As Duke Senior and his companions sit down to eat, Orlando enters, demanding food. Welcomed by the duke, he brings Adam to join them.
Enter Duke Senior and ⌜Lords,⌝ like outlaws.
DUKE SENIOR 0959I think he be transformed into a beast, 0960For I can nowhere find him like a man. FIRST LORD 0961My lord, he is but even now gone hence. 0962Here was he merry, hearing of a song. DUKE SENIOR 09635If he, compact of jars, grow musical, 0964We shall have shortly discord in the spheres. 0965Go seek him. Tell him I would speak with him.
Enter Jaques.
FIRST LORD 0966He saves my labor by his own approach. DUKE SENIOR, ⌜to Jaques⌝ 0967Why, how now, monsieur? What a life is this 096810That your poor friends must woo your company? 0969What, you look merrily. JAQUES 0970A fool, a fool, I met a fool i’ th’ forest, 0971A motley fool. A miserable world! 0972As I do live by food, I met a fool, 097315Who laid him down and basked him in the sun 0974And railed on Lady Fortune in good terms,
p.
75
0975In good set terms, and yet a motley fool. 0976“Good morrow, fool,” quoth I. “No, sir,” quoth he, 0977“Call me not ‘fool’ till heaven hath sent me 097820fortune.” 0979And then he drew a dial from his poke 0980And, looking on it with lack-luster eye, 0981Says very wisely “It is ten o’clock. 0982Thus we may see,” quoth he, “how the world wags. 098325’Tis but an hour ago since it was nine, 0984And after one hour more ’twill be eleven. 0985And so from hour to hour we ripe and ripe, 0986And then from hour to hour we rot and rot, 0987And thereby hangs a tale.” When I did hear 098830The motley fool thus moral on the time, 0989My lungs began to crow like chanticleer 0990That fools should be so deep-contemplative, 0991And I did laugh sans intermission 0992An hour by his dial. O noble fool! 099335A worthy fool! Motley’s the only wear. DUKE SENIOR0994
What fool is this? JAQUES 0995O worthy fool!—One that hath been a courtier, 0996And says “If ladies be but young and fair, 0997They have the gift to know it.” And in his brain, 099840Which is as dry as the remainder biscuit 0999After a voyage, he hath strange places crammed 1000With observation, the which he vents 1001In mangled forms. O, that I were a fool! 1002I am ambitious for a motley coat. DUKE SENIOR 100345Thou shalt have one. JAQUES1004It is my only suit, 1005Provided that you weed your better judgments 1006Of all opinion that grows rank in them 1007That I am wise. I must have liberty 100850Withal, as large a charter as the wind,
p.
77
1009To blow on whom I please, for so fools have. 1010And they that are most gallèd with my folly, 1011They most must laugh. And why, sir, must they so? 1012The “why” is plain as way to parish church: 101355He that a fool doth very wisely hit 1014Doth very foolishly, although he smart, 1015⌜Not to⌝ seem senseless of the bob. If not, 1016The wise man’s folly is anatomized 1017Even by the squand’ring glances of the fool. 101860Invest me in my motley. Give me leave 1019To speak my mind, and I will through and through 1020Cleanse the foul body of th’ infected world, 1021If they will patiently receive my medicine. DUKE SENIOR 1022Fie on thee! I can tell what thou wouldst do. JAQUES 102365What, for a counter, would I do but good? DUKE SENIOR 1024Most mischievous foul sin in chiding ⌜sin;⌝ 1025For thou thyself hast been a libertine, 1026As sensual as the brutish sting itself, 1027And all th’ embossèd sores and headed evils 102870That thou with license of free foot hast caught 1029Wouldst thou disgorge into the general world. JAQUES1030
Why, who cries out on pride 1031That can therein tax any private party? 1032Doth it not flow as hugely as the sea 103375Till that the weary very means do ebb? 1034What woman in the city do I name 1035When that I say the city-woman bears 1036The cost of princes on unworthy shoulders? 1037Who can come in and say that I mean her, 103880When such a one as she such is her neighbor? 1039Or what is he of basest function 1040That says his bravery is not on my cost, 1041Thinking that I mean him, but therein suits
p.
79
1042His folly to the mettle of my speech? 104385There then. How then, what then? Let me see 1044wherein 1045My tongue hath wronged him. If it do him right, 1046Then he hath wronged himself. If he be free, 1047Why then my taxing like a wild goose flies 104890Unclaimed of any man.
