1 Lord. My lord, he is but even now gone hence; Here was he merry, hearing of a song. Duke S. If he, compact a of jars, grow musical, We shall have shortly discord in the spheres:Go, seek him: tell him I would speak with him. Enter JAQUES. 1 Lord. He saves my labour by his own approach. 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, And rail'd on lady Fortune in good terms, In good set terms, and yet a motley fool. "Good morrow, fool," quoth I: “ No, sir," quoth he, "Call me not fool, till Heaven hath sent me fortune:" And, looking on it with lack-lustre eye, Thus we may see," quoth he, "how the world wags: Duke S. What fool is this? 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, Which is as dry as the remainder biscuit After a voyage, he hath strange places cramm'd Compact-compounded, made up of. In mangled forms!-O, that I were a fool! I am ambitious for a motley coat. Duke S. Thou shalt have one. Jaq. To blow on whom I please; for so fools have: He that a fool doth very wisely hit Doth very foolishly, although he smart, Even by the squand'ring 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. 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 itself; And all the embossed sores, and headed evils, C That can therein tax any private party? That says, his bravery d is not on my cost, There then: How then? what then? Let me see wherein b 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 serv'd. 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. 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 Ori. Speak you so gently? Pardon me, I pray you: I thought that all things had been savage here; And therefore put I on the countenance Of stern commandment: But whate'er you are, Under the shade of melancholy boughs, Lose and neglect the creeping hours of time; If ever been where bells have knoll'd to church; If ever from your eyelids wip'd a tear, In the which hope, I blush, and hide my sword. a Turing-censure, reproach. b Nurture-education. Duke S. True is it that we have seen better days; Orl. Then, but forbear your food a little while, And we will nothing waste till you return. Orl. I thank ye: and be bless'd for your good comfort! Duke S. Thou seest, we are not all alone unhappy: Presents more woeful pageants than the scene Jaq. Even in the cannon's mouth: and then, the justice; And so he plays his part: The sixth age shifts a Upon command-at your pleasure. [Exit. With spectacles on nose, and pouch on side; Re-enter ORLANDO, with ADAM. Duke S. Welcome: Set down your venerable burthen, And let him feed. Orl. 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 wina, As man's ingratitude; Thy tooth is not so keen, Although thy breath be rude. Heigh ho! sing, heigh ho! unto the green holly: II. Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, As benefits forgot! Though thou the waters warp,b As friend remember'd not. Heigh ho! sing, heigh ho! &c. Duke S. If that you were the good sir Rowland's son,-As you have whisper'd faithfully you were; And as mine eye doth his effigies witness A Unkind-unnatural. b Warp. There was an old Saxon proverb, Winter shall warp water |