ORLANDO Speak you so gently? Pardon me, I pray you: I thought that all things had been savage here; And therefore put I on the countenance Of stern commandment. But whate’er you are That in this desert inaccessible Under the shade of melancholy boughs Lose and neglect the creeping hours of time; If ever you have looked on better days, If ever been where bells have knoll’d to church, If ever sat at any good man’s feast, If ever from your eyelids wiped a tear And known what ’tis to pity and be pitied, Let gentleness my strong enforcement be: In the which hope I blush, and hide my sword.
THE DUKE True is it that we have seen better days, And have with holy bell been knoll’d to church, And sat at good men’s feasts, and wiped our eyes Of drops that sacred pity hath engender’d: And therefore sit you down in gentleness And take upon command what help we have That to your wanting may be minister’d.
ORLANDO Then but forbear your food a little while, Whiles, like a doe, I go to find my fawn And give it food. There is an old poor man, Who after me hath many a weary step Limp’d in pure love: till he be first suffic’d I will not touch a bit.
THE DUKE Go find him out, And we will nothing waste till you return.
ORLANDO I thank ye; and be blest for your good comfort! [Exit Orlando.]
THE DUKE Thou seest we are not all alone unhappy: This wide and universal theatre Presents more woeful pageants than the scene Wherein we play in.
JACQUES All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players!
[Re-enter Orlando with Adam, whom he helps to support.]
THE DUKE Welcome! Set down your venerable burden And let him feed.
ORLANDO I thank you most for him.