F. How now, daughter and cousin? are you crept hither to see the wrastling?
Ros. Ay, my liege, so please you give us leave.
Duke F. You will take little delight in it, I can tell you, there is such odds in the man. In pity of the challenger’s youth I would fain dissuade him, but he will not be entreated. Speak to him, ladies, see if you can move him.
Cel. Call him hither, good Monsieur Le Beau.
Duke F. Do so; I’ll not be by.
Le Beau. Monsieur the challenger, the princess calls for you.
Orl. I attend them with all respect and duty.
Ros. Young man, have you challeng’d Charles the wrastler?
Orl. No, fair princess; he is the general challenger. I come but in, as others do, to try with him the strength of my youth.
Cel. Young gentleman, your spirits are too bold for your years. You have seen cruel proof of this man’s strength. If you saw yourself with your eyes, or knew yourself with your judgment, the fear of your adventure would counsel you to a more equal enterprise. We pray you for your own sake to embrace your own safety, and give over this attempt.
Ros. Do, young sir, your reputation shall not therefore be mispris’d. We will make it our suit to the Duke that the wrastling might not go forward.
Orl. I beseech you, punish me not with your hard thoughts, wherein I confess me much guilty to deny so 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 so. I shall 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 supplied when I have made it empty.
Ros. The little strength that I have, I would it were with you.
Cel. And mine, to eke out hers.
Ros. Fare you well; pray heaven I be deceiv’d in you!
Cel. Your heart’s desires be with you!
Cha. Come, where is this young gallant that is so desirous to lie with his mother earth?
Orl. Ready, sir, but his will hath in it a more modest working.
Duke F. You shall try but one fall.
Cha. No, I warrant your Grace, you shall not entreat him to a second, that have so mightily persuaded him from a first.
Orl. You mean to mock me after; you should not have mock’d me before. But come your ways.
Ros. Now Hercules be thy speed, young man!
Cel. I would I were invisible, to catch the strong fellow by the leg.
Wrastle.
Ros. O excellent young man!
Cel. If I had a thunderbolt in mine eye, I can tell who should down.
[Charles is thrown.] Shout.
Duke F. No more, no more.
Orl. Yes, I beseech your Grace, I am not yet well breath’d.
Duke F. How dost thou, Charles?
Le Beau. He cannot speak, my lord.
Duke F.
Bear him away. What is thy name, young man?
Orl. Orlando, my liege, the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys.
Duke F.
I would thou hadst been son to some man else:
The world esteem’d thy father honorable,
But I did find him still mine enemy.
Thou shouldst have better pleas’d me with this deed
Hadst thou descended from another house.
But fare thee well, thou art a gallant youth.
I would thou hadst told me of another father.
Exit Duke [with Train and Le Beau].
Cel.
Were I my father, coz, would I do this?
Orl.
I am more proud to be Sir Rowland’s son,
His youngest son, and would not change that calling
To be adopted heir to Frederick.
Ros.
My father lov’d Sir Rowland as his soul,
And all the world was of my father’s mind.
Had I before known this young man his son,
I should have given him tears unto entreaties,
Ere he should thus have ventur’d.
Cel.
Gentle cousin,
Let us go thank him, and encourage him.
My father’s rough and envious disposition
Sticks me at heart. Sir, you have well deserv’d.
If you do keep your promises in love
But justly as you have exceeded all promise,
Your mistress shall be happy.
Ros.
Gentleman,
[Giving him a chain from her neck.]
Wear this for me: one out of suits with Fortune,
That could give more, but that her hand lacks means.
Shall we go, coz?
Cel.
Ay. Fare you well, fair gentleman.
Orl.
Can I not say, I thank you? My better parts
Are
