As you Like it
Actus primus. Scoena Prima.
Enter Orlando and Adam.
Orlando. As I remember Adam, it was vpon this fashionbequeathed me by will, but poore a thousandCrownes, and as thou saist, charged my brotheron his blessing to breed mee well: andthere begins my sadnesse: My brother Iaques he keepesat schoole, and report speakes goldenly of his profit:for my part, he keepes me rustically at home, or (to speakmore properly) staies me heere at home vnkept: for callyou that keeping for a gentleman of my birth, that differsnot from the stalling of an Oxe? his horses are bredbetter, for besides that they are faire with their feeding,they are taught their mannage, and to that end Ridersdeerely hir'd: but I (his brother) gaine nothing vnderhim but growth, for the which his Animals on hisdunghils are as much bound to him as I: besides this nothingthat he so plentifully giues me, the something thatnature gaue mee, his countenance seemes to take fromme: hee lets mee feede with his Hindes, barres mee theplace of a brother, and as much as in him lies, mines mygentility with my education. This is it Adam thatgrieues me, and the spirit of my Father, which I thinkeis within mee, begins to mutinie against this seruitude.I will no longer endure it, though yet I know no wiseremedy how to auoid it.Enter Oliuer.
Adam. Yonder comes my Master, your brother
Orlan. Goe a-part Adam, and thou shalt heare how
he will shake me vp
Oli. Now Sir, what make you heere?
Orl. Nothing: I am not taught to make any thing
Oli. 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
Oliuer. 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?
Oli. Know you where you are sir?
Orl. O sir, very well: heere in your Orchard
Oli. Know you before whom sir? Orl. I, better then him I am before knowes mee: Iknow you are my eldest brother, and in the gentle conditionof bloud you should so know me: the courtesie ofnations allowes you my better, in that you are the firstborne, but the same tradition takes not away my bloud,were there twenty brothers betwixt vs: I haue as muchof my father in mee, as you, albeit I confesse your commingbefore me is neerer to his reuerence
Oli. What Boy
Orl. Come, come elder brother, you are too yong in this
Oli. Wilt thou lay hands on me villaine? Orl. I am no villaine: I am the yongest sonne of SirRowland de Boys, he was my father, and he is thrice a villainethat saies such a father begot villaines: wert thounot my brother, I would not take this hand from thythroat, till this other had puld out thy tongue for sayingso, thou hast raild on thy selfe
Adam. Sweet Masters bee patient, for your Fathersremembrance, be at accord
Oli. Let me goe I say
Orl. I will not till I please: you shall heare mee: myfather charg'd you in his will to giue me good education:you haue train'd me like a pezant, obscuring andhiding from me all gentleman-like qualities: the spiritof my father growes strong in mee, and I will no longerendure it: therefore allow me such exercises as may becomea gentleman, or giue mee the poore allottery myfather left me by testament, with that I will goe buy my