As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 5

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.

Under the forest tree, whoever likes to lie beside me and tune his cheerful singing to the sweet bird's song, come here, come here, come here! Here he will meet no enemy but winter and harsh weather.

More, more, I prithee, more.

More, more, please, more.

It will make you melancholy, Monsieur Jaques.

It will make you sad, Monsieur 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.

I'm grateful for that. More, please, more. I can suck sadness out of a song the way a weasel sucks eggs. More, please, more.

My voice is ragged. I know I cannot please you.

My voice is rough. I know I can't please you.

I do not desire you to please me; I do desire you to sing. Come, more, another stanzo. Call you ’em stanzos?

I'm not asking you to please me; I am asking you to sing. Come on, more, another stanzo. Do you call them stanzos?

What you will, Monsieur Jaques.

Whatever you like, Monsieur Jaques.

Nay, I care not for their names. They owe me nothing. Will you sing?

No, I don't care about their names. They don't owe me anything. Will you sing?

More at your request than to please myself.

More because you ask than to please myself.

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.

Well then, if I ever thank any man, I'll thank you; but what people call polite courtesy is like the meeting of two baboons. And when a man thanks me warmly, it seems to me I've given him a penny and he pays me back with a beggar's thanks. Come, sing; and those of you who won't, keep quiet.

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.

All right, I'll finish the song.—Gentlemen, lay the table meanwhile. The Duke will drink under this tree; he has been out all day looking for you.

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.

And I have been out all day avoiding him. He argues too much for my liking. I think about as many subjects as he does, but I thank heaven for them and don't boast about them. Come, sing, come.

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.

Whoever avoids ambition and likes to live in the sunshine, hunting for the food he eats and satisfied with what he gets, come here, come here, come here. Here he will meet no enemy but winter and harsh weather.

I’ll give you a verse to this note that I made yesterday in despite of my invention.

I'll give you a verse for this tune that I made up yesterday, in spite of my own imagination.

And I’ll sing it.

And I'll sing it.

Thus it goes:

It goes like this:

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.

If it happens that any man turns into a donkey, giving up his wealth and comfort to satisfy a stubborn whim, Ducdame, ducdame, ducdame; here he will see thorough fools like himself, if he will come to me.

What’s that “ducdame?”

What does that "ducdame" mean?

’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.

It's a Greek magic formula for calling fools into a circle. I'll go and sleep if I can; if I can't, I'll curse all the first-born of Egypt.

And I’ll go seek the Duke; his banquet is prepared.

And I'll go and find the Duke; his meal is ready.