Page 1932 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

Scene VII IT

(A meal set out.)
Enter Duke Senior, (Amiens) and lords, like outlaws.

DUKE SENIOR
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 SENIOR
If he, compact of jars, grow musical, [5]
We shall have shortly discord in the spheres.

Go seek him, tell him I would speak with him.

FIRST LORD
He saves my labour by his own approach.

Enter Jaques.

DUKE SENIOR
Why how now monsieur? What a life is this,
That your poor friends must woo your company? [10]
What, you look merrily?

JAQUES
A fool, a fool! I met a fool i’ th’ forest,
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, [15]

And rail’d on Lady Fortune in good terms,
In good set terms, and yet a motley fool.
‘Good morrow, fool’, quoth I. ‘No, sir’, quoth he,
‘Call me not fool, till heaven hath sent me fortune’.