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As You Like It · c. 1599

Act IV, Scene 2

by William Shakespeare 1564-1616


[Another part of the Forest.]

[Enter Jaques and Lords, like foresters.]

JAQUES.
Which is he that killed the deer?

FIRST LORD.
Sir, it was I.

JAQUES.
Let's present him to the Duke, like a Roman conqueror, and it would do
well to set the deer's horns upon his head for a branch of victory.
Have you no song, forester, for this purpose?

SECOND LORD.
Yes, sir.

JAQUES.
Sing it. 'Tis no matter how it be in tune, so it make noise enough.

SONG

SECOND LORD.
[Sings.]
What shall he have that killed the deer?
His leather skin and horns to wear.
Then sing him home:
[The rest shall bear this burden.]
Take thou no scorn to wear the horn.
It was a crest ere thou wast born.
Thy father's father wore it
And thy father bore it.
The horn, the horn, the lusty horn
Is not a thing to laugh to scorn.

[Exeunt.]

MLA

Shakespeare, William. As You Like It, Act IV, Scene 2. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/work/as-you-like-it-shakespeare/17/.

Chicago

Shakespeare, William. As You Like It, Act IV, Scene 2. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/work/as-you-like-it-shakespeare/17/.

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