185
As you Like it.
Actus primus, Scæna prima.
Enter Orlando and Adam.
Orlando.
S I remember Adam, it was vpon this fashion
bequeathed me by will, but poore a thousand
Crownes, and as thou saist, charged my brother
on his blessing to breed mee well: and
there begins my sadnesse: My brother Iaques he keepes
at schoole, and report speakes goldenly of his profit:
for my part, he keepes me rustically at home, or (to speak
more properly) staies me heere at home vnkept: for call
you that keeping for a gentleman of my birth, that differs
not from the stalling of an Oxe? his horses are bred
better, for besides that they are faire with their feeding,
they are taught their mannage, and to that end Riders
deerely hir’d: but I (his brother) gaine nothing vnder
him but growth, for the which his Animals on his
dunghils are as much bound to him as I: besides this nothing
that he so plentifully giues me, the something that
nature gaue mee, his countenance seemes to take from
me: hee lets mee feede with his Hindes, barres mee the
place of a brother, and as much as in him lies, mines my
gentility with my education. This is it Adam that
grieues me, and the spirit of my Father, which I thinke
is within mee, begins to mutinie against this seruitude.
I will no longer endure it, though yet I know no wise
remedy how to auoid it.
S I remember Adam, it was vpon this fashionbequeathed me by will, but poore a thousand
Crownes, and as thou saist, charged my brother
on his blessing to breed mee well: and
there begins my sadnesse: My brother Iaques he keepes
at schoole, and report speakes goldenly of his profit:
for my part, he keepes me rustically at home, or (to speak
more properly) staies me heere at home vnkept: for call
you that keeping for a gentleman of my birth, that differs
not from the stalling of an Oxe? his horses are bred
better, for besides that they are faire with their feeding,
they are taught their mannage, and to that end Riders
deerely hir’d: but I (his brother) gaine nothing vnder
him but growth, for the which his Animals on his
dunghils are as much bound to him as I: besides this nothing
that he so plentifully giues me, the something that
nature gaue mee, his countenance seemes to take from
me: hee lets mee feede with his Hindes, barres mee the
place of a brother, and as much as in him lies, mines my
gentility with my education. This is it Adam that
grieues me, and the spirit of my Father, which I thinke
is within mee, begins to mutinie against this seruitude.
I will no longer endure it, though yet I know no wise
remedy how to auoid it.
Enter Oliuer.
Adam.
Yonder comes my Master, your brother.
Yonder comes my Master, your brother.
Orlan.
Goe a-part Adam, and thou shalt heare how
he will shake me vp.
Goe a-part Adam, and thou shalt heare how
he will shake me vp.
Oli.
Now Sir, what make you heere?
Now Sir, what make you heere?
Orl. Nothing: I am not taught to make any thing.
Oli.
What mar you then sir?
What mar you then sir?
Orl.
Marry sir, I am helping you to mar that which
God made, a poore vnworthy brother of yours with
idlenesse
Marry sir, I am helping you to mar that which
God made, a poore vnworthy brother of yours with
idlenesse
Oliuer.
Marry sir be better employed, and be naught a while.
Marry sir be better employed, and be naught a while.
Orlan.
Shall I keepe your hogs, and eat huskes with
them? what prodigall portion haue I spent, that I should
come to such penury?
Shall I keepe your hogs, and eat huskes with
them? what prodigall portion haue I spent, that I should
come to such penury?
Oli.
Know you where you are sir?
Know you where you are sir?
Orl.
O sir, very well: heere in your Orchard.
O sir, very well: heere in your Orchard.
Oli.
Know you before whom sir?
Know you before whom sir?
Orl.
I, better then him I am before knowes mee: I
know you are my eldest brother, and in the gentle condition
of bloud you should so know me: the courtesie of
nations allowes you my better, in that you are the first
borne, but the same tradition takes not away my bloud,
were there twenty brothers betwixt vs: I haue as much
of my father in mee, as you, albeit I confesse your comming
before me is neerer to his reuerence.
