These lines have been taken from a speech "As You Like It." Written by William Shakespeare.

In this speech Shakespeare has divided human life in seven ages, from birth to the last stage of man’s life. After the birth he is weak and needs the support of his mother. In the second stage, he is a school going child. In the third stage, he is a young man and false in love. In the fourth stage he becomes a soldier. In the fifth stage he a justice and becomes serious. In the sixth stage he comes old and weak. Then the last stage comes and his life ended.

STANZA NO. 1: "All the world --------------------------------------- being seven ages."

In these lines Shakespeare compares the world to a stage and says that men and women are like actors who play their roles on the stage of the world. They come to the stage of this world when they are born and leave it at their death. Every man in his lifetime plays many roles. Man’s life can be divided in to seven ages and every one of us has to play his part on the stage of the world.

STANZA NO. 2: "At first the ------------------------------------- unwillingly to school."

In these lines the poet has described the first tow stages of man’s life. At the first stage of his life man is helpless infant. He weeps and needs the help of his mother. He often feels sick and is very weak. In the second stage he is a school going boy but he is unwilling to go to school. He therefore walks very slowly to school. His face is shining due to the early morning freshness.

STANZA NO. 3: "And then the lover -------------------------- Cannon’s mouth."

In these lines Shakespeare is describing the third and fourth stages of man’s life. After childhood man enters the stage of love and romance. He falls in love. He sighs for his beloved when she ignores him. He becomes a poet and writes poems in praise of her beauty. In the fourth stage of his life he becomes a soldier. His beard likes a leopard. He is an emotional quarrel some young man who is starts fighting for the defense of his country. He is always ready to sacrifices his life in order to win fame and honour. He faces bullets in the battlefield at the risk of his life.

STANZA NO. 4: "And then ------------------------------------- plays his part."

In these lines Shakespeare has described the fifth stage of man’s life when he becomes serious. During this stage he plays the responsible role of a justice. Due to over eating and lack of exercise, he becomes bulky and has big belly. He grows a beard of formal cut and his eyes shows seriousness. He remembers the lines of modern authors.

STANZA NO. 5: "The sixth age ----------------------------- whistles in his sound."

In these lines Shakespeare has described the sixth stage of man’s life when he is in his sixties. He becomes weak and thin. And is careless about his dress. His pantaloons become loose on his body. His eyesight is weak and wears spectacles his socks are now too big for his thin legs. He has also a small bag hanging by his side. His big manly voice also changes into the shrill voice of a boy and he produces whistling sound in his speech.

STANZA NO. 6: "Last scene -------------------------------------- sans everything."

In these lines Shakespeare has described the last scene of man’s life when his eventful life comes to an end. Now he is not the strong and healthy youngman. He is now living like a child. He is entirely dependant upon others because he is without teeth, without eyes, without taste and without energy of life.

MANSOOR ALI SHAH.