1600

AS YOU LIKE IT

by William Shakespeare

DRAMATIS PERSONAE -

DUKE, living in exile

FREDERICK, his brother, and usurper of his dominions

AMIENS, lord attending on the banished Duke

JAQUES, lord attending on the banished Duke

LE BEAU, a courtier attending upon Frederick

CHARLES, wrestler to Frederick

OLIVER, son of Sir Rowland de Boys

JAQUES, son of Sir Rowland de Boys

ORLANDO, son of Sir Rowland de Boys

ADAM, servant to Oliver

DENNIS, servant to Oliver

TOUCHSTONE, the court jester

SIR OLIVER MARTEXT, a vicar

CORIN, shepherd

SILVIUS, shepherd

WILLIAM, a country fellow, in love with Audrey

A person representing HYMEN -

ROSALIND, daughter to the banished Duke

CELIA, daughter to Frederick

PHEBE, a shepherdess

AUDREY, a country wench -

Lords, Pages, Foresters, and Attendants -

SCENE:

OLIVER'S house; FREDERICK'S court; and the Forest of Arden

ACT I

SCENE 1

[Orchard of OLIVER'S house] -

[Enter ORLANDO and ADAM] -

ORLANDO. As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion bequeathed me by will but poor a thousand crowns, and, as thou say'st, charged my brother, on his blessing, to breed me well; and there begins 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, besides that they are fair with their feeding, they are taught their manage, and to that end riders dearly hir'd; 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. Besides this nothing that he so plentifully gives me, the something that nature gave me his countenance seems to take from me. 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, Adam, that grieves me; and the spirit of my father, which I think is within me, begins to mutiny against this servitude. I will no longer endure it, though yet I know no wise remedy how to avoid it. -

[Enter OLIVER] -

ADAM. Yonder comes my master, your brother. -

ORLANDO. Go apart, Adam, and thou shalt hear how he will shake me up. [ADAM retires] -

OLIVER. Now, sir! what make you here? -

ORLANDO. Nothing; I am not taught to make any thing. -

OLIVER. What mar you then, sir? -

ORLANDO. Marry, sir, I am helping you to mar that which God made, a poor unworthy brother of yours, with idleness. -

OLIVER. Marry, sir, be better employed, and be nought awhile. -

ORLANDO. Shall I keep your hogs, and eat husks with them? What prodigal portion have I spent that I should come to such penury? -

OLIVER. Know you where you are, sir? -

ORLANDO. O, sir, very well; here in your orchard. -

OLIVER. Know you before whom, sir? -

ORLANDO. Ay, better than him I am before knows me. I know you are my eldest brother; and in the gentle condition of blood, you should so know me. The courtesy 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 betwixt us. I have as much of my father in me as you, albeit I confess your coming before me is nearer to his reverence. -

OLIVER. What, boy! [Strikes him] -

ORLANDO. Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this. -

OLIVER. Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain? -