been banished? CHARLES: Oh, no. Celia loves her cousin so much that she would have followed Rosalind into exile or died of grief. So Rosalind has stayed at court.
OLIVER : Where will the old duke live? CHARLES: They say he’s already in the Forest of Arden. He has many cheerful 12th Communicative English Book.indb Page men with him, and they live like Robin Hood and his outlaws. OLIVER: So, are you going to wrestle before the new duke tomorrow?
CHARLES: Indeed I do, sir, and I’ve come to let you in on a certain problem. I’ve been informed by certain sources I can’t disclose, that your younger brother Orlando plans to fight me in disguise tomorrow. Sir, I’m fighting for my reputation, and any man who gets away without a broken bone or two is an exceptional wrestler indeed. Your brother is young and inexperienced, and because of my affection for you, I’d hate to crush him—though I’d have to, if he challenged me.
OLIVER: Charles, I thank you for your loyalty to me, and you’ll see that I’ll reward you. I’d heard about my brother’s plan and have been subtly trying to change his mind, but he’s determined. I tell you, Charles, he’s the stubbornest young fellow in France: overly ambitious, jealous of other people’s good qualities, and a traitor against me, his own blood brother. So use your discretion.
I’d be just as happy if you broke his neck as his finger. It brings me to tears to say this, but there isn’t another person alive who is so young and at the same time so wicked. Because he’s my brother, I have to take his side. CHARLES: I’m very glad I came to see you.
If he shows up tomorrow, I’ll give him what he deserves. If he can manage to walk after our fight, I’ll never wrestle for money again. Farewell, my lord. OLIVER: Take care, Charles.
(CHARLES exits.) (OLIVER continues.) Now it’s time to get this playboy brother of mine all worked up. I hope I’ll see the end of him soon—I