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 . Go apart , Adam , and thou shalt hear how he will shake me up . Nothing ; I am not taught to make any thing . Marry , sir , I am helping you to mar that which God made , a poor unworthy brother of yours , with idleness . Shall I keep your hogs , and eat husks with them ? What prodigal portion have I spent that I should come to such penury ? O , sir , very well ; here in your orchard . 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 . Come , come , elder brother , you are too young in this . I am no villain ; I am the youngest son of Sir Rowland de I will not , till I please ; you shall hear me . My father charg 'd you in his will to give me good education : you have train 'd me like a peasant , obscuring 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 poor allottery my father left me by testament ; with that I will go buy my fortunes . I no further offend you than becomes me for my good . I attend them with all respect and duty . No , fair Princess ; he is the general challenger . I come but in , as others do , to try with him the strength of my youth . I beseech you , punish me not with your hard thoughts , wherein I confess me much guilty to deny so fair and excellent ladies any thing . But let your fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my trial ; wherein if I be foil 'd there is but one sham 'd that was never gracious ; if kill 'd , but one dead that is willing to be so . I shall do my friends no wrong , for I have none to lament me ; the world no injury , for in it I have nothing ; only in the world I fill up a place , which may be better supplied when I have made it empty . Ready , sir ; but his will hath in it a more modest working . You mean to mock me after ; you should not have mock 'd me before ; but come your ways . Yes , I beseech your Grace ; I am not yet well breath 'd . Orlando , my liege ; the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys . I am more proud to be Sir Rowland 's son , His youngest son - and would not change that calling To be adopted heir to Frederick . Can I not say ‘ I thank you ’ ? My better parts Are all thrown down ; and that which here stands up Is but a quintain , a mere lifeless block . What passion hangs these weights upon my tongue ? I cannot speak to her , yet she urg 'd conference . O poor Orlando , thou art overthrown ! Or Charles or something weaker masters thee . Re-enter LE BEAU I thank you , sir ; and pray you tell me this : Which of the two was daughter of the Duke That here was at the wrestling ? I rest much bounden to you ; fare you well . Who 's there ? Why , what 's the matter ? Why , whither , Adam , wouldst thou have me go ? What , wouldst thou have me go and beg my food , Or with a base and boist'rous sword enforce A thievish living on the common road ? This I must do , or know not what to do ; Yet this I will not do , do how I can . I rather will subject me to the malice Of a diverted blood and bloody brother . O good old man , how well in thee appears The constant service of the antique world , When service sweat for duty , not for meed ! Thou art not for the fashion of these times , Where none will sweat but for promotion , And having that do choke their service up Even with the having ; it is not so with thee . But , poor old man , thou prun'st a rotten tree That cannot so much as a blossom yield In lieu of all thy pains and husbandry . But come thy ways , we 'll go along together , And ere we have thy youthful wages spent We 'll light upon some settled low content . Why , how now , Adam ! No greater heart in thee ? Live a little ; comfort a little ; cheer thyself a little . If this uncouth forest yield anything savage , I will either be food for it or bring it for food to thee . Thy conceit is nearer death than thy powers . For my sake be comfortable ; hold death awhile at the arm 's end . I will here be with the presently ; and if I bring thee not something to eat , I will give thee leave to die ; but if thou diest before I come , thou art a mocker of my labour . Well said ! thou look'st cheerly ; and I 'll be with thee quickly . Yet thou liest in the bleak air . Come , I will bear thee to some shelter ; and thou shalt not die for lack of a dinner , if there live anything in this desert . Cheerly , good Adam ! Exeunt SCENE VII . The forest A table set out . Enter DUKE SENIOR , AMIENS , and LORDS , like outlaws Forbear , and eat no more . Nor shalt not , till necessity be serv 'd . You touch 'd my vein at first : the thorny point Of bare distress hath ta'en from me the show Of smooth civility ; yet arn I inland bred , And know some nurture . But forbear , I say ; He dies that touches any of this fruit Till I and my affairs are answered . I almost die for food , and let me have it . Speak you so gently ? Pardon me , I pray you ; I thought that all things had been savage here , And therefore put I on the countenance Of stern commandment . But whate'er you are That in this desert inaccessible , Under the shade of melancholy boughs , Lose and neglect the creeping hours of time ; If ever you have look 'd on better days , If ever been where bells have knoll 'd to church , If ever sat at any good man 's feast , If ever from your eyelids wip 'd a tear , And know what ‘ tis to pity and be pitied , Let gentleness my strong enforcement be ; In the which hope I blush , and