Junior High School Literature, Book 1Elson, William H. (William Harris)
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Junior High School Literature, Book 1
Elson, William H. (William Harris)
American literature; English literature; Readers
When, contrary to the wicked hopes he had formed, his brother proved
victorious, his envy and malice knew no bounds, and he swore he would
burn the chamber where Orlando slept. He was overheard making this vow
by one that had been an old and faithful servant to their father, and
that loved Orlando because he resembled Sir Rowland. This old man went
out to meet him when he returned from the duke’s palace, and when he saw
Orlando, the peril his dear young master was in made him break out into
these passionate exclamations: “O my gentle master, my sweet master, O
you memory of old Sir Rowland! why are you virtuous? why are you gentle,
strong, and valiant? and why would you be so fond to overcome the famous
wrestler? Your praise is come too swiftly home before you.” Orlando,
wondering what all this meant, asked him what was the matter. And then
the old man told him how his wicked brother, envying the love all people
bore him, and now hearing the fame he had gained by his victory in the
duke’s palace, intended to destroy him, by setting fire to his chamber
that night; and in conclusion, advised him to escape the danger he was in
by instant flight; and knowing Orlando had no money, Adam (for that was
the good old man’s name) had brought out with him his own little hoard,
and he said, “I have five hundred crowns, the thrifty hire I saved under
your father, and laid by to be provision for me when my old limbs should
become unfit for service; take that, and he that doth the ravens feed be
comfort to my age! Here is the gold; all this I give to you; let me be
your servant; though I look old I will do the service of a younger man
in all your business and necessities.” “O good old man!” said Orlando,
“how well appears in you the constant service of the old world! You are
not for the fashion of these times. We will go along together, and before
your youthful wages are spent, I shall light upon some means for both our
maintenance.”
Together then this faithful servant and his loved master set out; and
Orlando and Adam traveled on, uncertain what course to pursue, till they
came to the forest of Arden, and there they found themselves in the
same distress for want of food that Ganymede and Aliena had been. They
wandered on, seeking some human habitation, till they were almost spent
with hunger and fatigue. Adam at last said, “O my dear master, I die for
want of food; I can go no farther!” He then laid himself down, thinking
to make that place his grave, and bade his dear master farewell. Orlando,
seeing him in this weak state, took his old servant up in his arms and
carried him under the shelter of some pleasant trees; and he said to him,
“Cheerly, old Adam, rest your weary limbs here awhile and do not talk of
dying!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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