As You Like It

Act IV

Scene II

William Shakespeare


The forest.

Enter JAQUES, LORDS, and FORESTERS

    JAQUES
Which is he that killed the deer?

    A 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?

    FORESTER
Yes, sir.

    JAQUES
Sing it: ’tis no matter how it be in tune, so it make noise enough.

    FORESTER    [sings]
        What shall he have that kill’d 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


As You Like It - Contents    |     Act IV - Scene III


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