The Project Gutenberg eBook ofTwelfth Night

The Project Gutenberg eBook ofTwelfth NightThis ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.Title: Twelfth NightAuthor: William ShakespeareRelease date: July 1, 2000 [eBook #2247]Most recently updated: May 23, 2019Language: English*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TWELFTH NIGHT ***

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: Twelfth NightAuthor: William ShakespeareRelease date: July 1, 2000 [eBook #2247]Most recently updated: May 23, 2019Language: English

Title: Twelfth Night

Author: William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare

Release date: July 1, 2000 [eBook #2247]Most recently updated: May 23, 2019

Language: English

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TWELFTH NIGHT ***

Project Gutenberg's Etext of Shakespeare's The first Part of

Henry the Sixt

Executive Director's Notes:

In addition to the notes below, and so you will *NOT* think all the spelling errors introduced by the printers of the time have been corrected, here are the first few lines of Hamlet, as they are presented herein:

Barnardo. Who's there?Fran. Nay answer me: Stand & vnfoldyour selfe

Bar. Long liue the King

***

As I understand it, the printers often ran out of certain words or letters they had often packed into a "cliche". . .this is the original meaning of the term cliche. . .and thus, being unwilling to unpack the cliches, and thus you will see some substitutions that look very odd. . .such as the exchanges of u for v, v for u, above. . .and you may wonder why they did it this way, presuming Shakespeare did not actually write the play in this manner. . . .

The answer is that they MAY have packed "liue" into a cliche at a time when they were out of "v"'s. . .possibly having used "vv" in place of some "w"'s, etc. This was a common practice of the day, as print was still quite expensive, and they didn't want to spend more on a wider selection of characters than they had to.

You will find a lot of these kinds of "errors" in this text, as I have mentioned in other times and places, many "scholars" have an extreme attachment to these errors, and many have accorded them a very high place in the "canon" of Shakespeare. My father read an assortment of these made available to him by Cambridge University in England for several months in a glass room constructed for the purpose. To the best of my knowledge he read ALL those available . . .in great detail. . .and determined from the various changes, that Shakespeare most likely did not write in nearly as many of a variety of errors we credit him for, even though he was in/famous for signing his name with several different spellings.

So, please take this into account when reading the comments below made by our volunteer who prepared this file: you may see errors that are "not" errors. . . .

So. . .with this caveat. . .we have NOT changed the canon errors, here is the Project Gutenberg Etext of Shakespeare's The first Part of Henry the Sixt.

Michael S. HartProject GutenbergExecutive Director

***

Scanner's Notes: What this is and isn't. This was taken from a copy of Shakespeare's first folio and it is as close as I can come in ASCII to the printed text.

The elongated S's have been changed to small s's and the conjoined ae have been changed to ae. I have left the spelling, punctuation, capitalization as close as possible to the printed text. I have corrected some spelling mistakes (I have put together a spelling dictionary devised from the spellings of the Geneva Bible and Shakespeare's First Folio and have unified spellings according to this template), typo's and expanded abbreviations as I have come across them. Everything within brackets [] is what I have added. So if you don't like that you can delete everything within the brackets if you want a purer Shakespeare.

Another thing that you should be aware of is that there are textual differences between various copies of the first folio. So there may be differences (other than what I have mentioned above) between this and other first folio editions. This is due to the printer's habit of setting the type and running off a number of copies and then proofing the printed copy and correcting the type and then continuing the printing run. The proof run wasn't thrown away but incorporated into the printed copies. This is just the way it is. The text I have used was a composite of more than 30 different First Folio editions' best pages.

If you find any scanning errors, out and out typos, punctuation errors, or if you disagree with my spelling choices please feel free to email me those errors. I wish to make this the best etext possible. My email address for right now are haradda@aol.com and davidr@inconnect.com. I hope that you enjoy this.

David Reed

Twelfe Night, Or what you will

Actus Primus, Scaena Prima.

Enter Orsino Duke of Illyria, Curio, and other Lords.

Duke. If Musicke be the food of Loue, play on,Giue me excesse of it: that surfetting,The appetite may sicken, and so dye.That straine agen, it had a dying fall:O, it came ore my eare, like the sweet soundThat breathes vpon a banke of Violets;Stealing, and giuing Odour. Enough, no more,'Tis not so sweet now, as it was before.O spirit of Loue, how quicke and fresh art thou,That notwithstanding thy capacitie,Receiueth as the Sea. Nought enters there,Of what validity, and pitch so ere,But falles into abatement, and low priceEuen in a minute; so full of shapes is fancie,That it alone, is high fantasticall

Cu. Will you go hunt my Lord?Du. What Curio?Cu. The Hart

Du. Why so I do, the Noblest that I haue:O when mine eyes did see Oliuia first,Me thought she purg'd the ayre of pestilence;That instant was I turn'd into a Hart,And my desires like fell and cruell hounds,Ere since pursue me. How now what newes from her?Enter Valentine.

