Por. Go in Nerrissa,Giue order to my seruants, that they takeNo note at all of our being absent hence,Nor you Lorenzo, Iessica nor you.
A Tucket sounds.
Lor. Your husband is at hand, I heare his Trumpet,We are no tell-tales Madam, feare you not
Por. This night methinkes is but the daylight sicke,It lookes a little paler, 'tis a day,Such as the day is, when the Sun is hid.Enter Bassanio, Anthonio, Gratiano, and their Followers.
Bas. We should hold day with the Antipodes,If you would walke in absence of the sunne
Por. Let me giue light, but let me not be light,For a light wife doth make a heauie husband,And neuer be Bassanio so for me,But God sort all: you are welcome home my Lord
Bass. I thanke you Madam, giue welcom to my friendThis is the man, this is Anthonio,To whom I am so infinitely bound
Por. You should in all sence be much bound to him,For as I heare he was much bound for you
Anth. No more then I am wel acquitted of
Por. Sir, you are verie welcome to our house:It must appeare in other waies then words,Therefore I scant this breathing curtesie
Gra. By yonder Moone I sweare you do me wrong,Infaith I gaue it to the Iudges Clearke,Would he were gelt that had it for my part,Since you do take it Loue so much at hart
Por. A quarrel hoe alreadie, what's the matter?Gra. About a hoope of Gold, a paltry RingThat she did giue me, whose Poesie wasFor all the world like Cutlers PoetryVpon a knife; Loue mee, and leaue mee not
Ner. What talke you of the Poesie or the valew:You swore to me when I did giue it you,That you would weare it til the houre of death,And that it should lye with you in your graue,Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths,You should haue beene respectiue and haue kept it.Gaue it a Iudges Clearke: but wel I knowThe Clearke wil nere weare haire on's face that had it
Gra. He wil, and if he liue to be a man
Nerrissa. I, if a Woman liue to be a man
Gra. Now by this hand I gaue it to a youth,A kinde of boy, a little scrubbed boy,No higher then thy selfe, the Iudges Clearke,A prating boy that begg'd it as a Fee,I could not for my heart deny it him
Por. You were too blame, I must be plaine with you,To part so slightly with your wiues first gift,A thing stucke on with oathes vpon your finger,And so riueted with faith vnto your flesh.I gaue my Loue a Ring, and made him sweareNeuer to part with it, and heere he stands:I dare be sworne for him, he would not leaue it,Nor plucke it from his finger, for the wealthThat the world masters. Now in faith Gratiano,You giue your wife too vnkinde a cause of greefe,And 'twere to me I should be mad at it
Bass. Why I were best to cut my left hand off,And sweare I lost the Ring defending it
Gra. My Lord Bassanio gaue his Ring awayVnto the Iudge that beg'd it, and indeedeDeseru'd it too: and then the Boy his ClearkeThat tooke some paines in writing, he begg'd mine,And neyther man nor master would take oughtBut the two Rings
Por. What Ring gaue you my Lord?Not that I hope which you receiu'd of me
Bass. If I could adde a lie vnto a fault,I would deny it: but you see my fingerHath not the Ring vpon it, it is gone
Por. Euen so voide is your false heart of truth.By heauen I wil nere come in your bedVntil I see the Ring
Ner. Nor I in yours, til I againe see mine
Bass. Sweet Portia,If you did know to whom I gaue the Ring,If you did know for whom I gaue the Ring,And would conceiue for what I gaue the Ring,And how vnwillingly I left the Ring,When nought would be accepted but the Ring,You would abate the strength of your displeasure?Por. If you had knowne the vertue of the Ring,Or halfe her worthinesse that gaue the Ring,Or your owne honour to containe the Ring,You would not then haue parted with the Ring:What man is there so much vnreasonable,If you had pleas'd to haue defended itWith any termes of Zeale: wanted the modestieTo vrge the thing held as a ceremonie:Nerrissa teaches me what to beleeue,Ile die for't, but some Woman had the Ring?Bass. No by mine honor Madam, by my souleNo Woman had it, but a ciuill Doctor,Which did refuse three thousand Ducates of me,And beg'd the Ring; the which I did denie him,And suffer'd him to go displeas'd away:Euen he that had held vp the verie lifeOf my deere friend. What should I say sweete Lady?I was inforc'd to send it after him,I was beset with shame and curtesie,My honor would not let ingratitudeSo much besmeare it. Pardon me good Lady,And by these blessed Candles of the night,Had you bene there, I thinke you would haue beg'dThe Ring of me, to giue the worthie Doctor?Por. Let not that Doctor ere come neere my house,Since he hath got the iewell that I loued,And that which you did sweare to keepe for me,I will become as liberall as you,Ile not deny him any thing I haue,No, not my body, nor my husbands bed:Know him I shall, I am well sure of it.Lie not a night from home. Watch me like Argos,If you doe not, if I be left alone,Now by mine honour which is yet mine owne,Ile haue the Doctor for my bedfellow
Nerrissa. And I his Clarke: therefore be well aduis'dHow you doe leaue me to mine owne protection
Gra. Well, doe you so: let not me take him then,For if I doe, ile mar the yong Clarks pen
Ant. I am th' vnhappy subiect of these quarrels
Por. Sir, grieue not you,You are welcome notwithstanding
Bas. Portia, forgiue me this enforced wrong,And in the hearing of these manie friendsI sweare to thee, euen by thine owne faire eyesWherein I see my selfe
Por. Marke you but that?In both my eyes he doubly sees himselfe:In each eye one, sweare by your double selfe,And there's an oath of credit
Bas. Nay, but heare me.Pardon this fault, and by my soule I sweareI neuer more will breake an oath with thee
Anth. I once did lend my bodie for thy wealth,Which but for him that had your husbands ringHad quite miscarried. I dare be bound againe,My soule vpon the forfeit, that your LordWill neuer more breake faith aduisedlie
Por. Then you shall be his suretie: giue him this,And bid him keepe it better then the other
Ant. Heere Lord Bassanio, swear to keep this ring
Bass. By heauen it is the same I gaue the Doctor
Por. I had it of him: pardon Bassanio,For by this ring the Doctor lay with me
Ner. And pardon me my gentle Gratiano,For that same scrubbed boy the Doctors ClarkeIn liew of this, last night did lye with me
Gra. Why this is like the mending of high waiesIn Sommer, where the waies are faire enough:What, are we Cuckolds ere we haue deseru'd it
Por. Speake not so grossely, you are all amaz'd;Heere is a letter, reade it at your leysure,It comes from Padua from Bellario,There you shall finde that Portia was the Doctor,Nerrissa there her Clarke. Lorenzo heereShall witnesse I set forth as soone as you,And but eu'n now return'd: I haue not yetEntred my house. Anthonio you are welcome,And I haue better newes in store for youThen you expect: vnseale this letter soone,There you shall finde three of your ArgosiesAre richly come to harbour sodainlie.You shall not know by what strange accidentI chanced on this letter
Antho. I am dumbe
Bass. Were you the Doctor, and I knew you not?Gra. Were you the Clark that is to make me cuckold
Ner. I, but the Clark that neuer meanes to doe it,Vnlesse he liue vntill he be a man
Bass. (Sweet Doctor) you shall be my bedfellow,When I am absent, then lie with my wife
An. (Sweet Ladie) you haue giuen me life & liuing;For heere I reade for certaine that my shipsAre safelie come to Rode
Por. How now Lorenzo?My Clarke hath some good comforts to for you
Ner. I, and Ile giue them him without a fee.There doe I giue to you and IessicaFrom the rich Iewe, a speciall deed of giftAfter his death, of all he dies possess'd of
Loren. Faire Ladies you drop Manna in the wayOf starued people
Por. It is almost morning,And yet I am sure you are not satisfiedOf these euents at full. Let vs goe in,And charge vs there vpon intergatories,And we will answer all things faithfully
Gra. Let it be so, the first intergatoryThat my Nerrissa shall be sworne on, is,Whether till the next night she had rather stay,Or goe to bed, now being two houres to day,But were the day come, I should wish it darke,Till I were couching with the Doctors Clarke.Well, while I liue, Ile feare no other thingSo sore, as keeping safe Nerrissas ring.
