Adam.
Orlando.
As I remember, Adam, it was† note bequeathed me by
will, but a poor thousand crowns; and, as thou
say'st, 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 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 hired: but I, his brother,
-- 78 --
gain nothing under him but growth, for the which,
his animals on his dunghills are as much bound to
him, as I. Besides this nothing, that he so plentifully
gives me, the something that nature gave me,
his countenance 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 grieves
me; and the spirit of my father, which I think is
within me, begins to mutiny against this servitude.
I will no longer endure it; though yet I know no wise
remedy how to avoid it.
Enter Oliver.
Adam.
Yonder comes my master, your brother.
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 Heav'n made; a poor unworthy brother of
yours, with idleness.
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 so know me: the courtesy
of nations allows you my better, in that you are
the first born; but the 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 revenue.
Oli.
What, boy!
Orla.
Come, come, elder brother, you are too
young in this.
Oli.
Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain?
-- 79 --
Orla.
I am no villain: I am the youngest son of Sir
Rowland de Bois; 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 so.
Thou hast rail'd on thy self.* note
Adam.
Sweet masters, be patient; for your father's
remembrance, be at accord.
Oli.
Let me go, I say.
Orla.
I will not, 'till I please: you shall hear me.
My father charg'd you in his will, to give me a 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
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.
Orla.
I will no further offend you, than becomes
me for my good.† note
Oli.
Get you with him, you old dog.
Adam.
Is old dog my reward? Most true, I have
lost my teeth in your service. Heav'n be with my old
master, he would not have spoke such a word.&verbar2; note
[Exeunt Orlando and Adam.
-- 80 --
Oli.
Is it even so? begin you to grow upon me?
I will physic your rankness, and yet give you no
thousand crowns neither. Holla, Dennis!
Enter Dennis.
Den.
Calls your worship?
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 tomorrow
the wrestling is.
Enter Charles.
Char.
Good-morrow to your worship.
Oli.
Good monsieur Charles, what's the new news
at the new court?
Char.
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 loving 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 Rosalind, the duke's daughter,
be banish'd with her father?
Char.
O, no; for the duke's daughter, her cousin,
so loves her, being ever from their cradles bred together,
that she would have follow'd her exile, or
have died to stay behind her. She is at the court, and
no less belov'd of her uncle, than his own daughter
and never two ladies lov'd, as they do.
Oli.
Where will the old duke live?
Char.
They say he is already in the forest of Arden,
and a many merry men with him; and there they live
like the old Robin Hood of England: they say 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?
-- 81 --
Char.
Marry do I, sir, and I come to acquaint you
with a matter. I am given, sir, secretly to understand,
that your younger brother Orlando, hath a disposition
to come in, disguis'd, against me, to try a fall.
To-morrow, sir, I wrestle for my credit, and he that
escapes me without some brokem limb, shall acquit
him well. Your brother is but young and tender,
and for your love, I would be loth to foil him, as I
must, for mine own honour, if he come in.
Oli.
Charles, I thank thee for thy love to me, which
thou shalt find I will most kindly requite. I had, myself
notice of my brother's purpose herein, and have,
by under-hand means, labour'd to dissuade him from
it; but he is resolute. I tell thee, Charles, he is the
stubbornest young fellow of France; full of ambition,
an envious emulator of every man's good parts; a
secret, and villanous contriver against me, his natural
brother: therefore, use thy discretion; I had as lief
thou didst break his neck, as his finger. And thou wert
best look to't; for if thou dost him any slight disgrace,
or if he do not mightily grace himself on thee, he will
practise against thee by poison, entrap thee by some
treacherous device; and never leave thee 'till he hath
ta'en thy life, by some indirect means or other: for I
assure thee, (and almost with tears I speak it) there is
not one so young and so villanous, this day living.
I speak but brotherly of him; but should I anatomize
him to thee as he is, I must blush, and weep, and thou
look pale, and wonder.
Char.
I am heartily glad I came hither to you. If
he come, to-morrow, I'll give him his payment. If
ever he go alone again, I'll never wrestle for prize
more; and so Heav'n keep your worship.
[Exit.
Oli.
Farewel, good Charles. I hope I shall see an end
of him; for my soul, yet I know not why, hates nothing
more than him. Yet he's gentle, never school'd,
and yet learned, full of noble device, of all sorts enchantingly
belov'd; and indeed so much in the heart
of the world, and especially of my own people, who
best know him, that I am altogether misprised. But
-- 82 --
it shall not be so, long; this wrestler shall clear all
Nothing remains, but that I kindle the boy thither
which now I'll go about.
[Exit
John Bell [1774], Bell's Edition of Shakespeare's Plays, As they are now performed at the Theatres Royal in London; Regulated from the Prompt Books of each House By Permission; with Notes Critical and Illustrative; By the Authors of the Dramatic Censor (Printed for John Bell... and C. Etherington [etc.], York) [word count] [S10401].
