I think he be transformed into a beast,

2.7.2974For I can nowhere find him like a man.

My lord, he is but even now gone hence.

2.7.4976Here was he merry, hearing of a song.

If he, compact of jars, grow musical,

2.7.6978We shall have shortly discord in the spheres.

2.7.7979Go seek him. Tell him I would speak with him.

He saves my labor by his own approach.

Why, how now, monsieur, what a life is this,

2.7.10983That your poor friends must woo your company?

2.7.11984What, you look merrily.

A fool, a fool! I met a fool i'th'forest,

2.7.13986A motley fool. A miserable world!

2.7.14987As I do live by food, I met a fool,

2.7.15988Who laid him down and basked him in the sun,

2.7.16989And railed on Lady Fortune in good terms,

2.7.17990In good set terms, and yet a motley fool.

2.7.18991"Good morrow, fool," quoth I; "No, sir," quoth he,

2.7.19992"Call me not fool till heaven hath sent me fortune."

2.7.20993And then he drew a dial from his poke,

2.7.21994And, looking on it with lack-luster eye,

2.7.22995Says very wisely, "It is ten o'clock.

2.7.23996Thus we may see," quoth he, "how the world wags:

2.7.24997'Tis but an hour ago since it was nine,

2.7.25998And after one hour more 'twill be eleven;

2.7.26999And so, from hour to hour, we ripe and ripe,

2.7.271000And then, from hour to hour, we rot and rot,

2.7.281001And thereby hangs a tale." When I did hear

2.7.291002The motley fool thus moral on the time,

2.7.301003My lungs began to crow like Chanticleer

2.7.311004That fools should be so deep-contemplative,

2.7.321005And I did laugh sans intermission

2.7.331006An hour by his dial. Oh, noble fool!

2.7.341007A worthy fool! Motley's the only wear.

What fool is this?

Oh, worthy fool! One that hath been a courtier,

2.7.371010And says, if ladies be but young and fair,

2.7.381011They have the gift to know it. And in his brain,

2.7.391012Which is as dry as the remainder biscuit

2.7.401013After a voyage, he hath strange places crammed

2.7.411014With observation, the which he vents

2.7.421015In mangled forms. Oh, that I were a fool!

2.7.431016I am ambitious for a motley coat.

Thou shalt have one.

Thou shalt have one. It is my only suit,

2.7.451019Provided that you weed your better judgments

2.7.461020Of all opinion that grows rank in them

2.7.471021That I am wise. I must have liberty

2.7.481022Withal, as large a charter as the wind,

2.7.491023To blow on whom I please, for so fools have.

2.7.501024And they that are most gallèd with my folly,

2.7.511025They most must laugh. And why, sir, must they so?

2.7.521026The "why" is plain as way to parish church:

2.7.531027He that a fool doth very wisely hit

2.7.541028Doth very foolishly, although he smart,

2.7.551029Not to seem senseless of the bob; if not,

2.7.561030The wise man's folly is anatomized

2.7.571031Even by the squand'ring glances of the fool.

2.7.581032Invest me in my motley; give me leave

2.7.591033To speak my mind, and I will through and through

2.7.601034Cleanse the foul body of th'infected world,

2.7.611035If they will patiently receive my medicine.

Fie on thee! I can tell what thou wouldst do.

What, for a counter, would I do but good?

Most mischievous foul sin, in chiding sin.

2.7.651039For thou thyself hast been a libertine,

2.7.661040As sensual as the brutish sting itself;

2.7.671041And all th'embossèd sores and headed evils

2.7.681042That thou with license of free foot hast caught

2.7.691043Wouldst thou disgorge into the general world.

Why, who cries out on pride

2.7.711045That can therein tax any private party?

2.7.721046Doth it not flow as hugely as the sea,

2.7.731047Till that the weary very means do ebb?

2.7.741048What woman in the city do I name

2.7.751049When that I say the city woman bears

2.7.761050The cost of princes on unworthy shoulders?

2.7.771051Who can come in and say that I mean her,

2.7.781052When such a one as she, such is her neighbor?

2.7.791053Or what is he of basest function

2.7.801054That says his bravery is not on my cost,

2.7.811055Thinking that I mean him, but therein suits

2.7.821056His folly to the mettle of my speech?

2.7.831057There then, how then? What then? Let me see wherein

2.7.841058My tongue hath wronged him: if it do him right,

2.7.851059Then he hath wronged himself; if he be free,

2.7.861060Why then my taxing like a wild goose flies,

2.7.871061Unclaimed of any man. But who come here?

Forbear, and eat no more!

