Clo. Stand you both forth now: stroke your chinnes, and sweare by your beards that I am a knaue
Cel. By our beards (if we had them) thou art
Clo. By my knauerie (if I had it) then I were: but if you sweare by that that is not, you are not forsworn: no more was this knight swearing by his Honor, for he neuer had anie; or if he had, he had sworne it away, before euer he saw those Pancakes, or that Mustard
Cel. Prethee, who is"t that thou means"t?
Clo. One that old Fredericke your Father loues
Ros. My Fathers loue is enough to honor him enough; speake no more of him, you"l be whipt for taxation one of these daies
Clo. The more pittie that fooles may not speak wisely, what Wis.e.m.e.n do foolishly
Cel. By my troth thou saiest true: For, since the little wit that fooles haue was silenced, the little foolerie that wise men haue makes a great shew; Heere comes Monsieur the Beu.
Enter le Beau.
Ros. With his mouth full of newes
Cel. Which he will put on vs, as Pigeons feed their young
Ros. Then shal we be newes-cram"d
Cel. All the better: we shalbe the more Marketable.
Boon-iour Monsieur le Beu, what"s the newes?
Le Beu. Faire Princesse, you haue lost much good sport
Cel. Sport: of what colour?
Le Beu. What colour Madame? How shall I aunswer you?
Ros. As wit and fortune will
Clo. Or as the destinies decrees
Cel. Well said, that was laid on with a trowell
Clo. Nay, if I keepe not my ranke
Ros. Thou loosest thy old smell
Le Beu. You amaze me Ladies: I would haue told you of good wrastling, which you haue lost the sight of
Ros. Yet tell vs the manner of the Wrastling
Le Beu. I wil tell you the beginning: and if it please your Ladiships, you may see the end, for the best is yet to doe, and heere where you are, they are comming to performe it
Cel. Well, the beginning that is dead and buried
Le Beu. There comes an old man, and his three sons
Cel. I could match this beginning with an old tale
Le Beu. Three proper yong men, of excellent growth and presence
Ros. With bils on their neckes: Be it knowne vnto all men by these presents
Le Beu. The eldest of the three, wrastled with Charles the Dukes Wrastler, which Charles in a moment threw him, and broke three of his ribbes, that there is little hope of life in him: So he seru"d the second, and so the third: yonder they lie, the poore old man their Father, making such pittiful dole ouer them, that all the beholders take his part with weeping
Ros. Alas
Clo. But what is the sport Monsieur, that the Ladies haue lost?
Le Beu. Why this that I speake of
Clo. Thus men may grow wiser euery day. It is the first time that euer I heard breaking of ribbes was sport for Ladies
Cel. Or I, I promise thee
Ros. But is there any else longs to see this broken Musicke in his sides? Is there yet another doates vpon rib-breaking? Shall we see this wrastling Cosin?
Le Beu. You must if you stay heere, for heere is the place appointed for the wrastling, and they are ready to performe it
Cel. Yonder sure they are comming. Let vs now stay and see it.
Flourish. Enter Duke, Lords, Orlando, Charles, and Attendants.
Duke. Come on, since the youth will not be intreated His owne perill on his forwardnesse
Ros. Is yonder the man?
Le Beu. Euen he, Madam
Cel. Alas, he is too yong: yet he looks successefully Du. How now daughter, and Cousin: Are you crept hither to see the wrastling?
Ros. I my Liege, so please you giue vs leaue
Du. You wil take little delight in it, I can tell you there is such oddes in the man: In pitie of the challengers youth, I would faine disswade him, but he will not bee entreated. Speake to him Ladies, see if you can mooue him
Cel. Call him hether good Monsieuer Le Beu
Duke. Do so: Ile not be by
Le Beu. Monsieur the Challenger, the Princesse cals for you
Orl. I attend them with all respect and dutie
Ros. Young man, haue you challeng"d Charles the Wrastler?
Orl. No faire Princesse: he is the generall challenger, I come but in as others do, to try with him the strength of my youth
Cel. Yong Gentleman, your spirits are too bold for your yeares: you haue seene cruell proofe of this mans strength, if you saw your selfe with your eies, or knew your selfe with your iudgment, the feare of your aduenture would counsel you to a more equall enterprise. We pray you for your owne sake to embrace your own safetie, and giue ouer this attempt
Ros. Do yong Sir, your reputation shall not therefore be misprised: we wil make it our suite to the Duke, that the wrastling might not go forward
Orl. I beseech you, punish mee not with your harde thoughts, wherein I confesse me much guiltie to denie so faire and excellent Ladies anie thing. But let your faire eies, and gentle wishes go with mee to my triall; wherein if I bee foil"d, there is but one sham"d that was neuer gracious: if kil"d, but one dead that is willing to be so: I shall do my friends no wrong, for I haue none to lament me: the world no iniurie, for in it I haue nothing: onely in the world I fil vp a place, which may bee better supplied, when I haue made it emptie
Ros. The little strength that I haue, I would it were with you