Val. So please my Lord, I might not be admitted,But from her handmaid do returne this answer:The Element it selfe, till seuen yeares heate,Shall not behold her face at ample view:But like a Cloystresse she will vailed walke,And water once a day her Chamber roundWith eye-offending brine: all this to seasonA brothers dead loue, which she would keepe freshAnd lasting, in her sad remembrance

Du. O she that hath a heart of that fine frameTo pay this debt of loue but to a brother,How will she loue, when the rich golden shaftHath kill'd the flocke of all affections elseThat liue in her. When Liuer, Braine, and Heart,These soueraigne thrones, are all supply'd and fill'dHer sweete perfections with one selfe king:Away before me, to sweet beds of Flowres,Loue-thoughts lye rich, when canopy'd with bowres.

Exeunt.

Scena Secunda.

Enter Viola, a Captaine, and Saylors.

Vio. What Country (Friends) is this?Cap. This is Illyria Ladie

Vio. And what should I do in Illyria?My brother he is in Elizium,Perchance he is not drown'd: What thinke you saylors?Cap. It is perchance that you your selfe were saued

Vio. O my poore brother, and so perchance may he be

Cap. True Madam, and to comfort you with chance,Assure your selfe, after our ship did split,When you, and those poore number saued with you,Hung on our driuing boate: I saw your brotherMost prouident in perill, binde himselfe,(Courage and hope both teaching him the practise)To a strong Maste, that liu'd vpon the sea:Where like Orion on the Dolphines backe,I saw him hold acquaintance with the waues,So long as I could see

Vio. For saying so, there's Gold:Mine owne escape vnfoldeth to my hope,Whereto thy speech serues for authoritieThe like of him. Know'st thou this Countrey?Cap. I Madam well, for I was bred and borneNot three houres trauaile from this very place

Vio. Who gouernes heere?Cap. A noble Duke in nature, as in name

Vio. What is his name?Cap. Orsino

Vio. Orsino: I haue heard my father name him.He was a Batchellor then

Cap. And so is now, or was so very late:For but a month ago I went from hence,And then 'twas fresh in murmure (as you knowWhat great ones do, the lesse will prattle of,)That he did seeke the loue of faire Oliuia

Vio. What's shee?Cap. A vertuous maid, the daughter of a CountThat dide some tweluemonth since, then leauing herIn the protection of his sonne, her brother,Who shortly also dide: for whose deere loue(They say) she hath abiur'd the sightAnd company of men

Vio. O that I seru'd that Lady,And might not be deliuered to the worldTill I had made mine owne occasion mellowWhat my estate is

Cap. That were hard to compasse,Because she will admit no kinde of suite,No, not the Dukes

Vio. There is a faire behauiour in thee Captaine,And though that nature, with a beauteous wallDoth oft close in pollution: yet of theeI will beleeue thou hast a minde that suitesWith this thy faire and outward charracter.I prethee (and Ile pay thee bounteously)Conceale me what I am, and be my ayde,For such disguise as haply shall becomeThe forme of my intent. Ile serue this Duke,Thou shalt present me as an Eunuch to him,It may be worth thy paines: for I can sing,And speake to him in many sorts of Musicke,That will allow me very worth his seruice.What else may hap, to time I will commit,Onely shape thou thy silence to my wit

Cap. Be you his Eunuch, and your Mute Ile bee,When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see

Vio. I thanke thee: Lead me on.

Exeunt.

Scaena Tertia.

Enter Sir Toby, and Maria.

Sir To. What a plague meanes my Neece to take the death of her brother thus? I am sure care's an enemie to life

Mar. By my troth sir Toby, you must come in earlyer a nights: your Cosin, my Lady, takes great exceptions to your ill houres

To. Why let her except, before excepted

Ma. I, but you must confine your selfe within the modest limits of order

To. Confine? Ile confine my selfe no finer then I am: these cloathes are good enough to drinke in, and so bee these boots too: and they be not, let them hang themselues in their owne straps

Ma. That quaffing and drinking will vndoe you: Iheard my Lady talke of it yesterday: and of a foolishknight that you brought in one night here, to be hir woerTo. Who, Sir Andrew Ague-cheeke?Ma. I he

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

Ma. What's that to th' purpose?To. Why he ha's three thousand ducates a yeare

Ma. I, but hee'l haue but a yeare in all these ducates:He's a very foole, and a prodigall

To. Fie, that you'l say so: he playes o'th Viol-de-gamboys, and speaks three or four languages word for word without booke, & hath all the good gifts of nature

Ma. He hath indeed, almost naturall: for besides that he's a foole, he's a great quarreller: and but that hee hath the gift of a Coward, to allay the gust he hath in quarrelling, 'tis thought among the prudent, he would quickely haue the gift of a graue

Tob. By this hand they are scoundrels and substractorsthat say so of him. Who are they?Ma. They that adde moreour, hee's drunke nightlyin your company

To. With drinking healths to my Neece: Ile drinke to her as long as there is a passage in my throat, & drinke in Illyria: he's a Coward and a Coystrill that will not drinke to my Neece, till his braines turne o'th toe, like a parish top. What wench? Castiliano vulgo: for here coms Sir Andrew Agueface. Enter Sir Andrew.

