SCENE VI.-The same. Enter ORLANDO and ADAM. Adam. Dear master, I can go no further: O, 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 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: but if thou diest before I come thou art a mocker of my labour. Well said! thou look'st 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 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 can nowhere 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 b of jars, grow musical, Enter JAQUES. 1 Lord. He saves my labour by his own approach. a Be comfortable-become susceptible of comfort. b Compact-compounded, made up of. Duke S. Why, how now, monsieur! what a life is this, That your poor friends must woo your company? Jaq. A fool, a fool! I met a fool i' the forest, 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. "Good morrow, fool," quoth I: "No, sir," quoth he, Thus we may see," quoth he," how the world wags: 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 With observation, the which he vents In mangled forms :-O, that I were a fool! Duke S. Thou shalt have one. Jaq. It is my only suit:" To blow on whom I please; for so fools have: Even by the squand'ring glances of the fool. 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. For thou thyself hast been a libertine, And all the embossed sores, and headed evils, That can therein tax any private party? Weary-exhausted. Or what is he of basest function, 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 Enter ORLANDO, with his sword drawn. Orl. Forbear, and eat no more. Why, I have eat none yet. Orl. Nor shalt not, till necessity he serv'd. Jaq. Of what kind should this cock come of? Duke S. Art thou thus bolden'd, man, by thy dis tress; Or else a rude despiser of good manners, 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; 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. Orl. Speak you so gently? Pardon me, I pray you: I thought that all things had been savage here; Taxing-censure, reproach. a Bravery-finery. Nurture-education. 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, Orl. Then, but forbear your food a little while, 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 com fort! [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, Upon command-at your pleasure. b Weak evils-causes of weakness. |