Page:As You Like It (1919) Yale.djvu/48

36 Ducdame, ducdame, ducdame:

Here shall he see

Gross fools as he,

An if he will come to me.'

Ami. What's that ducdame?

Jaq. '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.

Ami. And I'll go seek the duke: his banquet

is prepared.

Adam. Dear master, I can go no further: O!

I die for food. Here lie I down, and measure

out my grave. Farewell, kind master.

Orl. Why, how now, Adam! no greater heart

in thee? Live a little; comfort a little; cheer

thyself a little. If this uncouth forest yield any-

thing savage, I will either be food for it, or bring

it for food to thee. Thy conceit is nearer death

than thy powers. For my sake be comfortable,

hold death awhile at the arm's end, I will here

be with thee presently, and if I bring thee not

something to eat, I will give thee leave to die;

but if thou diest before I come, thou art a

mocker of my labour. Well said! thou lookest

cheerly, and I'll be with thee quickly. Yet thou

 54 Ducdame; cf. n.

59 fools circle: i.e., as if by conjuring

61 first-born of Egypt; cf. n.

 5 comfort: take comfort

8 conceit: imagination

9 comfortable: cheerful

11 presently: immediately 