Exeunt.
FINIS. The Merchant of Venice.
As you Like it
Actus primus. Scoena Prima.
Enter Orlando and Adam.
Orlando. As I remember Adam, it was vpon this fashion bequeathed me by will, but poore a thousand Crownes, and as thou saist, charged my brother on his blessing to breed mee well: and there begins my sadnesse: My brother Iaques he keepes at schoole, and report speakes goldenly of his profit: for my part, he keepes me rustically at home, or (to speak more properly) staies me heere at home vnkept: for call you that keeping for a gentleman of my birth, that differs not from the stalling of an Oxe? his horses are bred better, for besides that they are faire with their feeding, they are taught their mannage, and to that end Riders deerely hir'd: but I (his brother) gaine nothing vnder him but growth, for the which his Animals on his dunghils are as much bound to him as I: besides this nothing that he so plentifully giues me, the something that nature gaue mee, his countenance seemes to take from me: hee lets mee feede with his Hindes, barres mee the place of a brother, and as much as in him lies, mines my gentility with my education. This is it Adam that grieues me, and the spirit of my Father, which I thinke is within mee, begins to mutinie against this seruitude. I will no longer endure it, though yet I know no wise remedy how to auoid it. Enter Oliuer.
Adam. Yonder comes my Master, your brother
Orlan. Goe a-part Adam, and thou shalt heare howhe will shake me vp
Oli. Now Sir, what make you heere?Orl. Nothing: I am not taught to make any thing
Oli. What mar you then sir?Orl. Marry sir, I am helping you to mar that whichGod made, a poore vnworthy brother of yours withidlenesse
Oliuer. Marry sir be better employed, and be naughta while
Orlan. Shall I keepe your hogs, and eat huskes withthem? what prodigall portion haue I spent, that I shouldcome to such penury?Oli. Know you where you are sir?Orl. O sir, very well: heere in your Orchard
Oli. Know you before whom sir? Orl. I, better then him I am before knowes mee: I know you are my eldest brother, and in the gentle condition of bloud you should so know me: the courtesie of nations allowes you my better, in that you are the first borne, but the same tradition takes not away my bloud, were there twenty brothers betwixt vs: I haue as much of my father in mee, as you, albeit I confesse your comming before me is neerer to his reuerence
Oli. What Boy
Orl. Come, come elder brother, you are too yong in this
Oli. Wilt thou lay hands on me villaine? Orl. I am no villaine: I am the yongest sonne of Sir Rowland de Boys, he was my father, and he is thrice a villaine that saies such a father begot villaines: wert thou not my brother, I would not take this hand from thy throat, till this other had puld out thy tongue for saying so, thou hast raild on thy selfe
Adam. Sweet Masters bee patient, for your Fathers remembrance, be at accord
Oli. Let me goe I say
Orl. I will not till I please: you shall heare mee: my father charg'd you in his will to giue me good education: you haue train'd me like a pezant, obscuring and hiding from me all gentleman-like qualities: the spirit of my father growes strong in mee, and I will no longer endure it: therefore allow me such exercises as may become a gentleman, or giue mee the poore allottery my father left me by testament, with that I will goe buy my fortunes
Oli. And what wilt thou do? beg when that is spent? Well sir, get you in. I will not long be troubled with you: you shall haue some part of your will, I pray you leaue me
Orl. I will no further offend you, then becomes mee for my good
Oli. Get you with him, you olde dogge
Adam. Is old dogge my reward: most true, I haue lost my teeth in your seruice: God be with my olde master, he would not haue spoke such a word.
Ex. Orl. Ad.
Oli. Is it euen so, begin you to grow vpon me? I will physicke your ranckenesse, and yet giue no thousand crownes neyther: holla Dennis. Enter Dennis.
Den. Calls your worship?Oli. Was not Charles the Dukes Wrastler heere tospeake with me?Den. So please you, he is heere at the doore, and importunesaccesse to you
Oli. Call him in: 'twill be a good way: and to morrowthe wrastling is.Enter Charles.
