Chapter XX: Act I

SCENE I. _An apartment in the_ DUKE'S _palace_.

_Enter_ DUKE, CURIO, _and other_ Lords; Musicians _attending_.

_Duke._ If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.
That strain again! it had a dying fall:
O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound, 5
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odour! Enough; no more:
'Tis not so sweet now as it was before.
O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou!
That, notwithstanding thy capacity 10
Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there,
Of what validity and pitch soe'er,
But falls into abatement and low price,
Even in a minute! so full of shapes is fancy,
That it alone is high fantastical. 15

_Cur._ Will you go hunt, my lord?

_Duke._ What, Curio?

_Cur._ The hart.

_Duke._ Why, so I do, the noblest that I have:
O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first,
Methought she purged the air of pestilence! 20
That instant was I turn'd into a hart;
And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,
E'er since pursue me.

_Enter_ VALENTINE.

How now! what news from her?

_Val._ So please my lord, I might not be admitted;
But from her handmaid do return this answer: 25
The element itself, till seven years' heat,
Shall not behold her face at ample view;
But, like a cloistress, she will veiled walk
And water once a day her chamber round
With eye-offending brine: all this to season 30
A brother's dead love, which she would keep fresh
And lasting in her sad remembrance.

_Duke._ O, she that hath a heart of that fine frame
To pay this debt of love but to a brother,
How will she love, when the rich golden shaft 35
Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else
That live in her; when liver, brain and heart,
These sovereign thrones, are all supplied, and fill'd
Her sweet perfections with one self king!
Away before me to sweet beds of flowers: 40
Love-thoughts lie rich when canopied with bowers.
[_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

TWELFTH NIGHT] TWELFE NIGHT F1.

Musicians ...] Musick ... Capell. om. Ff.

[2, 3] _surfeiting, The appetite may_] _surfeiting The app'tite, Love
may_ Warburton.

[5] _sound_] Ff. _wind_ Rowe (ed. 1). _south_ Pope. _sou' wind_ Anon.
conj. _scent_ Dent MS. apud Halliwell. _sough_ Anon. conj.

[11] _sea_,] Rowe (ed. 2). _sea_. Ff. _sea_; Rowe (ed. 1).

[14] _is fancy_] _in fancy_ Theobald (Warburton).

[15] That it alone is] _And thou all o'er art_ Hanmer.

_high_] _hight_ Warburton.

[16] _Curio_] _Curia_ F4.

[19] _mine_] _my_ Pope (ed. 2).

[20] _Methought_ ... _pestilence!_] (_Methought_ ... _pestilence_)
Capell.

[23] _E'er_] Rowe. _Ere_ F1 F2 F4. _E're_ F3.

Enter V.] Ff (_after her_).

[26] _years' heat_] Harness. _yeares heate_ F1 F2. _yeares heat_ F3.
_years heat_ F4. _years hence_ Rowe (ed. 2). See note (II).

[29] _chamber_] F1. _chambers_ F2 F3 F4. _chamber's_ Capell.

[32] _remembrance_] _remembrance still_ Pope, _rememberance_ Capell
conj. MS.

[38] _These_] _Three_ Hanmer (Warburton).

[38, 39] _are ... fill'd Her ... perfections_] _are ... fill'd_, (_O
sweet perfection!_) Warburton conj. _are ... filled_, _Her ...
perfections_, Pope. _are ... fill'd_, (_Her sweet perfection_) Capell.
her ... perfections Are ... fill'd Collier conj.

[39] _self_] _selfe_ F1. _selfe same_ F2. _self same_ F3. _self-same_
F4.

[41] _Love-thoughts_] F1 F2 F3. _Love thoughts_ F4.

SCENE II. _The sea-coast._

_Enter_ VIOLA, _a_ Captain, _and_ Sailors.

_Vio._ What country, friends, is this?

_Cap._ This is Illyria, lady.

_Vio._ And what should I do in Illyria?
My brother he is in Elysium.
Perchance he is not drown'd: what think you, sailors? 5

_Cap._ It is perchance that you yourself were saved.

_Vio._ O my poor brother! and so perchance may he be.

_Cap._ True, madam: and, to comfort you with chance,
Assure yourself, after our ship did split,
When you and those poor number saved with you 10
Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother,
Most provident in peril, bind himself,
Courage and hope both teaching him the practice,
To a strong mast that lived upon the sea;
Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back, 15
I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves
So long as I could see.

_Vio._ For saying so, there's gold:
Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope,
Whereto thy speech serves for authority, 20
The like of him. Know'st thou this country?

_Cap._ Ay, madam, well; for I was bred and born
Not three hours' travel from this very place.

_Vio._ Who governs here?

_Cap._ A noble Duke, in nature as in name. 25

_Vio._ What is his name?

_Cap._ Orsino.

_Vio._ Orsino! I have heard my father name him:
He was a bachelor then.

_Cap._ And so is now, or was so very late; 30
For but a month ago I went from hence,
And then 'twas fresh in murmur,--as, you know,
What great ones do the less will prattle of,--
That he did seek the love of fair Olivia.

_Vio._ What's she? 35

_Cap._ A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count
That died some twelvemonth since; then leaving her
In the protection of his son, her brother,
Who shortly also died: for whose dear love,
They say, she hath abjured the company 40
And sight of men.

