A powerful and resonant recital of William Shakespeare’s iconic monologue, "The Seven Ages of Man" (also known as "All the world's a stage"), elegantly read by voice actor James Smillie. Sourced from the comedic masterpiece As You Like It (Act II, Scene VII), this classic piece of philosophical literature serves as a deep and timeless reflection on human existence. The monologue masterfully deconstructs human life into seven sequential stages, tracing an individual's evolutionary journey from a helpless infant and a reluctant schoolboy, to an intense lover, a volatile soldier, a dignified justice, a fragile aging pantaloon, and finally, a return to absolute dependency in second childishness.
All the world's a stage, and all the men and women, they have their exits and their entrances.
And one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
mewling and puking in the nurse's arms. Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel and
shining morning face, creeping like snail into school. And then the lover, sighing like furnace
with a woeful ballad made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier, full of strange oaths
and bearded like the pard, jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, seeking the bubble
reputation. And then the justice, in fair round belly with good cape on line, with eyes severe
and beard of formal cut, full of wise sores and modern instances. And so he plays his part.
The sixth age shifts into the lean and slippered pantaloon, with spectacles on nose and pouch
on side, his youthful hose well-saved, world too wide for his shrunk ch, and his big manly voice,
turning again toward childish treble, pipes and whistles in his sound. Last scene of all
that ends this strange eventful history is second childishness and mere oblivion.
Sans t, sans i, sans t, sans t.
