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Flourish. Enter DUKE FREDERICK, Lords, ORLANDO, CHARLES, and Attendants.

Duke F. Come on: since the youth will not be entreated, his own peril on his forwardness.

Ros. Is yonder the man?

Le Beau. Even he, madam.

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Cel. Alas, he is too young! yet he looks successfully. Duke F. How now, daughter and cousin! are you crept hither to see the wrestling?

Ros. Ay, my liege, so please you give us leave.

149

Duke F. You will take little delight in it, I can tel you; 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.

Cel. Call him hither, good Monsieur Le Beau.
Duke F. Do so: I'll not be by.

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Le Beau. Monsieur the challenger, the princesses call for you.

Orl. I attend them with all respect and duty.

Ros. Young man, have you challenged Charles the wrestler?

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Orl. No, fair princess; 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 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 judgement, 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.

171

Ros. 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.

Orl. 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 foiled, there is but one shamed that was never gracious; if killed, 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.

Ros. The little strength that I have, I would it were with you.

Cel. And mine, to eke out hers.

186

Ros. Fare you well: pray heaven I be deceived in you!

Cel. Your heart's desires be with you!

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Cha. Come, where is this young gallant that is so desirous to lie with his mother earth?

Orl. Ready, sir; but his will hath in it a more modest working.

Duke F. You shall try but one fall.

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Cha. No, I warrant your grace, you shall not entreat him to a second, that have so mightily persuaded him from a first.

Orl. An you mean to mock me after, you should not have mocked me before: but come your ways.

200

Ros. Now Hercules be thy speed, young man! Cel. I would I were invisible, to catch the strong fellow by the leg.

Ros. O excellent young man!

[They wrestle.

204

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

Duke F. No more, no more.

[Shout. Charles is thrown.

Orl. Yes, I beseech your grace: I am not yet well breathed.

Duke F. How dost thou, Charles?

Le Beau. He cannot speak, my lord.

Vese Duke F. Bear him away.

man?

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What is thy name, young

Orl. Orlando, my liege; the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys.

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Duke F. I would thou hadst been son to some man else:

The world esteemed thy father honorable,

But I did find him still mine enemy:

Thou shouldst have better pleased me with this deed,

Hadst thou descended from another house.

But fare thee well; thou art a gallant youth:

I would thou hadst told me of another father.

220

[Exeunt Duke Fred., train, and Le Beau.

Cel. Were I my father, coz, would I do this?
Orl. I am more proud to be Sir Rowland's son,

His youngest son; and would not change that calling,

To be adopted heir to Frederick.

Ros. My father loved Sir Rowland as his soul,

And all the world was of my father's mind:
Had I before known this young man his son,

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Yes, I beseech your grace: I am not yet well breathed.

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