Oli. Give me leave, 'beseech you: I did send, A ring in chase of you; so did I abuse To force that on you, in a shameful cunning, vours to the count's serving man, than ever she be stowed upon me; I saw't i'the orchard. Sir To. Did she see thee the while, old boy? tell me that. Sir And. As plain as I see you now. Sir And. 'Slight! will you make an ass o'me? Which you knew none of yours: What might you of judgment and reason. Have you not set mine honour at the stake, Enough is shown; a cyprus,3 not a bosom, Oli. That's a degree to love. Vio. No, not a grise ;4 for 'tis a vulgar3 proof, Oli. Why, then, methinks, 'tis time to smile again; [Clock strikes. Vio. Oli. Stay: I pr'ythee, tell me, what thou think'st of me. Oli. O, what a deal of scorn looks beautiful A murd'rous guilt shows not itself more soon By maidhood, honour, truth, and every thing, Oli. Yet come again: for thou, perhaps, mays't move That heart, which now abhors, to like his love. SCENE II. A Room in Olivia's House. Enter Sir And. No, faith, I'll not stay a jot longer. Sir And. Marry, I saw your niece do more fa1 i. e. after the enchantment your presence worked in my affections. 2 Ready apprehension. 3 i. e. a thin veil of crape or cyprus. 4 Step 5 Common. 6 In spite of: from the French malgre. 7 The Brownists were so called from Mr. Robert Browne, a noted separatist, in Queen Elizabeth's reign. They seem to have been the constant objects of popular satire. Sir To. And they have been grand jury-men, since before Noah was a sailor. Fab. She did show favour to the youth in you sight, only to exasperate you, to awake your dor mouse valour, to put fire in your heart, and brimstone in your liver: You should then have accosted her; and with some excellent jests, fire-new from the mint, you should have banged the youth into dumbness. This was looked for at your hand, and this was baulked: the double gilt of this opportu nity you let time wash off, and you are now sailea into the north of my lady's opinion; where you will hang like an icicle on a Dutchman's beard, unless you do redeem it by some laudable attempt, either of valour, or policy. Sir And. And't be any way, it must be with valour; for policy I hate: I had as lief be a Brownist as a politician. Sir To. Why then, build me thy fortunes upon the basis of valour. Challenge me the count's youth to fight with him; hurt him in eleven places; my niece shall take note of it: and assure thyself, there is no love-broker in the world can more prevail in man's commendation with woman, than report of valour. Fab. There is no way but this, Sir Andrew. Sir And. Will either of you bear me a challenge to him? Sir To. Go, write it in a martial hand; be curst and brief; it is no matter how witty, so it be eloquent, and full of invention: taunt him with the licence of ink: if thou thou'st9 him some thrice, it shall not be amiss; and as many lies as will lie in thy sheet of paper, although the sheet were big enough for the bed of Ware in England, set 'em down; go, about it. Let there be gall enough in thy ink though thou write with a goose-pen, no matter: About it. Sir And. Where shall I find you? Sir To. We'll call thee at the cubiculo:11 Go. [Eart SIR ANDREW. Fab. This is a dear manakin to you, Sir Toby. Sir To. I have been dear to him, lad; some tw thousand strong, or so. Fab. We shall have a rare letter from him: but you'll not deliver it. Sir To. Never trust me then! and by all means stir on the youth to an answer. I think, oxen and wainropes12 cannot hale them together. For Andrew, if he were opened, and you find so much blood in his liver as will clog the foot of a flea, I'll eat the rest of the anatomy. Fab. And his opposite,13 the youth, bears in his visage no great presage of cruelty. Enter MARIA. Sir To. Look, where the youngest wren of nine14 comes. Mar. If you desire the spleen, and will laugh 8 'Be curst and brief.' Curst is cross, froward, petulant. 