SparkNotes: Free Study Guides No Fear Shakespeare: The Bard made easy SparkCharts: Just the facts TestPrep: SAT, ACT, and more 101s: College texts condensed Subject Finder: Browse by subject SparkCollege: Get in! SparkLife: 100% study-free home_bottom home_top BN_link
Biology
 
History
 
Literature
 
Shakespeare
 
Home : As You Like It : Act 2, scene iii : page 64 Read the Study Guide: As You Like It
Get the book: Buy it online at Barnes & Noble
Tell a friend: Email this page
As You Like It
No Fear Shakespeare
NAVIGATE  

 Previous Page Next Page 
Original Text Modern Text
 ORLANDO
30 Why, whither, Adam, wouldst thou have me go?
ORLANDO
Then where would you have me go, Adam?
 ADAM
  No matter whither, so you come not here.
ADAM
It doesn't matter where, so long as it's not here.
 ORLANDO
  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?
35 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.
ORLANDO
What, would you have me beg for my food? Or become a lowlife, sticking up travelers on the road? This is all that's left for me to do, but I won't do it. I'd rather give myself up to the hatred of a violent brother who refuses to recognize that we are brothers.
 ADAM
  But do not so. I have five hundred crowns,
40 The thrifty hire I saved under your father,
  Which I did store to be my foster nurse
  When service should in my old limbs lie lame
  And unregarded age in corners thrown.
  Take that, and He that doth the ravens feed,
45 Yea, providently caters for the sparrow,
  Be comfort to my age. Here is the gold.
  All this I give you. Let me be your servant.
  Though I look old, yet I am strong and lusty,
  For in my youth I never did apply
50 Hot and rebellious liquors in my blood
  Nor did not with unbashful forehead woo
  The means of weakness and debility.
  Therefore my age is as a lusty winter,
  Frosty but kindly. Let me go with you.
55 I'll do the service of a younger man
  In all your business and necessities.
ADAM
But don't do that. I have five-hundred gold coins, which I carefully saved when I was working for your late father. I meant to use it for my retirement, to help me when my old body was lame and forgotten in some dark corner. But take the money, and God, who feeds even the raven and looks after even the sparrow, will comfort me in my old age. Here is the gold, I give it all to you. Let me be your servant. I know I may be old, but I'm strong and healthy, because in my youth I never drank nor lived recklessly. Therefore, my old age is like a blustery winter: cold, but kindly. Let me go with you. I'll do everything a younger man could do for you.

 Previous Page Next Page 
IPOD SPARKNOTES
Read SparkNotes on your iPod.
More...
Study Guides
Learn more about the subject you're studying with these related SparkNotes.
As You Like It

Message Boards
Ask a question on the SparkNotes community boards.
As You Like It
Shakespeare
Staging Shakespeare's Plays

SparkCharts
Printable, portable charts on this subject.
Shakespeare

Help | Feedback | Make a request | Report an error | Send to a friend
No Fear Shakespeare
NAVIGATE  
Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | About | Sitemap
©2008 SparkNotes LLC, All Rights Reserved.