hide my sword . Then but forbear your food a little while , Whiles , like a doe , I go to find my fawn , And give it food . There is an old poor man Who after me hath many a weary step Limp 'd in pure love ; till he be first suffic 'd , Oppress 'd with two weak evils , age and hunger , I will not touch a bit . I thank ye ; and be blest for your good comfort ! I thank you most for him . Hang there , my verse , in witness of my love ; And thou , thrice-crowned Queen of Night , survey With thy chaste eye , from thy pale sphere above , Thy huntress ’ name that my full life doth sway . O Rosalind ! these trees shall be my books , And in their barks my thoughts I 'll character , That every eye which in this forest looks Shall see thy virtue witness 'd every where . Run , run , Orlando ; carve on every tree , The fair , the chaste , and unexpressive she . Exit And so had I ; but yet , for fashion sake , I thank you too for your society . I do desire we may be better strangers . I pray you mar no more of my verses with reading them ill-favouredly . Yes , just . There was no thought of pleasing you when she was christen 'd . Just as high as my heart . Not so ; but I answer you right painted cloth , from whence you have studied your questions . I will chide no breather in the world but myself , against whom I know most faults . ‘ Tis a fault I will not change for your best virtue . I am weary of you . He is drown 'd in the brook ; look but in , and you shall see him . Which I take to be either a fool or a cipher . I am glad of your departure ; adieu , good Monsieur Melancholy . Very well ; what would you ? You should ask me what time o ’ day ; there 's no clock in the forest . And why not the swift foot of Time ? Had not that been as proper ? I prithee , who doth he trot withal ? Who ambles Time withal ? Who doth he gallop withal ? Who stays it still withal ? Where dwell you , pretty youth ? Are you native of this place ? Your accent is something finer than you could purchase in so removed a dwelling . Can you remember any of the principal evils that he laid to the charge of women ? I prithee recount some of them . I am he that is so love-shak 'd ; I pray you tell me your remedy . What were his marks ? Fair youth , I would I could make thee believe I love . I swear to thee , youth , by the white hand of Rosalind , I am that he , that unfortunate he . Neither rhyme nor reason can express how much . Did you ever cure any so ? I would not be cured , youth . Now , by the faith of my love , I will . Tell me where it is . With all my heart , good youth . Good day , and happiness , dear Rosalind ! My fair Rosalind , I come within an hour of my promise . Pardon me , dear Rosalind . Of a snail ! What 's that ? Virtue is no horn-maker ; and my Rosalind is virtuous . I would kiss before I spoke . How if the kiss be denied ? Who could be out , being before his beloved mistress ? What , of my suit ? I take some joy to say you are , because I would be talking of her . Then , in mine own person , I die . I would not have my right Rosalind of this mind ; for , I protest , her frown might kill me . Then love me , Rosalind . And wilt thou have me ? What sayest thou ? I hope so . Pray thee , marry us . I will . Why , now ; as fast as she can marry us . I take thee , Rosalind , for wife . So do all thoughts ; they are wing 'd . For ever and a day . But will my Rosalind do so ? O , but she is wise . A man that had a wife with such a wit , he might say ‘ Wit , whither wilt ? ’ ROSALIND . Nay , you might keep that check for it , till you met your wife 's wit going to your neighbour 's bed . And what wit could wit have to excuse that ? For these two hours , Rosalind , I will leave thee . I must attend the Duke at dinner ; by two o'clock I will be with thee again . Ay , sweet Rosalind . With no less religion than if thou wert indeed my Rosalind ; so , adieu . Is't possible that on so little acquaintance you should like her ? that but seeing you should love her ? and loving woo ? and , wooing , she should grant ? and will you persever to enjoy her ? You have my consent . Let your wedding be to-morrow . Thither will I invite the Duke and all 's contented followers . Go you and prepare Aliena ; for , look you , here comes my Rosalind . It is my arm . Wounded it is , but with the eyes of a lady . Ay , and greater wonders than that . They shall be married to-morrow ; and I will bid the Duke to the nuptial . But , O , how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man 's eyes ! By so much the more shall I to-morrow be at the height of heart-heaviness , by how much I shall think my brother happy in having what he wishes for . I can live no longer by thinking . Speak'st thou in sober meanings ? And I for Rosalind . And I for Rosalind . And so am I for Rosalind . If this be so , why blame you me to love you ? To her that is not here , nor doth not hear . Nor I. Exeunt I sometimes do believe and sometimes do not : As those that fear they hope , and know they fear . That would I , were I of all kingdoms king . My lord , the first time that I ever saw him Methought he was a brother to your daughter . But , my good lord , this boy is forest-born , And hath been tutor 'd in the rudiments Of many desperate studies by his uncle , Whom he reports to be a great magician , Obscured in the circle of this forest . If there be truth in sight , you are my Rosalind .