9 Shakspeare is thought to have had Lord Coke in his mind, whose virulent abuse of Sir Walter Raleigh on his trial was conveyed in a series of thou's. His resentment against the flagrant conduct of the attorney general on this occasion was probably heightened by the con temptuous manner in which he spoke of players in his charge at Norwich, and the severity he was always willing to exert against them. 10 This curious piece of furniture was a few years since still in being at one of the inns in that town. was reported to be twelve feet square, and capable of It holding twenty-four persons. 11 Chamber. 12 Wagon ropes. 13 i. e. adversary 14 The wren generally lays nine or ten eggs, and the Ant. To the Elephant.- yourselves into sti ches follow me: yon' gull Mal- Sir To. And cross-gartered? Mar. Most villanously; like a pedant that keeps Seb. I would not, by my will, have troubled you; Ant. I could not stay behind you; my desire, Seb. prove My kind Antonio, Ant. To-morrow, sir; best, first, go see your Seb. I am not weary, and 'tis long to night; With the memorials, and the things of fame, Ant. 'Would you'd pardon me; Seb. Do not then walk too open. Ant. It doth not fit me. Hold, sir, here's my I do remember, [Exeuni. SCENE IV. Olivia's Garden. Enter OLIVIA Oli. I have sent after him: He says he'll come : row'd. Where is Malvolio?-he is sad, and civil,4 Mar. He's coming, madam; but in very strange manner. He is sure possessed, madam. Oli. Why, what's the matter? does he rave? Mar. No, madam, he does nothing but smile your ladyship were best to have some guard about you, if he come; for, sure, the man is tainted in his wits. Oli. Go call him hither.-I'm as mad as he, How now, Malvolio ! Mar. Sweet lady, ho, ho. [Smiles fantasticauy. Oli. Smil'st thou? I sent for thee upon a sad3 occasion. Mal. Sad, lady? I could be sad: This does make some obstruction in the blood, this cross-gartering: But what of that, if it please the eye of one, it is with me as the very true sonnet is: Please one, and please all. Oli. Why, how dost thou, man? what is the matter with thee? Mal. Not black in my mind, though yellow in my legs: It did come to his hands, and commands shall be executed. I think, we do know the sweet Roman hand. Oli. Wilt thou go to bed, Malvolio ? Mal. To bed? ay, sweet-heart; and I'll come to thee. Oli. God comfort thee! Why dost thou smile so, and kiss thy hand so oft? Mar. How do you, Malvolio? Mal. At your request? Yes; Nightingales answer daws. Mar. Why appear you with this ridiculous boldness before my lady? Mal. Be not afraid of greatness :-'Twas well writ. Oli. What meanest thou by that, Malvono? Oli. Ha? Mal. Some achieve greatness, Oli. What say'st thou ? Mal. And some have greatness thrust upon them. Mal. Remember, who commended thy yellow stock ings; Oli. Thy yellow stockings? Mal. And wished to see thee cross-gartered. Mel. Go to: thou art made, if thou desirest to be so;know ledge, Ant. Haply, your eye shall light upon some toy Seb. I'll be your purse-bearer, and leave you for last hatched birds are usually the smallest of the brood. The boy who played Maria's part was probably of diminutive size. 1 Alluding to a Map engraved for the English translation of Linschoten's Voyage, published in 1598. This map is multilineal in the extreme, and is the first in which the Eastern Islands are included 2 Wealth, or fortune. Oli. Am I made? Mal. If not, let me see thec a servant still. Ser. Madam, the young gentleman of the count Orsino's is returned; I could hardly entreat him back: he attends your ladyship's pleasure. 3 Lapsed, for lapsing or transgressing. See note on Hamlet, Act iii. Sc. 4. 