SCENE III. Another part of the Forest
[Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY.]
TOUCHSTONE
To-morrow is the joyful day, Audrey; to-morrow will we be married.
AUDREY
I do desire it with all my heart; and I hope it is no dishonest desire to desire to be a woman of the world. Here come two of the banished duke's pages.
[Enter two Pages.]
FIRST PAGE
Well met, honest gentleman.
TOUCHSTONE
By my troth, well met. Come sit, sit, and a song.
SECOND PAGE
We are for you: sit i' the middle.
FIRST PAGE
Shall we clap into't roundly, without hawking, or spitting, or saying we are hoarse, which are the only prologues to a bad voice?
SECOND PAGE
I'faith, i'faith; and both in a tune, like two gipsies on a horse.
SONG
I.
It was a lover and his lass,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
That o'er the green corn-field did pass
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding:
Sweet lovers love the spring.
II.
Between the acres of the rye,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
These pretty country folks would lie,
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding:
Sweet lovers love the spring.
III.
This carol they began that hour,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
How that a life was but a flower,
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding:
Sweet lovers love the spring.
IV.
And therefore take the present time,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
For love is crownèd with the prime,
In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding:
Sweet lovers love the spring.
TOUCHSTONE
Truly, young gentlemen, though there was no great matter in the ditty, yet the note was very untimeable.
FIRST PAGE
You are deceived, sir; we kept time, we lost not our time.
TOUCHSTONE
By my troth, yes; I count it but time lost to hear such a foolish song. God be with you; and God mend your voices! Come, Audrey.
[Exeunt.]