An excerpt I typed with my own hands from "AS YOU LIKE IT", a play by Shakespease: Touchstone is the clown of the court. He addresses Celia, the duke's daughter, and Rosalind, her cousin. He seems to be a very clever clown. (Editor's own words) ;-)
Touchstone Mistress, you must come away with your father.
Celia Were you made the messenger?
Touch. No, by mine honour; but I was bid to come to you.
Rosalind Who learned you that oath, fool?
Touch. Of a certain knight that swore by his honour they were good pancakes, and swore by his honour the mustard was naught: now, I'll stand to it, the pancakes were naught and the mustard was good: and yet was not the knight forsworn.
Cel. How do you prove that, in the great heap of your knowledge?
Ros. Ay, marry; now unmuzzle your wisdom.
Touch. Stand you both forth now: stroke your chins, and swear by your beards that I am a knave*.
Cel. By our beards, if we had them, thou art.
Touch. By my knavery, if I had it, then I were: but if you swear by that that is not, you are not forsworn: no more was this knight, swearing by his honour, for he never had any; or if he had, he had sworn it away before ever he saw those pancakes or that mustard.
*Knave: an unprincipled or dishonest person (Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary)
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No, it is unfair to swear on that which is not, as your hearer believes you are swearing and takes your word. The best is not to swear but let your yea be yea and your nay, nay.
ReplyDeleteA friend
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
ReplyDeleteBut I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 5Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Ok ok... after all these critics to Touchstone, I have to say I didn't mean he was wise because of his arguments, but rather "clever" by his swift way of reasoning. I agree wholeheartedly to the comments so far.
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