Page:As You Like It (1919) Yale.djvu/59

As You Like It, III. ii

wants money, means, and content, is without

three good friends; that the property of rain is

to wet, and fire to burn; that good 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 com-

plain of good breeding, or comes of a very dull

kindred.

Touch. Such a one is a natural philosopher.

Wast ever in court, shepherd?

Cor. No, truly.

Touch. Then thou art damned.

Cor. Nay, I hope.

Touch. Truly, thou art damned, like an ill-

roasted egg, all on one side.

Cor. For not being at court? Your reason.

Touch. Why, if thou never wast at court, thou

never sawest good manners; if thou never sawest

good manners, then thy manners must be wick-

ed; and wickedness is sin, and sin is damnation.

Thou art in a parlous state, shepherd.

Cor. Not a whit, Touchstone: those that are

good manners at the court, are as ridiculous in

the country as the behaviour of the country is

most mockable at the court. You told me you

salute not at the court, but you kiss your hands;

that courtesy would be uncleanly if courtiers

were shepherds.

Touch. Instance, briefly; come, instance.

Cor. Why, we are still handling our ewes, and

their fells, you know, are greasy.

 27 property: particular quality, peculiarity

31 complain of: bewail the lack of

44 manners: here in sense of 'morals'

46 parlous: contraction of 'perilous'

50 mockable: deserving ridicule

56 fells: fleeces 