As You Like It Corin Quotes

Corin > Touchstone

Quote 1

CORIN
Not a whit, Touchstone. Those that are good
manners at the court are as ridiculous in the
country as the  behavior of the country is most
mockable at the court. You told me you salute not at
the court but you kiss your hands; that courtesy
would be uncleanly if courtiers were shepherds.
TOUCHSTONE
Instance, briefly. Come, instance.
CORIN
Why, we are still handling our ewes; and their
fells, you know, are greasy.
TOUCHSTONE
Why, do not your courtier's hands sweat?
And is not the grease of a mutton as wholesome as
the sweat of a man? Shallow, shallow. A better
instance, I say. Come.
CORIN
Besides, our hands are hard.
TOUCHSTONE
Your lips will feel them the sooner. Shallow
again. A more sounder instance. Come.
CORIN
And they are often tarred over with the surgery
of our sheep; and would you have us kiss tar? The
courtier's hands are perfumed with civet.
TOUCHSTONE
Most shallow man. thou worms' meat in
respect of a good piece of flesh indeed! Learn of the
wise, and perpend: civet is of a baser birth than tar,
the very uncleanly flux of a cat. Mend the instance,
shepherd.
CORIN
You have too courtly a wit for me. I'll rest. (3.2.45-69)

Corin argues that the attitudes and social conventions of the court have no place in the country. The custom of hand-kissing, for example, wouldn't work in the country because everybody's hands are always greasy and smelly from handling sheep. Touchstone, as usual, says that's not a good enough reason and argues with Corin until the old shepherd gives up and says Touchstone is too witty for him. 

CORIN
If you will see a pageant truly played
Between the pale complexion of true love
And the red glow of scorn and proud disdain,
Go hence a little, and I shall conduct you,
If you will mark it.
ROSALIND [aside to Celia]
O, come, let us remove!
The sight of lovers feedeth those in love.
[As Ganymede, to Corin] Bring us to this sight, and
   you shall say
I'll prove a busy actor in their play. (3.4.51-60)

Corin and Rosalind think that Phoebe and Silvius's relationship is as entertaining and artificial as a bad love scene from some random play. This, of course, reminds us that Rosalind's romance with Orlando is also nothing more than a "pageant truly play'd" for <em>our</em> entertainment. 

Corin

Quote 3

CORIN
Sir, I am a true laborer. I earn that I eat, get that
I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man's happiness,
glad of other men's good, content with my harm,
and the greatest of my pride is to see my ewes graze
and my lambs suck. (3.2.73-77)

Corin's philosophy is one of natural contentment. Corin and the other "naturals" are utterly unconcerned with the frippery of the court, or with men's frippery in general.