80

84

on;

88

And do not shear the fleeces that I

graze:
My master is of churlish disposition
And little recks to find the way to heaven
By doing deeds of hospitality.
Besides, his cote, his flocks, and bounds of feed
Are now on sale; and at our sheepcote now,
By reason of his absence, there is nothing
That you will feed but what is, come see,
And in my voice most welcome shall you

be. Ros. What is he that shall buy his flock and pas

ture? Cor. That young swain that you saw here but ere

while, That little cares for buying anything.

Ros. I pray thee, if it stand with honesty, 92 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.

96 Cor. Assuredly the thing is to be sold: Go with me: if you

like

upon report The soil, the profit, and this kind of life, I will your very faithful feeder be,

100 And buy it with your gold right suddenly. Exeunt.

Scene Five

[Another Part of the Forest]
Enter Amiens, Jaques, and Others.

Song.
Ami. 'Under the greenwood tree

Who loves to lie with me,
And turn his merry note

Unto the sweet bird's throat,
Come hither, come hither, come hither:

Here shall he see

No enemy

11

16

But winter and rough weather.'
Jaq. More, more, I prithee, more.

Ami. It will make you melancholy, Monsieur Jaques.

Jaq. I thank it. More! I prithee, more. I can suck melancholy out of a song as a weasel sucks eggs. More! I prithee, more.

Ami. My voice is ragged; I know I cannot please you.

Jaq. I do not desire you to please me; I do desire you to sing. Come, more; another stanzo:call you them stanzos ?

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 en

20

24

counter 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.

33

Song.

All together here. Ami. 'Who doth ambition shun,

And loves to live i' the sun,
Seeking the food he eats,

40 And pleased with what he gets, Come hither, come hither, come hither:

Here shall he see

No enemy

44

48

But winter and rough weather.'

Jaq. I'll give you a verse to this note, that I made yesterday in despite of my invention.

Ami. And I'll sing it.
Jaq. Thus it goes:

'If it do come to pass
That any man turn ass,
Leaving his wealth and ease,
A stubborn will to please,

52

Ducdame, ducdame, ducdame:

Here shall he see

Gross fools as he,
An if he will come to me.'

56

Ami. What's that 'ducdame'?

Jaq. 'Tis a Greek invocation to call fools into a circle. I'll go sleep if I can; if I cannot, I'll rail against all the first-born of Egypt.

Ami. And I'll go seek the duke: his banquet is prepared

Exeunt.

61

Scene Six

[Another Part of the Forest]

Enter Orlando and Adam. Adam. Dear master, I can go no further: 0! I die for food. Here lie I down, and measure out my grave. Farewell, kind master.

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 8 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 will give thee leave to die; 12 but if thou diest before I come, thou art a mocker of my labour. Well said! thou lookest cheerly, and I'll be with thee quickly. Yet thou

liest in the bleak air: come I will bear thee to some shelter, and thou shalt not die for lack of a dinner, if there live anything in this desert. Cheerly, good Adam.

Exeunt.

Scene Seven

[Another Part of the Forest] [A table set out.] Enter Duke Senior, [Amiens,] and

Lords, like Outlaws. Duke S. I think he be transform'd into a beast, For I can nowhere find him like a man. First 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. First Lord. He saves my labour by his own approach.

8 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, 12 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,