Ros. With bills on their necks,-Be it known unto all men by these presents,——— (11)

LE BEAU. The eldest of the three wrestled with Charles, the duke's wrestler; which Charles in a moment threw him, and broke three of his ribs, that there is little hope of life in him: so he served the second, and so the third: Yonder they lie; the poor old man, their father, making such pitiful dole over them, that all the beholders take his part with weeping.

Ros. Alas!

TOUCH. But what is the sport, monsieur, that the ladies have lost?

LE BEAU. Why, this that I speak of.

TOUCH. Thus men may grow wiser every day! it is the first time that ever I heard, breaking of ribs was sport for ladies.

CEL. Or I, I promise thee.

Ros. But is there any else longs to see this broken musick in his sides? is there yet another dotes upon rib-breaking?-Shall we see this wrestling, cousin?

LE BEAU. You must, if you stay here: for here is the place appointed for the wrestling, and they are ready to perform it.

CEL. Yonder, sure, they are coming: Let us now stay and see it.

Flourish. Enter Duke FREDERICK, Lords, ORLANDO, CHARLES, and Attendants.

DUKE F. Come on; since the youth will not be entreated, his own peril on his forwardness. Ros. Is yonder the man?

a

see this broken musick in his sides] i. e. witness the crash made by his broken bones; get so rough a handling.

LE BEAU. Even he, madam.

CEL. Alas, he is too young: yet he looks successfully.

DUKE F. How now, daughter and cousin? are you crept hither to see the wrestling?

Ros. Ay, my liege? so please you give us leave.

a

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.

[Duke goes apart.

LE BEAU. Monsieur the challenger, the princess calls for

you.

ORL. I attend them," with all respect and duty. Ros. Young man, have you challenged Charles the wrestler? (12)

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

■ odds in the man] This should seem to be, the challenger is so little of a match.

The modern editors read men.

b I attend them] i. e. those of the princess's party, or the princesses.

If you saw yourself with your eyes, &c.] i. e. if you did not abandon the use of your senses, if not blinded and presumptuous, you would, as Dr. Johnson says, use your own eyes to see, or your own judgment to know yourself; the fear of your adventure would counsel you.

с

embrace your own safety, and give over this attempt.

Ros. Do, young sir; your reputation shall not therefore be misprised: we will make it our suit to the duke, that the wrestling 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 foiled, there is but one shamed that was never gracious; if killed, 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 deceived 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 mocked me before: but come your ways.

your hard thoughts, wherein I confess, &c.] Admitting, as I do, that I incur much guilt by the very act of denying, &c.

b was never gracious] i. e. acceptable. "Goring was no more gracious to Prince Rupert than Wilmot had been." Clarendon. B. VIII.

Ros. Now, Hercules be thy speed, young man!

CEL. I would I were invisible, to catch the strong fellow by the leg.

[CHARLES and ORLANDO wrestle.

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 breathed.

DUKE F. How dost thou, Charles?

LE BEAU. He cannot speak, my lord.

DUKE F. Bear him away. [CHARLES is borne out. What is thy name, young man?

ORL. Orlando, my liege; the youngest son of sir Rowland de Bois.

DUKE F. I would, thou hadst been son to some
man else.

The world esteem'd thy father honourable,
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.

[Exeunt Duke FRED. 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,a

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.

Gentle cousin,

CEL.
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,

a

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, (13) That could give more-but that her hand lacks means.b

Shall we go, coz?

CEL.

Ay:-Fare you well, fair gentleman.

ORL. Can I not say, I thank you? My better

Are all thrown down; and that which here stands

up,

Is but a quintain, a mere lifeless block. (14)

Ros. He calls us back: My pride fell with my fortunes:

I'll ask him what he would:-Did you call, sir?-
Sir, you have wrestled well, and overthrown
More than your enemies.

a But justly, as you have exceeded, &c.] i. e. adverbially for just; only, or in that degree, in which you have, &c. The fo. of 1632 reads "all in promise."

b That could give more—but that her hand lacks means] i. e. who could find in her heart to give more, were her ability greater. c better parts] Macbeth says,

"For it has cow'd my better part of man." V. 6. i. e. his spirit. We may therefore conclude, that by these terms spirit and sense were meant here.