_Duke S._ I think he be transform’d into a beast; For I can no where 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 S._ 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. _Enter_ JAQUES. _First Lord._ He saves my labour by his own approach. _Duke S._ Why, how now, monsieur! what a life is this, That your poor friends must woo your company? 10 What, you look merrily! _Jaq._ A fool, a fool! I met a fool i’ the 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:’ And then he drew a dial from his poke, 20 And, looking on it with lack-lustre eye, Says very wisely, ‘It is ten o’clock: Thus we may see,’ quoth he, ‘how the world wags: ’Tis but an hour ago since it was nine; And after one hour more ’twill be eleven; 25 And so, from hour to hour, we ripe and ripe, And then, from hour to hour, we rot and rot; And thereby hangs a tale.’ When I did hear The motley fool thus moral on the time, My lungs began to crow like chanticleer, 30 That fools should be so deep-contemplative; And I did laugh sans intermission An hour by his dial. O noble fool! A worthy fool! Motley’s the only wear. _Duke S._ What fool is this? 35 _Jaq._ O worthy fool! One that hath been a courtier, And says, if ladies be but young and fair, They have the gift to know it: and in his brain, Which is as dry as the remainder biscuit After a voyage, he hath strange places cramm’d 40 With observation, the which he vents In mangled forms. O that I were a fool! I am ambitious for a motley coat. _Duke S._ Thou shalt have one.