5 Under the greenwood tree And tune 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. The laying of the table still went on, and all joined in 10 the second stanza, even the melancholy Jaques. 15 Who doth ambition shun, And loves to live in the sun, And pleased with what he gets, Come hither, come hither, come hither: Here shall he see No enemy But winter and rough weather. Suddenly, and before they had more than seated them20 selves around the table, a youth with drawn sword rushed upon them. It was Orlando. Orlando. Forbear, and eat no more! Jaques. Why, I have eat none yet. Orl. Nor shalt not, till necessity be served. He dies that touches any of this fruit Jaq. An you will not be answered with reason, I must die. Duke S. What would you have? Your gentleness shall force More than your force move us to gentleness. Orl. I almost die for food; and let me have it. Duke S. Sit down and feed, and welcome to our table. Orl. Speak you so gently? Pardon me, I pray you: If ever you have looked on better days, If ever been where bells have knolled to church, If ever sat at any good man's feast, If ever from your eyelids wiped a tear In the which hope I blush, and hide my sword. Orl. Then but forbear your food a little while, Whiles, like a doe, I go to find my fawn Limped in pure love: till he be first sufficed, And we will nothing waste till you return. Orl. I thank ye; and be blest for your good comfort! [Reënter ORLANDO, with ADAM.] [Exit.] Duke S. Welcome. Set down your venerable burden 10 And let him feed. Orl. I thank you most for him. Adam. So had you need: I scarce can speak to thank you for myself. Duke S. Welcome; fall to: I will not trouble you As yet, to question you about your fortunes. 15 Give us some music; and, good cousin, sing. So Amiens sang to these men, who had been ill-treated by other men, a song in praise of the forest: Blow, blow, thou winter wind, Thou art not so unkind As man's ingratitude; Thy tooth is not so keen, Because thou art not seen, Although thy breath be rude. Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly: Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, Thou dost not bite so nigh As benefits forgot: Though thou the waters warp, Thy sting is not so sharp As friend remembered not. Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly: This life is most jolly. Adapted. the forest of Arden: Ardennes, France. There was, however, a forest of Arden near Shakespeare's own home, and this was doubtless in the poet's mind. for ́ester: an officer appointed to take care of a forest and to look after the game. · Amiens (ä ́mi-an′). — Jaques (jăk'wěs): an unhappy nobleman attending the Duke. - answered: satisfied.. an: if. — knolled: chimed. enforce'ment: assistance; reënforcement. sufficed: satisfied. · fall to begin. - because unkind: unnatural; against the laws of kindred. thou art not seen: there is much discussion as to the meaning of this line. One edition reads "because thou art foreseen."-nigh: closely. — the waters warp: ice changes the appearance of water. The original meaning of warp was change, as in this case. From this we get the meaning which is common now of shrink. as friend remembered not: as a friend feels who is forgotten. |