Touch. When a man's verses cannot be under-
stood, nor a man's good wit seconded with the
forward child Understanding, it strikes a man
more dead than a great reckoning in a little
room. Truly, I would the gods had made thee
poetical. 17
Aud. I do not know what 'poetical' is. Is
it honest in deed and word? Is it a true
thing? 20
Touch. No, truly, for the truest poetry is the
most feigning; and lovers are given to poetry,
and what they swear in poetry may be said as
lovers they do feign. 24
Aud. Do you wish then that the gods had
made me poetical?
Touch. I do, truly; for thou swearest to me
thou art honest: now, if thou wert a poet, I
might have some hope thou didst feign. 29
Aud. Would you not have me honest?
Touch. No, truly, unless thou wert hard-
favour'd; for honesty coupled to beauty is to
have honey a sauce to sugar. 33
Jaq. [Aside.] A material fool.
Aud. Well, I am not fair, and therefore I
pray the gods make me honest. 36
Touch. Truly, and to cast away honesty upon
a foul slut were to put good meat into an un-
clean dish.
Aud. I am not a slut, though I thank the gods
I am foul. 41
Touch. Well, praised be the gods for thy foul-
ness! sluttishness may come hereafter. But be it
14 strikes . . . room; cf. n.
22 feigning: imaginative
24 feign: relate in fiction, or lying
34 material: full of sense
41 foul: ill-looking
