All the world’s a stage, 146 And all the men and women merely players.
JAQUES
All the world’s a stage, 146
And all the men and women merely players. 147
They have their exits and their entrances, 148
And one man in his time plays many parts, 149
His acts being seven ages . At first the infant, 150
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms. 151
Then the whining schoolboy with his satchel 152
And shining morning face, creeping like snail 153
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, 154
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad 155
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier, 156
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard , 157
Jealous in honor , sudden and quick in quarrel, 158
Seeking the bubble reputation 159
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice , 160
In fair round belly with good capon lined, 161
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, 162
Full of wise saws and modern instances; 163
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts 164
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon 165
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, 166
His youthful hose , well saved, a world too wide 167
For his shrunk shank , and his big manly voice, 168
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes 169
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, 170
That ends this strange eventful history , 171
Is second childishness and mere oblivion , 172
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. 173
Enter Orlando, < carrying > Adam.