Cha. Good morrow to your worship
Oli. Good Mounsier Charles: what's the new newes at the new Court? Charles. There's no newes at the Court Sir, but the olde newes: that is, the old Duke is banished by his yonger brother the new Duke, and three or foure louing Lords haue put themselues into voluntary exile with him, whose lands and reuenues enrich the new Duke, therefore he giues them good leaue to wander
Oli. Can you tell if Rosalind the Dukes daughter bee banished with her Father? Cha. O no; for the Dukes daughter her Cosen so loues her, being euer from their Cradles bred together, that hee would haue followed her exile, or haue died to stay behind her; she is at the Court, and no lesse beloued of her Vncle, then his owne daughter, and neuer two Ladies loued as they doe
Oli. Where will the old Duke liue? Cha. They say hee is already in the Forrest of Arden, and a many merry men with him; and there they liue like the old Robin Hood of England: they say many yong Gentlemen flocke to him euery day, and fleet the time carelesly as they did in the golden world
Oli. What, you wrastle to morrow before the newDuke
Cha. Marry doe I sir: and I came to acquaint you with a matter: I am giuen sir secretly to vnderstand, that your yonger brother Orlando hath a disposition to come in disguis'd against mee to try a fall: to morrow sir I wrastle for my credit, and hee that escapes me without some broken limbe, shall acquit him well: your brother is but young and tender, and for your loue I would bee loth to foyle him, as I must for my owne honour if hee come in: therefore out of my loue to you, I came hither to acquaint you withall, that either you might stay him from his intendment, or brooke such disgrace well as he shall runne into, in that it is a thing of his owne search, and altogether against my will
Oli. Charles , I thanke thee for thy loue to me, which thou shalt finde I will most kindly requite: I had my selfe notice of my Brothers purpose heerein, and haue by vnder-hand meanes laboured to disswade him from it; but he is resolute. Ile tell thee Charles, it is the stubbornest yong fellow of France, full of ambition, an enuious emulator of euery mans good parts, a secret & villanous contriuer against mee his naturall brother: therefore vse thy discretion, I had as liefe thou didst breake his necke as his finger. And thou wert best looke to't; for if thou dost him any slight disgrace, or if hee doe not mightilie grace himselfe on thee, hee will practise against thee by poyson, entrap thee by some treacherous deuise, and neuer leaue thee till he hath tane thy life by some indirect meanes or other: for I assure thee, (and almost with teares I speake it) there is not one so young, and so villanous this day liuing. I speake but brotherly of him, but should I anathomize him to thee, as hee is, I must blush, and weepe, and thou must looke pale and wonder
Cha. I am heartily glad I came hither to you: if hee come to morrow, Ile giue him his payment: if euer hee goe alone againe, Ile neuer wrastle for prize more: and so God keepe your worship. Enter.
Farewell good Charles. Now will I stirre this Gamester: I hope I shall see an end of him; for my soule (yet I know not why) hates nothing more then he: yet hee's gentle, neuer school'd, and yet learned, full of noble deuise, of all sorts enchantingly beloued, and indeed so much in the heart of the world, and especially of my owne people, who best know him, that I am altogether misprised: but it shall not be so long, this wrastler shall cleare all: nothing remaines, but that I kindle the boy thither, which now Ile goe about. Enter.
Scoena Secunda.
Enter Rosalind, and Cellia.
Cel. I pray thee Rosalind, sweet my Coz, be merry
Ros. Deere Cellia; I show more mirth then I am mistresse of, and would you yet were merrier: vnlesse you could teach me to forget a banished father, you must not learne mee how to remember any extraordinary pleasure
Cel. Heerein I see thou lou'st mee not with the full waight that I loue thee; if my Vncle thy banished father had banished thy Vncle the Duke my Father, so thou hadst beene still with mee, I could haue taught my loue to take thy father for mine; so wouldst thou, if the truth of thy loue to me were so righteously temper'd, as mine is to thee
Ros. Well, I will forget the condition of my estate, to reioyce in yours
Cel. You know my Father hath no childe, but I, nor none is like to haue; and truely when he dies, thou shalt be his heire; for what hee hath taken away from thy father perforce, I will render thee againe in affection: by mine honor I will, and when I breake that oath, let mee turne monster: therefore my sweet Rose, my deare Rose, be merry
Ros. From henceforth I will Coz, and deuise sports: let me see, what thinke you of falling in Loue? Cel. Marry I prethee doe, to make sport withall: but loue no man in good earnest, nor no further in sport neyther, then with safety of a pure blush, thou maist in honor come off againe
Ros. What shall be our sport then?Cel. Let vs sit and mocke the good houswife Fortunefrom her wheele, that her gifts may henceforth beebestowed equally
Ros. I would wee could doe so: for her benefits are mightily misplaced, and the bountifull blinde woman doth most mistake in her gifts to women
Cel. 'Tis true, for those that she makes faire, she scarce makes honest, & those that she makes honest, she makes very illfauouredly
Ros. Nay now thou goest from Fortunes office to Natures:Fortune reignes in gifts of the world, not in thelineaments of Nature.Enter Clowne.
Cel. No; when Nature hath made a faire creature, may she not by Fortune fall into the fire? though nature hath giuen vs wit to flout at Fortune, hath not Fortune sent in this foole to cut off the argument? Ros. Indeed there is fortune too hard for nature, when fortune makes natures naturall, the cutter off of natures witte
Cel. Peraduenture this is not Fortunes work neither, but Natures, who perceiueth our naturall wits too dull to reason of such goddesses, hath sent this Naturall for our whetstone: for alwaies the dulnesse of the foole, is the whetstone of the wits. How now Witte, whether wander you? Clow. Mistresse, you must come away to your father
Cel. Were you made the messenger?Clo. No by mine honor, but I was bid to come for youRos. Where learned you that oath foole?Clo. Of a certaine Knight, that swore by his Honourthey were good Pan-cakes, and swore by his Honor theMustard was naught: Now Ile stand to it, the Pancakeswere naught, and the Mustard was good, and yet wasnot the Knight forsworne
Cel. How proue you that in the great heape of yourknowledge?Ros. I marry, now vnmuzzle your wisedome
Clo. Stand you both forth now: stroke your chinnes,and sweare by your beards that I am a knaue
Cel. By our beards (if we had them) thou art
Clo. By my knauerie (if I had it) then I were: but if you sweare by that that is not, you are not forsworn: no more was this knight swearing by his Honor, for he neuer had anie; or if he had, he had sworne it away, before euer he saw those Pancakes, or that Mustard
Cel. Prethee, who is't that thou means't?Clo. One that old Fredericke your Father loues
Ros. My Fathers loue is enough to honor him enough; speake no more of him, you'l be whipt for taxation one of these daies
Clo. The more pittie that fooles may not speak wisely, what Wisemen do foolishly
Cel. By my troth thou saiest true: For, since the little wit that fooles haue was silenced, the little foolerie that wise men haue makes a great shew; Heere comes Monsieur the Beu. Enter le Beau.
