Printable version of this page

As You Like It: Act 5 Scene 3

Scene III The forest.

[Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY]

TOUCHSTONE

To-morrow is the joyful day, Audrey; to-morrow will

we be married.

AUDREY

I do desire it with all my heart; and I hope it is

no dishonest desire to desire to be a woman of the

world. Here comes two of the banished duke's pages.

[Enter two Pages]

FIRST PAGE

Well met, honest gentleman.

TOUCHSTONE

By my troth, well met. Come, sit, sit, and a song.

SECOND PAGE

We are for you: sit i' the middle.

FIRST PAGE

Shall we clap into't roundly, without hawking or

spitting or saying we are hoarse, which are the only

prologues to a bad voice?

SECOND PAGE

I'faith, i'faith; and both in a tune, like two

gipsies on a horse.

SONG.

It was a lover and his lass,

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,

That o'er the green corn-field did pass

In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,

When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding:

Sweet lovers love the spring.

Between the acres of the rye,

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino

These pretty country folks would lie,

In spring time, &c.

This carol they began that hour,

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,

How that a life was but a flower

In spring time, &c.

And therefore take the present time,

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino;

For love is crowned with the prime

In spring time, &c.

TOUCHSTONE

Truly, young gentlemen, though there was no great

matter in the ditty, yet the note was very

untuneable.

FIRST PAGE

You are deceived, sir: we kept time, we lost not our time.

TOUCHSTONE

By my troth, yes; I count it but time lost to hear

such a foolish song. God be wi' you; and God mend

your voices! Come, Audrey.

[Exeunt]