DUKE. Dramatis Perfonæ. Frederick, Brother to the Duke, and ufurper of his duke dom. Amiens, Jaquens, } Lords attending upon the Duke in his banish ment. Le Beu, a courtier attending on Frederick. Oliver, eldest fon to Sir Rowland de Boys, who kad formerly been a fervant to the Duke. Jaques, } Younger brothers to Orlando. Oliver. Adam, an old feruant of Sir Rowland de Boys, now following the fortunes of Orlando. Dennis, fervant to Oliver. Charles, a wrestler, and fervant to the ufurping Duke Frederick. Touchstone, a clown attending on Celia and Rofalind. Sorinus, Shepherds. A Clown, in love with Audrey. William, another clown, in love with Audrey. Rofalind, Daughter to the Duke. Phebe, a shepherdess. Audrey, a country wench. Lords belonging to the two Dukes; with pages, foresters, and other attendants. The SCENE lies, first, near Oliver's house; and, afterwards, partly in the Duke's Court; and partly in the Foreft of Arden. AS YOU LIKE IT. A ACT I. SCENE I. SI Enter Orlando and Adam. ORLANDO. remember, Adam, it was upon this my Father bequeath'd me by Will, but a poor thousand crowns; and, as thou say'st, charged my brother on his Bleffing to breed me well; and there begins my fadness. My brother Jaques he keeps at school, and report speaks goldenly of his profit; for my part, he keeps me ruftically at home; (or, to speak more proproperly) stys 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 bread better; for befides that they are fair with their feeding, they are taught their manage, and to that end riders dearly hired: but I, his brother, gain nothing under him but growth; for the which his animals on his dunghills are as much bound to him as I. Befides this Nothing that he so plentifully gives me, the Something, that Nature gave me, *his discountenance seems to take from me. He lets me feed with his hinds, bars me the place of a brother, and, as much as in him lies, mines my gentility with my education. This is it, Adam, that grives me; and the Spirit of * his countenance feems to take from me.] We should certainly read his discountenance. my my father, which, I think, is within me, begins to mutiny against this servitude. I will no longer endure it, tho' yet I know no wife remedy how to avoid it. Orla. Go apart, Adam, and thou shalt hear how he will shake me up. Oli. Now, Sir, what make you here? Orla. Nothing: I am not taught to make any thing. Oli. What mar you then, Sir? Orla. Marry, Sir, I am helping you to mar That which God made; a poor unworthy brother of yours, with idleness. Oli. Marry, Sir, be better employ'd, and be nought a while. Orla. Shall I keep your hogs, and eat husks with them? what Prodigal's portion have I fpent, that I should come to such penury? Oli. Know you where you are, Sir ! Orla. O, Sir, very well; here in your Orchard. Oli. Know you before whom, Sir? Orla. Ay, better than he, I am before, knows me. I know, you are my eldest brother: and in the gentle condition of blood, you should fo know me; the courtesy of nations allows you my better, in that you are the first-born; but the fame 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 confefs your coming before me is nearer to his revenue. Oli. What, boy! Orla. Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this. > Oli. Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain? Orla. I am no villain: I am the youngest fon of Sir Rowland 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'dout thy tongue for saying fo; thou hast rail'd on thyself. Adam. Sweet masters, be patient; for your father's remembrance, be at accord. Oli. Let me go, I fay. Orla. I will not, 'till I please: you shall hear me. My father charg'd you in his Will to give me good education: you have train'd me up 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 fuch 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 fome part of your will. I pray you, leave me. Orla. I will no further offend you, than becomes me for my good. Oli. Get you with him, you old dog. Adam. Is old dog my reward? moft true, I have loft my teeth in your service. God be with my old mafter, he would not have spoke such a word. Oli. [Exeunt Orlando and Adam. SCENE III. Is it even fo? begin you to grow upon me? - I will phyfic your rankness, and yet give no thousand crowns neither. Holla, Dennis! Enter Dennis. B Den. Calls your Worship? Oli. Oli. Was not Charles, the Duke's wrestler, here to speak with me? Den. So please you, he is here at the door, and importunes access to you. Oli. Call him in;-'twill be a good way; and to morrow the wrestling is. Enter Charles. Cha. Good morrow to your Worship. Oli. Good Monfieur Charles, what's the new news at the new Court? Cha. There's no news at the Court, Sir, but the old news; that is, the old Duke is banish'd by his younger brother the new Duke, and three or four lov. ing lords have put themselves into voluntary exile with him; whose lands and revenues enrich the new Duke, therefore he gives them good leave to wander. Oli. Can you tell, if Rofalind, the Duke's daughter, be banish'd with her father? Cha. O, no; *for the new Duke's daughter her cousin so loves her, being ever from their cradle bred together, that she would have followed her exile, or have died to stay behind her. She is at the Court, and no less beloved of her uncle than his own daughter; and never two ladies loved, as they do. Oli. Where will the old Duke live? Cha. They say, he is already in the foreft of Arden, and a many merry men with him; and there they live like the old Robin Hood of England; they fay, many young gentlemen flock to him every day, and fleet the time carelesly, as they did in the golden world. Oli. What, you wrestle to-morrow before the new Duke? Cha. Marry, do I, Sir; and I came to acquaint you with a matter. I am given, Sir, fecretly to un derstand, that your younger brother Orlando hath a * for the Duke's daughter her coufon] read, the new Duke's. |