The 30-Minute Shakespeare Anthology. William Shakespeare

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СКАЧАТЬ coming downstage left.

      As NARRATOR introduces the roles, players enter from designated sides of the stage, cross in character, and exit the opposite side of the stage.

       NARRATOR

       In the Forest of Arden, Duke Senior and his exiled lords make the best of their life in the woods, where they meet Orlando, who himself has been cast out by his older brother Oliver.

      Exit NARRATOR stage left.

      SOUND OPERATOR plays Sound Cue #2 (“Forest music”).

      Enter DUKE SENIOR, AMIENS, and two or three LORDS, like foresters.

       DUKE SENIOR

       Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile,

       Hath not old custom made this life more sweet

       Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods

       More free from peril than the envious court?

       Here feel we not the penalty of Adam,

       The seasons’ difference, as the icy fang

       And churlish chiding of the winter’s wind,

       Which when it bites and blows upon my body

       Even till I shrink with cold, I smile and say

       “This is no flattery. These are counselors

       That feelingly persuade me what I am.”

       Sweet are the uses of adversity,

       Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,

       Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.

       And this our life, exempt from public haunt,

       Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,

       Sermons in stones, and good in everything.

      AMIENS (admiringly)

       Happy is your grace,

       That can translate the stubbornness of fortune

       Into so quiet and so sweet a style.

      They sit down to eat, pulling out fruit and bread from their packs.

      Enter JAQUES from stage left.

       DUKE SENIOR

       Why, how now, Monsieur Jaques! (surprised at JAQUES’S happy demeanor)

       What, you look merrily!

       JAQUES

       A fool, a fool! I met a fool i’ the forest,

       A motley fool; (begins to prance about merrily, then stops sadly) a miserable world!

       (drops to his knees) O that I were a fool!

       (kneels and faces AMIENS, desperate to make his point)

       I must have liberty as the wind,

       To blow on whom I please; for so fools have; (blows on AMIENS, who holds his nose and recoils)

       But who comes here? (stands and backs up a few paces to observe)

      Enter ORLANDO from stage left, in a slight panic, sword drawn.

       ORLANDO

       Forbear, and eat no more.

      JAQUES (noticing that the others have food and he doesn’t)

       Why, I have eat none yet.

      DUKE SENIOR (polite but cautious)

       What would you have?

      ORLANDO (still threatening)

       I almost die for food; and let me have it.

      DUKE SENIOR (graciously gesturing)

       Sit down and feed, and welcome to our table.

       ORLANDO

       Speak you so gently? (humbly on one knee, bows)

       Pardon me, I pray you:

       I thought that all things had been savage here;

       (sincerely and sadly) If ever you have look’d on better days,

       If ever from your eyelids wiped a tear

       Let gentleness my strong enforcement be:

       In the which hope I blush, and hide my sword.

       (puts his sword back in sheath)

       DUKE SENIOR

       True is it that we have seen better days.

       ORLANDO

       Then but forbear your food a little while,

       Whiles, like a doe, I go to find my fawn.

      Exit ORLANDO stage right.

      DUKE SENIOR (to JAQUES)

       Thou seest we are not all alone unhappy:

       This wide and universal theatre

       Presents more woeful pageants than the scene

       Wherein we play in.

      JAQUES (pauses)

       All the world’s a stage,

       And all the men and women merely players: (walks stage right)

       They have their exits and their entrances;

       And one man in his time plays many parts,

       Last scene of all,

       That ends this strange eventful history,

       Is second childishness and mere oblivion,

       СКАЧАТЬ