As they enter Act III, scene ii, both Jaques and Orlando
are both, it appears, trying to induce the other to leave. This exchange (which begins
at line 268) is a sort of battle of wits, the winner of which will remain, the loser
will leave.
Jaques' first
line:
I thank
you for your company, but, in good faith, I had as lief have been myself
alone.
is matched by
Orlando's reply:
And so had I.
. .
These two continue their
exchange of put-downs until, at line 312, Jaques throws in the towel and exits the
scene, leaving Orlando to continue his wooing lesson with Ganymede
(Rosalind).
Here are a couple of other lines in which
Orlando indicates his desire to be rid of Jaques' company: "I do desire we may be
better strangers;" "I am weary of you;" and "I am glad of your
departure."
In this exchange, Orlando also refers to Jaques
as a "fool." Technically, Touchstone is the Fool in this play, but Shakespeare is also
playing with the idea of a character's behaviour branding him as a Fool. So, Orlando
says of Jaques at line 308, in reference to Jaques "own figure:" "Which I take to be
either a fool or a cipher."
For more on Orlando, Jaques and
this scene, please follow the links below.
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