SCENE V.
Enter Le Beu.
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-cram'd.
Cel.
All the better, we shall be the more marketable.
Bon jour, Monsieur le Beu; what news?
Le Beu.
Fair Princess, you have lost much good
Sport.
Cel.
Sport; of what colour?
Le Beu.
What colour, Madam? How shall I answer
you?
Ros.
As wit and fortune will.
Clo.
Or as the destinies decree.
Cel.
Well said; that was laid on with a trowel.2 note
Clo.
Nay, if I keep not my rank,—
Ros.
Thou losest thy old smell.
Le Beu.
You amaze me, ladies.3 note I would have
-- 14 --
told you of good wrestling, which you have lost the
sight of.
Ros.
Yet tell us the manner of the wrestling.
Le Beu.
I will tell you the beginning, and, if it please
your Ladyships, you may see the end, 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 Beu.
There comes an old man and his three
sons,—
Cel.
I could match this beginning with an old tale.
Le Beu.
Three proper young men, of excellent
growth and presence;—
Ros.
With bills on their necks: Be it known unto
all men by these presents,4 note
—
Le Beu.
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 serv'd 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!
-- 15 --
Clo.
But what is the Sport, Monsieur, that the ladies
have lost?
Le Beu.
Why this, that I speak of.
Clo.
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 5 note
is there any else longs to see this broken
musick in his sides? is there yet another doats upon
rib-breaking? Shall we see this wrestling, Cousin?
Le Beu.
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.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].