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 scems to take from me he lets me feed of a brother, and with his hinds, bars me the place 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 Fonger endure it, though yet I know no wise remedy how to avoid it. Enter OLIVER. 25 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? 31 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 portion have I spent, that I should come to such penury ? Oli. Know you where you are, sir?. 40 Orta. Orla. O, sir, very well: here in your orchard. 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 reverence. Ali. What, boy! 52 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 son 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 pulled out thy tongue for saying so; thou hast rail'd on thyself. Adam. Sweet masters, be patient; for your father's remembrance, be at accord. Oli. Let me go, I say. 64 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 al low 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. Oli. Get you with him, you old dog. 80 Adam. Is old dog my reward? Most true, I have lost my teeth in your service.-God be with my old master, he would not have spoke such a word. [Exeunt ORLANDO, and ADAM. Oli. Is it even so? begin you to grow upon me? I will physick your rankness, and yet give 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? go Den. So please you, he is here at the door, and importunes access to you. Oli. Call him in.—[Exit DENNIS.] 'Twill be a good way; and to-morrow the wrestling is. Enter CHARLES. Cha. Good-morrow to your worship. Oli. Good monsieur 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 loving lords have put themselves into voluntary exile with him, whose lands and revenues énrich the new duke, therefore he gives them good leave to wan der. 104 Oli: Can you tell, if Rosalind, the old duke's daughter, be banish'd with her father? She is at the than his own Cha. O, no; for the new duke's daughter, her cousin, so loves her, being ever from their cradles bred together, that she would have followed her exile, or have died to stay behind her. court, and no less beloved of her uncle daughter; and never two ladies loved as they do. i Oli. Where will the old duke live? 113 Cha. 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? 120 Cha. Marry, do I, sir; and I came to acquaint you with a matter. I am given, sir, secretly to understand, that your younger brother Orlando hath a dis position to come in disguis'd against me to try a fall: To-morrow, sir, I wrestle for my credit; and he that escapes Biij escapes me without some broken 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: therefore, out of my love to you, I came hither to acquaint you withal; that either you might stay him from his intendment, or brook such disgrace well as he shall run into; in that it is a thing of his own search, and altogether against my will. 134 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 underhand means laboured to dissuade him from it; but he is resolute. I'll tell thee, Charles,— it is the stubbornest young fellow of France; full of ambition, an envious emulator of every man's good parts, a secret and villainous 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 villainous 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 must look pale and wonder. 155 Cha. |