that her pretty chopped hands had milked; and I remember the wooing of a peascod instead of her, from whom I took two cods, and, giving her them again, said with weeping tears, “Wear these for my sake.” We that are true lovers run into strange capers. But as all is mortal in nature, so is all nature in love mortal in folly.

And I have found mine. I remember when I was in love, I broke my sword against a stone and told it to take that for visiting Jane Smile at night. And I remember kissing her laundry paddle and the cow’s teats that her pretty, chapped hands had milked. And I remember courting a pea pod in her place. I took two peas from it, then gave them back to her and said through my tears, “Wear these for my sake.” We true lovers do some strange things. But just as everything in nature is doomed to die, everyone in love is doomed to be foolish.

Rosalind

Thou speak’st wiser than thou art ware of.

You speak more wisely than you realize.

Touchstone

Nay, I shall ne’er be ware of mine own wit till I break my shins against it.

No, I’ll never notice my own wit until I trip over it and bang my shins.

Rosalind

Jove, Jove, this shepherd’s passionIs much upon my fashion.

Jove, Jove, this shepherd’s passion is very much like mine.

Touchstone

And mine, but it grows something stale with me.

And mine, though mine is getting rather stale.

Celia

I pray you, one of you question yond manIf he for gold will give us any food.I faint almost to death.

Please, one of you, ask that man over there whether he will sell us some food. I am almost fainting to death.

Touchstone

Holla, you clown!

Hey, you country bumpkin!

Rosalind

Peace, fool, he’s not thy kinsman.

Quiet, fool. He’s no relative of yours.

Corin

Who calls?

Who’s calling?

Touchstone

Your betters, sir.

Your betters, sir.

Corin

Else are they very wretched.

Otherwise they must be very badly off.

Rosalind

Peace, I say.—Good even to you, friend.

Quiet, I said.—Good evening to you, friend.

Corin

And to you, gentle sir, and to you all.

And to you, kind sir, and to all of you.

Rosalind

I prithee, shepherd, if that love or goldCan in this desert place buy entertainment,Bring us where we may rest ourselves and feed.Here’s a young maid with travel much oppressed,And faints for succour.

Please, shepherd, if kindness or money can get us hospitality in this deserted place, take us somewhere we can rest and eat. Here is a young woman worn out by traveling, fainting for lack of help.

Corin

Fair sir, I pity herAnd wish, for her sake more than for mine own,My fortunes were more able to relieve her.But I am shepherd to another manAnd do not shear the fleeces that I graze.My master is of churlish dispositionAnd little recks to find the way to heavenBy doing deeds of hospitality.Besides, his cote, his flocks, and bounds of feedAre now on sale, and at our sheepcote now,By reason of his absence, there is nothingThat you will feed on. But what is, come see,And in my voice most welcome shall you be.

Kind sir, I feel sorry for her and wish, more for her sake than my own, that I had the means to help her. But I tend another man's sheep, and the wool from the sheep I graze is not mine to shear. My master is a bad-tempered, stingy man who cares little about earning a place in heaven by welcoming strangers. Besides, his cottage, his flocks, and his grazing land are now for sale. Because he is away, there is nothing at our sheepfold that you would care to eat. But come and see what there is. As far as I am concerned, you are very welcome.

Rosalind

What is he that shall buy his flock and pasture?

Who is going to buy his flock and pasture?

Corin

That young swain that you saw here but erewhile,That little cares for buying anything.

The young shepherd you saw here a little while ago, who has little interest in buying anything.

Rosalind

I pray thee, if it stand with honesty,Buy thou the cottage, pasture, and the flock,And thou shalt have to pay for it of us.

Please, if it can be done honestly, buy the cottage, pasture, and flock, and we will give you the money to pay for them.

Celia

And we will mend thy wages. I like this place,And willingly could waste my time in it.

And we will raise your wages. I like this place and could happily spend my time here.

Corin

Assuredly the thing is to be sold.Go with me. If you like upon reportThe soil, the profit, and this kind of life,I will your very faithful feeder be,And buy it with your gold right suddenly.

The property is certainly for sale. Come with me. If what you hear about the land, its income, and this way of life appeals to you, I will be your faithful shepherd and buy it with your money right away.