_Vio._ O that I served that lady,
And might not be delivered to the world,
Till I had made mine own occasion mellow,
What my estate is!

_Cap._ That were hard to compass;
Because she will admit no kind of suit, 45
No, not the Duke's.

_Vio._ There is a fair behaviour in thee, captain;
And though that nature with a beauteous wall
Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee
I will believe thou hast a mind that suits 50
With this thy fair and outward character.
I prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I'll serve this Duke: 55
Thou shalt present me as an eunuch to him:
It may be worth thy pains; for I can sing,
And speak to him in many sorts of music,
That will allow me very worth his service.
What else may hap to time I will commit; 60
Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.

_Cap._ Be you his eunuch, and your mute I'll be:
When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see.

_Vio._ I thank thee: lead me on. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

SCENE II.: The sea-coast] Capell. The street. Rowe.

[2] _This is_] om. Pope.

[7] _and so_] _so_ Pope.

[10] _those_] _that_ Rowe (ed. 2). _this_ Capell. _the_ Anon. conj.

[11] _our_] _your_ Rowe.

_driving_] _droving_ F3 F4.

[15] _Arion_] Pope. _Orion_ Ff.

[18] _For ... gold_] _There's gold for saying so_ Pope.

[21] _Know'st_] _And knowest_ Hanmer.

[24-27] _Who ... Orsino_] As two lines in Hanmer, ending _nature ...
Orsino._

[25] _in name_] _in his name_ Hanmer.

[29-35] _He was ... she?_] As six lines in Steevens (1793), ending,
_now, ... month ... fresh ... do, ... seek ... she?_

[37] _twelvemonth_] _twelve months_ Rowe.

[39] _love_] _loss_ S. Walker conj.

[40] _hath_] F1. _had_ F2 F3 F4.

[40, 41] _company And sight_] Hanmer. _sight And company_ Ff.

[42] _And_] _And't_ Hanmer.

_delivered_] _deliver'd_ Rowe.

[43] _mellow_,] Hanmer. _mellow_ Ff. _fellow_ Anon. conj.

[50] _will_] _weil_ S. Walker conj.

SCENE III. OLIVIA'S _house._

_Enter_ Sir TOBY BELCH _and_ MARIA.

_Sir To._ What a plague means my niece, to take the death
of her brother thus? I am sure care's an enemy to life.

_Mar._ By my troth, Sir Toby, you must come in earlier
o' nights: your cousin, my lady, takes great exceptions to
your ill hours. 5

_Sir Toby._ Why, let her except, before excepted.

_Mar._ Ay, but you must confine yourself within the
modest limits of order.

_Sir To._ Confine! I'll confine myself no finer than I
am: these clothes are good enough to drink in; and so be 10
these boots too: an they be not, let them hang themselves
in their own straps.

_Mar._ That quaffing and drinking will undo you: I
heard my lady talk of it yesterday; and of a foolish knight
that you brought in one night here to be her wooer. 15

_Sir To._ Who, Sir Andrew Aguecheek?

_Mar._ Ay, he.

_Sir To._ He's as tall a man as any's in Illyria.

_Mar._ What's that to the purpose?

_Sir To._ Why, he has three thousand ducats a year. 20

_Mar._ Ay, but he'll have but a year in all these ducats:
he's a very fool and a prodigal.

_Sir To._ Fie, that you'll say so! he plays o' the viol-de-gamboys,
and speaks three or four languages word for word
without book, and hath all the good gifts of nature. 25

_Mar._ He hath indeed, almost natural: for besides
that he's a fool, he's a great quarreller; and but that he
hath the gift of a coward to allay the gust he hath in quarrelling,
'tis thought among the prudent he would quickly
have the gift of a grave. 30

_Sir To._ By this hand, they are scoundrels and substractors
that say so of him. Who are they?

_Mar._ They that add, moreover, he's drunk nightly in
your company.

_Sir To._ With drinking healths to my niece: I 'll drink 35
to her as long as there is a passage in my throat and drink
in Illyria: he's a coward and a coystrill that will not drink
to my niece till his brains turn o' the toe like a parish-top.
What, wench! Castiliano vulgo; for here comes Sir Andrew
Agueface. 40

_Enter_ Sir ANDREW AGUECHEEK.

_Sir And._ Sir Toby Belch! how now, Sir Toby Belch!

_Sir To._ Sweet Sir Andrew!

_Sir And._ Bless you, fair shrew.

_Mar._ And you too, sir.

_Sir To._ Accost, Sir Andrew, accost. 45

_Sir And._ What's that?

_Sir To._ My niece's chambermaid.

_Sir And._ Good Mistress Accost, I desire better acquaintance.

_Mar._ My name is Mary, sir. 50

_Sir And._ Good Mistress Mary Accost,--

_Sir To._ You mistake, knight: 'accost' is front her, board
her, woo her, assail her.

_Sir And._ By my troth, I would not undertake her in
this company. Is that the meaning of 'accost'? 55

_Mar._ Fare you well, gentlemen.

_Sir To._ An thou let part so, Sir Andrew, would thou
mightst never draw sword again.