4' -he is sad and civil. That is serious and grave, or solemn. Thus in Romeo and Juliet :-Come, civil night, Thou sober-suited matron, all in black.' Oli. I'll come to him. [Exit Servant.] Good Maria, let this fellow be looked to. Where's my cousin Toby? Let some of my people have a special care of him; I would not have him miscarry for the half of my dowry. Fab. If this were played upon a stage now, could condemn it as an improbable fiction. Sir To. His very genius hath taken the infection of the device, man. Mar. Nay, pursue him now; lest the device take air, and taint. Fab. Why, we shall make him mad, indeed. [Exeunt OLIVIA and MARIA. Mal. Oh, ho! do you come near me now? no worse man than Sir Toby to look to me? This concurs directly with the letter: she sends him on pur- Sir To. Come, we'll have him in a dark room," pose, that I may appear stubborn to him; for she and bound. My niece is already in the belief that incites me to that in the letter. Cast thy humble he is mad Cast thy humble he is mad; we may carry it thus, for our pleasure, slough, says she; be opposite with a kinsman, surly and his penance, till our very pastime, tired out of with servants,-let thy tongue tang with arguments breath, prompt us to have mercy on him: at which. of state,-put thyself into the trick of singularity;-time, we will bring the device to the bar, and crowr. and, consequently, sets down the manner how; as, a sad face, a reverend carriage, a slow tongue, in the habit of some sir of note, and so forth. I have limed her; but it is Jove's doing, and Jove make me thankful! And, when she went away now, Let this fellow be looked to: Fellow !2 not Malvolio, nor after my degree, but fellow. Why every thing adheres together; that no dram of a scruple, no scruple of a scruple, no obstacle, no incredulous or unsafe circumstance,-What can be said? Nothing that can be, can come between me and the full prospect of my hopes. Well, Jove, not I, is the doer of this, and he is to be thanked. Re-enter MARIA, with SIR TOBY BELCH and Sir To. Which way is he, in the name of sanctity? If all the devils in hell be drawn in little, and Legion himself possessed him, yet I'll speak to him. Fab. Here he is, here he is :-How is't with you, sir? how is't with you, man? Mal. Go off: I discard you; let me enjoy my private; go off. Mar. Lo, how hollow the fiend speaks within him! did not I tell you?-Sir Toby, my lady prays you to have a care of him. Mal. Ah, ha! does she so? you, Sir To. Go to, go to; peace, peace, we must Mal. How now, mistress? Sir To. Pr'ythee, hold thy peace; this is not the way: Do you not see, you move him; let me alone with him. Fab. No way but gentleness; gently, gently; the fiend is rough, and will not be roughly used. Sir To. Why, how now, my bawcock ? how dost thou, chuck? Mal. Sir? Sir To. Ay, biddy, come with me. What, man! 'tis not for gravity to play at cherry-pit4 with Satan: Hang him, foul collier!5 thee for a finder of madmen. But see, but see. Sir And. Ay is it, I warrant him; do but read. Sir To. Wonder not, nor admire not in thy mind, why I do call thee so, for I will show thee no reason for't. Fab. A good note: that keeps you from the blow of the law. Sir To. If this letter move him not, his legs cannot: I'll give't him. Mar. You may have very fit occasion for't; he is now in some commerce with my lady, and will by and by depart. Sir To. Go, Sir Andrew; scout me for him at the corner of the orchard, like a bum-bailiff: so soon as ever thou seest him, draw; and, as thou drawest, swear horrible; for it comes to pass oft, that a terrible oath, with a swaggering accent sharply twanged off, gives manhood more approba tion than ever proof itself would have earned him. Away. Sir And. Nay, let me alone for swearing. [Exit. Sir To. Now will I not deliver his letter: for the behaviour of the young gentleman gives him out to be of good capacity and breeding; his employment between his lord and my niece confirms no less; therefore this letter, being so excellently ignorant, will breed no terror in the youth, he will find it comes from a clodpole. But, sir, Í will deliver his challenge by word of mouth; set upon Ague-cheek a notable report of valour; and drive the gentleman Mar. No, I warrant you, he will not hear of god-(as I know his youth will aptly receive it) into a most hideous opinion of his rage, skill, fury, and Mal. Go, hang yourselves all! you are idle shal-impetuosity. This will so fright them both, that low things: I am not of your element; you shall they will kill one another by the look, like cocka Mar. Get him to say his prayers; good Sir Toby, get him to pray. Mal. My prayers, minx? liness. know more hereafter. Sir To. Is't possible? 