[DRAMATIS PERSONÆ DUKE, living in banishment. FREDERICK, his brother, and usurper of his dominions. AMIENS, JAQUES, lords attending on the banished Duke. LE BEAU, & courtier attending upon Frederick. WILLIAM, & country fellow, in love with Audrey. ROSALIND, daughter to the banished Duke. CELIA, daughter to Frederick. PHEBE, a shepherdess. AUDREY, & country wench. Lords, pages, attendants, etc. SCENE: Oliver's house; Duke Frederick's court; and the Forest of Arden.] As You Like It ACT FIRST SCENE I [Orchard of Oliver's house.] Enter Orlando and Adam. Orl. As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion: bequeathed me by will but poor a thousand crowns, and, as thou sayest, charged my brother, on his blessing, to breed me well; and there begins my sadness. My brother Jaques he keeps at school, and report speaks goldenly of his profit. For my part, he keeps me rustically at home, or, to speak more properly, stays me here at home unkept; for call you that keeping for a gentleman of my birth, that differs not from the stalling of an ox? His horses are bred better; for, besides that they are fair with their feeding, they are taught their manage, and to that end riders dearly 3 5 10 hir'd; but I, his brother, gain nothing under 15 Enter Oliver. Adam. Yonder comes my master, your brother. he will shake me up. Oli. Now, sir! what make you here? Orl. Nothing. I am not taught to make any thing. Oli. What mar you then, sir? Orl. Marry, sir, I am helping you to mar that which God made, a poor unworthy brother of Oli. Marry, sir, be better employed, and be naught awhile. 30 35 Orl. Shall I keep your hogs and eat husks with 40 them? What prodigal portion have I spent, that I should come to such penury? Oli. Know you where you are, sir? Orl. O, sir, very well; here in your orchard. 45 59 Orl. Ay, better than him I am before knows me. I know you are my eldest brother; and, in the gentle condition of blood, you should so know me. The courtesy of nations allows you my better, in that you are the first-born; but the 50 same tradition takes not away my blood, were there twenty brothers betwixt us. I have as much of my father in me as you; albeit, I confess, your coming before me is nearer to his reverence. Oli. What, boy! Orl. Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this. Oli. Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain? Orl. I am no villain; I am the youngest son of Sir Roland de Boys. He was my father, and he is thrice a villain that says such a father begot villains. Wert thou not my brother, I would not take this hand from thy throat till this other had pull'd out thy tongue for saying Thou hast rail'd on thyself. Adam. Sweet masters, be patient; So. father's remembrance, be at accord. for your 55 60 65 Orl. I will not, till I please. You shall hear me. My father charg'd you in his will to give me 70 good education. You have train'd me like a peasant, obscuring and hiding from me all gentleman-like qualities. The spirit of my father grows strong in me, and I will no longer endure it; therefore allow me such exercises as may become a gentleman, or give me the poor allottery my father left me by testament. With that I will go buy my fortunes. Oli. And what wilt thou do? Beg, when that is spent? Well, sir, get you in. I will not long be troubled with you; you shall have some part of your will. I pray you, leave me. Orl. I will no further offend you than becomes me for my good. Oli. Get you with him, you old dog. I have lost my teeth in your service. God be 75 80 85 Exeunt Orlando and Adam. Oli. Is it even so? Begin you to grow upon me? 90 I will physic your rankness, and yet give no |