creature” (or beautiful woman), the power of Fortune (or misfortune) can cause that woman to “fall into the fire” (to commit sin and end up in the fires of hell). Fortune thus provides the opportunity for the beautiful woman to lose her virtue.
The appearance of Touchstone on stage provides Celia with a second example to argue her point:
Though Nature hath given us wit to flout at Fortune, hath not Fortune sent in this fool to cut off the argument? (38-40)
Celia and Rosalind are able to engage in this witty entertainment of mocking Fortune because they both have the gift of wit – and wit is a gift from Nature: Celia and Rosalind were both born with good, sharp minds. But the appearance of Touchstone (who is the court jester or clown or fool) at that particular moment, is a matter of circumstance or fate. Fortune’s foolish jester thus interrupts Nature’s witty discourse.
Touchstone, incidentally, is a perfect name for a successful jester. A touchstone is a black rock that was used in earlier times to test the purity of gold (or silver) by scratching the gold on the touchstone. Solid gold would leave a definite colorful golden mark on the stone whereas fake gold would not. Touchstone the Fool (as the Norton editors suggest) tests the purity of wit of those whom he meets.
The diversion or sport has not quite ended yet, for Rosalind makes one further witty remark: