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Part I
During the time that France was divided into provinces (or dukedoma as they were called), a younger brother deposed and banished his elder brother, the lawful duke.
Duke Senior retired with a few faithful followers to the Forest of Aden.
The good duke's loving friends put themselves into a voluntary exile into the forest for his sake, and lived with him, while the false usurper took advantage of their land and revenues.
"Now, my comrades and brothers in exile," said duke Senior to his followers, "is not this life sweeter than that of painted pomp?
Are not these woods freer from danger than the envious court?
Here they lived like Robin Hood of England and many noble youths came to this forest from the court and spent their time carelessly.
In the summer they lay under the fine shade of the large forest trees, watching the playful wild deer.
They were so fond of these deer that it grieved them to have to kill them for
their food.
When the cold winds of winter made the duke feel the bitter change of his fortune, he would endure it patiently, and say:
"These chilling winds which blow upon my body are true counselors.
They do not flatter, but tell me the truth about my situation.
Though they bite sharply, their teeth are nowhere near as sharp as those of human unkindness and ingraditude.
Adversity can be useful, like the precious medicine which is taken from the head of the venomous and ugly toad."
In this way, the patient duke drew a useful moral from everything that he saw. He could find tongues in trees, books, in running streams, sermons in stones, and good in everything.
The banished duke had an only daughter, named Rosalind. The usurper, Duke Frederick, still kept her in his court as a companion for his own daughter Celia. These young ladies had a very strong friendship which the disagreement between their fathers did not affect. Celia tried hard to make up to Rosalind for the injustice of her own father deposing Rosalind's father.
Whenever the thoughts of her father's banishment, and her own independence on the usurper, made Rosalind melancholy. Celia would comfort her.
One day, When Celia was talking in her usual, kind manner to Rosalind, saying, "I pray you Rosalind, my sweet cousin, be merry," a messenger from the duke entered. He told them that a wrestling match was just going to begin before the palace. Celia thought it would amuse Rosalind, and agreed to go and see it.
In those times wrestling was a popular sport in the courts of princes, and was watched by fair ladies and princesses. So Celia and Rosalind went, and they soon found that it was likely to be a horrible sight. A powerful and very experienced man, who had killed many men in contests of this kind, was about to wrestle with a very young man without any experience in his sport. The spectators thought he would certainly be killed.
Even the bad-natured duke took pity at the sight of the poor lad, and when Celia and Rosalind came, he said, "Hello, daughter and niece, have you come to see the wrestling? I am afraid you will take little delight in it, and I pity this young man. I wish he wouldn't wrestle. Speak to him, ladies, and see if you can persuade him not to."
The ladies were happy to help. Celia first entreated the young stranger to give up the fight, but the young man didn't. Then Rosalind spoke so kindly to him, and with such feeling, that, instead of being persuaded by her gentle words, the young man's resolution became stronger. All his thoughts turned to impressing her by his courage. Celia and Rosalind felf even more concerned for him. The young man said:
"I am sorry to deny anything to such fair and excellent ladies. But let your fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my trial. If I am conquered there is only one shamed man that was never gracious, and if I am killed, there is one friends no wrong, for we have none to grieve over me; I shall do the world no injury, for I have nothing in it. I only take up a place in the world which may be better filled when I left it empty."
And now the wrestling match began. Celia wished the young stranger might not be hurt, but Rosalind felt even more for him. The friendless state which he said was in, and that he wished to die, made Rosalind think that he was like herself. She pitied him so much, and was so worried about him while he was fighting, that she seemed to fall instantly in love with him.
The kindness shown to this unknown youth by these fair and noble ladies gave him courage and strength. He performed wonders, and completely conquered his opponent, who was hurt so badly that for a while he was unable to speak or move.
The duke was very impressed with this young stranger's courage and skill.
He wanted to know his name and family, meaning to take him under his protection. The stranger said his name was Orlando, and that he was the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys.
Sir Rowland de Boys, the father of Orlando, had been dead for several years, but when he was living, he had been a loyal subject and dear friend of the banished duke. Therefore, when Frederick heard Orlando was the son of his brother's friend, all his liking for hisbrave young man was changed into displeasure, and he left in a very bad mood. He hated to hear the name of any of his brother's friends.
Rosalind was delighted to hear that Orlando was the son of her father's old friend, and she said to Celia, "My father loved Sir Rowland de Boys, and if I had known this young man was his son, I would have added tears to my entreaties before he fought."
The ladies then went up to him, and seeing him embarrassed by the sudden displeasure shown by the duke, they consoled him with kind and encouraging words. Rosalind took a chain from her neck, and said, "Gentleman, wear this for me. I am out of favor with fortune, or I would give you a more valuable present."
Orlando, who had lived a lonely life, was so much moved by fair Rosalind's kindness that he fell deeply in love with her.