The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [620]
Within my tent his bones tonight shall lie,
Most like a soldier, ordered honorably.
So call the field to rest, and let's away,
To part the glories of this happy day. Exeunt.
AS YOU LIKE IT
This comedy is believed to have been written in 1599 and its first performance is recorded at Wilton House in 1603. The play concerns the heroine Rosalind as she flees persecution at her uncle's court, accompanied by her cousin Celia and Touchstone the court jester, to find safety and eventually love in the Forest of Arden. The play features one of Shakespeare's most famous and often-quoted speeches, “All the world's a stage”, and is also the origin of the phrases “too much of a good thing” and “Sweet are the uses of adversity”. The play remains a favourite among audiences and has been adapted for radio, film and musical theatre many times.
The wrestling scene from the play, Francis Hayman, 1750
CONTENTS
DRAMATIS PERSONAE.
ACT I. SCENE I.
SCENE II.
SCENE III.
ACT II. SCENE I.
SCENE II.
SCENE III.
SCENE IV.
SCENE V.
SCENE VI.
SCENE VII.
ACT III. SCENE I.
SCENE II.
SCENE III.
SCENE IV.
SCENE V.
ACT IV. SCENE I.
SCENE II.
SCENE III.
ACT V. SCENE I.
SCENE II.
SCENE III.
SCENE IV.
EPILOGUE.
The 1936 film version – Olivier’s first Shakespeare film
The unique 2006 movie adaptation, set in Japan
DRAMATIS PERSONAE.
DUKE, living in exile
FREDERICK, his brother, and usurper of his dominions
AMIENS, lord attending on the banished Duke
JAQUES, " " " " " "
LE BEAU, a courtier attending upon Frederick
CHARLES, wrestler to Frederick
OLIVER, son of Sir Rowland de Boys
JAQUES, " " " " " "
ORLANDO, " " " " " "
ADAM, servant to Oliver
DENNIS, " " "
TOUCHSTONE, the court jester
SIR OLIVER MARTEXT, a vicar
CORIN, shepherd
SILVIUS, "
WILLIAM, a country fellow, in love with Audrey
A person representing HYMEN
ROSALIND, daughter to the banished Duke
CELIA, daughter to Frederick
PHEBE, a shepherdes
AUDREY, a country wench
Lords, Pages, Foresters, and Attendants
SCENE: OLIVER'S house; FREDERICK'S court; and the Forest of Arden
ACT I. SCENE I.
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?