you of good wrestling, which you have loft the fight of. Rof. Yet tell us the manner of the wrestling.

Le Beau. I will tell you the beginning, and, if it please your ladyships, 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 Beau. There comes an old man and his three fons,Cel. I could match this beginning with an old tale. Le Beau. Three proper young men, of excellent growth and prefence, "with-bills on their necks.

W

Rof. Be it known unto all men by these presents,

Le Beau. 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 sport, monfieur, that the ladies have loft?

Le Beau. 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 fport for ladies.

Cel. Or I, I promise thee.

Rof. But is there any elfe longs to fee this broken mufick in his fides? is there yet another dotes upon ribbreaking? Shall we fee this wrestling, coufin?

" with bills on their necks.]—forest bills on their shoulders. "Be it known unto all men by these presents,]—quibble upon bills, labels, and prefence, prefents.

x to fee this broken mufick in his fides ?]-to take a fpecimen of― to fet, get-The ribs are like organ pipes, gradually fhortened.

Le Beau.

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, fure, they are coming: Let us now stay and fee it.

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

Duke. 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 successfully. Duke. How now, daughter, and coufin? are you crept hither to see the wrestling?

Rof. Ay, my liege, so 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 entreated: Speak to him, ladies; fee if you can move him. Cel. Call him hither, good Monfieur Le Beau.. Duke. Do fo; I'll not be by.

[Duke goes apart.

Le Beau. 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 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 strength: if you faw yourself with your eyes, or knew

Y if you faw yourself with your eyes, &c.]-impartially, without felf flattery.

yourself

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 misprised: 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: herein 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 fham'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.

Cel. And mine to eke out hers.

Rof. Fare you well. Pray heaven I be deceiv'd 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?

Orla. Ready, fir; but his will hath in it a more modest working.

Duke. You fhall try but one fall.

Cha. No, I warrant your grace; you fhall not entreat him to a second, that have fo mightily perfuaded him from a first.

a

Orla. You mean to mock me after; you fhould not have mocked me before: but come your ways.

be mifprifed:]-fuffer any impeachment.

* If you mean.

Rof.

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

Cel. I would I were invifible, to catch the ftrong fellow by the leg! [They wrestle.

Rof. O excellent young man!

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

Duke. No more, no more.

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

Duke. How doft thou, Charles?

Le Beau. He cannot speak, my lord.

Duke. Bear him away. What is thy name, young man? Orla. Orlando, my liege; the youngest son of fir Rowland de Boys.

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

But I did find him still mine enemy :

Thou shouldst 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.

Manent Celia, Rofalind, Orlando.

Cel. Were I my father, coz, would I do this?
Orla. I am more proud to be fir Rowland's fon,
His youngest fon ;-and would not change that calling,
To be adopted heir to Frederick.

Rof. My father lov'd fir Rowland as his foul,
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

Let us go thank him, and encourage him :
My father's rough and envious difpofition
Sticks me at heart.-Sir, you have well deferv'd:
you do keep your promises in love

If

But justly, as you have exceeded all promise,
Your mistress shall be happy.

Rof. Gentleman,

Wear this for me; one

[Giving him a chain from her neck. out of fuits with fortune;

That could give more, but that her hand lacks means. Shall we go, coz ?

Cel. Ay:-Fare you well, fair gentleman.

Orla. Can I not say, 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 fortunes: I'll ask him what he would :-Did you call, fir?--Sir, you have wrestled well, and overthrown

More than your enemies.

Cel. Will you go, coz?

Rof. Have with you :-Fare you well.

[Exeunt Rofalind and Celia.

Orla. What paffion hangs these weights upon my tongue? I cannot speak to her, yet fhe urg'd conference.

Enter Le Beau.

O poor Orlando! thou art overthrown ;

Or Charles, or fomething weaker, masters thee.
Le Beau. Good fir, I do in friendship counsel you
To leave this place: Albeit you have deserv❜d
High commendation, true applause, and love;

out of fuits-out of her favour, difmifs'd her fervice.

a quintaine,]-a butt, or mark for military exercises; the ftake of a trophy, which remains, when ftript of all its garniture.

Yet