QUOTES FROM THE BARD

PLAY: As You Like It
ACT/SCENE: 4.3
SPEAKER: Rosalind
CONTEXT:
ROSALIND
Come, come, you are a fool,
And turned into the extremity of love.
I saw her hand. She has a leathern hand,
A freestone-colored hand. I verily did think
That her old gloves were on, but ’twas her hands.
She has a huswife’s hand—but that’s no matter.
I say she never did invent this letter.
This is a man’s invention, and his hand.
SILVIUS
Sure it is hers.
ROSALIND
Why, ’tis a boisterous and a cruel style,
A style for challengers. Why, she defies me
Like Turk to Christian. Women’s gentle brain
Could not drop forth such giant-rude invention,
Such Ethiop words, blacker in their effect
Than in their countenance. Will you hear the letter?

DUTCH:
Kom, ‘t is een woeste, wreede stijl, zooals
Uitdagers kiezen; ja zij tart mij uit,
Als Turken ‘t Christ’nen doen

MORE:
Leathern=Leathery, coarse
Free-stone=Yellow limestone
Turk to Christian=Enemies in the Crusades
Ethiop=Black
Countenance=Appearance, face value
Compleat:
Leathern=Lederen, van leer
Free-stone=Hardsteen
Countenance=Gelaat, gezigt, uitzigt, weezen

Topics: language, clarity/precision, discovery, communication