_Sir And._ An you part so, mistress, I would I might
never draw sword again. Fair lady, do you think you have 60
fools in hand?

_Mar._ Sir, I have not you by the hand.

_Sir And._ Marry, but you shall have; and here's my
hand.

_Mar._ Now, sir, 'thought is free': I pray you, bring your 65
hand to the buttery-bar and let it drink.

_Sir And._ Wherefore, sweet-heart? what's your metaphor?

_Mar._ It's dry, sir.

_Sir And._ Why, I think so: I am not such an ass but I 70
can keep my hand dry. But what's your jest?

_Mar._ A dry jest, sir.

_Sir And._ Are you full of them?

_Mar._ Ay, sir, I have them at my fingers' ends: marry,
now I let go your hand, I am barren. [_Exit._ 75

_Sir To._ O knight, thou lackest a cup of canary: when
did I see thee so put down?

_Sir And._ Never in your life, I think; unless you see
canary put me down. Methinks sometimes I have no more
wit than a Christian or an ordinary man has: but I am a 80
great eater of beef and I believe that does harm to my wit.

_Sir To._ No question.

_Sir And._ An I thought that, I'ld forswear it. I'll ride
home to-morrow, Sir Toby.

_Sir To._ Pourquoi, my dear knight? 85

_Sir And._ What is 'pourquoi'? do or not do? I would
I had bestowed that time in the tongues that I have in
fencing, dancing and bear-baiting: O, had I but followed
the arts!

_Sir To._ Then hadst thou had an excellent head of 90
hair.

_Sir And._ Why, would that have mended my hair?

_Sir To._ Past question; for thou seest it will not curl
by nature.

_Sir And._ But it becomes me well enough, does't not? 95

_Sir To._ Excellent; it hangs like flax on a distaff; and
I hope to see a housewife take thee between her legs and
spin it off.

_Sir And._ Faith, I'll home to-morrow, Sir Toby: your
niece will not be seen; or if she be, it's four to one she'll 100
none of me: the count himself here hard by woos her.

_Sir To._ She'll none o' the count: she'll not match
above her degree, neither in estate, years, nor wit; I have
heard her swear't. Tut, there's life in't, man.

_Sir And._ I'll stay a month longer. I am a fellow o' 105
the strangest mind i' the world; I delight in masques and
revels sometimes altogether.

_Sir To._ Art thou good at these kickshawses, knight?

_Sir And._ As any man in Illyria, whatsoever he be,
under the degree of my betters; and yet I will not compare 110
with an old man.

_Sir To._ What is thy excellence in a galliard, knight?

_Sir And._ Faith, I can cut a caper.

_Sir To._ And I can cut the mutton to't.

_Sir And._ And I think I have the back-trick simply as 115
strong as any man in Illyria.

_Sir To._ Wherefore are these things hid? wherefore
have these gifts a curtain before 'em? are they like to take
dust, like Mistress Mall's picture? why dost thou not go to
church in a galliard and come home in a coranto? My 120
very walk should be a jig; I would not so much as make
water but in a sink-a-pace. What dost thou mean? Is it
a world to hide virtues in? I did think, by the excellent
constitution of thy leg, it was formed under the star of a
galliard. 125

_Sir And._ Ay, 'tis strong, and it does indifferent well
in a flame-coloured stock. Shall we set about some revels?

_Sir To._ What shall we do else? were we not born
under Taurus?

_Sir And._ Taurus! That's sides and heart. 130

_Sir To._ No, sir; it is legs and thighs. Let me see thee
caper: ha! higher: ha, ha! excellent! [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

SCENE III.: OLIVIA'S house.] Rowe.

[4] _o'_] Capell. _a_ Ff.

_cousin_] _neice_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[6] _except_,] Ff. _except_ Hanmer.

_before_] _as before_ Rann (Farmer conj.).

[11] _an_] Theobald. _and_ Ff. _if_ Pope.

[18] _any's_] _any_ Pope.

[20] _has_] F3 F4. _ha's_ F1 F2.

[23, 24] _viol-de-gamboys_] _viol-de-gambo_ Rowe.

[26] _indeed, almost_] _indeed all_, _most_ Collier (Upton conj.).

[28] _gust_] _gift_ Meredith conj.

[31] _substractors_] _subtractors_ Warburton.

[33] _that add, moreover,_] _add, moreover, that_ Anon. conj.

[36] _there is_] _there's_ Pope (ed. 2).

[37] _coystrill_] _coystril_ F4. _kestrel_ Hanmer.

[39] _vulgo_] _volto_ Hanmer (Warburton). _volgo_ Johnson.

[40] _Agueface_] _Auge-cheek_ Theobald.

[41] SCENE IV. Pope.

Enter ...] Enter Sir Andrew. Ff.

[48] Sir And.] Ma. F1.

_acquaintance_] _acquaintance_-- S. Walker conj. See note (III).

[51] _Mary Accost_] Rowe. _Mary, accost_ Ff.

[52, 53] _board her_] _bourd her_ Whalley conj. _bourd with her_
Steevens conj.

[57] _An thou let part_] Capell. _And thou let part_ F1 F2. _And thou
let her part_ F3 F4. _If thou let her part_ Pope. _An thou let her
part_ Theobald.

[59] _An_] Theobald. _And_ Ff. _If_ Pope.

[65] _Now_] _Nay_ S. Walker conj.

[74] _Fingers'_] _fingers_ F1 F2. _finger_ F3 F4. _finger's_ Steevens.

[75] [Exit.] Exit Maria. Ff.

[79] _put me_] F1. _put_ F2 F3 F4.

[80] _has_] F4. _ha's_ F1 F2 F3.

[83] _An_] Theobald. _And_ Ff. _If_ Pope.

[85] _Pourquoi_] _Pur-quoy_ Ff.

[93, 94] _curl by_] Theobald. _cool my_ Ff.

[95] _me_] _we_ F1.

[101, 102] _count_] Ff. _Duke_ Rowe.

[104] _swear't_] _sweare t_ F1. _sweare_ F2. _swear_ F3 F4. _swear it_
Theobald.

[108] _kickshawses_] F3. _kicke-chawses_ F1 F2. _kick-shaws_ F4.

[111] _an old man_] _a nobleman_ Theobald conj.

[112] _excellence_] _excellence?_ Mason conj.

[115] [Dances fantastically. Collier (Collier MS.).

[120] _coranto_] Rowe (ed. 2). _carranto_ Ff.

[122] _sink-a-pace_] _cinque-pace_ Hanmer.

[123] _think_] _not think_ Rowe.

[127] _in a_] _in_ Warburton.

_flame-coloured_] Rowe (ed. 2). _dam'd colour'd_ Ff. _damask-coloured_
Knight. _dun-colour'd_ Collier MS. _damson-coloured_ Phelps conj.
_dove-coloured_ Anon. conj.

_stock_] _stocke_ F1 F2. stocken F3 F4. _stocking_ Pope.

_set_] Rowe (ed. 2). _sit_ Ff.

[130] _That's_] F3 F4. _That_ F1 F2.

[132] [Sir A. dances again. Collier (Collier MS.).

SCENE IV. _The_ DUKE'S _palace._

_Enter_ VALENTINE, _and_ VIOLA _in man's attire._

_Val._ If the Duke continue these favours towards you,
Cesario, you are like to be much advanced: he hath known
you but three days, and already you are no stranger.

_Vio._ You either fear his humour or my negligence,
that you call in question the continuance of his love: is he 5
inconstant, sir, in his favours?

_Val._ No, believe me.

_Vio._ I thank you. Here comes the count.

_Enter_ DUKE, CURIO, _and_ Attendants.

_Duke._ Who saw Cesario, ho?

_Vio._ On your attendance, my lord; here. 10

_Duke._ Stand you a while aloof. Cesario,
Thou know'st no less but all; I have unclasp'd
To thee the book even of my secret soul:
Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her;
Be not denied access, stand at her doors, 15
And tell them, there thy fixed foot shall grow
Till thou have audience.

_Vio._ Sure, my noble lord,
If she be so abandon'd to her sorrow
As it is spoke, she never will admit me.

_Duke._ Be clamorous and leap all civil bounds 20
Rather than make unprofited return.

_Vio._ Say I do speak with her, my lord, what then?

_Duke._ O, then unfold the passion of my love,
Surprise her with discourse of my dear faith:
It shall become thee well to act my woes; 25
She will attend it better in thy youth
Than in a nuncio's of more grave aspect.

_Vio._ I think not so, my lord.

_Duke._ Dear lad, believe it;
For they shall yet belie thy happy years,
That say thou art a man: Diana's lip 30
Is not more smooth and rubious; thy small pipe
Is as the maiden's organ, shrill and sound;
And all is semblative a woman's part.
I know thy constellation is right apt
For this affair. Some four or five attend him; 35
All, if you will; for I myself am best
When least in company. Prosper well in this,
And thou shalt live as freely as thy lord,
To call his fortunes thine.

_Vio._ I'll do my best
To woo your lady: [_Aside_] yet, a barful strife! 40
Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife. [_Exeunt._

LINENOTES:

SCENE IV.] SCENE V. Pope.

The DUKE'S palace.] The Palace. Rowe.

[8] _count_] Ff. _Duke_ Rowe.

[9] Enter ...] Ff (after line 7).

CURIO, and Attendants.] attended. Capell.

[27] _nuncio's_] Ff. _nuncio_ Theobald.

[32] _and sound_] _in sound_ ANON. conj.

[40] _lady_] _lady_ [Exit Duke] Johnson.

[_Aside_] Capell.

_a barful_] F4. _a barrefull_ F1 F2 F3. _O baneful_ Pope. _O barful_
Collier (Thirlby conj. MS.), _a woeful_ Daniel conj.

SCENE V. OLIVIA'S _house._

_Enter_ MARIA _and_ CLOWN.

_Mar._ Nay, either tell me where thou hast been, or I
will not open my lips so wide as a bristle may enter in way
of thy excuse: my lady will hang thee for thy absence.

_Clo._ Let her hang me: he that is well hanged in this
world needs to fear no colours. 5

_Mar._ Make that good.

_Clo._ He shall see none to fear.

_Mar._ A good lenten answer: I can tell thee where that
saying was born, of 'I fear no colours.'