Ros. With his mouth full of newes
Cel. Which he will put on vs, as Pigeons feed their young
Ros. Then shal we be newes-cram'd
Cel. All the better: we shalbe the more Marketable.Boon-iour Monsieur le Beu, what's the newes?Le Beu. Faire Princesse,you haue lost much good sport
Cel. Sport: of what colour?Le Beu. What colour Madame? How shall I aunsweryou?Ros. As wit and fortune will
Clo. Or as the destinies decrees
Cel. Well said, that was laid on with a trowell
Clo. Nay, if I keepe not my ranke
Ros. Thou loosest thy old smell
Le Beu. You amaze me Ladies: I would haue told you of good wrastling, which you haue lost the sight of
Ros. Yet tell vs the manner of the Wrastling
Le Beu. I wil tell you the beginning: and if it please your Ladiships, you may see the end, for the best is yet to doe, and heere where you are, they are comming to performe it
Cel. Well, the beginning that is dead and buried
Le Beu. There comes an old man, and his three sons
Cel. I could match this beginning with an old tale
Le Beu. Three proper yong men, of excellent growthand presence
Ros. With bils on their neckes: Be it knowne vntoall men by these presents
Le Beu. The eldest of the three, wrastled with Charles the Dukes Wrastler, which Charles in a moment threw him, and broke three of his ribbes, that there is little hope of life in him: So he seru'd the second, and so the third: yonder they lie, the poore old man their Father, making such pittiful dole ouer them, that all the beholders take his part with weeping
Ros. Alas
Clo. But what is the sport Monsieur, that the Ladieshaue lost?Le Beu. Why this that I speake of
Clo. Thus men may grow wiser euery day. It is the first time that euer I heard breaking of ribbes was sport for Ladies
Cel. Or I, I promise thee
Ros. But is there any else longs to see this broken Musicke in his sides? Is there yet another doates vpon rib-breaking? Shall we see this wrastling Cosin? Le Beu. You must if you stay heere, for heere is the place appointed for the wrastling, and they are ready to performe it
Cel. Yonder sure they are comming. Let vs now stay and see it.
Flourish. Enter Duke, Lords, Orlando, Charles, and Attendants.
Duke. Come on, since the youth will not be intreatedHis owne perill on his forwardnesse
Ros. Is yonder the man?Le Beu. Euen he, Madam
Cel. Alas, he is too yong: yet he looks successefullyDu. How now daughter, and Cousin:Are you crept hither to see the wrastling?Ros. I my Liege, so please you giue vs leaue
Du. You wil take little delight in it, I can tell you there is such oddes in the man: In pitie of the challengers youth, I would faine disswade him, but he will not bee entreated. Speake to him Ladies, see if you can mooue him
Cel. Call him hether good Monsieuer Le Beu
Duke. Do so: Ile not be by
Le Beu. Monsieur the Challenger, the Princesse cals for you
Orl. I attend them with all respect and dutie
Ros. Young man, haue you challeng'd Charles theWrastler?Orl. No faire Princesse: he is the generall challenger,I come but in as others do, to try with him the strengthof my youth
Cel. Yong Gentleman, your spirits are too bold for your yeares: you haue seene cruell proofe of this mans strength, if you saw your selfe with your eies, or knew your selfe with your iudgment, the feare of your aduenture would counsel you to a more equall enterprise. We pray you for your owne sake to embrace your own safetie, and giue ouer this attempt
Ros. Do yong Sir, your reputation shall not therefore be misprised: we wil make it our suite to the Duke, that the wrastling might not go forward
Orl. I beseech you, punish mee not with your harde thoughts, wherein I confesse me much guiltie to denie so faire and excellent Ladies anie thing. But let your faire eies, and gentle wishes go with mee to my triall; wherein if I bee foil'd, there is but one sham'd that was neuer gracious: if kil'd, but one dead that is willing to be so: I shall do my friends no wrong, for I haue none to lament me: the world no iniurie, for in it I haue nothing: onely in the world I fil vp a place, which may bee better supplied, when I haue made it emptie
Ros. The little strength that I haue, I would it were with you
Cel. And mine to eeke out hers
Ros. Fare you well: praie heauen I be deceiu'd in you
Cel. Your hearts desires be with you
Char. Come, where is this yong gallant, that is sodesirous to lie with his mother earth?Orl. Readie Sir, but his will hath in it a more modestworking
Duk. You shall trie but one fall
Cha. No, I warrant your Grace you shall not entreat him to a second, that haue so mightilie perswaded him from a first
Orl. You meane to mocke me after: you should not haue mockt me before: but come your waies
Ros. Now Hercules, be thy speede yong man
Cel. I would I were inuisible, to catch the strong fellow by the legge.
Wrastle.
Ros. Oh excellent yong man
Cel. If I had a thunderbolt in mine eie, I can tell who should downe.
Shout.
Duk. No more, no more
Orl. Yes I beseech your Grace, I am not yet wellbreath'd
Duk. How do'st thou Charles?Le Beu. He cannot speake my Lord
Duk. Beare him awaie:What is thy name yong man?Orl. Orlando my Liege, the yongest sonne of Sir Rolandde Boys
Duk. I would thou hadst beene son to some man else,The world esteem'd thy father honourable,But I did finde him still mine enemie:Thou should'st haue better pleas'd me with this deede,Hadst thou descended from another house:But fare thee well, thou art a gallant youth,I would thou had'st told me of another Father.
Exit Duke.
Cel. Were I my Father (Coze) would I do this?Orl. I am more proud to be Sir Rolands sonne,His yongest sonne, and would not change that callingTo be adopted heire to Fredricke
Ros. My Father lou'd Sir Roland as his soule,And all the world was of my Fathers minde,Had I before knowne this yong man his sonne,I should haue giuen him teares vnto entreaties,Ere he should thus haue ventur'd
Cel. Gentle Cosen,Let vs goe thanke him, and encourage him:My Fathers rough and enuious dispositionSticks me at heart: Sir, you haue well deseru'd,If you doe keepe your promises in loue;But iustly as you haue exceeded all promise,Your Mistris shall be happie
Ros. Gentleman,Weare this for me: one out of suites with fortuneThat could giue more, but that her hand lacks meanes.Shall we goe Coze?Cel. I: fare you well faire Gentleman
Orl. Can I not say, I thanke you? My better partsAre all throwne downe, and that which here stands vpIs but a quintine, a meere liuelesse blocke
Ros. He cals vs back: my pride fell with my fortunes,Ile aske him what he would: Did you call Sir?Sir, you haue wrastled well, and ouerthrowneMore then your enemies
Cel. Will you goe Coze?Ros. Haue with you: fare you well.Enter.
Orl. What passion hangs these waights vpo[n] my toong?I cannot speake to her, yet she vrg'd conference.Enter Le Beu.
O poore Orlando! thou art ouerthrowneOr Charles, or something weaker masters thee
Le Beu. Good Sir, I do in friendship counsaile youTo leaue this place; Albeit you haue deseru'dHigh commendation, true applause, and loue;Yet such is now the Dukes condition,That he misconsters all that you haue done:The Duke is humorous, what he is indeedeMore suites you to conceiue, then I to speake of
Orl. I thanke you Sir; and pray you tell me this,Which of the two was daughter of the Duke,That here was at the Wrastling?Le Beu. Neither his daughter, if we iudge by manners,But yet indeede the taller is his daughter,The other is daughter to the banish'd Duke,And here detain'd by her vsurping VncleTo keepe his daughter companie, whose louesAre deerer then the naturall bond of Sisters:But I can tell you, that of late this DukeHath tane displeasure 'gainst his gentle Neece,Grounded vpon no other argument,But that the people praise her for her vertues,And pittie her, for her good Fathers sake;And on my life his malice 'gainst the LadyWill sodainly breake forth: Sir, fare you well,Hereafter in a better world then this,I shall desire more loue and knowledge of you
Orl. I rest much bounden to you: fare you well.Thus must I from the smoake into the smother,From tyrant Duke, vnto a tyrant Brother.But heauenly Rosaline.