And. Sir Toby Belch. How now sir Toby Belch?To. Sweet sir Andrew

And. Blesse you faire Shrew

Mar. And you too sir

Tob. Accost Sir Andrew, accost

And. What's that?To. My Neeces Chamber-maid

Ma. Good Mistris accost, I desire better acquaintanceMa. My name is Mary sir

And. Good mistris Mary, accost

To, You mistake knight: Accost, is front her, boordher, woe her, assayle her

And. By my troth I would not vndertake her in thiscompany. Is that the meaning of Accost?Ma. Far you well Gentlemen

To. And thou let part so Sir Andrew, would thoumightst neuer draw sword agen

And. And you part so mistris, I would I might neuerdraw sword agen: Faire Lady, doe you thinke you hauefooles in hand?Ma. Sir, I haue not you by'th hand

An. Marry but you shall haue, and heeres my hand

Ma. Now sir, thought is free: I pray you bring yourhand to'th Buttry barre, and let it drinke

An. Wherefore (sweet-heart?) What's your Metaphor?Ma. It's dry sir

And. Why I thinke so: I am not such an asse, but Ican keepe my hand dry. But what's your iest?Ma. A dry iest Sir

And. Are you full of them?Ma. I Sir, I haue them at my fingers ends: marry nowI let go your hand, I am barren.

Exit Maria

To. O knight, thou lack'st a cup of Canarie: when did I see thee so put downe? An. Neuer in your life I thinke, vnlesse you see Canarie put me downe: mee thinkes sometimes I haue no more wit then a Christian, or an ordinary man ha's: but I am a great eater of beefe, and I beleeue that does harme to my wit

To. No question

An. And I thought that, I'de forsweare it. Ile ride home to morrow sir Toby

To. Pur-quoy my deere knight? An. What is purquoy? Do, or not do? I would I had bestowed that time in the tongues, that I haue in fencing dancing, and beare-bayting: O had I but followed the Arts

To. Then hadst thou had an excellent head of haire

An. Why, would that haue mended my haire?To. Past question, for thou seest it will not coole my natureAn. But it becoms me wel enough, dost not?To. Excellent, it hangs like flax on a distaffe: & I hopeto see a huswife take thee between her legs, & spin it off

An. Faith Ile home to morrow sir Toby, your niece wil not be seene, or if she be it's four to one, she'l none of me: the Count himselfe here hard by, wooes her

To. Shee'l none o'th Count, she'l not match aboue hir degree, neither in estate, yeares, nor wit: I haue heard her swear't. Tut there's life in't man

And. Ile stay a moneth longer. I am a fellow o'th strangest minde i'th world: I delight in Maskes and Reuels sometimes altogether

To. Art thou good at these kicke-chawses Knight?And. As any man in Illyria, whatsoeuer he be, vnderthe degree of my betters, & yet I will not compare withan old man

To. What is thy excellence in a galliard, knight?And. Faith, I can cut a caper

To. And I can cut the Mutton too't

And. And I thinke I haue the backe-tricke, simply as strong as any man in Illyria

To. Wherefore are these things hid? Wherefore haue these gifts a Curtaine before 'em? Are they like to take dust, like mistris Mals picture? Why dost thou not goe to Church in a Galliard, and come home in a Carranto? My verie walke should be a Iigge: I would not so much as make water but in a Sinke-a-pace: What dooest thou meane? Is it a world to hide vertues in? I did thinke by the excellent constitution of thy legge, it was form'd vnder the starre of a Galliard

And. I, 'tis strong, and it does indifferent well in adam'd colour'd stocke. Shall we sit about some Reuels?To. What shall we do else: were we not borne vnderTaurus?And. Taurus? That sides and heart

To. No sir, it is leggs and thighes: let me see thee caper.Ha, higher: ha, ha, excellent.

Exeunt.

Scena Quarta.

Enter Valentine, and Viola in mans attire.

Val. If the Duke continue these fauours towards you Cesario, you are like to be much aduanc'd, he hath known you but three dayes, and already you are no stranger

Vio. You either feare his humour, or my negligence, that you call in question the continuance of his loue. Is he inconstant sir, in his fauours

Val. No beleeue me.Enter Duke, Curio, and Attendants.