_Clo._ Where, good Mistress Mary? 10

_Mar._ In the wars; and that may you be bold to say
in your foolery.

_Clo._ Well, God give them wisdom that have it; and
those that are fools, let them use their talents.

_Mar._ Yet you will be hanged for being so long absent; 15
or, to be turned away, is not that as good as a
hanging to you?

_Clo._ Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage;
and, for turning away, let summer bear it out.

_Mar._ You are resolute, then? 20

_Clo._ Not so, neither; but I am resolved on two points.

_Mar._ That if one break, the other will hold; or, if
both break, your gaskins fall.

_Clo._ Apt, in good faith; very apt. Well, go thy way;
if Sir Toby would leave drinking, thou wert as witty a 25
piece of Eve's flesh as any in Illyria.

_Mar._ Peace, you rogue, no more o' that. Here comes
my lady: make your excuse wisely, you were best. [_Exit._

_Clo._ Wit, an't be thy will, put me into good fooling!
Those wits, that think they have thee, do very oft prove 30
fools; and I, that am sure I lack thee, may pass for a wise
man: for what says Quinapalus? 'Better a witty fool than
a foolish wit.'

_Enter_ Lady OLIVIA _with_ MALVOLIO.

God bless thee, lady!

_Oli._ Take the fool away. 35

_Clo._ Do you not hear, fellows? Take away the lady.

_Oli._ Go to, you're a dry fool; I'll no more of you: besides,
you grow dishonest.

_Clo._ Two faults, madonna, that drink and good counsel
will amend: for give the dry fool drink, then is the fool not 40
dry: bid the dishonest man mend himself; if he mend, he is
no longer dishonest; if he cannot, let the botcher mend him.
Any thing that's mended is but patched: virtue that transgresses
is but patched with sin; and sin that amends is but
patched with virtue. If that this simple syllogism will serve, 45
so; if it will not, what remedy? As there is no true cuckold
but calamity, so beauty's a flower. The lady bade take
away the fool; therefore, I say again, take her away.

_Oli._ Sir, I bade them take away you.

_Clo._ Misprision in the highest degree! Lady, cucullus 50
non facit monachum; that's as much to say as I wear not
motley in my brain. Good madonna, give me leave to
prove you a fool.

_Oli._ Can you do it?

_Clo._ Dexteriously, good madonna. 55

_Oli._ Make your proof.

_Clo._ I must catechize you for it, madonna: good my
mouse of virtue, answer me.

_Oli._ Well, sir, for want of other idleness, I 'll bide your
proof. 60

_Clo._ Good madonna, why mournest thou?

_Oli._ Good fool, for my brother's death.

_Clo._ I think his soul is in hell, madonna.

_Oli._ I know his soul is in heaven, fool.

_Clo._ The more fool, madonna, to mourn for your brother's 65
soul being in heaven. Take away the fool,
gentlemen.

_Oli._ What think you of this fool, Malvolio? doth he
not mend?

_Mal._ Yes, and shall do till the pangs of death shake 70
him: infirmity, that decays the wise, doth ever make the
better fool.

_Clo._ God send you, sir, a speedy infirmity, for the
better increasing your folly! Sir Toby will be sworn that
I am no fox; but he will not pass his word for two pence 75
that you are no fool.

_Oli._ How say you to that, Malvolio?

_Mal._ I marvel your ladyship takes delight in such a
barren rascal: I saw him put down the other day with an
ordinary fool that has no more brain than a stone. Look 80
you now, he's out of his guard already; unless you laugh
and minister occasion to him, he is gagged. I protest, I
take these wise men, that crow so at these set kind of fools,
no better than the fools' zanies.

_Oli._ O, you are sick of self-love, Malvolio, and taste 85
with a distempered appetite. To be generous, guiltless and
of free disposition, is to take those things for bird-bolts that
you deem cannon-bullets: there is no slander in an allowed
fool, though he do nothing but rail; nor no railing in a
known discreet man, though he do nothing but reprove. 90

_Clo._ Now Mercury endue thee with leasing, for thou
speakest well of fools!

_Re-enter_ MARIA.

_Mar._ Madam, there is at the gate a young gentleman
much desires to speak with you.

_Oli._ From the Count Orsino, is it? 95

_Mar._ I know not, madam: 'tis a fair young man, and
well attended.

_Oli._ Who of my people hold him in delay?

_Mar._ Sir Toby, madam, your kinsman.

_Oli._ Fetch him off, I pray you; he speaks nothing but 100
madman: fie on him! [_Exit Maria._] Go you, Malvolio:
if it be a suit from the count, I am sick, or not at home;
what you will, to dismiss it. [_Exit Malvolio._] Now you
see, sir, how your fooling grows old, and people dislike it.

_Clo._ Thou hast spoke for us, madonna, as if thy eldest son 105
should be a fool; whose skull Jove cram with brains! for,--here
he comes,--one of thy kin has a most weak pia mater.

_Enter_ Sir TOBY.

_Oli._ By mine honour, half drunk. What is he at the
gate, cousin?

_Sir To._ A gentleman. 110

_Oli._ A gentleman! what gentleman?

_Sir To._ 'Tis a gentleman here--a plague o' these pickle-herring!
How now, sot!