Exit
Scena Tertius.
Enter Celia and Rosaline.
Cel. Why Cosen, why Rosaline: Cupid haue mercie,Not a word?Ros. Not one to throw at a dog
Cel. No, thy words are too precious to be cast away vpon curs, throw some of them at me; come lame mee with reasons
Ros. Then there were two Cosens laid vp, when the one should be lam'd with reasons, and the other mad without any
Cel. But is all this for your Father?Ros. No, some of it is for my childes Father: Ohhow full of briers is this working day world
Cel. They are but burs, Cosen, throwne vpon thee in holiday foolerie, if we walke not in the trodden paths our very petty-coates will catch them
Ros. I could shake them off my coate, these burs are in my heart
Cel. Hem them away
Ros. I would try if I could cry hem, and haue him
Cel. Come, come, wrastle with thy affections
Ros. O they take the part of a better wrastler then my selfe
Cel. O, a good wish vpon you: you will trie in time in dispight of a fall: but turning these iests out of seruice, let vs talke in good earnest: Is it possible on such a sodaine, you should fall into so strong a liking with old Sir Roulands yongest sonne? Ros. The Duke my Father lou'd his Father deerelie
Cel. Doth it therefore ensue that you should loue his Sonne deerelie? By this kinde of chase, I should hate him, for my father hated his father deerely; yet I hate not Orlando
Ros. No faith, hate him not for my sake
Cel. Why should I not? doth he not deserue well?Enter Duke with Lords.
Ros. Let me loue him for that, and do you loue himBecause I doe. Looke, here comes the Duke
Cel. With his eies full of anger
Duk. Mistris, dispatch you with your safest haste,And get you from our Court
Ros. Me Vncle
Duk. You Cosen,Within these ten daies if that thou beest foundSo neere our publike Court as twentie miles,Thou diest for it
Ros. I doe beseech your GraceLet me the knowledge of my fault beare with me:If with my selfe I hold intelligence,Or haue acquaintance with mine owne desires,If that I doe not dreame, or be not franticke,(As I doe trust I am not) then deere Vncle,Neuer so much as in a thought vnborne,Did I offend your highnesse
Duk. Thus doe all Traitors,If their purgation did consist in words,They are as innocent as grace it selfe;Let is suffice thee that I trust thee not
Ros. Yet your mistrust cannot make me a Traitor;Tell me whereon the likelihoods depends?Duk. Thou art thy Fathers daughter, there's enough
Ros. So was I when your highnes took his Dukdome,So was I when your highnesse banisht him;Treason is not inherited my Lord,Or if we did deriue it from our friends,What's that to me, my Father was no Traitor,Then good my Leige, mistake me not so much,To thinke my pouertie is treacherous
Cel. Deere Soueraigne heare me speake
Duk. I Celia, we staid her for your sake,Else had she with her Father rang'd along
Cel. I did not then intreat to haue her stay,It was your pleasure, and your owne remorse,I was too yong that time to value her,But now I know her: if she be a Traitor,Why so am I: we still haue slept together,Rose at an instant, learn'd, plaid, eate together,And wheresoere we went, like Iunos Swans,Still we went coupled and inseperable
Duk. She is too subtile for thee, and her smoothnes;Her verie silence, and her patience,Speake to the people, and they pittie her:Thou art a foole, she robs thee of thy name,And thou wilt show more bright, & seem more vertuousWhen she is gone: then open not thy lipsFirme, and irreuocable is my doombe,Which I haue past vpon her, she is banish'd
Cel. Pronounce that sentence then on me my Leige,I cannot liue out of her companie
Duk. You are a foole: you Neice prouide your selfe,If you out-stay the time, vpon mine honor,And in the greatnesse of my word you die.
Exit Duke, &c.
Cel. O my poore Rosaline, whether wilt thou goe?Wilt thou change Fathers? I will giue thee mine:I charge thee be not thou more grieu'd then I am
Ros. I haue more cause
Cel. Thou hast not Cosen,Prethee be cheerefull; know'st thou not the DukeHath banish'd me his daughter?Ros. That he hath not
Cel. No, hath not? Rosaline lacks then the loueWhich teacheth thee that thou and I am one,Shall we be sundred? shall we part sweete girle?No, let my Father seeke another heire:Therefore deuise with me how we may flieWhether to goe, and what to beare with vs,And doe not seeke to take your change vpon you,To beare your griefes your selfe, and leaue me out:For by this heauen, now at our sorrowes pale;Say what thou canst, Ile goe along with thee
Ros. Why, whether shall we goe?Cel. To seeke my Vncle in the Forrest of Arden
Ros. Alas, what danger will it be to vs,(Maides as we are) to trauell forth so farre?Beautie prouoketh theeues sooner then gold
Cel. Ile put my selfe in poore and meane attire,And with a kinde of vmber smirch my face,The like doe you, so shall we passe along,And neuer stir assailants
Ros. Were it not better,Because that I am more then common tall,That I did suite me all points like a man,A gallant curtelax vpon my thigh,A bore-speare in my hand, and in my heartLye there what hidden womans feare there will,Weele haue a swashing and a marshall outside,As manie other mannish cowards haue,That doe outface it with their semblances
Cel. What shall I call thee when thou art a man?Ros. Ile haue no worse a name then Ioues owne Page,And therefore looke you call me Ganimed.But what will you be call'd?Cel. Something that hath a reference to my state:No longer Celia, but Aliena
Ros. But Cosen, what if we assaid to stealeThe clownish Foole out of your Fathers Court:Would he not be a comfort to our trauaile?Cel. Heele goe along ore the wide world with me,Leaue me alone to woe him; Let's awayAnd get our Iewels and our wealth together,Deuise the fittest time, and safest wayTo hide vs from pursuite that will be madeAfter my flight: now goe in we contentTo libertie, and not to banishment.
Exeunt.
Actus Secundus. Scoena Prima.
Enter Duke Senior: Amyens, and two or three Lords likeForresters.
