Says, very wisely, It is ten o'clock. Thus may we see, quoth he, how the world wags: Jaq. O worthy fool!—One that hath been a courtier ; And says, if ladies be but young, and fair, They have the gift to know it; and in his brain— After a voyage-he hath strange places crammed In mangled forms.-O that I were a fool! I am ambitious for a motley coat. Duke S. Thou shalt have one. To blow on whom I please; for so fools have: They most must laugh. And why, sir, must they so? He that a fool doth very wisely hit, 1 The fool was anciently dressed in a party-colored coat. 26 My only suit," a quibble between petition and dress is here intended. 3 The old copies read only, seem senseless, &c. not to were supplied by Theobald. E'en by the squandering glances of the fool. To speak my mind, and I will through and through If they will patiently receive my medicine. wouldst do. can tell what thou Jaq. What, for a counter,' would I do, but good? Duke S. Most mischievous, foul sin, in chiding sin; For thou thyself hast been a libertine, As sensual as the brutish sting 2 itself; And all the embossed sores, and headed evils, That says, his bravery is not on my cost, There then; how then, what then? 4 wherein Let me see My tongue hath wronged him; if it do him right, 1 About the time when this play was written, the French counters (i. e. pieces of false money used as a means of reckoning) were brought into use in England. They are again mentioned in Troilus and Cressida, and in the Winter's Tale. 2 So in Spenser's Faerie Queene, b. i. c. xii. :— "A herd of bulls whom kindly rage doth sting." 3 The old copies read "Till that the weary very means do ebb," &c. The emendation is by Pope. 4 Malone thinks we should read, Where then? in this redundant line. Why, then, my taxing like a wild goose flies, Enter ORLANDO, with his sword drawn. Orl. Forbear, and eat no more. Jaq. Why, I have eat none yet. Orl. Nor shalt not, till necessity be served. Jaq. Of what kind should this cock come of? Duke S. Art thou thus boldened, man, by thy distress; Or else a rude despiser of good manners, That in civility thou seem'st so empty? Orl. You touched my vein at first. The thorny point Of bare distress hath ta'en from me the show Till I and my affairs are answered. Jaq. An you will not be answered with reason, I must die. Duke S. What would you have? Your gentleness shall force, More than your force move us to gentleness. Orl. I almost die for food; and let me have it. Of stern commandment. But, whate'er you are, Under the shade of melancholy boughs, Lose and neglect the creeping hours of time; If ever you have looked on better days; If ever been where bells have knolled to church; If ever from your eyelids wiped a tear, 1 Inland here, and elsewhere in this play, is opposite to outland, or upland. Orlando means to say that he had not been bred among clowns. VOL. II. 37 And know what 'tis to pity, and be pitied; Orl. Then, but forbear your food a little while, Limped in pure love; till he be first sufficed,- Duke S. Go find him out, And we will nothing waste till you return. Orl. I thank ye; and be blessed for your good comfort! [Exit. Duke S. Thou seest, we are not all alone unhappy; This wide and universal theatre All the world's a stage, Presents more woful pageants than the scene 1 i. e. at your own command. 2 Pleonasms of this kind were by no means uncommon in the writers of Shakspeare's age; "I was afearde to what end his talke would come to." Baret. Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard, Even in the cannon's mouth; and then, the justice, Is second childishness, and mere oblivion; Re-enter ORLANDO, with ADAM. Duke S. Welcome. burden, And let him feed. Orl. Set down your venerable I thank you most for him. Adam. So had you need; I scarce can speak to thank you for myself. Duke S. Welcome; fall to. I will not trouble you As yet, to question you about your fortunes. Give us some music; and, good cousin, sing. AMIENS sings. SONG. I. Blow, blow, thou winter wind; Thou art not so unkind As man's ingratitude; 1 Trite, common, trivial. |