Vio. I thanke you: heere comes the Count

Duke. Who saw Cesario hoa?Vio. On your attendance my Lord heere

Du. Stand you a-while aloofe. Cesario,Thou knowst no lesse, but all: I haue vnclasp'dTo thee the booke euen of my secret soule.Therefore good youth, addresse thy gate vnto her,Be not deni'de accesse, stand at her doores,And tell them, there thy fixed foot shall growTill thou haue audience

Vio. Sure my Noble Lord,If she be so abandon'd to her sorrowAs it is spoke, she neuer will admit me

Du. Be clamorous, and leape all ciuill bounds,Rather then make vnprofited returne,Vio. Say I do speake with her (my Lord) what then?Du. O then, vnfold the passion of my loue,Surprize her with discourse of my deere faith;It shall become thee well to act my woes:She will attend it better in thy youth,Then in a Nuntio's of more graue aspect

Vio. I thinke not so, my Lord

Du. Deere Lad, beleeue it;For they shall yet belye thy happy yeeres,That say thou art a man: Dianas lipIs not more smooth, and rubious: thy small pipeIs as the maidens organ, shrill, and sound,And all is semblatiue a womans part.I know thy constellation is right aptFor this affayre: some foure or fiue attend him,All if you will: for I my selfe am bestWhen least in companie: prosper well in this,And thou shalt liue as freely as thy Lord,To call his fortunes thine

Vio. Ile do my bestTo woe your Lady: yet a barrefull strife,Who ere I woe, my selfe would be his wife.

Exeunt.

Scena Quinta.

Enter Maria, and Clowne.

Ma. Nay, either tell me where thou hast bin, or I will not open my lippes so wide as a brissle may enter, in way of thy excuse: my Lady will hang thee for thy absence

Clo. Let her hang me: hee that is well hang'de in this world, needs to feare no colours

Ma. Make that good

Clo. He shall see none to feare

Ma. A good lenton answer: I can tell thee where ysaying was borne, of I feare no colours

Clo. Where good mistris Mary?Ma. In the warrs, & that may you be bolde to say inyour foolerie

Clo. Well, God giue them wisedome that haue it: &those that are fooles, let them vse their talents

Ma. Yet you will be hang'd for being so long absent, or to be turn'd away: is not that as good as a hanging to you? Clo. Many a good hanging, preuents a bad marriage: and for turning away, let summer beare it out

Ma. You are resolute then?Clo. Not so neyther, but I am resolu'd on two pointsMa. That if one breake, the other will hold: or if bothbreake, your gaskins fall

Clo. Apt in good faith, very apt: well go thy way, if sir Toby would leaue drinking, thou wert as witty a piece of Eues flesh, as any in Illyria

Ma. Peace you rogue, no more o'that: here comes myLady: make your excuse wisely, you were best.Enter Lady Oliuia, with Maluolio.

Clo. Wit, and't be thy will, put me into good fooling: those wits that thinke they haue thee, doe very oft proue fooles: and I that am sure I lacke thee, may passe for a wise man. For what saies Quinapalus, Better a witty foole, then a foolish wit. God blesse thee Lady

Ol. Take the foole away

Clo. Do you not heare fellowes, take away the Ladie

Ol. Go too, y'are a dry foole: Ile no more of you: besides you grow dis-honest

Clo. Two faults Madona, that drinke & good counsell wil amend: for giue the dry foole drink, then is the foole not dry: bid the dishonest man mend himself, if he mend, he is no longer dishonest; if hee cannot, let the Botcher mend him: any thing that's mended, is but patch'd: vertu that transgresses, is but patcht with sinne, and sin that amends, is but patcht with vertue. If that this simple Sillogisme will serue, so: if it will not, what remedy? As there is no true Cuckold but calamity, so beauties a flower; The Lady bad take away the foole, therefore I say againe, take her away

Ol. Sir, I bad them take away you

Clo. Misprision in the highest degree. Lady, Cucullus non facit monachum: that's as much to say, as I weare not motley in my braine: good Madona, giue mee leaue to proue you a foole

Ol. Can you do it?Clo. Dexteriously, good Madona

Ol. Make your proofe

Clo. I must catechize you for it Madona, Good myMouse of vertue answer mee

Ol. Well sir, for want of other idlenesse, Ile bide yourproofe

Clo. Good Madona, why mournst thou?Ol. Good foole, for my brothers death

Clo. I thinke his soule is in hell, Madona

Ol. I know his soule is in heauen, foole

Clo. The more foole (Madona) to mourne for yourBrothers soule, being in heauen. Take away the Foole,Gentlemen

Ol. What thinke you of this foole Maluolio, doth he not mend? Mal. Yes, and shall do, till the pangs of death shake him: Infirmity that decaies the wise, doth euer make the better foole

Clow. God send you sir, a speedie Infirmity, for the better increasing your folly: Sir Toby will be sworn that I am no Fox, but he wil not passe his word for two pence that you are no Foole

Ol. How say you to that Maluolio? Mal. I maruell your Ladyship takes delight in such a barren rascall: I saw him put down the other day, with an ordinary foole, that has no more braine then a stone. Looke you now, he's out of his gard already: vnles you laugh and minister occasion to him, he is gag'd. I protest I take these Wisemen, that crow so at these set kinde of fooles, no better then the fooles Zanies

Ol. O you are sicke of selfe-loue Maluolio, and taste with a distemper'd appetite. To be generous, guiltlesse, and of free disposition, is to take those things for Bird-bolts, that you deeme Cannon bullets: There is no slander in an allow'd foole, though he do nothing but rayle; nor no rayling, in a knowne discreet man, though hee do nothing but reproue

Clo. Now Mercury indue thee with leasing, for thou speak'st well of fooles. Enter Maria.

