The Junior Classics, Volume 5: Stories that never grow old
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The Junior Classics, Volume 5: Stories that never grow old
Children's literature
The banished duke's daughter, Rosalind, remained with Celia,
Frederick's daughter, and the two loved each other more than most
sisters. One day there was a wrestling match at court, and
Rosalind and Celia went to see it. Charles, a celebrated wrestler,
was there, who had killed many men in contests of this kind.
Orlando, the young man he was to wrestle with, was so slender and
youthful, that Rosalind and Celia thought he would surely be
killed, as others had been; so they spoke to him, and asked him
not to attempt so dangerous an adventure; but the only effect of
their words was to make him wish more to come off well in the
encounter, so as to win praise from such sweet ladies.
Orlando, like Rosalind's father, was being kept out of his
inheritance by his brother, and was so sad at his brother's
unkindness that, until he saw Rosalind, he did not care much
whether he lived or died. But now the sight of the fair Rosalind
gave him strength and courage, so that he did marvelously, and at
last, threw Charles to such a tune, that the wrestler had to be
carried off the ground. Duke Frederick was pleased with his
courage, and asked his name.
"My name is Orlando, and I am the youngest son of Sir Rowland de
Boys," said the young man.
Now Sir Rowland de Boys, when he was alive, had been a good friend
to the banished duke, so that Frederick heard with regret whose
son Orlando was, and would not befriend him. But Rosalind was
delighted to hear that this handsome young stranger was the son of
her father's old friend, and as they were going away, she turned
back more than once to say another kind word to the brave young
man.
"Gentleman," she said, giving him a chain from her neck, "wear
this for me. I could give more, but that my hand lacks means."
Rosalind and Celia, when they were alone, began to talk about the
handsome wrestler, and Rosalind confessed that she loved him at
first sight.
"Come, come," said Celia, "wrestle with thy affections."
"Oh," answered Rosalind, "they take the part of a better wrestler
than myself. Look, here comes the duke."
"With his eyes full of anger," said Celia.
"You must leave the court at once," he said to Rosalind. "Why?" she
asked.
"Never mind why," answered the duke, "you are banished. If within
ten days you are found within twenty miles of my court, you die."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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