_Clo._ Good Sir Toby!

_Oli._ Cousin, cousin, how have you come so early by 115
this lethargy?

_Sir To._ Lechery! I defy lechery. There's one at the gate.

_Oli._ Ay, marry, what is he?

_Sir To._ Let him be the devil, an he will, I care not:
give me faith, say I. Well, it's all one. [_Exit._ 120

_Oli._ What's a drunken man like, fool?

_Clo._ Like a drowned man, a fool and a mad man: one
draught above heat makes him a fool; the second mads
him; and a third drowns him.

_Oli._ Go thou and seek the crowner, and let him sit o' 125
my coz; for he's in the third degree of drink, he's drowned:
go, look after him.

_Clo._ He is but mad yet, madonna; and the fool shall
look to the madman. [_Exit._

_Re-enter_ MALVOLIO.

_Mal._ Madam, yond young fellow swears he will speak 130
with you. I told him you were sick; he takes on him to
understand so much, and therefore comes to speak with
you. I told him you were asleep; he seems to have a
foreknowledge of that too, and therefore comes to speak
with you. What is to be said to him, lady? he's fortified 135
against any denial.

_Oli._ Tell him he shall not speak with me.

_Mal._ Has been told so; and he says, he'll stand at
your door like a sheriff's post, and be the supporter to a
bench, but he'll speak with you. 140

_Oli._ What kind o' man is he?

_Mal._ Why, of mankind.

_Oli._ What manner of man?

_Mal._ Of very ill manner; he'll speak with you, will
you or no. 145

_Oli._ Of what personage and years is he?

_Mal._ Not yet old enough for a man, nor young enough
for a boy; as a squash is before 'tis a peascod, or a codling
when 'tis almost an apple: 'tis with him in standing water,
between boy and man. He is very well-favoured and he 150
speaks very shrewishly; one would think his mother's milk
were scarce out of him.

_Oli._ Let him approach: call in my gentlewoman.

_Mal._ Gentlewoman, my lady calls. [_Exit._

_Re-enter_ MARIA.

_Oli._ Give me my veil: come, throw it o'er my face. 155
We'll once more hear Orsino's embassy.

_Enter_ VIOLA, _and_ Attendants.

_Vio._ The honourable lady of the house, which is she?

_Oli._ Speak to me; I shall answer for her. Your will?

_Vio._ Most radiant, exquisite and unmatchable beauty,--I
pray you, tell me if this be the lady of the house, for I 160
never saw her: I would be loath to cast away my speech,
for besides that it is excellently well penned, I have taken
great pains to con it. Good beauties, let me sustain no
scorn; I am very comptible, even to the least sinister usage.

_Oli._ Whence came you, sir? 165

_Vio._ I can say little more than I have studied, and
that question's out of my part. Good gentle one, give me
modest assurance if you be the lady of the house, that I
may proceed in my speech.

_Oli._ Are you a comedian? 170

_Vio._ No, my profound heart: and yet, by the very
fangs of malice I swear, I am not that I play. Are you
the lady of the house?

_Oli._ If I do not usurp myself, I am.

_Vio._ Most certain, if you are she, you do usurp your-self; 175
for what is yours to bestow is not yours to reserve. But
this is from my commission: I will on with my speech in
your praise, and then show you the heart of my message.

_Oli._ Come to what is important in't: I forgive you the
praise. 180

_Vio._ Alas, I took great pains to study it, and 'tis
poetical.

_Oli._ It is the more like to be feigned: I pray you, keep
it in. I heard you were saucy at my gates, and allowed
your approach rather to wonder at you than to hear you. 185
If you be not mad, be gone; if you have reason, be brief:
'tis not that time of moon with me to make one in so skipping
a dialogue.

_Mar._ Will you hoist sail, sir? here lies your way.

_Vio._ No, good swabber; I am to hull here a little 190
longer. Some mollification for your giant, sweet lady.
Tell me your mind: I am a messenger.

_Oli._ Sure, you have some hideous matter to deliver,
when the courtesy of it is so fearful. Speak your office.

_Vio._ It alone concerns your ear. I bring no overture 195
of war, no taxation of homage: I hold the olive in my
hand; my words are as full of peace as matter.

_Oli._ Yet you began rudely. What are you? what
would you?

_Vio._ The rudeness that hath appeared in me have I 200
learned from my entertainment. What I am, and what I
would, are as secret as maidenhead; to your ears, divinity,
to any other's, profanation.

_Oli._ Give us the place alone: we will hear this divinity.
[_Exeunt Maria and Attendants._] Now, sir, what is your text? 205

_Vio._ Most sweet lady,--

_Oli._ A comfortable doctrine, and much may be said of
it. Where lies your text?

_Vio._ In Orsino's bosom.

_Oli._ In his bosom! In what chapter of his bosom? 210

_Vio._ To answer by the method, in the first of his heart.

_Oli._ O, I have read it: it is heresy. Have you no more
to say?

_Vio._ Good madam, let me see your face.

_Oli._ Have you any commission from your lord to negotiate 215
with my face? You are now out of your text: but
we will draw the curtain and show you the picture. Look
you, sir, such a one I was this present: is't not well done?
[_Unveiling._

_Vio._ Excellently done, if God did all.