Mar. Madam, there is at the gate, a young Gentleman,much desires to speake with you

Ol. From the Count Orsino, is it?Ma I know not (Madam) 'tis a faire young man, andwell attended

Ol. Who of my people hold him in delay?Ma. Sir Toby Madam, your kinsman

Ol. Fetch him off I pray you, he speakes nothing but madman: Fie on him. Go you Maluolio; If it be a suit from the Count, I am sicke, or not at home. What you will, to dismisse it.

Exit Maluo.

Now you see sir, how your fooling growes old, & people dislike it

Clo. Thou hast spoke for vs (Madona) as if thy eldest sonne should be a foole: whose scull, Ioue cramme with braines, for heere he comes. Enter Sir Toby.

One of thy kin has a most weake Pia-mater

Ol. By mine honor halfe drunke. What is he at thegate Cosin?To. A Gentleman

Ol. A Gentleman? What Gentleman?To. 'Tis a Gentleman heere. A plague o'these pickleherring: How now Sot

Clo. Good Sir Toby

Ol. Cosin, Cosin, how haue you come so earely bythis Lethargie?To. Letcherie, I defie Letchery: there's one at thegate

Ol. I marry, what is he?To. Let him be the diuell and he will, I care not: giueme faith say I. Well, it's all one.

Exit

Ol. What's a drunken man like, foole?Clo. Like a drown'd man, a foole, and a madde man:One draught aboue heate, makes him a foole, the secondmaddes him, and a third drownes him

Ol. Go thou and seeke the Crowner, and let him sitte o'my Coz: for he's in the third degree of drinke: hee's drown'd: go looke after him

Clo. He is but mad yet Madona, and the foole shall looke to the madman. Enter Maluolio.

Mal. Madam, yond young fellow sweares hee will speake with you. I told him you were sicke, he takes on him to vnderstand so much, and therefore comes to speak with you. I told him you were asleepe, he seems to haue a fore knowledge of that too, and therefore comes to speake with you. What is to be said to him Ladie, hee's fortified against any deniall

Ol. Tell him, he shall not speake with me

Mal. Ha's beene told so: and hee sayes hee'l stand at your doore like a Sheriffes post, and be the supporter to a bench, but hee'l speake with you

Ol. What kinde o'man is he?Mal. Why of mankinde

Ol. What manner of man?Mal. Of verie ill manner: hee'l speake with you, willyou, or no

Ol. Of what personage, and yeeres is he? Mal. Not yet old enough for a man, nor yong enough for a boy: as a squash is before tis a pescod, or a Codling when tis almost an Apple: Tis with him in standing water, betweene boy and man. He is verie well-fauour'd, and he speakes verie shrewishly: One would thinke his mothers milke were scarse out of him

Ol. Let him approach: Call in my Gentlewoman

Mal. Gentlewoman, my Lady calles.Enter.

Enter Maria.

Ol. Giue me my vaile: come throw it ore my face,Wee'l once more heare Orsinos Embassie.Enter Violenta.

Vio. The honorable Ladie of the house, which is she?Ol. Speake to me, I shall answer for her: your will

Vio. Most radiant, exquisite, and vnmatchable beautie. I pray you tell me if this bee the Lady of the house, for I neuer saw her. I would bee loath to cast away my speech: for besides that it is excellently well pend, I haue taken great paines to con it. Good Beauties, let mee sustaine no scorne; I am very comptible, euen to the least sinister vsage

Ol. Whence came you sir? Vio. I can say little more then I haue studied, & that question's out of my part. Good gentle one, giue mee modest assurance, if you be the Ladie of the house, that | I may proceede in my speech

Ol. Are you a Comedian?Vio. No my profound heart: and yet (by the veriephangs of malice, I sweare) I am not that I play. Are youthe Ladie of the house?Ol. If I do not vsurpe my selfe, I am

Vio. Most certaine, if you are she, you do vsurp your selfe: for what is yours to bestowe, is, not yours to reserue. But this is from my Commission: I will on with my speech in your praise, and then shew you the heart of my message

Ol. Come to what is important in't: I forgiue youthe praise

Vio. Alas, I tooke great paines to studie it, and 'tisPoeticall

Ol. It is the more like to be feigned, I pray you keep it in. I heard you were sawcy at my gates, & allowd your approach rather to wonder at you, then to heare you. If you be not mad, be gone: if you haue reason, be breefe: 'tis not that time of Moone with me, to make one in so skipping a dialogue