1 Caught her as a bird with birdlime. [Exit. trices. 2 Malvolio takes the word in its old favourable sense of companion. 3 See Winter's Tale, Acti. Sc. 5. 4 A play among boys. 5 Collier was in Shakspeare's time a term of the highest reproach. The coal venders were in bad repute, not only from the blackness of their appearance, but that many of them were also great cheats. The devil is called collier for his blackness. Hence the pro 7 It was usual on the First of May to exhibit metrical interludes of the comic kind, as well as other sports, such as the Morris Dance. 8 Adjectives are often used by Shakspeare and his cotemporaries adverbially. Enter OLIVIA and VIOLA. Fab. Here he comes with your niece: give them way, till he take leave, and presently after him. Sir To. I will meditate the while upon some horrid message or a challenge. [Exeunt SIR TOBY, FABIAN, and MARIA. Oli. I have said too much unto a heart of stone, And laid mine honour too unchary1 out: There's something in me, that reproves my fault; But such a headstrong potent fault it is, That it but mocks reproof. Sir To. I will do so. Signior Fabian, stay yʊʊ yo by this gentleman till my return. [Exit SIR TOBY. Vio. Pray you, sir, do you know of this matter? Fab. I know the knight is incensed against you, even to a mortal arbitrement; but nothing of the circumstance more. Vio. I beseech you, what manner of man is he? Fab. Nothing of that wonderful promise, to read him by his form, as you are like to find him in the proof of his valour. He is, indeed, sir, the most skilful, bloody, and fatal opposite that you could Vio. With the same 'haviour that your passion possibly have found in any part of Illyria: Will bears, A fiend, like thee, might bear my soul to hell. [Exit. Sir To. That defence thou hast, betake thee to't: of what nature the wrongs are thou hast done him, I know not; but thy intercepter, full of despight, bloody as the hunter, attends thee at the orchard end: dismount thy tuck,3 be yare in thy preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skilful, and deadly. Vio. You mistake, sir; I am sure no man hath any quarrel to me; my remembrance is very free and cleart rom any image of offence done to any man. Sir To. You'll find it otherwise, I assure you: therefore, if you hold your life at any price, betake you to your guard; for your opposite hath in him what youth, strength, skill, and wrath, can furnish man withal. Vio. I pray you, sir, what is he? Sir To. He is knight, dubbed with unhatched rapier, and on carpet consideration;5 but he is a devil in private brawl: souls and bodies hath he divorced three; and his incensement at this moment is so implacable, that satisfaction can be none but by pangs of death and sepulchre: hob, nob, is his word; give't, or take't. Vio. I will return again into the house, and desire some conduct of the lady. I am no fighter. I have heard of some kind of men, that put quarrels purposely on others, to taste their valour: belike, this is a man of that quirk." Sir To. Sir, no; his indignation derives itself out of a very competent injury; therefore, get you on, and give him his desire. Back you shall not to the house, unless you undertake that with me, which with as much safety you might answer him: therefore on, or strip your sword stark naked; for meddle you must, that's certain, or forswear to wear iron about you. Vio. This is as uncivil as strange. I beseech you, do me this courteous office, as to know of the knight what my offence to him is; it is something of my negligence, nothing of my purpose. 1 Uncautiously. 2 Jewel anciently signified any precious ornament of superfluity. 4 Ready, nimble. 3 Rapier. 