Thurflon, del. As You Like it Act.s Ros. - Young Man, have you challenged Charles, the Wristin Ros-Young Published Jan, 1.1799. by Verner & Hood, Foultry Flourish. Enter Duke FREDERICK, Lords, ORLANDO, CHARLES, and Attendants. Duke F. Come on; fince the youth will not be entreated, his own peril on his forwardness. Rof. Is yonder the man? Le Beau. Even he, madam. Cel. Alas, he is too young: yet he looks fuccefsfully. Duke F. How now, daughter, and coufin ? are you crept hither to fee the wrestling? Rof. Ay, my liege; fo pleafe you give us leave. Duke F. 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 entreated: Speak to him, ladies; fee if you can move him. Cel. Call him hither, good Monfieur Le Beau. Duke F. Do fo; I'll not be by. [DUKE goes apart. Le Beau. Monfieur the challenger, the princeffes call for you. Orl. I attend them, with all refpect and duty. Rof. Young man, have you challenged Charles the wrestler? Orl. No, fair princefs; 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 fpirits are too bold for your years: You have feen cruel proof of this man's ftrength: if you faw yourself with your eyes, or knew yourfelf with your judgment, the fear of your adventure would counsel you to a more equal enterprife. We pray you, for your own fake, to embrace your own fafety, and give over this attempt. Rof. Do, young fir; your reputation fhall not therefore be be mifprifed: we will make it our fuit to the duke, that the wrestling might not go forward. Orl. 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 foiled, there is but one shamed that was never gracious; if killed, 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 supplied when I have made it empty. Rof. The little ftrength that I have, I would it were with you. Cel. And mine, to eke out hers. Rof. Fare you well. Pray heaven, I be deceived in you! Cel. Your heart's defires be with you! Cha. Come, where is this young gallant, that is so defirous to lie with his mother earth? Orl. Ready, fir; but his will hath in it a more modest working. Duke F. You fhall try but one fall. Cha. No, I warrant your grace; you shall not entreat him to a fecond, that have fo mightily perfuaded him from a firft. Orl. You mean to mock me after; you should not have mocked me before: but come your ways. Rof. Now, Hercules be thy speed, young man! Cel. I would I were invifible, to catch the strong fellow by the leg. [CHARLES and ORLANDO wrefile. Rof. O excellent young man! Cel. If I had a thunderbolt in mine eye, I can tell who [CHARLES is thrown. Shout. fhould down. Duke F. Duke F. No more, no more. Orl. Yes, I beseech your grace; I am not yet well breathed. Duke F. How doft thou, Charles? Le Beau. He cannot fpeak, 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 fir Rowland de Bois. Duke F. I would, thou hadst been fon to fome man else. The world eftcem'd thy father honourable, But I did find him till mine enemy: Thou shouldit have better pleas'd me with this deed, But fare thee well; thou art a gallant youth; [Exeunt Duke FRED. Train, and LE BEAU. Rof. My father lov'd fir Rowland as his foul, Gentle coufin, Cel. My father's rough and envious difpofition Rof. |