Junior High School Literature, Book 1Elson, William H. (William Harris)
General
Junior High School Literature, Book 1
Elson, William H. (William Harris)
American literature; English literature; Readers
Orlando then searched about to find some food, and he happened to arrive
at that part of the forest where the duke was; and he and his friends
were just going to eat their dinner, this royal duke being seated on the
grass, under no other canopy than the shady covert of some large trees.
Orlando, whom hunger had made desperate, drew his sword, intending to
take their meat by force, and said, “Forbear and eat no more; I must
have your food!” The duke asked him if distress had made him so bold,
or if he were a rude despiser of good manners. On this Orlando said he
was dying with hunger; and then the duke told him he was welcome to sit
down and eat with them. Orlando hearing him speak so gently, put up his
sword, and blushed with shame at the rude manner in which he had demanded
their food. “Pardon me, I pray you,” said he; “I thought that all things
had been savage here, and therefore I put on the countenance of stern
command; but whatever men you are, that in this desert, under the shade
of melancholy boughs, lose and neglect the creeping hours of time; if
ever you have looked on better days; if ever you have been where bells
have knolled to church; if you have ever sat at any good man’s feast; if
ever from your eyelids you have wiped a tear, and know what it is to pity
or be pitied, may gentle speeches now move you to do me human courtesy!”
The duke replied, “True it is that we are men (as you say) who have seen
better days, and though we have now our habitation in this wild forest,
we have lived in towns and cities, and have with holy bell been knolled
to church, have sat at good men’s feasts, and from our eyes have wiped
the drops which sacred pity has engendered; therefore sit you down, and
take of our refreshments as much as will minister to your wants.” “There
is an old poor man,” answered Orlando, “who has limped after me many a
weary step in pure love, oppressed at once with two sad infirmities, age
and hunger; till he be satisfied, I must not touch a bit.” “Go, find
him out, and bring him hither,” said the duke; “we will forbear to eat
till you return.” Then Orlando went like a doe to find its fawn and give
it food; and presently returned, bringing Adam in his arms; and the duke
said, “Set down your venerable burthen; you are both welcome”; and they
fed the old man and cheered his heart, and he revived, and recovered his
health and strength again.
The duke inquired who Orlando was; and when he found that he was the son
of his old friend, Sir Rowland de Boys, he took him under his protection,
and Orlando and his old servant lived with the duke in the forest.
Orlando arrived in the forest not many days after Ganymede and Aliena
came there, and (as has been before related) bought the shepherd’s
cottage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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