OLIVER

Now Sir, what make you here? What mar you then sir? Know you where you are sir? Know you before whom sir? What Boy. Wilt thou lay hands on me villain? Let me go I say. 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 partly of your will, I pray you leave me. Get you with him, you old dog. Is it even so, begin you to grow upon me? I will physic your ranckenesse, and yet give no thousand crowns neither: holla Dennis. Was not Charles the Dukes Wrestler here to speak with me? Call him in: it'll be a good way: and to mor row the wrestling is. Good Mounsier Charles : what's the new news at the new Court? Can you tell if Rosalind the Dukes daughter be banished with her Father? Where will the old Duke live? What, you wrestle to morrow before the new Duke. Charles, I thank thee for thy love to me, which thou shalt find I will most kindly require: I had my self notice of my Brother's purpose herein, and have by underhand means laboured to dissuade him from it; but he is resolute. I'll tell thee Charles, it is the stubbor nest young fellow of France, full of ambition, and envious emulator of every men good parts, a secret & villainous contriver against me his natural brother: therefore use thy discretion, I had as liese thou didst break his neck as his finger. And thou Wertenberg best look to't; for if thou dost him any slight disgrace, or if he do not mightily grace himself on thee, he will practice against thee by poison, entrap thee by some treacherous devise, and ne ver leave thee till he hath taken thy life by some indirect means or other: for I assure thee, (and almost with tears I speak it) there is not one so young, and so vil lanous this day living. I speak but brotherly of him, but should I anathomize him to thee, as he is, I must blush, and weep, and thou must look pale and wonder. If that and eye may profit by a tongue, Then should I know you by description, Such garments, and such years: the boy is fair, Of female favour, and bestows himself Like a ripe sister: the woman low And browner then her brother: are not you The owner of the house I did inquire for? Orlando does commend him to you both, And to that youth he calls his Rosalind, He sends this bloody napkin; are you he? Some of my shame, if you will know of me What man I am, and how, and why, and where This handkerchief was stained. When last the young Orlando parted from you, He left a promise to return again Within and hour, and pacing through the Forest, Chewing the food of sweet and bitter fancy, Lo what befell: he threw his eye aside, And mark what object did present it self Under and old Oak, whose bows were mossed with age And high top, bald with dry antiquity: A wretched ragged man, ore-gowne with hair Lay sleeping on his back; about his neck A green and guilded snake had wreathed it self, Who with her head, nimble in threats approached The opening of his mouth: but suddenly Seeing Orlando, it unlinked it self, And with indented glides, did slip away Into a bush, under which bushes shade A Lionness, with udders all drawn dry, Lay couching head on ground, with catlike watch When that the sleeping man should stir; for it's The royal disposition of that beast To prey on nothing, that does seem as dead: This seen, Orlando did approach the man, And found it was his brother, his elder brother. And well he might so do, For well I know he was unnatural. Twice did he turn his back, and purposed so: But kindness, nobler ever then revenge, And Nature stronger then his joust occasion, Made him give battle to the Lionness: Who quickly fell before him, in which hurtling From miserable slumber I awaked. 'Twas I: but it's not I: I do not shame To tell you what I was, since my conversion So sweeetly tastes, being the thing I am. By and by: When from the first to last betwixt us two, Tears our recountments had most kindly bathed, As how I came into that Desert place. I brief, he led me to the gentle Duke, Who gave me fresh array, and entertainment, Committing me unto my brother's love, Who led me instantly unto his Cave, There stripped himself, and here upon his arm The Lionness had torn some flesh away, Which all this while had bled; and now he fainted, And cried in fainting upon Rosalind. Brief, I recovered him, bound up his wound, And after some small space, being strong at heart, He sent me hither, stranger as I am To tell this story, that you might excuse His broken promise, and to give this napkin Died in this blood, unto the Shepherd youth, That he in sport does call his Rosalind. Many will swoon when they do look on blood. Look, he recovers. Be of good cheer youth: you a man? You lack a men heart. This was not counterfeit, there is too great to stimony in your complexion, that it was a passion of ear nest. Well then, take a good heart, and counterfeit to be a man. That will I: for I must bear answer back How you excuse my brother, Rosalind. Marry sir be better employed, and be nought a while. O that your Highness knew my heart in this: I never loved my brother in my life. Is there none here to give the woman? Truly she must be given, or the marriage is not lawful. Come sweet Audrey, We must be married, or we must live in baudrey: Farewell good M r Oliver : Not Oh sweet Oliver, Oh brave Oliver leave me not behind thee: But wind away, be gone I say, I will not to wedding with thee. It's no matter; Never a fantastical knave of them all shall slout me out of my calling. Neither call the giddiness of it in question; the poverty of her, the small acquaintance, my sudden woe king, nor sudden consenting: but say with me, I love Aliena : say with her, that she loves me; consent with both, that we may enjoy each other: it shall be to your good: for my father's house, and all the reuennew, that was old Sir Rowland's will I estate upon you, and here live and die a Shepherd. And you fair sister. Good morrow, fair ones: pray you, (if you know) Where in the Purlews of this Forest, stands A sheepcoat, fenced about with Olive-trees.