Cel. 'Tis true; for those that she makes fair
she scarce makes honest, and those that she
makes honest she makes very ill-favouredly. 43
Ros. Nay, now thou goest from Fortune's
office to Nature's: Fortune reigns in gifts of
the world, not in the lineaments of Nature.
Enter Touchstone.
Cel. No? when Nature hath made a fair crea-
ture, may she not by Fortune fall into the fire?
Though Nature hath given us wit to flout at
Fortune, hath not Fortune sent in this fool to
cut off the argument? 51
Ros. Indeed, there is Fortune too hard for
Nature, when Fortune makes Nature's natural
the cutter-off of Nature's wit.
Cel. Peradventure this is not Fortune's work
neither, but Nature's; who, perceiving our na-
tural wits too dull to reason of such goddesses,
hath sent this natural for our whetstone: for
always the dulness of the fool is the whetstone
of the wits. How now, wit! whither wander
you? 61
Touch. Mistress, you must come away to
your father.
Cel. Were you made the messenger?
Touch. No, by mine honour; but I was bid
to come for you. 66
Ros. Where learned you that oath, fool?
Touch. Of a certain knight that swore by
his honour they were good pancakes, and swore
42 honest: chaste
43 ill-favouredly: ill-looking
45 office: function
48-50 Fortune: in 48 it means 'accident,' 'mischance'; cf. n.
53 natural: idiot, half-wit
57 reason of: debate