Duk.Sen. Now my Coe-mates, and brothers in exile:Hath not old custome made this life more sweeteThen that of painted pompe? Are not these woodsMore free from perill then the enuious Court?Heere feele we not the penaltie of Adam,The seasons difference, as the Icie phangeAnd churlish chiding of the winters winde,Which when it bites and blowes vpon my bodyEuen till I shrinke with cold, I smile, and sayThis is no flattery: these are counsellorsThat feelingly perswade me what I am:Sweet are the vses of aduersitieWhich like the toad, ougly and venemous,Weares yet a precious Iewell in his head:And this our life exempt from publike haunt,Findes tongues in trees, bookes in the running brookes,Sermons in stones, and good in euery thing
Amien. I would not change it, happy is your GraceThat can translate the stubbornnesse of fortuneInto so quiet and so sweet a stile
Du.Sen. Come, shall we goe and kill vs venison?And yet it irkes me the poore dapled foolesBeing natiue Burgers of this desert City,Should in their owne confines with forked headsHaue their round hanches goard
1.Lord. Indeed my LordThe melancholy Iaques grieues at that,And in that kinde sweares you doe more vsurpeThen doth your brother that hath banish'd you:To day my Lord of Amiens, and my selfe,Did steale behinde him as he lay alongVnder an oake, whose anticke roote peepes outVpon the brooke that brawles along this wood,To the which place a poore sequestred StagThat from the Hunters aime had tane a hurt,Did come to languish; and indeed my LordThe wretched annimall heau'd forth such groanesThat their discharge did stretch his leatherne coatAlmost to bursting, and the big round tearesCours'd one another downe his innocent noseIn pitteous chase: and thus the hairie foole,Much marked of the melancholie Iaques,Stood on th' extremest verge of the swift brooke,Augmenting it with teares
Du.Sen. But what said Iaques?Did he not moralize this spectacle?1.Lord. O yes, into a thousand similies.First, for his weeping into the needlesse streame;Poore Deere quoth he, thou mak'st a testamentAs worldlings doe, giuing thy sum of moreTo that which had too much: then being there alone,Left and abandoned of his veluet friend;'Tis right quoth he, thus miserie doth partThe Fluxe of companie: anon a carelesse HeardFull of the pasture, iumps along by himAnd neuer staies to greet him: I quoth Iaques,Sweepe on you fat and greazie Citizens,'Tis iust the fashion; wherefore doe you lookeVpon that poore and broken bankrupt there?Thus most inuectiuely he pierceth throughThe body of Countrie, Citie, Court,Yea, and of this our life, swearing that weAre meere vsurpers, tyrants, and whats worseTo fright the Annimals, and to kill them vpIn their assign'd and natiue dwelling place
D.Sen. And did you leaue him in this contemplation?2.Lord. We did my Lord, weeping and commentingVpon the sobbing Deere
Du.Sen. Show me the place,I loue to cope him in these sullen fits,For then he's full of matter
1.Lor. Ile bring you to him strait.
Exeunt.
Scena Secunda.
Enter Duke, with Lords.
Duk. Can it be possible that no man saw them?It cannot be, some villaines of my CourtAre of consent and sufferance in this
1.Lo. I cannot heare of any that did see her,The Ladies her attendants of her chamberSaw her a bed, and in the morning early,They found the bed vntreasur'd of their Mistris
2.Lor. My Lord, the roynish Clown, at whom so oft,Your Grace was wont to laugh is also missing,Hisperia the Princesse GentlewomanConfesses that she secretly ore-heardYour daughter and her Cosen much commendThe parts and graces of the WrastlerThat did but lately foile the synowie Charles,And she beleeues where euer they are goneThat youth is surely in their companie
Duk. Send to his brother, fetch that gallant hither,If he be absent, bring his Brother to me,Ile make him finde him: do this sodainly;And let not search and inquisition quaile,To bring againe these foolish runawaies.
Exeunt.
Scena Tertia.
Enter Orlando and Adam.
Orl. Who's there?Ad. What my yong Master, oh my gentle master,Oh my sweet master, O you memorieOf old Sir Rowland; why, what make you here?Why are you vertuous? Why do people loue you?And wherefore are you gentle, strong, and valiant?Why would you be so fond to ouercomeThe bonnie priser of the humorous Duke?Your praise is come too swiftly home before you.Know you not Master, to seeme kinde of men,Their graces serue them but as enemies,No more doe yours: your vertues gentle MasterAre sanctified and holy traitors to you:Oh what a world is this, when what is comelyEnuenoms him that beares it?Why, what's the matter?Ad. O vnhappie youth,Come not within these doores: within this roofeThe enemie of all your graces liuesYour brother, no, no brother, yet the sonne(Yet not the son, I will not call him son)Of him I was about to call his Father,Hath heard your praises, and this night he meanes,To burne the lodging where you vse to lye,And you within it: if he faile of thatHe will haue other meanes to cut you off;I ouerheard him: and his practises:This is no place, this house is but a butcherie;Abhorre it, feare it, doe not enter it
Ad. Why whether Adam would'st thou haue me go?Ad. No matter whether, so you come not here
Orl. What, would'st thou haue me go & beg my food,Or with a base and boistrous Sword enforceA theeuish liuing on the common rode?This I must do, or know not what to do:Yet this I will not do, do how I can,I rather will subiect me to the maliceOf a diuerted blood, and bloudie brother
Ad. But do not so: I haue fiue hundred Crownes,The thriftie hire I saued vnder your Father,Which I did store to be my foster Nurse,When seruice should in my old limbs lie lame,And vnregarded age in corners throwne,Take that, and he that doth the Rauens feede,Yea prouidently caters for the Sparrow,Be comfort to my age: here is the gold,All this I giue you, let me be your seruant,Though I looke old, yet I am strong and lustie;For in my youth I neuer did applyHot, and rebellious liquors in my bloud,Nor did not with vnbashfull forehead woe,The meanes of weaknesse and debilitie,Therefore my age is as a lustie winter,Frostie, but kindely; let me goe with you,Ile doe the seruice of a yonger manIn all your businesse and necessities
Orl. Oh good old man, how well in thee appearesThe constant seruice of the antique world,When seruice sweate for dutie, not for meede:Thou art not for the fashion of these times,Where none will sweate, but for promotion,And hauing that do choake their seruice vp,Euen with the hauing, it is not so with thee:But poore old man, thou prun'st a rotten tree,That cannot so much as a blossome yeelde,In lieu of all thy paines and husbandrie,But come thy waies, weele goe along together,And ere we haue thy youthfull wages spent,Weele light vpon some setled low content
Ad. Master goe on, and I will follow theeTo the last gaspe with truth and loyaltie,From seauentie yeeres, till now almost fourescoreHere liued I, but now liue here no moreAt seauenteene yeeres, many their fortunes seekeBut at fourescore, it is too late a weeke,Yet fortune cannot recompence me betterThen to die well, and not my Masters debter.
