Cl. One that old Frederick your father loves. Cel. My father's love is enough to honour him enough; fpeak no more of him, you'll be whipp'd for taxation one of these days.

Clo. The more pity that fools may not fpeak wifely what wife men do foolishly.

Cel. by my troth, thou fay'ft true; for fince the little wit that fools have was filenc'd, the little foolery that wife men have makes a great how. Here comes Monfieur Le Beu.

SCENE V. Enter Le Beut.

Rof. With his mouth full of news.

Cel. Which he will put on us, as pidgeons feed their young.

Rof. Then fhall we be news-cramm'd..

Cel. All the better, we shall be the more marketable. Bon jour, Monfieur le Beu, what news ?

Le Beu. Fair Princefs, you have loft much good fport. Cel. Sport; of what colour?

Le Be What colour, Madam? how fhall I answer

you?

Ref. As wit and fortune will..

Clo. Or as the deftinies decree.

you

C. Well faid; that was laid on with a trowel..
Glo. Nay, if I keep not my rank,

Rof. Thou lofeft thy old fmell..

Le Beu. You amaze me, Ladies; I would have told of good wrestling, which you have loft the fight of.. Ref. Yet tell us the manner of the wrestling.

Le Beu. I will tell you the beginning; and, if it please your Ladyfhips, you may fee the end, for the beft is yet to do; and here where you are they are coming to perform it.

Cel. Well, the beginning that is dead and buried..

Le. Beu. There comes an old man and his three

fons,

Cel. I could match this beginning with an old tale. Le Beu. Three proper young men, of excellent growth and prefence ;

Ref. With bills on their necks.

Clo. Be it known unto all men by these prefents

Le Beu. The eldest of the three wrestled with Charles the Duke's wreftler; which Charles in a moment threw him, and broke three of his ribs, that there is little hope of life in him: fo he ferv'd the fecond, and fo the third yonder they lie, the poor old man their father making fuch pitiful dole over them, that all the beholders take his part with weeping.

Rof. Alas!

Clo. But what is the fport, Monfieur, that the ladies have loft?

Le Beu. Why this that I fpeak of.

Clo. Thus men may grow wifer every day! It is the first time that ever I heard breaking of ribs was sport for ladies.

Cel. Or I, I promise thee.

Rof. But is there any elfe longs to fet this broken mufic in his fides? is there yet another doats upon ribbreaking? fhall we fee this wrestling, cousin ?

Le Beu. You must, if you stay here; for here is the place appointed for the wrestling; and they are ready to perform it.

Cel. Yonder, fure, they are coming; let us now ftay and fee it.

Flourish. Enter Duke Frederick, Lords, Orlando, Charles, and attendants.

Duke. Come on; fince the youth will not be intreated, his own peril on his forwardness.

Ref. Is yonder the man?

Le Beu. Even he, Madam.

Cel. Alas, he is too young; yet he looks fuccefsfully. Duke. How now, daughter and coufin; are you crept hither to fce the wrestling?

Rof. Ay, my Liege, fo please you give us leave.

Duke. You will take little delight in it, I can tell you, there is fuch odds in the men. In pity of the challenger's youth, I would fain diffuade him, but he will not be intreated. Speak to him, Ladies, fee if can move him.

Cel. Call him hither, good Monfieur Le Beu,

you

Duke. Do fo; I'll not be by.

[Duke goes apart.

Le Beu. Monfieur the challenger, the Princeffes call

for you.

Orla. I attend them with all respect and duty.

Rof. Young man, have you challeng'd Charles the wrestler ?

Orla. No, fair Princess; he is the general challenger: I come but in, as others do, to try with him the ftrength of my youth.

Cel. Young Gentleman, your fpirits are too bold for your years you have feen cruel proof of this man's trength. If you faw yourself with our eyes, or knew yourself with our judgment, the fear of your adventure would counfel you to a more equal enterprise. We pray you, for your own fake, to embrace your own fafety, and give over this attempt.

