As You Like It: Act 2, Scene 6 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 2, Scene 6 of As You Like It from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Orlando and Adam. ADAM Dear master, I can go no further. O, I die for food. Here lie I down and measure out my grave. Farewell, kind master. He lies down. ORLANDO Why, how now, Adam? No greater heart in thee? Live a little, comfort a little, cheer thyself a 5 little. If this uncouth forest yield anything savage, I will either be food for it or bring it for food to thee. Thy conceit is nearer death than thy powers. For my sake, be comfortable. Hold death awhile at the arm’s end. I will here be with thee presently, and if 10 I bring thee not something to eat, I will give thee leave to die. But if thou diest before I come, thou art a mocker of my labor. Well said. Thou look’st cheerly, and I’ll be with thee quickly. Yet thou liest in the bleak air. Come, I will bear thee to some 15 shelter, and thou shalt not die for lack of a dinner if there live anything in this desert. Cheerly, good Adam. They exit.	Adam, the old servant of the de Boys family, is in the forest with the young Orlando, and he's hungry and weak. He bids farewell to his master, as he must prepare his grave. Orlando tells Adam to suck it up and promises that if anything lives in this "desert," then Orlando will bring it for Adam to eat. He asks that Adam hold off on dying until later since Orlando is going to all the trouble to rustle up some food for the old man.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Orlando and Adam.

ADAM Dear master, I can go no further. O, I die for
food. Here lie I down and measure out my grave.
Farewell, kind master.

He lies down.

ORLANDO Why, how now, Adam? No greater heart in
thee? Live a little, comfort a little, cheer thyself a 5
little. If this uncouth forest yield anything savage, I
will either be food for it or bring it for food to thee.
Thy conceit is nearer death than thy powers. For my
sake, be comfortable. Hold death awhile at the
arm’s end. I will here be with thee presently, and if 10
I bring thee not something to eat, I will give thee
leave to die. But if thou diest before I come, thou art
a mocker of my labor. Well said. Thou look’st
cheerly, and I’ll be with thee quickly. Yet thou liest
in the bleak air. Come, I will bear thee to some 15
shelter, and thou shalt not die for lack of a dinner if
there live anything in this desert. Cheerly, good
Adam.

They exit.

Adam, the old servant of the de Boys family, is in the forest with the young Orlando, and he's hungry and weak. He bids farewell to his master, as he must prepare his grave.

Orlando tells Adam to suck it up and promises that if anything lives in this "desert," then Orlando will bring it for Adam to eat.

He asks that Adam hold off on dying until later since Orlando is going to all the trouble to rustle up some food for the old man.

As You Like It: Act 2, Scene 6 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 2, Scene 6 of As You Like It from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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