Exeunt.
Scena Quarta.
Enter Rosaline for Ganimed, Celia for Aliena, and Clowne, aliasTouchstone.
Ros. O Iupiter, how merry are my spirits?Clo. I care not for my spirits, if my legges were notwearie
Ros. I could finde in my heart to disgrace my mans apparell, and to cry like a woman: but I must comfort the weaker vessell, as doublet and hose ought to show it selfe coragious to petty-coate; therefore courage, good Aliena
Cel. I pray you beare with me, I cannot goe no further
Clo. For my part, I had rather beare with you, then beare you: yet I should beare no crosse if I did beare you, for I thinke you haue no money in your purse
Ros. Well, this is the Forrest of Arden
Clo. I, now am I in Arden, the more foole I, when Iwas at home I was in a better place, but Trauellers mustbe content.Enter Corin and Siluius.
Ros. I, be so good Touchstone: Look you, who comeshere, a yong man and an old in solemne talke
Cor. That is the way to make her scorne you still
Sil. Oh Corin, that thou knew'st how I do loue her
Cor. I partly guesse: for I haue lou'd ere now
Sil. No Corin, being old, thou canst not guesse,Though in thy youth thou wast as true a louerAs euer sigh'd vpon a midnight pillow:But if thy loue were euer like to mine,As sure I thinke did neuer man loue so:How many actions most ridiculous,Hast thou beene drawne to by thy fantasie?Cor. Into a thousand that I haue forgotten
Sil. Oh thou didst then neuer loue so hartily,If thou remembrest not the slightest folly,That euer loue did make thee run into,Thou hast not lou'd.Or if thou hast not sat as I doe now,Wearing thy hearer in thy Mistris praise,Thou hast not lou'd.Or if thou hast not broke from companie,Abruptly as my passion now makes me,Thou hast not lou'd.O Phebe, Phebe, Phebe.Enter.
Ros. Alas poore Shepheard searching of they would,I haue by hard aduenture found mine owne
Clo. And I mine: I remember when I was in loue, I broke my sword vpon a stone, and bid him take that for comming a night to Iane Smile, and I remember the kissing of her batler, and the Cowes dugs that her prettie chopt hands had milk'd; and I remember the wooing of a peascod instead of her, from whom I tooke two cods, and giuing her them againe, said with weeping teares, weare these for my sake: wee that are true Louers, runne into strange capers; but as all is mortall in nature, so is all nature in loue, mortall in folly
Ros. Thou speak'st wiser then thou art ware of
Clo. Nay, I shall nere be ware of mine owne wit, tillI breake my shins against it
Ros. Ioue, Ioue, this Shepherds passion,Is much vpon my fashion
Clo. And mine, but it growes something stale withmee
Cel. I pray you, one of you question yon'd man,If he for gold will giue vs any foode,I faint almost to death
Clo. Holla; you Clowne
Ros. Peace foole, he's not thy kinsman
Cor. Who cals?Clo. Your betters Sir
Cor. Else are they very wretched
Ros. Peace I say; good euen to your friend
Cor. And to you gentle Sir, and to you all
Ros. I prethee Shepheard, if that loue or goldCan in this desert place buy entertainment,Bring vs where we may rest our selues, and feed:Here's a yong maid with trauaile much oppressed,And faints for succour
Cor. Faire Sir, I pittie her,And wish for her sake more then for mine owne,My fortunes were more able to releeue her:But I am shepheard to another man,And do not sheere the Fleeces that I graze:My master is of churlish disposition,And little wreakes to finde the way to heauenBy doing deeds of hospitalitie.Besides his Coate, his Flockes, and bounds of feedeAre now on sale, and at our sheep-coat nowBy reason of his absence there is nothingThat you will feed on: but what is, come see,And in my voice most welcome shall you be
Ros. What is he that shall buy his flocke and pasture?Cor. That yong Swaine that you saw heere but erewhile,That little cares for buying any thing
Ros. I pray thee, if it stand with honestie,Buy thou the Cottage, pasture, and the flocke,And thou shalt haue to pay for it of vs
Cel. And we will mend thy wages:I like this place, and willingly couldWaste my time in it
Cor. Assuredly the thing is to be sold:Go with me, if you like vpon report,The soile, the profit, and this kinde of life,I will your very faithfull Feeder be,And buy it with your Gold right sodainly.
Exeunt.
Scena Quinta.
Enter, Amyens, Iaques, & others.
Song.
Vnder the greene wood tree, who loues to lye with mee, And turne his merrie Note, vnto the sweet Birds throte: Come hither, come hither, come hither: Heere shall he see no enemie, But Winter and rough Weather
Iaq. More, more, I pre'thee more
Amy. It will make you melancholly Monsieur IaquesIaq. I thanke it: More, I prethee more,I can sucke melancholly out of a song,As a Weazel suckes egges: More, I pre'thee more
Amy. My voice is ragged, I know I cannot pleaseyou
Iaq. I do not desire you to please me,I do desire you to sing:Come, more, another stanzo: Cal you 'em stanzo's?Amy. What you wil Monsieur Iaques
Iaq. Nay, I care not for their names, they owe meenothing. Wil you sing?Amy. More at your request, then to please my selfe
Iaq. Well then, if euer I thanke any man, Ile thanke you: but that they cal complement is like th' encounter of two dog-Apes. And when a man thankes me hartily, me thinkes I haue giuen him a penie, and he renders me the beggerly thankes. Come sing; and you that wil not hold your tongues
Amy. Wel, Ile end the song. Sirs, couer the while, the Duke wil drinke vnder this tree; he hath bin all this day to looke you
Iaq. And I haue bin all this day to auoid him:He is too disputeable for my companie:I thinke of as many matters as he, but I giueHeauen thankes, and make no boast of them.Come, warble, come.
Song. Altogether heere.
Who doth ambition shunne, and loues to liue i'th Sunne: Seeking the food he eates, and pleas'd with what he gets: Come hither, come hither, come hither, Heere shall he see. &c
Iaq. Ile giue you a verse to this note,That I made yesterday in despight of my Inuention
Amy. And Ile sing it
Amy. Thus it goes.If it do come to passe, that any man turne Asse:Leauing his wealth and ease,A stubborne will to please,Ducdame, ducdame, ducdame:Heere shall he see, grosse fooles as he,And if he will come to me
Amy. What's that Ducdame?Iaq. 'Tis a Greeke inuocation, to call fools into a circle.Ile go sleepe if I can: if I cannot, Ile raile against allthe first borne of Egypt
Amy. And Ile go seeke the Duke,His banket is prepar'd.
Exeunt.
Scena Sexta.
