Duke.
Marshall, have you demanded of the Champions

The Cause of their Arrival here, in Arms?

Marsh.
My Liege, I have, each hath accused the other,
As a false Traitor to his King and Country,
They are appointed equal, search'd and sworn,
Each to defend the Justice of his Cause.

Duke.
Then let them enter—

Marsh.
Trumpets, sound a Call,—
And summon both the Champions to the Lists. Trumpets sound, Enter at opposite Doors Orlando and Charles.

Char.
Grant me the Combat, my most gracious Liege.

Orl.
And me, my Lord, grant me the Combat too.

Duke.
Say, Gentlemen, what makes you thus exclaim?
And wherefore claim you Combat, and with whom?

Char.
First Heaven be the Record to my Speech,
In the Devotion of a Subject's Love,
And free from other misbegotten Hate,
Come I, appellant to my Royal Master.
  Now young Orlando do I turn to thee,
And mark my Greeting well, for what I speak
My Body shall make good upon this Earth,
Or my divine Soul answer it in Heaven.
  Thou art a Traitor and a Miscreant,
And wish (so please my Sovereign) e're I move,
What my Tongue speaks, my right drawn sword may prove.

Orl.
Let not my cooler Words accuse my Zeal,
'Tis not the Trial of a Woman's War,
The bitter Clamour of two eager Tongues,
Can arbitrate this Cause between us two,
The Blood is hot that must be shed for this.
  First, the fair Reverence of this Presence curbs me
From giving Reins and Freedom to my Speech,

Else would I doubly thus in Virtue bold,
Return the Traitor, and the Miscreant;
And add a slanderous Coward, and a Villain:
Which to maintain, I wou'd allow him Odds,
And meet him, tho' oblig'd to run on Foot
Ev'n to the frozen Ridges of the Alps,
Or any other Ground inhabitable,
Where ever honest Man durst set a Foot.

Cæ. aside to Ros.

How gracefully he deliver'd his Words, with an honest Warmth and Modesty.

Ros.

And yet with a Spirit right and brave as Hercules.

Cæ.

If he acquits himself as well with his Sword.

Ros.

Doubt it not, doubt it not.

Marsh.
On Pain of Death no Person be so bold,
Or daring hardy as to touch the Lists,
Except the Marshall, and such Officers,
Appointed to direct these fair Designs.

Ros. to Cæ.

Ah Cælia! I am not concern'd in this Quarrel, am I? No, no, and yet my Heart says otherwise, wou'd I were invisible, to hold that Fencer's Arm but a Moment.

Cæ.

If I had a Thunder-bolt in my Hand I cou'd tell who should fall.

Marsh.

Sound Trumpets, and set forward Combatants.

Char.
Come, Sir, I'll whip you from your foining Fence,
Spight of your May of Youth and Bloom of Blood.

Orl.
You promise well, come on, Sir, this to try
How well your Acts and Words agree. [they fight, [Charles is wounded by Orlando, and falls.

Duke.
Part 'em—No more of this;
He bleeds, he faints, how doest thou, Charles.

Le-Beu.
He can not speak, my Liege,

Duke,
Bear him away; What is thy Name young Man?

Orl.
Orlando, Sir, a younger Son of Sir Rowland du Bois.

Duke.
I wou'd thou hadst been Son to some Man else,
The World esteem'd thy Father honourable,
But I did find him still mine Enemy;
Thou shouldst have better pleas'd me with this Deed,
Hadst thou descended from another House;
But fare thee well, thou art a gallant Youth:
I wou'd thou hadst told me of another Father.
Now break we up the Lists; Marshal, Record
The Appeal, and the Success. [Exit Duke and Attendants. Orlando, Cælia, Rosalind, Le-Beu.

Orl.
Yes, I am proud to be Sir Rowland's Son,
His younger Son, nor wou'd I change that Name,
To be adopted Heir to Frederick.

Ros. to Cæ.
My Father lov'd Sir Rowland as his Soul,
And all the World was of my Father's Mind;
Had I before known this young Man, his Son,
I should have added Tears unto my Wishes
For his Success.

Cæ.
—Gentle Cousin,
Let us go thank him, and encourage him,
My Father's rough and envious Disposition
Sticks me at Heart: [to Orl.] Sir, you have well deserv'd,
If you do keep your Promises in Love,
But justly, as you have exceeded all in Prowess,
Your Mistress will be happy.

Ros.

Sir, you will wear this for me:

One out of Fortune's Favour that wou'd give more, but that her Hand lack Means. Shall we go, Cousin?

Cæ.

Aye!—Fare you well, Sir.

Orl.
Can I not say, I thank you? My better Parts
Are all thrown down, and that which here stands up
Is but a Statue, a meer Lifeless Block.

Ros. returning.
He calls us back: My Pride fell with my Fortunes,
I'll ask him what he wou'd—Did you call, Sir?
Sir, you have fought it well, and overthrown
More than your Enemies.

Cæ.
Will you go, Cousin?

Ros.
Have with you—Fare you well. [Exeunt Cælia and Rosalind. Orlando, Le-Beu.

Orl.
What Passion hangs these Weights upon my Tongue,
I cannot speak to her, yet she urged Conference,
Oh! poor Orlando, thou art overthrown,
And something, weaker than Charles, masters thee.
I pray ye tell me, Sir, which of these Ladies
Is Daughter to the Duke?

Le-Beu.
Neither his Daughter, if we judge by Manners;
But yet, indeed, the taller is his Daughter,
The other is Daughter to the banish'd Duke,
And here detain'd by her usurping Uncle
To keep his Daughter Company, whose Loves
Are dearer than the natural Bond of Sisters:
But I can tell you, that of late this Duke
Hath ta'en Displeasure against his gentle Niece,
Grounded upon no other Argument
But that the People praise her for her Virtues,
And pity her for her good Father's Sake;
And, on my Life, his Malice 'gainst the Lady
Will suddenly break forth: Sir, fare you well
Hereafter in a better World than this,
I shall desire more Love and Knowledge of you. [Exeunt.

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