Orlando is deeply touched by Adam’s extremely generous offer and comments (social criticism) that most servants living in those contemporary times would never be so good or so loyal to their masters:
O good old man, how well in thee appears The constant service of the antique world, When service sweat for duty, not for meed! Thou art not the fashion of these times,
Where none will sweat but for promotion…
(57-61)
Orlando is asserting that Adam represents the servants of former times who would serve their masters out of a sense of loyalty and duty and fidelity. The servant of contemporary times, on the other hand, only serves his master because of the money or profit (meed) that he will get in return. In other words, the servants of the past had virtue; but the servants of the present time are selfish and have no true sense of duty or loyalty toward their masters.
Thus, Shakespeare (through the character of Orlando) is commenting that the world has become worse in the present age. Although Orlando’s lines directly and literally refer to the world of the Duke Frederick’s court, Shakespeare may very well be implying that the same criticism holds true for the city of London and for all of England as well.
Orlando, having no other options before him, accepts the kind offer made by Adam; and the two of them leave Oliver’s estate in search of a simpler but