to a niece of King Gorboduck, that that is, is: fo I being Mr. Parfon, am Mr. Parfon; for what is that, but that? and is, but is?

Sir To. To him, Sir Topas.

Clo. What, hoa, I fay, peace in this prifon!

Sir To. The knave counterfeits well; a good knave. Mal. Who calls there? [Malvolio within. Clo. Sir Topas the curate, who comes to vifit Malvalio the lunatick.

Mal. Sir Topas, Sir Topas, good Sir Topas, go to my lady.

Clo. Out, hyperbolical fiend, how vexeft thou this man?

Talkeft thou of nothing but ladies?

Sir To. Well faid, mafter Parfon.

Mal. Sir Topas, never was man thus wrong'd; good Sir Topas, do not think I am mad; they have laid me here in hideous darknefs.

Clo. Fy, thou difhoneft fathan; I call thee by the most modeft terms; for I am one of thofe gentle ones, that will use the devil himfelf with curtefy: fay'st thou, that houfe is dark?

Mal. As hell, Sir Topas.

Clo. Why, it hath bay-windows tranfparent as baricadoes, and the clear ftones towards the fouth-north are as luftrous as ebony; and yet complaineft thou of obftruction?

Mal, I am not mad, Sir Topas; I fay to you, this houfe is dark.

Clo. Madman, thou erreft; I fay, there is no darknefs but ignorance; in which thou art more puzzled than the Egyptians in their fog.

Mal. I fay, this houfe is as dark as ignorance, though ignorance were as dark as hell; and I fay, there was never man thus abus'd; I am no more mad

maxims, whatsoever is, is; and it is impoffible for the fame thing

to be and not to be: with much trifling of the like kind. WARE.

0.

than you are, make the tryal of it in any conftant queftion 2.

Clo. What is the opinion of Pythagoras concerning wild-fowl?

Mal. That the foul of our grandam might happily inhabit a bird.

Clo. What think'st thou of his opinion?

Mal. I think nobly of the foul, and no way approve of his opinion.

Clo. Fare thee well: remain thou still in darkness; thou shalt hold the opinion of Pythagoras, ere I will allow of thy wits; and fear to kill a woodcock, lest thou difpoffefs the foul of thy grandam. Fare thee well.

Mal. Sir Topas, Sir Topas!

Sir To. My most exquifite Sir Topas!

Clo. Nay, I am for all waters 3.

Mar. Thou might'ft have done this without thy beard and gown; he fees thee not.

Sir To. To him in thine own voice, and bring me word how thou find'ft him: I would, we were all rid of this kravery. If he may be conveniently deliver'd, I would, he were; for I am now fo far in offence with my niece, that I cannot purfue with any fafety this fport to the upfhot. Come by and by to my chamber. [Exit with Maria.

Clo. Hey Robin, jolly Robin, tell me how my lady does.

Mal. Fool

Clo. My lady is unkind, perdie.

= Conftant queflion.] A fettled, a determinate, a regular queftion.

3 Nay, I am for all waters.] A phrafe taken from the actor's ability of making the audience

[Singing.

cry either with mirth or grief.

WARBURTON.

I rather think this expreffion borrowed from fportfmen, and relating to the qualifications of a complete fpaniel.

Mal.

: Mal. Fool,

Clo. Alas, why is fhe fo?

Mal. Fool, I fay;

Clo. She loves another-who calls, ha?

Mal. Good fool, as ever thou wilt deferve well at my hand, help me to a candle, and pen, ink, and paper; as I am a gentleman, I will live to be thankful to thee for't..

Clo. Mr. Malvolio!

Mal. Ay, good fool.

Clo. Alas, Sir, how fell you befides your five wits? Mal. Fool, there was never man fo notorioufly abus'd; I am as well in my wits, fool, as thou art.

Clo. But as well! then thou art mad, indeed, if you be no better in your wits than a fool.

Mal. They have here * propertied me; keep me in darknefs, fend minifters to me, affes, and do all they can to face me out of my wits.

Clo. Advise you what you say: the minifter is here. Malvolio, Malvolio, thy wits the heav'ns reftore: endeavour thyfelf to fleep, and leave thy vain bibble babble.

Mal. Sir Topas,

Clo. Maintain no words with him, good fellow.— Who, I, Sir? not, I, Sir. God b'w'you, good Sir Topas

Marry, amen.-I will, Sir, I will.

Mal. Fool, fool, fool, I fay.

Clo. Alas, Sir, be patient. What fay you, Sir? I am fhent for fpeaking to you.

Mal. Good fool, help me to fome light, and fome paper; I tell thee, I am as well in my wits, as any man in Illyria.

4 Propertied me.] They have taken poffeffion of me as of a man unable to look to himfelf.

* Here the Clown in the dark acts two perfons, and counterfeits, by variation of voice, a

dialogue between himself and Sir Topas.I will, Sir, I will, is fpoken after a pause, as if, in the mean time, Sir Topas had whispered.

Clo.

Clo. Well-a-day-that you were, Sir!

Mal. By this hand, I am. Good fool, fome ink, paper and light; and convey what I fet down to my Lady: It fhall advantage thee more than ever the bearing of letter did.

Clo. I will help you to't. But tell me true, are you not mad, indeed, or do you but counterfeit ?

5

Mal. Believe me, I am not: I tell thee true. Clo. Nay, I'll ne'er believe a mad-man, 'till I fee his brains. I will fetch you light, and paper, and

ink.

Mal. Fool, I'll requite it in the highest degree; I pr'ythee, be gone.

Clo. I am gone, Sir, and anon, Sir,
I'll be with you again

In a trice, like to the old vice *,

Your need to fuftain:

[Singing.

Who with dagger of lath, in his rage, and his wrath,

Cries, ah, ha! to the devil:

Like a mad lad, pair thy nails, dad,

Seb.

Adieu, good man drivel.

SCENE V.

[Exit.

Changes to another apartment in Olivia's Houfe.

TH

Enter Sebaftian.

HIS is the air, that is the glorious fun; This pearl fhe gave me, I do feel't and fee't.

And though 'tis wonder that enwraps me thus,
Yet 'tis not madness. Where's Antonio then?
I could not find him at the Elephant;

Yet there he was, and there I found this credit",
That he did range the town to feek me out.
His counfel now might do me golden fervice;
For tho' my foul disputes well with my sense,
That this may be fome error, but no madness;
Yet doth this accident and flood of fortune
So far exceed all inftance, all discourse ';
That I am ready to diftruft mine eyes,

And wrangle with my reason that perfuades me
To any other truft *, but that I'm mad;

Or elfe the Lady's mad; yet if 'twere so,

She could not sway her house, command her followers,
Take and give back affairs, and their difpatch,
With fuch a fmooth, difcreet, and ftable bearing,
As, I perceive, fhe does: there's fomething in't,
That is deceivable. But here fhe comes.

Enter Olivia and Prieft.

Oli. Blame not this hafte of mine: if you mean