Why, I have eat none yet.

Nor shalt not, till necessity be served.

Of what kind should this cock come of?

Art thou thus boldened, man, by thy distress?

2.7.931068Or else a rude despiser of good manners,

2.7.941069That in civility thou seem'st so empty?

You touched my vein at first. The thorny point

2.7.961071Of bare distress hath ta'en from me the show

2.7.971072Of smooth civility; yet am I inland bred,

2.7.981073And know some nurture. But forbear, I say.

2.7.991074He dies that touches any of this fruit

2.7.1001075Till I and my affairs are answerèd.

An you will not be answered with reason, 1077I must die.

What would you have? 1079Your gentleness shall force

2.7.103More than your force 1080move us to gentleness.

I almost die for food, and let me have it!

Sit down and feed, and welcome to our table.

Speak you so gently? Pardon me, I pray you.

2.7.1071084I thought that all things had been savage here,

2.7.1081085And therefore put I on the countenance

2.7.1091086Of stern commandment. But whate'er you are

2.7.1101087That in this desert inaccessible,

2.7.1111088Under the shade of melancholy boughs,

2.7.1121089Lose and neglect the creeping hours of time;

2.7.1131090If ever you have looked on better days,

2.7.1141091If ever been where bells have knolled to church,

2.7.1151092If ever sat at any good man's feast,

2.7.1161093If ever from your eyelids wiped a tear,

2.7.1171094And know what 'tis to pity and be pitied,

2.7.1181095Let gentleness my strong enforcement be;

2.7.1191096In the which hope I blush, and hide my sword.

True is it that we have seen better days,

2.7.1211098And have with holy bell been knolled to church,

2.7.1221099And sat at good men's feasts, and wiped our eyes

2.7.1231100Of drops that sacred pity hath engendered;

2.7.1241101And therefore sit you down in gentleness,

2.7.1251102And take upon command what help we have

2.7.1261103That to your wanting may be ministered.

Then but forbear your food a little while,

2.7.1281105Whiles, like a doe, I go to find my fawn,

2.7.1291106And give it food. There is an old poor man

2.7.1301107Who after me hath many a weary step

2.7.1311108Limped in pure love. Till he be first sufficed,

2.7.1321109Oppressed with two weak evils, age and hunger,

2.7.1331110I will not touch a bit.

I will not touch a bit. Go find him out,

2.7.1341112And we will nothing waste till you return.

I thank ye; and be blest for your good comfort!

Thou see'st we are not all alone unhappy:

2.7.1371115This wide and universal theater

2.7.1381116Presents more woeful pageants than the scene

2.7.1391117Wherein we play in.

Wherein we play in. All the world's a stage,

2.7.1401119And all the men and women merely players.

2.7.1411120They have their exits and their entrances,

2.7.1421121And one man in his time plays many parts,

2.7.1431122His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,

2.7.1441123Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.

2.7.1451124Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel

2.7.1461125And shining morning face, creeping like snail

2.7.1471126Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,

2.7.1481127Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad

2.7.1491128Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,

2.7.1501129Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,

2.7.1511130Jealous in honor, sudden, and quick in quarrel,

2.7.1521131Seeking the bubble reputation

2.7.1531132Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,

2.7.1541133In fair round belly with good capon lined,

2.7.1551134With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,

2.7.1561135Full of wise saws and modern instances;

2.7.1571136And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts

2.7.1581137Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,

2.7.1591138With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,

2.7.1601139His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide

2.7.1611140For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,

2.7.1621141Turning again toward childish treble, pipes

2.7.1631142And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,

2.7.1641143That ends this strange eventful history,

2.7.1651144Is second childishness and mere oblivion,

2.7.1661145Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Welcome. Set down your venerable burden,

2.7.1681148And let him feed.

I thank you most for him.

So had you need;

2.7.1711151I scarce can speak to thank you for myself.

Welcome. Fall to. I will not trouble you

2.7.1731153As yet to question you about your fortunes. --

2.7.1741154Give us some music; and, good cousin, sing.

If that you were the good Sir Rowland's son,

2.7.1961170As you have whispered faithfully you were,

2.7.1971171And as mine eye doth his effigies witness

2.7.1981172Most truly limned and living in your face,

2.7.1991173Be truly welcome hither. I am the Duke

2.7.2001174That loved your father. The residue of your fortune,

2.7.2011175Go to my cave and tell me. [To Adam] Good old man,

2.7.2021176Thou art right welcome as thy master is. [To the others]

2.7.2031177Support him by the arm.[To Orlando] Give me your hand,

2.7.2041178And let me all your fortunes understand.