No Fear Shakespeare
As You Like It
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 5, Scene 1, Page 2
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WILLIAM
Five-and-twenty, sir.
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WILLIAM
Twenty-five, sir.
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TOUCHSTONE
A ripe age. Is thy name William?
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TOUCHSTONE
A mature age. Is your name William?
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WILLIAM
William, sir.
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WILLIAM
Yes, it’s William, sir.
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TOUCHSTONE
A fair name. Wast born i' th' forest here?
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TOUCHSTONE
A good name. Were you born here in the forest?
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WILLIAM
Ay, sir, I thank God.
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WILLIAM
Yes sir, thank God.
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TOUCHSTONE
“Thank God.” A good answer. Art rich?
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TOUCHSTONE
“Thank God”—that’s a good answer. Are you rich?
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WILLIAM
'Faith, sir, so-so.
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WILLIAM
Well, so-so.
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TOUCHSTONE
“So-so” is good, very good, very excellent good. And yet it
is not: it is but so-so. Art thou wise?
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TOUCHSTONE
“So-so” is good, very good, an excellent answer. And then again, it’s not so good, but only so-so. Are you wise?
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WILLIAM
Ay, sir, I have a pretty wit.
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WILLIAM
Yes sir, I’m fairly witty.
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TOUCHSTONE
Why, thou sayst well. I do now remember a saying: “The
fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself
to be a fool.” The heathen philosopher, when he had a
desire to eat a grape, would open his lips when he put it into
his mouth, meaning thereby that grapes were made to eat
and lips to open. You do love this maid?
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TOUCHSTONE
Well, that’s a fine answer. I seem to remember a saying: “Only a fool thinks he’s wise; the wise man knows that he is, in fact, a fool.” When one self-described philosopher wanted to eat grapes, he opened his lips when they entered his mouth, thereby making the theoretical point that grapes were made to be eaten, and lips to open. Do you love this girl?
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WILLIAM
I do, sir.
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WILLIAM
I do, sir.
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TOUCHSTONE
Give me your hand. Art thou learned?
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TOUCHSTONE
Give me your hand. Are you educated?
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WILLIAM
No, sir.
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WILLIAM
No, sir.
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