William Shakespeare: As You Like It

ACT I. 2. SCENE II. A Lawn before the DUKE'S Palace. (continued)

LE BEAU.
You must, if you stay here: for here is the place
appointed for the wrestling, and they are ready to perform it.

CELIA.
Yonder, sure, they are coming: let us now stay and see it.

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

DUKE FREDERICK.
Come on; since the youth will not be entreated, his own peril on
his forwardness.

ROSALIND.
Is yonder the man?

LE BEAU.
Even he, madam.

CELIA.
Alas, he is too young: yet he looks successfully.

DUKE FREDERICK.
How now, daughter and cousin? are you crept hither to see the
wrestling?

ROSALIND.
Ay, my liege; so please you give us leave.

DUKE FREDERICK.
You will take little delight in it, I can tell you,
there is such odds in the men. 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.

CELIA.
Call him hither, good Monsieur Le Beau.

DUKE FREDERICK.
Do so; I'll not be by.

[DUKE FREDERICK goes apart.]

LE BEAU.
Monsieur the challenger, the princesses call for you.

ORLANDO.
I attend them with all respect and duty.

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

ORLANDO.
No, fair princess; he is the general challenger: I come
but in, as others do, to try with him the strength of my youth.

CELIA.
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 judgment,
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.