Ma. Will you hoyst sayle sir, here lies your way

Vio. No good swabber, I am to hull here a little longer. Some mollification for your Giant, sweete Ladie; tell me your minde, I am a messenger

Ol. Sure you haue some hiddeous matter to deliuer, when the curtesie of it is so fearefull. Speake your office

Vio. It alone concernes your eare: I bring no ouerture of warre, no taxation of homage; I hold the Olyffe in my hand: my words are as full of peace, as matter

Ol. Yet you began rudely. What are you? What would you? Vio. The rudenesse that hath appear'd in mee, haue I learn'd from my entertainment. What I am, and what I would, are as secret as maiden-head: to your eares, Diuinity; to any others, prophanation

Ol. Giue vs the place alone,We will heare this diuinitie. Now sir, what is your text?Vio. Most sweet Ladie

Ol. A comfortable doctrine, and much may bee saideof it. Where lies your Text?Vio. In Orsinoes bosome

Ol. In his bosome? In what chapter of his bosome?Vio. To answer by the method, in the first of his hart

Ol. O, I haue read it: it is heresie. Haue you no moreto say?Vio. Good Madam, let me see your face

Ol. Haue you any Commission from your Lord, to negotiate with my face: you are now out of your Text: but we will draw the Curtain, and shew you the picture. Looke you sir, such a one I was this present: Ist not well done? Vio. Excellently done, if God did all

Ol. 'Tis in graine sir, 'twill endure winde and weather

Vio. Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white,Natures owne sweet, and cunning hand laid on:Lady, you are the cruell'st shee aliue,If you will leade these graces to the graue,And leaue the world no copie

Ol. O sir, I will not be so hard-hearted: I will giue out diuers scedules of my beautie. It shalbe Inuentoried and euery particle and vtensile labell'd to my will: As, Item two lippes indifferent redde, Item two grey eyes, with lids to them: Item, one necke, one chin, & so forth. Were you sent hither to praise me? Vio. I see you what you are, you are too proud: But if you were the diuell, you are faire: My Lord, and master loues you: O such loue Could be but recompenc'd, though you were crown'd The non-pareil of beautie

Ol. How does he loue me?Vio. With adorations, fertill teares,With groanes that thunder loue, with sighes of fire

Ol. Your Lord does know my mind, I cannot loue himYet I suppose him vertuous, know him noble,Of great estate, of fresh and stainlesse youth;In voyces well divulg'd, free, learn'd, and valiant,And in dimension, and the shape of nature,A gracious person; But yet I cannot loue him:He might haue tooke his answer long ago

Vio. If I did loue you in my masters flame,With such a suffring, such a deadly life:In your deniall, I would finde no sence,I would not vnderstand it

Ol. Why, what would you?Vio. Make me a willow Cabine at your gate,And call vpon my soule within the house,Write loyall Cantons of contemned loue,And sing them lowd euen in the dead of night:Hallow your name to the reuerberate hilles,And make the babling Gossip of the aire,Cry out Oliuia: O you should not restBetweene the elements of ayre, and earth,But you should pittie me

Ol. You might do much:What is your Parentage?Vio. Aboue my fortunes, yet my state is well:I am a Gentleman

Ol. Get you to your Lord:I cannot loue him: let him send no more,Vnlesse (perchance) you come to me againe,To tell me how he takes it: Fare you well:I thanke you for your paines: spend this for mee

Vio. I am no feede poast, Lady; keepe your purse,My Master, not my selfe, lackes recompence.Loue make his heart of flint, that you shal loue,And let your feruour like my masters be,Plac'd in contempt: Farwell fayre crueltie.

Exit

Ol. What is your Parentage?Aboue my fortunes, yet my state is well;I am a Gentleman. Ile be sworne thou art,Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbes, actions, and spirit,Do giue thee fiue-fold blazon: not too fast: soft, soft,Vnlesse the Master were the man. How now?Euen so quickly may one catch the plague?Me thinkes I feele this youths perfectionsWith an inuisible, and subtle stealthTo creepe in at mine eyes. Well, let it be.What hoa, Maluolio.Enter Maluolio.

Mal. Heere Madam, at your seruice

Ol. Run after that same peeuish MessengerThe Countes man: he left this Ring behinde himWould I, or not: tell him, Ile none of it.Desire him not to flatter with his Lord,Nor hold him vp with hopes, I am not for him:If that the youth will come this way to morrow,Ile giue him reasons for't: hie thee Maluolio

Mal. Madam, I will.Enter.

Ol. I do I know not what, and feare to findeMine eye too great a flatterer for my minde:Fate, shew thy force, our selues we do not owe,What is decreed, must be: and be this so.

Finis, Actus primus.

Actus Secundus, Scaena prima.

Enter Antonio & Sebastian.