Ref. Do, young Sir; your reputation fhall not therefore be mifprifed; we will make it our fuit to the Duke, that the wrestling might not go forward.

Orla. I beseech you, punish me not with your hard thoughts, wherein I confefs me much guilty, to deny fo fair and excellent ladies any thing. But let your fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my trial; wherein if I be foil'd, there is but one sham'd that was never gracious; if kill'd, but one dead that is willing to be fo. I fhall do my friends no wrong, for I have none to lament me; the world no injury, for in it I have nothing; only in the world I fill up a place, which may be better fupplied when I have made it empty.

Rof. The little ftrength that I have I would it were with you.

Gel. And mine to eek out her's.

Ref. Fare you well; pray Heav'n I be deceiv'd in you.

Orla. Your hearts' defires be with you!

Cha. Come, where is this young gallant that is fo defirous to lie with his mother earth?

Orla. Ready, Sir; but his will hath in it a more modeft working.

Duke. You fhall try but one fall.

Cha, No, I warrant your Grace, you shall not in.

treat him to a fecond, that have fo mightily perfuaded him from a first.

Orla. You mean to mock me after; you should not have mock'd me before; but come your ways.

Rof. Now Hercules be thy fpeed, young man! Cel. I would I were invisible, to catch the ftrong fellow by the leg! [They arefile.

Roj. O excellent young man!

Cel. If I had a thunderbolt in mine eye, I can tell

who fhould down.

Duke. No more, no more.

[Shout. [Charles is thrown. Orla. Yes, I beseech your Grace; I am not yet well breathed.

Duke. How doft thou, Charles ?

Le Beu. He cannot speak, my Lord.

Duke. Bear him away. What is thy name, young

man ?

Orla. Orlando, my Liege, the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys.

Duke. I would thou hadft been fon to fome man elfe! The world efteem'd thy father honourable,

But I did find him ftill mine enemy:

Thou should'ft have better pleas'd me with this deed,
Hadft thou defcended from another house.

But fare thee well, thou art a gallant youth;
I would thou hadft told me of another father.

[Exit Duke, with his train.

SCENE VII. Manent Celia, Rofalind, Orlando.
Cel. Were I my father, coz, would I do this?
Orla. I am more proud to be Sir Rowland's fon,
His youngest fon, and would not change that calling
To be adopted heir to Frederick.

Rof. My father lov'd Sir Rowland as his foul,
And all the world was of my father's mind :
Had I before known this young man his fon,
I should have giv'n him tears unto intreaties,
Ere he fhould thus have ventur❜d.

Cel. Gentle coufin,

Let us go thank him, and encourage him;
My father's rough and envious disposition

Sticks me at heart. Sir, you have well deferv'd:

If you do keep your promifes in love,

But juftly as you have exceeded all in promife,
Your miftrefs fhall be happy.

Rof. Gentleman,

Wear this for me; one out of fuits with fortune,
That could give more, but that her hand lacks means.
Shall we go, coz? [Giving him a chain from her neck.
Cel. Ay, fare you well, fair Gentleman.

Orla. Can I not fay, I thank you?my better
parts

Are all thrown down; and that, which here ftands up, Is but a quintaine, a mere lifeless block.

Rof. He calls us back: my pride fell with my for

tongue;

I cannot speak to her; yet fhe urg'd conference.

O poor

Enter Le Beu.`

Orlando! thou art overthrown ; Or Charles, or fomething weaker, mafters thee. Le Beu. Good Sir, I do in friendship counsel you To leave this place. Albeit you have déferv'd High commendation, true applaufe, and love; Yet fuch is now the Duke's condition, That he mifconftrues all that you have done. The Duke is humorous; what he is indeed, More fuits you to conceive, than me to fpeak of. Orla. I thank you, Sir; and, pray you, tell me this; Which of the two was daughter of the Duke That here was at the wrestling?

Le Beu. Neither his daughter, if we judge by manners; But yet, indeed, the fhorter is his daughter; The other's daughter to the banish'd Duke, And here detain'd by her ufurping uncle To keep his daughter company; whofe loves.