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28
As You Like It, II. iii

Envenoms him that bears it!

Orl. Why, what's the matter?

Adam. O unhappy youth! 16
Come not within these doors; within this roof
The enemy of all your graces lives.
Your brother,—no, no brother; yet the son,—
Yet not the son, I will not call him son 20
Of him I was about to call his father,—
Hath heard your praises, and this night he means
To burn the lodging where you use to lie,
And you within it: if he fail of that, 24
He will have other means to cut you off.
I overheard him and his practices.
This is no place; this house is but a butchery:
Abhor it, fear it, do not enter it. 28

Orl. Why, whither, Adam, wouldst thou have me go?

Adam. No matter whither, so you come not here.

Orl. What! wouldst thou have me go and beg my food?
Or with a base and boisterous sword enforce 32
A thievish living on the common road?
This I must do, or know not what to do:
Yet this I will not do, do how I can;
I rather will subject me to the malice 36
Of a diverted blood and bloody brother.

Adam. But do not so. I have five hundred crowns,
The thrifty hire I sav'd under your father,
Which I did store to be my foster-nurse 40
When service should in my old limbs lie lame,
And unregarded age in corners thrown.

15 Envenoms: proves poisonous to; cf. n.
23 use: are wont
26 practices: stratagems
27 place: residence
butchery: shambles; cf. n.
37 diverted blood; cf. n.
39 thrifty . . . sav'd: hire I thriftily saved
42 in corners thrown: (lie) cast aside