ard child popular understanding, it
strikes a man more dead than a small minority on a big Bill. Truly, I would
the gods had made thee political.

_Aud._ I do not know what political is. Is it honest in deed and word? Is
it a true thing?

_Touch._ (_with sardonic frankness_). No, truly; for the truest politics
show the most feigning; and Tories are given to politics; and what they
swear, in politics, may be said, as Tories, they do feign.

_Aud._ Do you wish, then, that the gods had made _me_ political?

_Touch._ I do, truly; for they swear to me thou art true Tory,
parson-and-squire-ridden Tory. Now, if thou wert political, I might have
some hope thou didst feign--to _them_!

_Aud._ Would you not have me Tory?

_Touch._ No, truly, unless thou wert fortune-favoured; for Toryism coupled
to poverty is to have folly a sauce to misery.

_Jaq._ (_aside_). A shrewd fool!

_Aud._ Well, I am not rich; and therefore I pray the gods to make me
Liberal.

_Touch._ Truly, and to cast away Liberalism upon a willingly
"unemancipated" Voter, were to deck a porker with pearls.

_Aud._ I may not be "emancipated," but I thank the gods I am
"enfranchised."

_Touch._ Well, praised be the Liberals for thine enfranchisement!
Emancipation--from "squarsonry"--may come hereafter. But, be it as it may,
I will marry thee.

_Jaq._ (_aside_). I would fain see this wedding. Methinks there will be
sport forward ere it be fully achieved.

_Aud._ Well, the gods give us joy!

_Touch._ Amen.... But, AUDREY, there is a youth here in the forest lays
claim to you.

_Aud._ Ay, I know who 'tis: he hath no interest in me in the world. Here
comes the man you mean.

_Touch._ It is meat and drink to me to see a--Tory: by my troth, we that
have good wits have much to answer for; we shall be flouting; we cannot
hold.

_Enter_ WILLIAM.

_Will._ Good even, AUDREY.

_Aud._ Give ye good even, WILLIAM.

_Will._ And good even to you, Sir!

_Touch._ Good even, gentle friend.... Art thou wise?

_Will._ Ay, Sir, I have a pretty wit.

_Touch._ You do desire this maid?

_Will._ I do, Sir.

_Touch._ Give me your hand. Art thou learned?

_Will._ No, Sir.

_Touch._ Then learn this of me; to have is to have; for it is a great
figure in Gladstonian rhetoric, that votes being deducted from one Party
and added to another, by putting the one Out do put the other In; for all
your writers do consent that _ipse_ is he: now you are not _ipse_, for I