Ant. Will you stay no longer: nor will you not thatI go with you

Seb. By your patience, no: my starres shine darkely ouer me; the malignancie of my fate, might perhaps distemper yours; therefore I shall craue of you your leaue, that I may beare my euils alone. It were a bad recompence for your loue, to lay any of them on you

An. Let me yet know of you, whither you are bound

Seb. No sooth sir: my determinate voyage is meere extrauagancie. But I perceiue in you so excellent a touch of modestie, that you will not extort from me, what I am willing to keepe in: therefore it charges me in manners, the rather to expresse my selfe: you must know of mee then Antonio, my name is Sebastian (which I call'd Rodorigo) my father was that Sebastian of Messaline, whom I know you haue heard of. He left behinde him, my selfe, and a sister, both borne in an houre: if the Heauens had beene pleas'd, would we had so ended. But you sir, alter'd that, for some houre before you tooke me from the breach of the sea, was my sister drown'd

Ant. Alas the day

Seb. A Lady sir, though it was said shee much resembled me, was yet of many accounted beautiful: but thogh I could not with such estimable wonder ouer-farre beleeue that, yet thus farre I will boldly publish her, shee bore a minde that enuy could not but call faire: Shee is drown'd already sir with salt water, though I seeme to drowne her remembrance againe with more

Ant. Pardon me sir, your bad entertainment

Seb. O good Antonio, forgiue me your trouble

Ant. If you will not murther me for my loue, let mee be your seruant

Seb. If you will not vndo what you haue done, that is kill him, whom you haue recouer'd, desire it not. Fare ye well at once, my bosome is full of kindnesse, and I am yet so neere the manners of my mother, that vpon the least occasion more, mine eyes will tell tales of me: I am bound to the Count Orsino's Court, farewell.

Exit

Ant. The gentlenesse of all the gods go with thee:I haue many enemies in Orsino's Court,Else would I very shortly see thee there:But come what may, I do adore thee so,That danger shall seeme sport, and I will go.Enter.

Scaena Secunda.

Enter Viola and Maluolio, at seuerall doores.

Mal. Were not you eu'n now, with the Countesse Oliuia?Vio. Euen now sir, on a moderate pace, I haue since ariu'dbut hither

Mal. She returnes this Ring to you (sir) you might haue saued mee my paines, to haue taken it away your selfe. She adds moreouer, that you should put your Lord into a desperate assurance, she will none of him. And one thing more, that you be neuer so hardie to come againe in his affaires, vnlesse it bee to report your Lords taking of this: receiue it so

Vio. She tooke the Ring of me, Ile none of it

Mal. Come sir, you peeuishly threw it to her: and her will is, it should be so return'd: If it bee worth stooping for, there it lies, in your eye: if not, bee it his that findes it. Enter.

Vio. I left no Ring with her: what meanes this Lady?Fortune forbid my out-side haue not charm'd her:She made good view of me, indeed so much,That me thought her eyes had lost her tongue,For she did speake in starts distractedly.She loues me sure, the cunning of her passionInuites me in this churlish messenger:None of my Lords Ring? Why he sent her none;I am the man, if it be so, as tis,Poore Lady, she were better loue a dreame:Disguise, I see thou art a wickednesse,Wherein the pregnant enemie does much.How easie is it, for the proper falseIn womens waxen hearts to set their formes:Alas, O frailtie is the cause, not wee,For such as we are made, if such we bee:How will this fadge? My master loues her deerely,And I (poore monster) fond asmuch on him:And she (mistaken) seemes to dote on me:What will become of this? As I am man,My state is desperate for my maisters loue:As I am woman (now alas the day)What thriftlesse sighes shall poore Oliuia breath?O time, thou must vntangle this, not I,It is too hard a knot for me t' vnty.

Scoena Tertia.

Enter Sir Toby, and Sir Andrew.

To. Approach Sir Andrew: not to bee a bedde after midnight, is to be vp betimes, and Deliculo surgere, thou know'st

And. Nay by my troth I know not: but I know, to be vp late, is to be vp late

To. A false conclusion: I hate it as an vnfill'd Canne. To be vp after midnight, and to go to bed then is early: so that to go to bed after midnight, is to goe to bed betimes. Does not our liues consist of the foure Elements? And. Faith so they say, but I thinke it rather consists of eating and drinking

To. Th'art a scholler; let vs therefore eate and drinkeMarian I say, a stoope of wine.Enter Clowne.

