or if he had, he had sworn it away before ever he saw those pancakes or that mustard. Cel. Prithee, who is 't that thou meanest ? Touch. One that old Frederick, your father, loves. Cel. My father's love is enough to honour him : enough! speak no more of him; you'll be whipped 90 for taxation one of these days. Touch. The more pity, that fools may not speak wisely what wise men do foolishly. Cel. By my troth, thou sayest true; for since the little wit that fools have was silenced, the little foolery that wise men have makes a great show. Here comes Monsieur Le Beau. Ros. With his mouth full of news. Cel. Which he will put on us, as pigeons feed their young. Ros. Then shall we be news-crammed. Cel. All the better; we shall be the more marketable. 100 Enter LE BEAU. Bon jour, Monsieur Le Beau: what's the news? Le Beau. Fair princess, you have lost much good sport. Cel. Sport! of what colour? Le Beau. What colour, madam! how shall I answer you? Ros. As wit and fortune will. Touch. Or as the Destinies decree. Cel. Well said: that was laid on with a trowel. 89. my father's love. The Folios, by an oversight, allot this speech to Rosalind. 91. taxation, abusive speech. 99. put on us, deliver to us. 110 107. colour, nature, kind. In Lear, ii. 2. 145, 'This is a fellow of the self-same colour Our sister speaks of'; the Qq have nature. Touch. Nay, if I keep not my rank, Ros. Thou losest thy old smell. Le Beau. You amaze me, ladies: I would have told you of good wrestling, which you have lost the sight of. Ros. Yet tell us the manner of the wrestling, Le Beau. I will tell you the beginning; and, if it please your ladyships, you may see the end; 120 for the best 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 sons, Cel. I could match this beginning with an old tale. Le Beau. Three proper young men, of excellent growth and presence. Ros. With bills on their necks, 'Be it known unto all men by these presents.' Le Beau. The eldest of the three wrestled with Charles, the duke's wrestler; which Charles in a moment threw him and broke three of his ribs, that there is little hope of life in him: so he served the second, and so the third. Yonder they lie; the poor old man, their father, making such pitiful dole over them that all the beholders take his part with weeping. Ros. Alas! 130 140 as coming to Ganimede and tices. 2 I Touch. But what is the sport, monsieur, that the ladies have lost? Le Beau. Why, this that I speak of. Touch. Thus men may grow wiser every day: it is the first time that ever I heard breaking of ribs was sport for ladies. Cel. Or I, I promise thee. Ros. But is there any else longs to see this broken music in his sides? is there yet another 150 dotes upon rib-breaking? Shall we see this wrestling, cousin? 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, sure, they are coming: let us now stay and see it. Flourish. Enter DUKE FREDERICK, Lords, 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. 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. 160 Duke F. You will take little delight in it, I can tell you; there is such odds in the man. In pity of the challenger's youth I would fain dis- 170 150. broken music, properly, music in parts, performed by different instruments, orchestral music; also called 'consort music,' as being produced by a consort' of instruments. suade 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. 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 ? Orl. No, fair princess; he is the general chal- 180 lenger: 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. 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. 192. be misprised, suffer disparagement. 190 200 Ros. The little strength that I have, I would it were with you. Cel. And mine, to eke out hers. Ros. Fare you well: pray heaven I be deceived in you! Cel. Your heart's desires be with you! 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. Cha. No, I warrant your grace, you shall not entreat him to a second, that have so mightily persuaded him from a first. 210 Orl. An you mean to mock me after, you should 220 not have mocked me before: but come your ways. Ros. Now Hercules be thy speed, young man! Cel. I would I were invisible, to catch the strong fellow by the leg. [They wrestle. Ros. O excellent young man ! 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. Duke F. Bear him away. What is thy name, young man? Orl. Orlando, my liege; the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys. 215. working, intention. 217. An example of 'irony,' rare in the comedies; Charles's words being fulfilled in a sense he does not suspect. 230 220. An; Theobald's correction. The Ff read You mean, etc. |