What details does Shakespeare borrow from Rosalynde in this excerpt from As You Like It? How does Shakespeare transform elements of Rosalynde in the opening of his comedy? Use evidence from the text to support your response. Your response should be one or two complete paragraphs. 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!
ORLANDO: Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this.
OLIVER: Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain?
ORLANDO: I am no villain; I am the youngest son of Sir
Rowland de Boys; he was my father, and he is thrice
a villain that says such a father begot villains.
Wert thou not my brother, I would not take this hand
from thy throat till this other had pulled out thy
tongue for saying so: thou hast railed on thyself.
ADAM: Sweet masters, be patient: for your father's
remembrance, be at accord.
OLIVER: Let me go, I say.
ORLANDO: I will not, till I please: you shall hear me. My
father charged you in his will to give me good
education: you have trained 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.
OLIVER: 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 part of your will: I
pray you, leave me.
ORLANDO: I will no further offend you than becomes me for my good.
OLIVER: Get you with him, you old dog.
ADAM: Is 'old dog' my reward? Most true, I have lost my
teeth in your service. God be with my old master!
he would not have spoken such a word.
Exeunt ORLANDO and ADAM