William Shakespeare: As You Like It

ACT II. 5. SCENE V. Another part of the forest. (continued)

JAQUES.
I'll give you a verse to this note that I made
yesterday in despite of my invention.

AMIENS.
And I'll sing it.

JAQUES.
Thus it goes:

    If it do come to pass
    That any man turn ass,
    Leaving his wealth and ease
    A stubborn will to please,
 Ducdame, ducdame, ducdame;
    Here shall he see
    Gross fools as he,
 An if he will come to Ami.

AMIENS.
What's that 'ducdame'?

JAQUES.
'Tis a Greek invocation, to call fools into a circle. I'll
go sleep, if I can; if I cannot, I'll rail against all the
first-born of Egypt.

AMIENS.
And I'll go seek the duke; his banquet is prepared.

[Exeunt severally.]