Frosty, but kindly. Let me go with you; Orl. O good old man; how well in thee appears Adam. Master, go on; and I will follow thee, To the last gasp, with truth and and loyalty.From seventeen years till now almost fourscore Here livéd I, but now live here no more. At seventeen years many their fortunes seek; But at fourscore it is too late a week: Yet fortune cannot recompense me better, Than to die well, and not my master's debtor. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The Forest of Arden. Enter ROSALIND, in boy's clothes; CELIA, dressed like a Shepherdess; and TOUCHStone. Ros. O Jupiter! how weary are my spirits! Touch. I care not for my spirits, if my legs were not weary. Ros. I could find in my heart to disgrace my man's apparel, and to cry like a woman: but I must comfort the weaker vessel, as doublet and hose ought to shew itself courageous to petticoat: therefore, courage, good Aliena. Cel. I pray you, bear with me; I cannot go Sil. O Corin, that thou knew'st how I do love her! Cor. I partly guess; for I have loved ere now. Sil. No, Corin, being old, thou canst not guess; Though in thy youth thou wast as true a lover As ever sighed upon a midnight pillow. But if thy love were ever like to mine (As sure I think did never man love so), How many actions most ridiculous Hast thou been drawn to by thy fantasy? Cor. Into a thousand that I have forgotten. Or, if thou hast not sat as I do now, Or, if thou hast not broke from company Ros. Alas, poor shepherd! searching of thy wound, I have by hard adventure found mine own. Touch. And I mine. I remember, when I was in love, I broke my sword upon a stone, and bid him take that for coming anight to Jane Smile: and I remember the kissing of her batlet, and the cow's dugs that her pretty chapped hands had milked and I remember the wooing of a peascod instead of her; from whom I took two cods, and giving her them again, said with weeping tears, "Wear these for my sake." We that are true lovers, run into strange capers; but as all is mortal in nature, so is all nature in love mortal in folly. Ros. Thou speak'st wiser than thou art 'ware of. Touch. Nay, I shall ne'er be 'ware of mine own wit till I break my shins against it. Ros. Jove! Jove! this shepherd's passion is much upon my fashion. Touch. And mine; but it grows something stale with me. Cel. I pray you, one of you question yond' man, If he for gold will give us any food : I faint almost to death. Touch. Holloa; you clown! Ros. Peace, fool; he's not thy kinsman. Touch. Your betters, sir. Cor. Else are they very wretched. Good even to you, friend. Cor. And to you, gentle sir, and to you all. Ros. I pr'y thee, shepherd, if that love or gold Can in this desert place buy entertainment, And wish for her sake, more than for mine own, Besides, his cote, his flocks, and bounds of feed, Cor. That young swain that you saw here but erewhile, That little cares for buying anything. Ros. I pray thee, if it stand with honesty, Buy thou the cottage, pasture, and the flock, And thou shalt have to pay for it of us. Cel. And we will mend thy wages: I like this place, And willingly could waste my time in it. Cor. Assuredly, the thing is to be sold. And buy it with your gold right suddenly. desire you to sing. Come, more; another stanza: call you them stanzas? Ami. What you will, Monsieur Jaques. Jaq. Nay, I care not for their names; they owe me nothing. Will you sing. Ami. More at your request than to please myself. Jaq. Well then, if ever I thank any man, I'll thank you but that they call compliment is like the encounter of two dog-apes; and when a man thanks me heartily, methinks I have given him a penny, and he renders me the beggarly thanks. Come, sing; and you that will not, hold your tongues. Ami. Well, I'll end the song.-Sirs, cover the while; the Duke will drink under this tree :-he hath been all this day to look you. Jaq. And I have been all this day to avoid him. He is too disputable for my company: I think of as many matters as he; but I give heaven thanks, and make no boast of them. Come, warble, come. All sing together here. And pleased with what he gets, T 24 Orl. Why, how now, Adam! no greater heart in thee? Live a little; comfort a little; cheer thyself a little if this uncouth forest yield anything savage, I will either be food for it, or bring it for food to thee. Thy conceit is nearer death than thy powers. For my sake, be comfortable; hold death awhile at the arm's end. I will here be with thee presently; and if I bring thee not something to eat, I'll give thee leave to die: but if thou diest before I come, thou art a mocker of my labour. Well said! thou look'st cheerily : and I'll be with thee quickly.-Yet thou liest in the bleak air: come, I will bear thee to some shelter; and thou shall not die for lack of a dinner, if there live anything in this desert. Cheerly, good Adam! [Exeunt. SCENE VII.-The same. A table set out. Enter DUKE Senior, AMIENS, Lords, and others. Duke S. I think he be transformed into a beast; For I can nowhere find him like a man. 1st 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. 1st 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, Who laid him down and basked him in the sun, he, "Call me not fool till heaven hath sent me fortune." And then he drew a dial from his poke; Thus may we see," quoth he, "how the world wags: 'Tis but an hour ago since it was nine; An hour by his dial.-O noble fool! A worthy fool! Motley's the only wear. Jaq. O worthy fool!-One that hath been a courtier ; It is my only suit: Provided that you weed your better judgments To blow on whom I please; for so fools have: The why is plain as way to parish church : 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, Jaq. Why, who cries out on pride, Till that the weary very means do ebb? That says his bravery is not on my cost There then; how then? what then? Let me see wherein My tongue hath wronged him: if it do him right, Then he hath wronged himself; if he be free, Why then my taxing like a wild-goose flies, Unclaimed of any man.-But who comes here? 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, Orl. You touched my vein at first; the thorny point Let gentleness my strong enforcement be: Orl. Then, but forbear your food a little while, And all the men and women merely players: Even in the cannon's mouth: and then, the justice, shifts For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, 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; 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. Blow, blow, thou winter wind, As man's ingratitude; Thy tooth is not so keen, Because thou art not seen, Heigh ho! sing heigh ho! unto the green holly: Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, As benefits forgot: As friend remembered not. Duke S. If that you were the good Sir Rowland's son, As you have whispered faithfully you were; That loved your father. The residue of your fortune, Go to my cave and tell me.-Good old man, Thou art right welcome as thy master is; Support him by the arm.-Give me your hand, And let me all your fortunes understand. [Exeunt. |