The Wisdom of a Fool (As You Like It)

Themes: As You Like It, Classical, Comedy, Shakespeare
Length: 30 Seconds
Gender: Male

[Jaques recounts his encounter with a fool in the forest, delivering his lines with a mix of amusement and philosophical insight. The setting is a sunlit glade, and Jaques’ tone is lighthearted yet contemplative, highlighting the fool’s unexpected wisdom.]

A fool, a fool! I met a fool i’ the forest,
A motley fool; a miserable world!
As I do live by food, I met a fool;
Who laid him down and bask’d him in the sun,
And rail’d on Lady Fortune in good terms,
In good set terms and yet a motley fool.
‘Good morrow, fool,’ quoth I. ‘No, sir,’ quoth he,
‘Call me not fool till heaven hath sent me fortune.’
And then he drew a dial from his poke,
And looking on it with lack-lustre eye,
Says very wisely, ‘It is ten o’clock:
Thus we may see,’ quoth he, ‘how the world wags:
‘Tis but an hour ago since it was nine,
And after one hour more ’twill be eleven;
And so, from hour to hour, we ripe and ripe,
And then, from hour to hour, we rot and rot;
And thereby hangs a tale.’