Enter Orlando, & Adam
Adam. Deere Master, I can go no further:O I die for food. Heere lie I downe,And measure out my graue. Farwel kinde master
Orl. Why how now Adam? No greater heart in thee:Liue a little, comfort a little, cheere thy selfe a little.If this vncouth Forrest yeeld any thing sauage,I wil either be food for it, or bring it for foode to thee:Thy conceite is neerer death, then thy powers.For my sake be comfortable, hold death a whileAt the armes end: I wil heere be with thee presently,And if I bring thee not something to eate,I wil giue thee leaue to die: but if thou diestBefore I come, thou art a mocker of my labor.Wel said, thou look'st cheerely,And Ile be with thee quickly: yet thou liestIn the bleake aire. Come, I wil beare theeTo some shelter, and thou shalt not dieFor lacke of a dinner,If there liue any thing in this Desert.Cheerely good Adam.
Exeunt.
Scena Septima.
Enter Duke Sen. & Lord, like Out-lawes.
Du.Sen. I thinke he be transform'd into a beast,For I can no where finde him, like a man
1.Lord. My Lord, he is but euen now gone hence,Heere was he merry, hearing of a Song
Du.Sen. If he compact of iarres, grow Musicall,We shall haue shortly discord in the Spheares:Go seeke him, tell him I would speake with him.Enter Iaques.
1.Lord. He saues my labor by his owne approach
Du.Sen. Why how now Monsieur, what a life is thisThat your poore friends must woe your companie,What, you looke merrily
Iaq. A Foole, a foole: I met a foole i'th Forrest,A motley Foole (a miserable world:)As I do liue by foode, I met a foole,Who laid him downe, and bask'd him in the Sun,And rail'd on Lady Fortune in good termes,In good set termes, and yet a motley foole.Good morrow foole (quoth I:) no Sir, quoth he,Call me not foole, till heauen hath sent me fortune,And then he drew a diall from his poake,And looking on it, with lacke-lustre eye,Sayes, very wisely, it is ten a clocke:Thus we may see (quoth he) how the world wagges:'Tis but an houre agoe, since it was nine,And after one houre more, 'twill be eleuen,And so from houre to houre, we ripe, and ripe,And then from houre to houre, we rot, and rot,And thereby hangs a tale. When I did heareThe motley Foole, thus morall on the time,My Lungs began to crow like Chanticleere,That Fooles should be so deepe contemplatiue:And I did laugh, sans intermissionAn houre by his diall. Oh noble foole,A worthy foole: Motley's the onely weare
Du.Sen. What foole is this?Iaq. O worthie Foole: One that hath bin a CourtierAnd sayes, if Ladies be but yong, and faire,They haue the gift to know it: and in his braine,Which is as drie as the remainder bisketAfter a voyage: He hath strange places cram'dWith obseruation, the which he ventsIn mangled formes. O that I were a foole,I am ambitious for a motley coat
Du.Sen. Thou shalt haue one
Iaq. It is my onely suite,Prouided that you weed your better iudgementsOf all opinion that growes ranke in them,That I am wise. I must haue libertyWithall, as large a Charter as the winde,To blow on whom I please, for so fooles haue:And they that are most gauled with my folly,They most must laugh: And why sir must they so?The why is plaine, as way to Parish Church:Hee, that a Foole doth very wisely hit,Doth very foolishly, although he smartSeeme senselesse of the bob. If not,The Wise-mans folly is anathomiz'dEuen by the squandring glances of the foole.Inuest me in my motley: Giue me leaueTo speake my minde, and I will through and throughCleanse the foule bodie of th' infected world,If they will patiently receiue my medicine
Du.Sen. Fie on thee. I can tell what thou wouldst do
Iaq. What, for a Counter, would I do, but good?Du.Sen. Most mischeeuous foule sin, in chiding sin:For thou thy selfe hast bene a Libertine,As sensuall as the brutish sting it selfe,And all th' imbossed sores, and headed euils,That thou with license of free foot hast caught,Would'st thou disgorge into the generall world
Iaq. Why who cries out on pride,That can therein taxe any priuate party:Doth it not flow as hugely as the Sea,Till that the wearie verie meanes do ebbe.What woman in the Citie do I name,When that I say the City woman bearesThe cost of Princes on vnworthy shoulders?Who can come in, and say that I meane her,When such a one as shee, such is her neighbor?Or what is he of basest function,That sayes his brauerie is not on my cost,Thinking that I meane him, but therein suitesHis folly to the mettle of my speech,There then, how then, what then, let me see whereinMy tongue hath wrong'd him: if it do him right,Then he hath wrong'd himselfe: if he be free,Why then my taxing like a wild-goose fliesVnclaim'd of any man. But who come here?Enter Orlando.
Orl. Forbeare, and eate no more
Iaq. Why I haue eate none yet
Orl. Nor shalt not, till necessity be seru'd
Iaq. Of what kinde should this Cocke come of?Du.Sen. Art thou thus bolden'd man by thy distres?Or else a rude despiser of good manners,That in ciuility thou seem'st so emptie?Orl. You touch'd my veine at first, the thorny pointOf bare distresse, hath tane from me the shewOf smooth ciuility: yet am I in-land bred,And know some nourture: But forbeare, I say,He dies that touches any of this fruite,Till I, and my affaires are answered
Iaq. And you will not be answer'd with reason,I must dye
Du.Sen. What would you haue?Your gentlenesse shall force, more then your forceMoue vs to gentlenesse
Orl. I almost die for food, and let me haue it
Du.Sen. Sit downe and feed, & welcom to our tableOrl. Speake you so gently? Pardon me I pray you,I thought that all things had bin sauage heere,And therefore put I on the countenanceOf sterne command'ment. But what ere you areThat in this desert inaccessible,Vnder the shade of melancholly boughes,Loose, and neglect the creeping houres of time:If euer you haue look'd on better dayes:If euer beene where bels haue knoll'd to Church:If euer sate at any good mans feast:If euer from your eye-lids wip'd a teare,And know what 'tis to pittie, and be pittied:Let gentlenesse my strong enforcement be,In the which hope, I blush, and hide my Sword
Du.Sen. True is it, that we haue seene better dayes,And haue with holy bell bin knowld to Church,And sat at good mens feasts, and wip'd our eiesOf drops, that sacred pity hath engendred:And therefore sit you downe in gentlenesse,And take vpon command, what helpe we haueThat to your wanting may be ministred
Orl. Then but forbeare your food a little while:Whiles (like a Doe) I go to finde my Fawne,And giue it food. There is an old poore man,Who after me, hath many a weary steppeLimpt in pure loue: till he be first suffic'd,Opprest with two weake euils, age, and hunger,I will not touch a bit
Duke Sen. Go finde him out,And we will nothing waste till you returne