5 i. e. he is a carpet-knight not dubbed in the field, but on some peaceable occasion; unhatch'd was probably used in the sense of unhack'd. But perhaps we should read an hatch'd rapier, i. e. a rapier the hilt of which was enriched with silver or gold. 6 A corruption most probably of hab or nab: have or have not, hit or miss at a venture. Quasi, have, or nave, i. e. have not, from the Saxon habban to have; you walk towards him? I will make your peace with him, if I can. Vio. I shall be much bound to you for't: I am one, that would rather go with sir priest, than sir knight: I care not who knows so much of my mettle. [Exeunt Re-enter SIR TOBY, with SIR ANDREW. Sir To. Why, man, he's a very devil;10 I have not seen such a firago. I had a pass with him, rapier, scabbard, and all, and he gives me the stuckin,12 with such a mortal motion, that it is inevitable; and on the answer, he pays you13 as surely as your feet hit the ground they step on: They say, he has been fencer to the Sophy. Sir And. Pox on't, I'll not meddle with him. Sir To. Ay, but he will not now be pacified; Fabian can scarce hold him yonder. Sir And. Plague on't: an I thought he had been valiant and so cunning in fence, I'd have seen him damned ere I'd have challenged him. Let him let the matter slip, and I'll give him my horse, grey Capilet. Sir To. I'll make the motion: stand here, make a good show on't; this shall end without the perdition of souls: Marry, I'll ride your horse as well as I ride you. [Aside. Re-enter FABIAN and VIOLA. the quarrel; I have his horse [to FAB.] to take up I have persuaded him, the youth's a devil. Fab. He is as horribly conceited14 of him; and pants, and looks pale, as if a bear were at his heels. Sir To. There's no remedy, sir; he will fight with you for his oath's sake: marry, he hath better bethought him of his quarrel, and he finds that now scarce to be worth talking of: therefore draw, for the supportance of his vow; he protests, he will not hurt you. Vio. Pray God defend me! A little thing would make me tell them how much I lack of a man. [Aside. Fab. Give ground, if you see him furious. Sir To. Come, Sir Andrew, there's no remedy; the gentleman will, for his honour's sake, have one bout with you; he cannot by the duello's avoid it; but he has promised me, as he is a gentleman and a soldier, he will not hurt you. Come on: to't. Sir And. Pray God, he keep his oath! [Draws. Enter ANTONIO. Vio. I do assure you, 'tis against my will. [Draws. Ant. Put up your sword;—If this young gentle man Have done offence, I take the fault on me; If you offend him, I for him defy you. [Drawing Sir To. You, sir? why, what are you Ant. One sir, that for his love dares yet do more Than you have heard him brag to you he will. nabban, not to have. So, in Holinshed's description of Ireland, 'The citizens in their rage shot habbe or nabbe.” 7 Sort. 8 Decision. 9 Adversary. 10 Shakspeare may have caught a hint for this scene from the behaviour of Sir John Dow and Sir A. La Foole in Jonson's Silent Woman, which was printed ir 1609. 11 Firago, for virago. The meaning appears to be, I have never seen the most furious woman so obstreperous and violent as he is. 12 A corruption of stoccata, an Italian term in fencing 13 i.. hits you. 14 He has a horrid conception of him 15 Laws of duel 1 Of. No, sir, no jot; I know your favour well. Though now you have no sea-cap on your head.— Take him away; he knows, I know him well. Ant. I must obey.--This comes with seeking you; But there's no remedy; I shall answer it. What will you do? Now my necessity Makes me to ask you for my purse: It grieves me Much more, for what I cannot do for you, Than what befalls myself. You stand amaz'd; But be of comfort. 2 Off. Come, sir, away. Ant. I must entreat of you some of that money. Vio. What money, sir? For the fair kindness you have show'd me here, I'll lend you something: my having2 is not much; Ant. Will you deny me now? Is't possible, that my deserts to you Can lack persuasion? Do not tempt my misery, As to upbraid you with those kindnesses I know of none; Vio. Nor know I you by voice, or any feature : I hate ingratitude more in a man, Than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness, Or any taint of vice, whose strong corruption Inhabits our frail blood. Ant. O heavens themselves!