Frederick has usurped his brother’s dukedom and banished him to the Forest of Arden, where he and his lords live as Robin Hood and his men.

Celia & Rosalind, daughters to Senior & Frederick respectively, watch a wrestling match at which Rosalind falls in love with Orlando, son of the late Sir Rowland, a lord who was loyal to Senior. When Frederick discovers this, he banishes Rosalind. She & Celia, with the clown Touchstone, flee to Arden. Threatened with death by his elder brother Oliver, Orlando too escapes to Arden.

Rosalind, now disguised as the boy Ganymede, meets the lovesick Orlando and offers to ‘cure’ him. As Oliver falls in love with Celia, Touchstone with Audrey, and Silvius with Phebe, the lord Jaques delivers his melancholy commentary on all mankind.