speaker suggests that the common similes used by love poets are “false compare”: skin is never as white as snow and lips are never as red as coral. They are dishonest or false comparisons.
When Audrey hears Touchstone’s explanation, she asks him, “Would you not have me honest?” (23). She is asking him whether he wants her to be virtuous and chaste. Touchstone responds in a manner unexpected by Audrey (and the audience):
No, truly, unless thou were hard-favoured; for honesty coupled to beauty is to have honey a sauce to sugar. (24-25)
By hard-favoured Touchstone means ugly. Touchstone is sexually attracted to Audrey and finds her beautiful, so he argues that beautiful women should be sexually loose rather than being chaste. Touchstone thus uses a metaphor to sugar and honey. Honey poured on top of sugar is a waste. Sweet sugar does not need more sweetness poured over it. Similarly, beauty coupled with chasteness is, in Touchstone’s mind, a waste.
Audrey does not think of herself as fair or beautiful. Rather, she sees herself as plain or foul (which also means ugly). Therefore, she is thankful that she is at least virtuous and honest.
Touchstone has another witty response to contradict Audrey’s comment: