The SCENE lies, first, near Oliver's houfe; and, afterwards, partly, in the Duke's court, and partly in the foreft of Arden.

Orla.

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I. SCENE I.

Oliver's orchard.

Enter Orlando and Adam.

SI remember, Adam, it was upon this my father bequeath'd me by will but a poor thoufand crowns; and, as thou fay'ft, charged my brother on his blessing to breed me well; and there begins my fadnefs. My Brother Jaques he keeps at fchool, and report fpeaks goldenly of his profit; for my part, he keeps me ruftically at home; or, to speak more properly, ftys me here at home, unkept; for call you that keeping for a gentleVOL. II. Τ

man, of my birth, that differs not from the falling of an ox? His horfes are bred better; for besides that they are fair with their feeding, they are taught their manage, and to that end riders dearly hired: but I, his brother, gain nothing under him but growth; for the which his animals on his dunghills are as much bound to him as I. Befides this nothing that he fo plentifully gives me, the fomething that nature gavė me, his discountenance feems to take from me. lets me feed with his hinds, bars me the place of a bro-. ther, and, as much as in him lies, mines my gentility with my education. This is it, Adam, that grieves me; and the fpirit 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 wife remedy how to avoid it.

SCENE II. Enter Oliver.

He

Adam. Yonder comes my mafter, your brother. Orla. Go apart, Adam, and thou fhalt hear how he will fhake me up.

Oli. Now, Sir, what make you here?

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 your's, with idlenefs.

Oli. Marry, Sir, be better employ'd, and be nought a while.

Orla. Shall I keep your hogs, and eat hufks with them? What prodigal's portion have I fpent, that I fhould come to fuch penury?

Oli. Know you where you are, Sir!

Orla. O, Sir, very well; here in your orchard.

Oli. Know you before whom, Sir?

Orla. Ay, better than he I am before, knows me. I know, you are my eldeft brother; and, in the gentle condition of blood, you should fo know me: the courtefy of nations allows you my better, in that you are the firft-born; but the fame 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 confefs your coming before me is nearer to his revenue. 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 fon of Sir Rowland de Boys; he was my father, and he is thrice a villain that fays, fuch 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 faying fo; thou haft rail'd on thyself.

Adam. Sweet maflers, be patient; for your father's remembrance, be at accord.

Oli. Let me go, I fay.

Orla. I will not, till I pleafe; you fhall hear me, My father charg'd you in his will to give me good education: you have train'd me up like a peafant, obfcuring and hiding from me all gentleman-like qualities; the fpirit of my father grows ftrong in me, and I will no longer endure it: therefore allow me fuch exercifes as may become a gentleman; or give me the poor allottery my father left me by teftament; with that I will go buy my fortunes.

Oli. And what wilt thou do? beg, when that is fpent? well, Sir, get you in. I will not long be troubled with you: you fall have fome 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.

Adam. Is old dog my reward? moft true, I have loft my teeth in your fervice. God be with my old mafler, he would not have fpoke fuch a word.

[Exeunt Orlando and Adam.

SCENE III.

Oli. Is it even fo? begin you to grow upon me? I will phyfic your ranknefs, and yet give no thoufandi crowns neither. Holla, Dennis !

Enter Dennis.

Den. Calls your Worship?

Oli. Was not Charles, the Duke's wreftler, here to fpeak with me?

Den. So pleafe you, he is here at the door, and importunes accefs to you.

Oli. Call him in ;morrow the wrestling is.

-'twill be a good way; and to

Enter Charles.

Cha. Good morrow to your Worship.

Oli. Good Monfieur 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 Lord's have put themfelves into voluntary exile with him; whofe lands and revenues inrich the new Duke, therefore he gives them good leave to wander.

Oli. Can you tell, if Rofalind, the Duke's daughter, be banish'd with her father?

Cha. O, no; for the new Duke's daughter her coufin fo loves her, being ever from their cradles bred together, that he would have followed her exile, or have died to stay behind her. She is at the court, and no lefs beloved of her uncle than his own daughter; and never two ladies loved as they do.

Olt. Where will the old Duke live?

Cha. They fay, he is already in the foreft of Arden, and a many merry men with him; and there they live like the old Robin Hood of England: they fay, many young gentlemen flock to him every day, and fleet the time carelessly, as they did in the golden world.

Oli. What, you wreftle to-morrow before the new Duke?

Cha. Marry, do I, Sir; and I came to acquaint you with a matter. I am given, Sir, fecretly to understand, that your younger brother Orlando hath a difpofition to come in difguis'd againft me to try a fall; to-morrow, Sir, I wrestle for my credit; and he that escapes me without fome broken limb, fhall acquit him well. Your

221' brother is but young and tender, and for your love I would be loth to foil him; as I muft 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 ftay him from his intendment, or brook fuch difgrace well as he fhall run into; in that it is a thing of his own fearch, and altogether against my will.

Oli. Charles, I thank thee for thy love to me, which thou fhalt find I will moft kindly requite. I had my-felf notice of my brother's purpofe herein, and have by underhand means laboured to diffuade him from it; but he is refolute. I tell thec, Charles, he is the ftubbornest young fellow of France; full of ambition, an envious emulator of every man's good parts, a fecret and villanous contriver against me his natural brother; therefore ufe thy difcretion; I had as lief thou didst break. his neck, as his finger. And thou wert beft look to 't; for if thou doft him any flight difgrace, or if he do not. mightily grace himself on thee, he will practise against thee by poifon; intrap thee by fome treacherous de'vice; and never leave thee, till he hath ta'en thy life by fome indirect means or other; for I affure thee, (and alroft with tears I fpeak it), there is not one fo young and fo villanous this day living.. I fpeak but brotherly of him; but fhould I anatomize him to thee as he is, I muft blufh and weep, and thou must look pale, and wonder..

Cha. I am heartily glad I came hither to you: if he come to-morrow, I'll give him his payment; if ever he go alone again, I'll never wreftle for prize more; and fo God keep your Worship. [Exit.

Oli. Farewel, good Charles. Now will I ftir this gamefter: I hope I fhall fee an end of him; for my foul, yet I know not why, hates nothing more than he. Yet he's gentle; never fchool'd, and yet learned, fulli of noble device, of all forts inchantingly beloved; and indeed fo much the heart of the world, and efpecially of my own people who best know him, that I am altogether mifprifed. But it fhall not be fo long; this+ wreftler fhall clear all; nothing remains but that I kin-de the boy thither, which now I'll go about, [Exif