Original: A fool, a fool! I met a fool i’ the forest,
Modern: A fool, a fool! I met a fool in the forest,

Original: A motley fool; a miserable world!
Modern: A jester in colorful clothes; what a wretched world!

Original: As I do live by food, I met a fool;
Modern: As sure as I need food to live, I met a fool;

Original: Who laid him down and bask’d him in the sun,
Modern: Who was lying down and warming himself in the sun,

Original: And rail’d on Lady Fortune in good terms,
Modern: And complained about Lady Luck in well-chosen words,

Original: In good set terms, and yet a motley fool.
Modern: In formal, proper language, and yet still just a jester.

Original: ‘Good morrow, fool,’ quoth I. ‘No, sir,’ quoth he,
Modern: “Good morning, fool,” I said. “No, sir,” he replied,

Original: ‘Call me not fool till heaven hath sent me fortune.’
Modern: “Don’t call me fool until heaven has given me good luck.”

Original: And then he drew a dial from his poke,
Modern: And then he pulled a sundial from his bag,

Original: And, looking on it with lack-lustre eye,
Modern: And, looking at it with a dull, lifeless stare,

Original: Says very wisely, ‘It is ten o’clock;
Modern: Says very wisely, “It is ten o’clock;

Original: Thus may we see,’ quoth he, ‘how the world wags:
Modern: This shows us,” he said, “how the world moves along:

Original: ‘Tis but an hour ago since it was nine,
Modern: It was only an hour ago that it was nine,

Original: And after one hour more ‘twill be eleven;
Modern: And after one more hour it will be eleven;

Original: And so, from hour to hour we ripe and ripe,
Modern: And so, hour by hour we grow and mature,

Original: And then from hour to hour we rot and rot,
Modern: And then hour by hour we decay and die,

Original: And thereby hangs a tale.’ When I did hear
Modern: And there’s a story in that.” When I heard

Original: The motley fool thus moral on the time,
Modern: The jester philosophize about time like this,

Original: My lungs began to crow like chanticleer,
Modern: I started laughing like a rooster crowing,

Original: That fools should be so deep-contemplative,
Modern: That fools should be so thoughtful and philosophical,

Original: And I did laugh sans intermission
Modern: And I laughed without stopping

Original: An hour by his dial. O noble fool!
Modern: For a full hour by his sundial. Oh, what a noble fool!

Original: A worthy fool! Motley’s the only wear.
Modern: A worthy fool! The jester’s colorful outfit is the only thing to wear.

Original: O worthy fool! One that hath been a courtier,
Modern: Oh, what a worthy fool! Someone who used to be a courtier,

Original: And says, if ladies be but young and fair,
Modern: And says, if ladies are young and beautiful,

Original: They have the gift to know it; and in his brain,
Modern: They have the natural ability to know it; and in his mind,

Original: Which is as dry as the remainder biscuit
Modern: Which is as dry as leftover ship’s biscuit

Original: After a voyage, he hath strange places cramm’d
Modern: After a long sea voyage, he has strange places stuffed

Original: With observation, the which he vents
Modern: With things he’s observed, which he expresses

Original: In mangled forms. O that I were a fool!
Modern: In confused, jumbled ways. Oh, how I wish I were a fool!

Original: I am ambitious for a motley coat.
Modern: I desperately want a jester’s colorful costume.

Original: It is my only suit;
Modern: It is my only request;

Original: Provided that you weed your better judgments
Modern: As long as you remove from your wise opinions

Original: Of all opinion that grows rank in them
Modern: All the corrupt ideas that have grown wild in them

Original: That I am wise. I must have liberty
Modern: That say I am wise. I must have freedom

Original: Withal, as large a charter as the wind,
Modern: As well, as much license as the wind has,

Original: To blow on whom I please; for so fools have:
Modern: To criticize whoever I want; because that’s what fools do:

Original: And they that are most galled with my folly,
Modern: And those who are most irritated by my foolish behavior,

Original: They most must laugh. And why, sir, must they so?
Modern: They’re the ones who must laugh the most. And why, sir, must they do so?