_Oli._ 'Tis in grain, sir; 'twill endure wind and weather. 220

_Vio._ 'Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white
Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on:
Lady, you are the cruell'st she alive,
If you will lead these graces to the grave
And leave the world no copy. 225

_Oli._ O, sir, I will not be so hard-hearted; I will give
out divers schedules of my beauty: it shall be inventoried,
and every particle and utensil labelled to my will: as,
item, two lips, indifferent red; item, two grey eyes, with
lids to them; item, one neck, one chin, and so forth. Were 230
you sent hither to praise me?

_Vio._ I see you what you are, you are too proud;
But, if you were the devil, you are fair.
My lord and master loves you: O, such love
Could be but recompensed, though you were crown'd 235
The nonpareil of beauty!

_Oli._ How does he love me?

_Vio._ With adorations, fertile tears,
With groans that thunder love, with sighs of fire.

_Oli._ Your lord does know my mind; I cannot love him:
Yet I suppose him virtuous, know him noble, 240
Of great estate, of fresh and stainless youth;
In voices well divulged, free, learn'd and valiant;
And in dimension and the shape of nature
A gracious person: but yet I cannot love him;
He might have took his answer long ago. 245

_Vio._ If I did love you in my master's flame,
With such a suffering, such a deadly life,
In your denial I would find no sense;
I would not understand it.

_Oli._ Why, what would you?

_Vio._ Make me a willow cabin at your gate, 250
And call upon my soul within the house;
Write loyal cantons of contemned love
And sing them loud even in the dead of night;
Halloo your name to the reverberate hills
And make the babbling gossip of the air 255
Cry out 'Olivia!' O, you should not rest
Between the elements of air and earth,
But you should pity me!

_Oli._ You might do much.
What is your parentage?

_Vio._ Above my fortunes, yet my state is well: 260
I am a gentleman.

_Oli._ Get you to your lord;
I cannot love him: let him send no more;
Unless, perchance, you come to me again,
To tell me how he takes it. Fare you well:
I thank you for your pains: spend this for me. 265

_Vio._ I am no fee'd post, lady; keep your purse:
My master, not myself, lacks recompense.
Love make his heart of flint that you shall love;
And let your fervour, like my master's, be
Placed in contempt! Farewell, fair cruelty. [_Exit._ 270

_Oli._ 'What is your parentage?'
'Above my fortunes, yet my state is well:
I am a gentleman.' I'll be sworn thou art;
Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions, and spirit,
Do give thee five-fold blazon: not too fast: soft, soft! 275
Unless the master were the man. How now!
Even so quickly may one catch the plague?
Methinks I feel this youth's perfections
With an invisible and subtle stealth
To creep in at mine eyes. Well, let it be. 280
What ho, Malvolio!

_Re-enter_ MALVOLIO.

_Mal._ Here, madam, at your service.

_Oli._ Run after that same peevish messenger,
The county's man: he left this ring behind him,
Would I or not: tell him I'll none of it.
Desire him not to flatter with his lord, 285
Nor hold him up with hopes; I am not for him:
If that the youth will come this way to-morrow,
I'll give him reasons for't: hie thee, Malvolio.

_Mal._ Madam, I will. [_Exit._

_Oli._ I do I know not what, and fear to find 290
Mine eye too great a flatterer for my mind.
Fate, show thy force: ourselves we do not owe;
What is decreed must be, and be this so. [_Exit_.

LINENOTES:

SCENE V.] SCENE VI. Pope.

OLIVIA'S house.] Rowe.

[5] _to fear_] _fear_ F3 F4.

_colours_] _collars_ Anon. conj.

[8] _lenten_] Rowe. _lenton_ Ff.

[16] _to be_] F1. _be_ F2 F3 F4.

[18] _Many_] _Marry_, Theobald.

[19] _turning away_] _turning o' hay_ Smith conj. _turning of whey_
Letherland conj.

[20, 28] _You_] _Your_ F2.

[23] _gaskins_] _gaskings_ F4.

[28] [Exit.] Pope. om. Ff.

[29] SCENE VII. Pope.

_an't_] Hanmer. _and 't_ Ff.

_good_] _a good_ Warburton.

[34] Enter ...] Ff (after line 28). Enter O. attended. Capell.

[37] _you're_] _y'are_ Ff.

[39] _madonna_] _Madona_ Ff., and passim.

[46] _cuckold_] _counsellor_ Hanmer.

[51] _to say as I wear_] _to say, as I were_ F4. _as to say, as I
were_ Rowe (ed. 1). _as to say, I wear_ Id. (ed. 2).

[55] _Dexteriously_] _Dexterously_ F4.

[58] _mouse_] _muse_ Anon. conj.

_answer me_] _answer_ F3 F4.

[59] _bide_] _abide_ Steevens (1785).

[65] _fool_] F1 F2. _fool you_ F3 F4.

[71, 72] _the better_] Ff. _better the_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[80] _brain_] _brains_ F3 F4.

[83] _these_] _those_ Hanmer.

_wise men_] F3 F4. _wisemen_ F1 F2.

[84] _no better_] _to be no better_ Capell.

