Dramatis Personæ. DUKE. merly been a fervant to the Duke. } Younger brothers to Oliver. Adam, an old servant of Sir Rowland de Boys, non following the fortunes of Orlando. Dennis, servant to Oliver. Charles, a wrestler, and servant 10 the usurping Duke Frederick. Touchstone, a clown attending on Celia and Rosalind. Corin, 2 Sylvius , fShepherds. A clown in love with Audrey. Rosalind, daughter to the Duke. Lords belonging to the two Dukes; with pages, forefiers, and other Attendants. The Scene lies, first, near Oliver's house; and afterwards, partly in the Duke's Court; and partly in the Forest of Ardin. AS A S I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion bequeath'd me by will, but a poor thousand crowns; and, as thou say'ft, charged my brother on his blessing to breed me well; and there begias 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 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 bred better; for befides that they are fair with their (7) As you l ke it.] Neither Mr. Langbaine nor Mr. Gildon acquaint us, to whom Shakespeare was indebted for any part of the fable of this play. But the characters of Oiver, Jaques, Orlando, and Adam, and i he episodes of the Wrestler and the banish'd 'Iram seem to me plainly to be borrow'd from CH AUC E R's Legend of Gamelyn in the Cook's tale. Tho' this Legend be found in many of the old MSS. of that poet, it was never printed til the last edition of his work-s, prepar’d by Mr. Urrey, came out. feeding, M 2 feeding, they are taught their manage, and to that end riders dearly hired: but I, his brother, gain nothing under him but growih; for the which his animals on his dunghills are as much bound to him as 1. Besides this nothing that he so plentifully gives me, the fome thing, that nature gave me, his countenance feems to take from ine. 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, Adom, that grieves me; and the spirit of my father, which, I think, is within me, begins to mutiny against this fervitude. I will no longer endure it, tho' yet I know no wise remedy how to avoid it. Enter Oliver. Oli. Now, Sir, what make you here? Orla. Marry, Sir, I am helping you to mar that which God made, a poor unworthy brother of yours, with idlenefs. Oli. Marry, Sir, be better employ'd, and be naught while. (2) Orla. Shall I keep your högs, and eat husks with them ? what prodigal's portion have I spent, that I "Tould conre to such penury ? z... Oli. Koow you where you are, Sir? "Orla. O, Sir, very well; here in your orchard. 12) be better employ'd, and be naught artile.) i. e. be better employ'd in my opinion, in being, and doing, nothing. Your idleness, 1..as you call it, may be an exercife, by which you may make a figure, and endear yourself to the world: and I had rather, you were a contemptible cypher. The poet seems to me to have that trite proverbial Centiment in his eye, quoted from Attilius by the younger Pliny and others; Statius eft otiosum ekë quam nibil agere. But Oliver, in the perverseness of his difpofitios, would reverse the doctrine of the proverb. Oli. Know you before whom, Sint Orla. Ay, better than he, I am before, knows mer I know, you are my eldest brother; and in the gentle condition of blood, you should fo krow. me; the cours tesy 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 betwixtrus. ] have as much of my father in me, as you ; albeit, confess your coming before me is nearer to his reverence. 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 son of Sir Rowland de Boys; he was my father, and he is thrice ai 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 fo; thou hast rail'd on. thyselfi Adam Sweet masters, be patients 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 good edacation: you have train’d me up like a pealaot; ob feuring 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 poorallottery 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 mo for my good. oli. Get you with him, you old dog. Adam. Is old dog my reward ? mot true, I have loft my teeth in your service. God be with my old master, he would not have spoke such a word. [Exe. Orlando and Adam., Oli. Is it even fo ? begin you to grow upon me? I will phyfick your rankness, and yet give no thousand crowns neither. Holla, Dennis! Inter Dennis. Den. Calls your worship? Oli. Was not Charles, the Duke's wrestler, here to fpeak with me? Den. So please you, he is here at the door, and im portunes access to you, Oli. Call him in ; 'twill be a good way; and to. morrow the wrestling is. Enter Charles, 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 whole lands and revenues enrich the new Duke, theres fore 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 coufin fo loves her, being ever from their cradles bred together, that the 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. Qli. Where will the old Duke live? Cba. They say, he is already in the forefe of Arden, and a many merry men with him; and there they live like the old Robin Hood of England; they say, many young |