Original: The ‘why’ is plain as way to parish church:
Modern: The reason is as clear as the path to the local church:

Original: He that a fool doth very wisely hit
Modern: The person whom a fool criticizes very cleverly

Original: Doth very foolishly, although he smart,
Modern: Acts very foolishly, even though it stings,

Original: Not to seem senseless of the bob; if not,
Modern: If he doesn’t pretend to be unaware of the insult; if he doesn’t,

Original: The wise man’s folly is anatomiz’d
Modern: The wise man’s foolishness is dissected and exposed

Original: Even by the squandering glances of the fool.
Modern: Even by the casual observations of the fool.

Original: Invest me in my motley; give me leave
Modern: Dress me in a jester’s outfit; give me permission

Original: To speak my mind, and I will through and through
Modern: To speak freely, and I will completely

Original: Cleanse the foul body of th’ infected world,
Modern: Cleanse the corrupt body of this diseased world,

Original: If they will patiently receive my medicine.
Modern: If people will patiently accept my harsh but healing words.

In Act II, Scene 7 of “As You Like It,” Duke Senior and his lords are gathered in the Forest of Arden, preparing to dine. Jaques enters and reports his encounter with Touchstone the fool, whom he found in the forest. Jaques is delighted by the fool’s philosophical musings about time and morality, and he requests that Duke Senior grant him the liberty of a fool so that he might speak freely and cleanse the world of its sins through his wit. Duke Senior rebukes Jaques, arguing that those who have been most sinful themselves are least qualified to criticize others, and he warns against the cruelty that can come from satirical speech.

Orlando then bursts into the scene with his sword drawn, demanding food and threatening violence if refused. Duke Senior responds with courtesy and hospitality, inviting Orlando to join their meal. Orlando, surprised by this kindness, apologizes for his rudeness and explains that he has left his elderly servant Adam in the forest, weak from hunger and travel. Orlando departs to retrieve Adam, and while he is gone, Duke Senior reflects on how their exile has taught them about the hardships that exist throughout the world. When Orlando returns carrying Adam, the Duke welcomes them both. Jaques then delivers his famous “Seven Ages of Man” speech, describing the seven stages of human life from infancy to old age, while Orlando tends to Adam and all partake in the meal.

As You Like It follows the story of Rosalind, daughter of the banished Duke Senior, who lives at court with her cousin Celia under the rule of the usurping Duke Frederick. When the young nobleman Orlando defeats the court wrestler Charles, Rosalind and Orlando fall instantly in love. However, Duke Frederick suddenly banishes Rosalind, fearing her popularity threatens his power. Celia chooses to flee with her beloved cousin, and together they escape to the Forest of Arden where Rosalind’s father lives in exile with his loyal followers.

To ensure their safety during their journey and life in the forest, Rosalind disguises herself as a young man named Ganymede, while Celia takes the identity of a shepherdess called Aliena. Meanwhile, Orlando, having been warned by the faithful servant Adam that his jealous older brother Oliver plans to kill him, also flees to the forest. In Arden, Orlando encounters “Ganymede” and, not recognizing his beloved Rosalind, agrees to cure his lovesickness by wooing the disguised young man as if he were Rosalind herself.

The forest becomes a place of romantic confusion and resolution, populated by various couples including the melancholy Jaques, the fool Touchstone (who pursues the country wench Audrey), and the shepherdess Phebe (who falls for “Ganymede” while spurning her devoted Silvius). The play’s complications multiply when Oliver arrives in the forest, transformed by Orlando’s heroic rescue of him from a lioness, and immediately falls in love with Celia. In the final act, Rosalind orchestrates the resolution of all romantic entanglements by revealing her true identity, leading to multiple marriages. Duke Frederick experiences a religious conversion and restores his brother to power, allowing the court characters to choose between returning to civilization or remaining in the pastoral world of Arden.