English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600; Greene, Robert, 1558-1592
_Ralph._ Foh, come, let's go home again: he'll set _probatum est_ upon
my head-piece anon.
_Orl._ No, no, thou shalt not be hurt,--nor thee.
Back, soldiers; look where the enemy is.
_Tom._ Captain, they have a woman amongst them.
_Orl._ And what of that?
_Tom._ Why, strike you down the men, and then let me alone to thrust in
the woman.
_Orl._ No, I am challengèd the single fight.--
Sirrah, is't you challenge me the combat?
_Brand._ Frantic companion, lunatic and wood,[157]
Get thee hence, or else I vow by heaven,
Thy madness shall not privilege thy life.
_Orl._ I tell thee, villain, Medor wrong'd me so,
Sith thou art come his champion to the field,
I'll learn thee know I am the Palatine.
_Alarum: they fight;_ ORLANDO _kills_ BRANDIMART; _and all the rest
fly, except_ ANGELICA _and_ ORGALIO.
_Org._ Look, my lord, here's one killed.
_Orl._ Who killed him?
_Org._ You, my lord, I think.
_Orl._ I! no, no, I see who killed him.
[_Goes to_ ANGELICA, _and knows her not._
Come hither, gentle sir, whose prowess hath performed such an act:
think not the courteous Palatine will hinder that thine honour hath
achieved.--Orgalio, fetch me a sword, that presently this squire may be
dubbed a knight.
_Ang._ [_aside_]. Thanks, gentle fortune, that sends me such good hap,
Rather to die by him I love so dear,
Than live and see my lord thus lunatic.
_Org._ [_giving a sword_]. Here, my lord.
_Orl._ If thou be'st come of Lancelot's worthy line, welcome thou art.
Kneel down, sir knight; rise up, sir knight;
Here, take this sword, and hie thee to the fight.
[_Exit_ ANGELICA _with the sword._
Now tell me, Orgalio, what dost thou think? will not this knight prove
a valiant squire?
_Org._ He cannot choose, being of your making.
_Orl._ But where's Angelica now?
_Org._ Faith, I cannot tell.
_Orl._ Villain, find her out,
Or else the torments that Ixion feels,
The rolling stone, the tubs of the Belides--[158]
Villain, wilt thou find her out?
_Org._ Alas, my lord, I know not where she is.
_Orl._ Run to Charlemagne, spare for no cost;
Tell him, Orlando sent for Angelica.
_Org._ Faith, I'll fetch you such an Angelica as you never saw before.
[_Exit._
_Orl._ As though that Sagittarius in his pride
Could take brave Leda from stout Jupiter!
And yet, forsooth, Medor, base Medor durst
Attempt to reave Orlando of his love.
Sirrah, you that are the messenger of Jove,
You that can sweep it through the milk-white path
That leads unto the senate-house of Mars,
Fetch me my shield temper'd of purest steel,
My helm forg'd by the Cyclops for Anchises' son
And see if I dare combat for Angelica.
_Re-enter_ ORGALIO _with_ TOM[159] _dressed like_ ANGELICA.
_Org._ Come away, and take heed you laugh not.
_Tom._ No, I warrant you; but I think I had best go back and shave my
beard.
_Org._ Tush, that will not be seen.
_Tom._ Well, you will give me the half-crown ye promised me?
_Org._ Doubt not of that, man.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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