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Enter AMIENS, JAQUES, and others |
AMIENS, JAQUES, and others enter. |
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AMIENS
(sings) 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 But winter and rough weather. |
AMIENS
(singing) Whoever wants to lie with me, Under the greenwood tree, And turn his merry song To follow the sweet bird’s singing, Come here, come here, come here. Here you will find No enemy Besides winter and rough weather. |
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JAQUES
More, more, I prithee, more. |
JAQUES
More, more, please, more. |
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AMIENS
It will make you melancholy, Monsieur Jaques. |
AMIENS
It’s only going to make you sad, Monsieur Jaques. |
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JAQUES
I thank it. More, I prithee, more. I can suck melancholy out of a song as a weasel sucks eggs. More, I prithee, more. |
JAQUES
I’m glad about that. More, please, more. I can suck sadness out of a song the way a weasel sucks eggs. More, please, more. |
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AMIENS
My voice is ragged. I know I cannot please you. |
AMIENS
My voice is ragged. I know I won’t please you. |
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JAQUES
I do not desire you to please me. I do desire you to sing. Come, more, another stanzo. Call you ’em “stanzos”? |
JAQUES
I don’t want you to please me, I want you to sing. Come on, another stanza—is that what you call ’em, “stanzas”? |
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AMIENS
What you will, Monsieur Jaques. |
AMIENS
Call them whatever you want, Monsieur Jaques. |
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JAQUES
Nay, I care not for their names. They owe me nothing. Will you sing? |
JAQUES
Nah, I don’t care what their names are; they owe me nothing. Will you sing? |
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AMIENS
More at your request than to please myself. |
AMIENS
Okay, but only because you want me to. |
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JAQUES
Well then, if ever I thank any man, I’ll thank you. But that they call “compliment” is like th’ encounter 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. |
JAQUES
Well then, if I’ve ever thanked a man, I’ll thank you now. But two men complimenting each other is like two baboons getting together. Whenever a man compliments me, I feel like he’s a beggar and I just gave him a penny—an embarrassing exchange. Come on, sing—and those of you who won’t sing, shut up. |
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AMIENS
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. |
AMIENS
Well, I’ll finish the song I started.—Meanwhile, sirs, set the table. The duke will drink under this tree.—He’s been looking for you all day, you know. |
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JAQUES
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. |
JAQUES
And I’ve been avoiding him all day. He’s too argumentative for me. I think of as many things as he does, but I just thank heaven and don’t show off about it. Come, warble for me. |
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EVERYONE
(singing) Who doth ambition shun And loves to live i’ th’ sun, Seeking the food he eats And pleased with what he gets, Come hither, come hither, come hither. Here shall he see No enemy But winter and rough weather. |
EVERYONE
(singing) Whoever shuns ambition And loves to live in the sun, Hunting the food he eats Pleased with what he finds, Come here, come here, come here. Here he will findNo enemy But winter and rough weather. |
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JAQUES
I’ll give you a verse to this note that I made yesterday in despite of my invention. |
JAQUES
I wrote a verse to this tune, though it’s not very imaginative. I’ll give it you. |
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AMIENS
And I’ll sing it. (taking paper from JAQUES) Thus it goes: If it do come to pass That any man turn ass, Leaving his wealth and ease A stubborn will to please, Ducdame, ducdame, ducdame. Here shall he see Gross fools as he, An if he will come to me. |
AMIENS
And I’ll sing it. (taking a paper from JAQUES) It goes like this: (sings) If it should come to pass That any man turns into an ass And leaves his wealth and ease Simply to please his stubborn will Ducdame, ducdame, ducdame. Here he will see Fools as stupid as he If he will only come to me. |
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AMIENS
What’s that “ducdame”? |
AMIENS
What’s that word “ducdame”? |
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JAQUES
’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. |
JAQUES
It’s a Greek invocation, calling fools into a circle. I’m going to take a nap, if I can—if I can’t, I’ll curse all the first-born children of Egypt. |
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AMIENS
And I’ll go seek the duke. His banquet is prepared. |
AMIENS
And I’ll go find the duke; his banquet is ready. |
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Exeunt severally |
They all exit in separate directions. |