Enter Orlando, ⌜brandishing a sword.⌝
1049But who ⌜comes⌝ here? ORLANDO1050
Forbear, and eat no more. JAQUES1051
Why, I have eat none yet. ORLANDO 1052Nor shalt not till necessity be served. JAQUES105395Of what kind should this cock come of? DUKE SENIOR, ⌜to Orlando⌝ 1054Art thou thus boldened, man, by thy distress, 1055Or else a rude despiser of good manners, 1056That in civility thou seem’st so empty? ORLANDO 1057You touched my vein at first. The thorny point 1058100Of bare distress hath ta’en from me the show 1059Of smooth civility, yet am I inland bred 1060And know some nurture. But forbear, I say. 1061He dies that touches any of this fruit 1062Till I and my affairs are answerèd. JAQUES1063105An you will not be answered with reason, I 1064must die. DUKE SENIOR, ⌜to Orlando⌝ 1065What would you have? Your gentleness shall force 1066More than your force move us to gentleness. ORLANDO 1067I almost die for food, and let me have it. DUKE SENIOR 1068110Sit down and feed, and welcome to our table.
p.
81
ORLANDO 1069Speak you so gently? Pardon me, I pray you. 1070I thought that all things had been savage here, 1071And therefore put I on the countenance 1072Of stern commandment. But whate’er you are 1073115That in this desert inaccessible, 1074Under the shade of melancholy boughs, 1075Lose and neglect the creeping hours of time, 1076If ever you have looked on better days, 1077If ever been where bells have knolled to church, 1078120If ever sat at any good man’s feast, 1079If ever from your eyelids wiped a tear 1080And know what ’tis to pity and be pitied, 1081Let gentleness my strong enforcement be, 1082In the which hope I blush and hide my sword. ⌜He sheathes his sword.⌝ DUKE SENIOR 1083125True is it that we have seen better days, 1084And have with holy bell been knolled to church, 1085And sat at good men’s feasts and wiped our eyes 1086Of drops that sacred pity hath engendered. 1087And therefore sit you down in gentleness, 1088130And take upon command what help we have 1089That to your wanting may be ministered. ORLANDO 1090Then but forbear your food a little while 1091Whiles, like a doe, I go to find my fawn 1092And give it food. There is an old poor man 1093135Who after me hath many a weary step 1094Limped in pure love. Till he be first sufficed, 1095Oppressed with two weak evils, age and hunger, 1096I will not touch a bit. DUKE SENIOR1097Go find him out, 1098140And we will nothing waste till you return. ORLANDO 1099I thank you; and be blessed for your good comfort. ⌜He exits.⌝
p.
83
DUKE SENIOR 1100Thou seest we are not all alone unhappy. 1101This wide and universal theater 1102Presents more woeful pageants than the scene 1103145Wherein we play in. JAQUES1104All the world’s a stage, 1105And all the men and women merely players. 1106They have their exits and their entrances, 1107And one man in his time plays many parts, 1108150His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, 1109Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms. 1110Then the whining schoolboy with his satchel 1111And shining morning face, creeping like snail 1112Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, 1113155Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad 1114Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier, 1115Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard, 1116Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel, 1117Seeking the bubble reputation 1118160Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice, 1119In fair round belly with good capon lined, 1120With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, 1121Full of wise saws and modern instances; 1122And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts 1123165Into the lean and slippered pantaloon 1124With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, 1125His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide 1126For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice, 1127Turning again toward childish treble, pipes 1128170And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, 1129That ends this strange eventful history, 1130Is second childishness and mere oblivion, 1131Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
Enter Orlando, ⌜carrying⌝ Adam.
p.
85
DUKE SENIOR 1132Welcome. Set down your venerable burden, 1133175And let him feed. ORLANDO1134
I thank you most for him. ADAM1135
So had you need.— 1136I scarce can speak to thank you for myself. DUKE SENIOR 1137Welcome. Fall to. I will not trouble you 1138180As yet to question you about your fortunes.— 1139Give us some music, and, good cousin, sing.
⌜The Duke and Orlando continue their conversation, apart.⌝
Song.
⌜AMIENS sings⌝ 1140Blow, blow, thou winter wind. 1141Thou art not so unkind 1142As man’s ingratitude. 1143185Thy tooth is not so keen, 1144Because thou art not seen, 1145Although thy breath be rude. 1146Heigh-ho, sing heigh-ho, unto the green holly. 1147Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly. 1148190⌜Then⌝ heigh-ho, the holly. 1149This life is most jolly.
1150Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, 1151That dost not bite so nigh 1152As benefits forgot. 1153195Though thou the waters warp, 1154Thy sting is not so sharp 1155As friend remembered not. 1156Heigh-ho, sing heigh-ho, unto the green holly. 1157Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly. 1158200⌜Then⌝ heigh-ho, the holly. 1159This life is most jolly.
p.
87
DUKE SENIOR, ⌜to Orlando⌝ 1160If that you were the good Sir Rowland’s son, 1161As you have whispered faithfully you were, 1162And as mine eye doth his effigies witness 1163205Most truly limned and living in your face, 1164Be truly welcome hither. I am the duke 1165That loved your father. The residue of your fortune 1166Go to my cave and tell me.—Good old man, 1167Thou art right welcome as thy ⌜master⌝ is. 1168210⌜To Lords.⌝Support him by the arm.⌜To Orlando.⌝ 1169Give me your hand, 1170And let me all your fortunes understand. They exit.
