Act I, Scene 1: The Courtesy of Nations
The first scene takes place at the estate of Oliver de Bois, the eldest of three brothers. Oliver inherited the estate from his father, and his father charged him with taking care of his two younger siblings. Although Oliver treats his middle brother, Jacques de Bois, well, he is not so kind to the youngest son, Orlando de Bois. Oliver pays for Jacques to attend a university (and, so, Jacques is not a significant character in the play), but the eldest brother treats Orlando miserably. In fact, Oliver treats Orlando like a serf or miserable field hand.
The play opens with Orlando complaining about his treatment to Adam, an old and trusted servant of the family. Before Adam can make any response to Orlando, Oliver appears. Adam then stands aside while Orlando makes his complaint to Oliver directly.
During the heated conversation between the two brothers, Orlando asserts the following:
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. (39-42)