Duke S. Why, how now, monsieur ! what a life is this, That your poor friends must woo your company? What, you look merrily! Jaq. A fool, a fool! I met a fool i' the forest, A motley fool; a miserable world! As I do live by food, I met a fool; Who laid him down and bask'd him in the sun, 'Good morrow, fool,' quoth I. 'No, sir,' quoth he, In good set terms and yet a motley fool. 'Call me not fool till heaven hath sent me fortune :' 20 And then he drew a dial from his poke, And, looking on it with lack-lustre eye, Thus we may see,' quoth he, 'how the world wags: And after one hour more 'twill be eleven ; And so, from hour to hour, we ripe and ripe, An hour by his dial. O noble fool! O worthy fool! Motley's the only wear. Duke S. What fool is this? Jaq. A 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, Which is as dry as the remainder biscuit After a voyage,) he hath strange places cramm'd With observation, the which he vents In mangled forms. O that I were a fool! I am ambitious for a motley coat. Duke S. Thou shalt have one. 330 40 Jaq. It is my only suit; Of all opinion that grows rank in them To blow on whom I please; for so fools have; They most must laugh. And why, sir, must they so? The 'why' is plain as way to parish church : 50 He that a fool doth very wisely hit Doth very foolishly, although he smart, But to seem senseless of the bob: if not, The wise man's folly is anatomized Even by the squandering glances of the fool. Invest me in my motley; give me leave To speak my mind, and I will through and through If they will patiently receive my medicine. Duke S. Fie on thee! I can tell what thou wouldst do. Juq. 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 itself; And all the embossed sores and headed evils, That can therein tax any private party? SCENE VII.] AS YOU LIKE IT. 33 8 888 80 That says his bravery is not on my cost, Thinking that I mean him, but therein suits His folly to the mettle of my speech? There then; how then? what then? Let me see wherein My tongue hath wrong'd him : if it do him right, Enter ORLANDO, with his sword drawn. Orl. Forbear, and eat no more. 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 bolden'd, man, by thy distress, Or else a rude despiser of good manners, That in civility thou seem'st so empty? Orl. You touch'd my vein at first: the thorny point Of bare distress hath ta'en from me the show Of smooth civility: yet am I inland bred And know some nurture. But forbear, I say: He dies that touches any of this fruit Till I and my affairs are answered. 90 99 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. Duke S. Sit down and feed, and welcome to our table. I thought that all things had been savage here ; Of stern commandment. But whate'er you are Under the shade of melancholy boughs, Lose and neglect the creeping hours of time; C 110 If ever you have look'd on better days, If ever been where bells have knoll'd to church, If ever sat at any good man's feast, If ever from your eyelids wiped a tear Orl. Then but forbear your food a little while, Limp'd in pure love: till he be first sufficed, Duke S. Go find him out, And we will nothing waste till you return. 120 130 Orl. I thank ye; and be blest for your good comfort! [Exit. Duke S. Thou seest we are not all alone unhappy : This wide and universal theatre Presents more woeful pageants than the scene Wherein we play in. Jaq. All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel 140 And shining morning face, creeping like snail Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice, In fair round belly with good capon lined, With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Re-enter ORLANDO with ADAM. Duke S. Welcome. Set down your venerable burden And let him feed. Orl. I thank you most for him. Adam. So had you need: Duke S. Welcome; fall to: I will not trouble you 150 160 170 SONG. Ami. Blow, blow, thou winter wind, Thou art not so unkind As man's ingratitude; |