Comedy plays; Exiles -- Drama; Fathers and daughters -- Drama; Pastoral drama
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.
CELIA. Call him hither, good Monsieur Le Beau.
FREDERICK. Do so; I'll not be by.
[DUKE FREDERICK goes apart]
LE BEAU. Monsieur the Challenger, the Princess calls for you.
ORLANDO. I attend them with all respect and duty.
ROSALIND. Young man, have you challeng'd Charles the wrestler?
ORLANDO. No, fair Princess; he is the general challenger. I
come
but in, as others do, to try with him the strength of my
youth.
CELIA. 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.
ROSALIND. 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.
ORLANDO. 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.
ROSALIND. The little strength that I have, I would it were with
you.
CELIA. And mine to eke out hers.
ROSALIND. Fare you well. Pray heaven I be deceiv'd in you!
CELIA. Your heart's desires be with you!
CHARLES. Come, where is this young gallant that is so desirous
to
lie with his mother earth?
ORLANDO. Ready, sir; but his will hath in it a more modest
working.
FREDERICK. You shall try but one fall.
CHARLES. No, I warrant your Grace, you shall not entreat him to
a
second, that have so mightily persuaded him from a first.
ORLANDO. You mean to mock me after; you should not have mock'd
me
before; but come your ways.
ROSALIND. Now, Hercules be thy speed, young man!
CELIA. I would I were invisible, to catch the strong fellow by
the
leg. [They wrestle]
ROSALIND. O excellent young man!
CELIA. If I had a thunderbolt in mine eye, I can tell who
should
down.
[CHARLES is thrown. Shout]
FREDERICK. No more, no more.
ORLANDO. Yes, I beseech your Grace; I am not yet well breath'd.
FREDERICK. How dost thou, Charles?
LE BEAU. He cannot speak, my lord.
FREDERICK. Bear him away. What is thy name, young man?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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