I, better then him I am before knowes mee: I
know you are my eldest brother, and in the gentle condition
of bloud you should so know me: the courtesie of
nations allowes you my better, in that you are the first
borne, but the same tradition takes not away my bloud,
were there twenty brothers betwixt vs: I haue as much
of my father in mee, as you, albeit I confesse your comming
before me is neerer to his reuerence.
Oli.
What Boy.
What Boy.
Orl.
Come, come elder brother, you are too yong in this.
Come, come elder brother, you are too yong in this.
Oli.
Wilt thou lay hands on me villaine?
Wilt thou lay hands on me villaine?
Orl.
I am no villaine: I am the yongest sonne of Sir
Rowland de Boys, he was my father, and he is thrice a villaine
that saies such a father begot villaines: wert thou
not my brother, I would not take this hand from thy
throat, till this other had puld out thy tongue for saying
so, thou hast raild on thy selfe.
I am no villaine: I am the yongest sonne of Sir
Rowland de Boys, he was my father, and he is thrice a villaine
that saies such a father begot villaines: wert thou
not my brother, I would not take this hand from thy
throat, till this other had puld out thy tongue for saying
so, thou hast raild on thy selfe.
Adam.
Sweet Masters bee patient, for your Fathers
remembrance, be at accord.
Sweet Masters bee patient, for your Fathers
remembrance, be at accord.
Oli.
Let me goe I say.
Let me goe I say.
Orl.
I will not till I please: you shall heare mee: my
father charg’d you in his will to giue me good education:
you haue train’d me like a pezant, obscuring and
hiding from me all gentleman-like qualities: the spirit
of my father growes strong in mee, and I will no longer
endure it: therefore allow me such exercises as may become
a gentleman, or giue mee the poore allottery my
father left me by testament, with that I will goe buy my
fortunes.
I will not till I please: you shall heare mee: my
father charg’d you in his will to giue me good education:
you haue train’d me like a pezant, obscuring and
hiding from me all gentleman-like qualities: the spirit
of my father growes strong in mee, and I will no longer
endure it: therefore allow me such exercises as may become
a gentleman, or giue mee the poore allottery my
father left me by testament, with that I will goe 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 haue some part of your will, I pray you
leaue me.
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 haue some part of your will, I pray you
leaue me.
Orl.
I will no further offend you, then becomes mee for my good.
I will no further offend you, then becomes mee for my good.
Oli.
Get you with him, you olde dogge.
Get you with him, you olde dogge.
Adam.
Is old dogge my reward: most true, I haue
lost my teeth in your seruice: God be with my olde master,
Ex. Orl. Ad.he would not haue spoke such a word.
Is old dogge my reward: most true, I haue
lost my teeth in your seruice: God be with my olde master,
Ex. Orl. Ad.he would not haue spoke such a word.
Oli.
Is it euen so, begin you to grow vpon me? I will
physicke your ranckenesse, and yet giue no thousand
crownes neyther: holla Dennis.
Is it euen so, begin you to grow vpon me? I will
physicke your ranckenesse, and yet giue no thousand
crownes neyther: holla Dennis.
Enter Dennis.
Den.
Calls your worship?
Calls your worship?
Oli.
Was not Charles the Dukes Wrastler heere to speake with me?
Was not Charles the Dukes Wrastler heere to speake with me?
Den.
So please you, he is heere at the doore, and importunes
accesse to you.
So please you, he is heere at the doore, and importunes
accesse to you.
Oli.
Call him in:’twill be a good way: and to morrow
the wrastling is.
Call him in:’twill be a good way: and to morrow
the wrastling is.
Enter Charles.
Cha.
Good morrow to your worship.
Good morrow to your worship.
Oli.
Good Mounsier Charles: what’s the new newes
at the new Court?
Good Mounsier Charles: what’s the new newes
at the new Court?
Charles.
There’s no newes at the Court Sir, but the
olde newes: that is, the old Duke is banished by his yonger
brother the new Duke, and three or foure louing
There’s no newes at the Court Sir, but the
olde newes: that is, the old Duke is banished by his yonger
brother the new Duke, and three or foure louing
Lords
