SCENE VII. The same. A table set out. Enter Duke senior, Amiens, Lords, and others. Duke S. I think he be transform'd into a beast; For I cau no where find him like a man. 1 Lord. My lord, he is but even now gone hence; Here was he merry, hearing of a song. Duke S. If he, compact 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, In good set terms, and yet a motley fool. And looking on it with lack-lustre eye, Says, very wisely, It is ten o'clock: Thus may we see, quoth he, how the world wags: 'Tis but an hour ago, since it was nine; And after an hour more, 'twill be eleven; And so, from hour to hour, we ripe and ripe, Jaq. O worthy fool!-One that hath been a cour tier; 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 cramm'd In mangled forms:-O, that I were a fool! I am ambitious for a motley coat. Duke S. Thou shalt have one. Jaq. It is my only suit; Provided, that you weed your better judgements To blow on whom I please; for so fools have: Even by the squandring glances of the fool. To speak my mind, and I will through and through *The fool was anciently dressed in a party-coloured coat. Cleanse the foul body of the infected world, Duke S. Fy on thee! I can tell what thou would'st 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, And all the embossed sores, and headed evils That says, his bravery* is not on my cost There then; How, what then? Let me see wherein 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. * Finery. Duke S. Art thou thus bolden'd, man, by thy dis tress; 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 Jaq. An you will not be answered with reason, 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, welcome to our table. Orl. Speak you so gently? Pardon me, I pray you: 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; 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 eye-lids wip'd a tear, Well brought up. + Good manners. And therefore sit you down in gentleness, Orl. Then, but forbear your food a little while, Whiles, like a doe, I go to find my fawn, And give it food. There is an old poor man, Who after me hath many a weary step Limp'd in pure love; till he be first suffic'd,Oppress'd with two weak evils, age and hunger,I will not touch a bit. Duke S. Go find him out, And we will nothing waste till you return. Orl. I thank ye; and be bless'd for your good comfort! [Exit. Duke S. Thou seest, we are not all alone un happy : This wide and universal theatre Presents more woeful pageants than the scene Jaq. Even in the cannon's mouth: And then, the justice; With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut, • Violent.. + Trite, common. |