· 2 Off, Come, sir, I pray you go. Ant. Let me speak a little. This youth that see here, I snatch'd one half out of the jaws of death; you 1 Of What's that to us? The time goes by; away. Ant. But, O, how vile an idol proves this god! Thou hast, Sebastian, done good feature shame.— In nature there's no blemish, but the mind None can be call'd deform'd, but the unkind : Virtue is beauty; but the beauteous-evil Are empty trunks, o'erflourished3 by the devil. 1 Off. The man grows mad; away with him. Come, come, sir. Ant. Lead me on. [Exeunt Officers with ANT. Vio. Methinks, his words do from such passion fly, That he believes himself; so do not I.4 l'rove true, imagination, O, prove true, That I, dear brother, be now ta'en for you! Sir To. Come hither, knight; come hither, Fabian; we'll whisper o'er a couplet or two of most sage saws. Vio. He nam❜d Sebastian; I my brother know Yet living in my glass;5 even such, and So, In favour was my brother; and he went Still in this fashion, colour, ornament, For him I imitate; O, if it prove, Tempests are kind, and salt waves fresh in love! [Exit coward than a hare: his dishonesty appears, in Sir To. A very dishonest paltry boy, and more a leaving his friend here in necessity, and denying him; and for his cowardice, ask Fabian. Fab. A coward, a most devout coward, religious in it. Sir And. 'Slid, I'll after him again, and beat him. Sir To. Do, cuff him soundly, but never draw thy sword. Sir And. An I do not. Fab. Come, let's see the event. [Exit. Sir To. I dare lay any money, 'twill be nothing yet. [Exeunt. ACT IV.--SCENE I. The Street before Olivia's House. Enter SEBASTIAN and Clown. Clo. Will you make me believe that I am not sent for you? Seb. Go to, go to, thou art a foolish fellow; Let me be clear of thee. Clo. Well held out, i'faith! No, I do not know you; nor am I not sent to you by my lady, to bid you come speak with her; nor your name is not master Cesario; nor this is not my nose neither.is so. Nothing, that is so, Seb. I pr'ythee, vent thy folly somewhere else; Thou know'st not me. Clo. Vent my folly! He has heard that word of some great man, and now applies it to a fool. Vent my folly! I am afraid this great lubber, the world, will prove a cockney.--I pr'ythee now, ungird thy strangeness, and tell me what I shall vent to my lady; Shall I vent to her, that thou art coming? Seb. I pr'ythee, foolish Greek, depart from me, There's money for thee; for thee; if you tarry longer. I shall give worse payment. 6 Clo. By my troth, thou hast an open hand: These wise men that give fools money, get them selves a good report after fourteen years' purchase." Enter SIR ANDREW, SIR TOBY, and FABIAN. Sir And. Now, sir, have I met you again? there's for you. [Striking SEBASTIAN. Seb. Why, there's for thee, and there, and there: Are all the people mad! [Beating SIR ANDREW. Sir To. Hold, sir, or I'll throw your dagger o'er the house. Clo. This will I tell my lady straight; I would not be in some of your coats for two-pence. Sir To. Come on, sir; hold. [Exit Clown. [Holding SEBASTIAN, Sir And. Nay, let him alone; I'll go another way to work with him; I'll have an action of battery against him, if there be any law in Iliyria: though I struck him first, yet its no matter for that. Seb. Let go thy hand. Sir To. Come, sir, I will not let you go. Come, my young soldier, put up your iron: you are well fleshed; come on. Seb. I will be free from thee. What wouldst thou now? If thou dar'st tempt me further, draw thy sword. [Draws. Sir To. What, what! Nay, then I must have an ounce or two of this malapert blood from you. [Draws. 6 A merry Greek, or a foolish Greek were ancient proverbial expressions applied to boon companions, good fellows, as they were called who spent their time in riotous mirth. Whether the Latin pergræcari, of the same import, furnished the phrase or not, it was in use in France and Italy as well as in England. 7 i. e. at a very extravagant price, twelve years' pur chase being then the current price of estates. |