[86] _guiltless_] F3 F4. _guitlesse_ F1 F2. _guileless_ ANON. conj.

[91] _leasing_] _learning_ Rowe. _pleasing_ Warburton.

[93] Re-enter M.] Enter M. Ff.

[95, 102] _Count_] _Duke_ Hanmer.

[99] _kinsman_] _uncle_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[101] Exit Maria] Capell.

[103] Exit Malvolio] Ff.

_Now you_] _Now_ Rowe.

[106, 107] _for,--here he comes_,--] Edd. _for here he comes_ Ff. _for
here comes_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[107] _has_] _that has_ Collier MS.

[108] SCENE VIII. Pope.

Enter ...] Ff (after _comes_, line 107).

[109] _cousin_] _uncle_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[112] _gentleman here_--] Steevens. _gentleman heere._ F1. _gentleman
here._ F2 F3 F4. _gentleman. Here_,--[belches.] Theobald.
_gentleman-heir_ Warburton. _gentleman_:--[hiccups.] Capell.

[113] _herring_] _herrings_ Malone.

[115] _Cousin, cousin_] _Uncle, uncle_ Rowe.

[119] _an_] Hanmer. _and_ Ff.

[125] _crowner_] _coroner_ Rowe.

[126] _coz_] _uncle_ Rowe (ed. 2). _cousin_ Capell conj.

[129] Exit.] Exit Clown. Rowe.

Re-enter M.] Enter M. Ff.

[130] _yond_] Ff. _you'_ Capell.

[138] _Has_] _Ha's_ Ff. _He has_ Pope.

[139] _and be_] _or be_ Hanmer.

_to_] _of_ Reed (1803).

[141] _o'_] _of_ Steevens.

[144] _manner_] F1 F2. _manners_ F3 F4.

[149] _in_] _e'en_ Capell.

[155] SCENE IX. Pope.

Re-enter M.] Enter M. Ff.

[157] VIOLA] VIOLENTA. F1.

... and Attendants.] Edd. om.

[164] _comptible_] _prompt_ Hanmer. _domptable_ Mason conj.

[169] _my_] om. F3 F4.

[172] _fangs_] _phangs_ Ff. _pangs_ Rowe (ed. 1).

[184] _and_] _and I_ Pope.

[186] _not mad_] _mad_ Rann (Mason conj.). _but mad_ Collier (ed. 2,
Staunton conj.).

[187] _that time of moon_] Ff. _the time of the moon_ Rowe. _that time
of the moon_ Pope.

[192] _Tell ... messenger_] Oli. _Tell ... mind._ Vio. _I ...
messenger_ Hanmer (Warburton). See note (IV).

[196] _taxation_] F1 F2 F3. _taxations_ F4.

_olive_] Rowe. _Olyffe_ F1 F2 F3. _Oliff_ F4.

[202] _secret as maidenhead_] _sacred as maidhood_ Theobald conj.

_maidenhead_] F1. _a maiden-heard_ F2. _a maidenhead_ F3 F4.
_maidenhood_ Collier MS.

[203] _other's_] Pope (ed. 2). _others_ Ff.

[205] Exeunt M. and Attendants.] Capell. Exit M. Rowe.

[208] _your text_] _the text_ Rowe.

[218] _such ... is't_] _such a one I wear this present: is't_ Theobald
(Warburton). _such a one I was. This presence, is't_ Steevens conj.
_such as once I was, this presents: is't_ Rann (Mason conj). _such a
one I was, this presents_ Becket conj. _such a one as I was this
presents, is't_ Jackson conj. _such a one as I was this present: is't_
Boswell. _such a one I was as this presents: is't_ Singer conj. _such
a one I am at this present: is't_ Collier MS.

[Unveiling.] Rowe.

[231] _praise_] '_praise_ Steevens (Malone).

[235] _Could_] _Should_ Collier MS.

[237] _adorations, fertile_] _adorations, fertill_ Ff. _adorations,
with fertile_ Pope. _adoration's fertile_ Rann. See note (V).

[244] _but_] om. Pope.

[249] _would you?_] _would you do?_ Rowe.

[252] _cantons_] _cantos_ Rowe (ed. 2). _canzons_ Capell.

[254] _Halloo_] _Hallow_ F1. _Hollaw_ F2. _Hollow_ F3 F4.

_reverberate_] _reverberant_ Theobald.

[258, 259] _You ... parentage._] As one line in Capell.

[275] _soft, soft!_] _soft;_ Capell.

[276] _master were the man_] _man the master were_ Hanmer, who ends
lines

[275-278] at fast ... _were_ ... _catch_ ... _perfections_.

[281] Re-enter M.] Enter M. Ff.

[283] _county's_] Capell. _Countes_ F1. _Counts_ F2 F3 F4. _Duke's_
Rowe.

_left_] _left here_ Hanmer.

[288] _reasons for't: hie thee_] F1. _reasons for't: hye thee_ F2.
_reasons for't by thee_ F3. _reason for't by thee_ F4. _reason for't._
_Hye thee_ Hanmer.

[292] _owe_] _know_ Long MS.

[293] [Exit] Rowe. Finis, Actus primus. F1. Finis, Actus primi. F2 F3
F4.