And. Heere comes the foole yfaith

Clo. How now my harts: Did you neuer see the Pictureof we three?To. Welcome asse, now let's haue a catch

And. By my troth the foole has an excellent breast. I had rather then forty shillings I had such a legge, and so sweet a breath to sing, as the foole has. Insooth thou wast in very gracious fooling last night, when thou spok'st of Pigrogromitus, of the Vapians passing the Equinoctial of Queubus: 'twas very good yfaith: I sent thee sixe pence for thy Lemon, hadst it? Clo. I did impeticos thy gratillity: for Maluolios nose is no Whip-stocke. My Lady has a white hand, and the Mermidons are no bottle-ale houses

An. Excellent: Why this is the best fooling, whenall is done. Now a song

To. Come on, there is sixe pence for you. Let's hauea song

An. There's a testrill of me too: if one knight giue aClo. Would you haue a loue-song, or a song of goodlife?To. A loue song, a loue song

An. I, I. I care not for good life

Clowne sings .O Mistris mine where are you roming?O stay and heare, your true loues coming,That can sing both high and low.Trip no further prettie sweeting.Iourneys end in louers meeting,Euery wise mans sonne doth know

An. Excellent good, ifaith

To. Good, good

Clo. What is loue, tis not heereafter,Present mirth, hath present laughter:What's to come, is still vnsure.In delay there lies no plentie,Then come kisse me sweet and twentie:Youths a stuffe will not endure

An. A mellifluous voyce, as I am true knight

To. A contagious breath

An. Very sweet, and contagious ifaith

To. To heare by the nose, it is dulcet in contagion. But shall we make the Welkin dance indeed? Shall wee rowze the night-Owle in a Catch, that will drawe three soules out of one Weauer? Shall we do that? And. And you loue me, let's doo't: I am dogge at a Catch

Clo. Byrlady sir, and some dogs will catch well

An. Most certaine: Let our Catch be, Thou Knaue

Clo. Hold thy peace, thou Knaue knight. I shall be constrain'din't, to call thee knaue, Knight

An. 'Tis not the first time I haue constrained one tocall me knaue. Begin foole: it begins, Hold thy peace

Clo. I shall neuer begin if I hold my peace

An. Good ifaith: Come begin.

Catch sung

Enter Maria.

Mar. What a catterwalling doe you keepe heere? If my Ladie haue not call'd vp her Steward Maluolio, and bid him turne you out of doores, neuer trust me

To. My Lady's a Catayan, we are politicians, Maluolios a Peg-a-ramsie, and Three merry men be wee. Am not I consanguinious? Am I not of her blood: tilly vally. Ladie, There dwelt a man in Babylon, Lady, Lady

Clo. Beshrew me, the knights in admirable fooling

An. I, he do's well enough if he be dispos'd, and so do I too: he does it with a better grace, but I do it more naturall

To. O the twelfe day of December

Mar. For the loue o' God peace.Enter Maluolio.

Mal. My masters are you mad? Or what are you? Haue you no wit, manners, nor honestie, but to gabble like Tinkers at this time of night? Do yee make an Alehouse of my Ladies house, that ye squeak out your Coziers Catches without any mitigation or remorse of voice? Is there no respect of place, persons, nor time in you? To. We did keepe time sir in our Catches. Snecke vp

Mal. Sir Toby, I must be round with you. My Lady bad me tell you, that though she harbors you as her kinsman, she's nothing ally'd to your disorders. If you can separate your selfe and your misdemeanors, you are welcome to the house: if not, and it would please you to take leaue of her, she is very willing to bid you farewell

To. Farewell deere heart, since I must needs be gone

Mar. Nay good Sir Toby

Clo. His eyes do shew his dayes are almost done

Mal. Is't euen so?To. But I will neuer dye

Clo. Sir Toby there you lye

Mal. This is much credit to you

To. Shall I bid him go

Clo. What and if you do?To. Shall I bid him go, and spare not?Clo. O no, no, no, no, you dare not

To. Out o' tune sir, ye lye: Art any more then a Steward? Dost thou thinke because thou art vertuous, there shall be no more Cakes and Ale? Clo. Yes by S[aint]. Anne, and Ginger shall bee hotte y'th mouth too

To. Th'art i'th right. Goe sir, rub your Chaine with crums. A stope of Wine Maria

Mal. Mistris Mary, if you priz'd my Ladies fauour at any thing more then contempt, you would not giue meanes for this vnciuill rule; she shall know of it by this hand.

Exit

Mar. Go shake your eares

An. 'Twere as good a deede as to drink when a mans a hungrie, to challenge him the field, and then to breake promise with him, and make a foole of him

To. Doo't knight, Ile write thee a Challenge: or Ile deliuer thy indignation to him by word of mouth

Mar. Sweet Sir Toby be patient for to night: Since the youth of the Counts was to day with my Lady, she is much out of quiet. For Monsieur Maluolio, let me alone with him: If I do not gull him into a nayword, and make him a common recreation, do not thinke I haue witte enough to lye straight in my bed: I know I can do it

To. Possesse vs, possesse vs, tell vs something of him

Mar. Marrie sir, sometimes he is a kinde of Puritane

An. O, if I thought that, Ide beate him like a dogge

To. What for being a Puritan, thy exquisite reason,deere knight

An. I haue no exquisite reason for't, but I haue reasongood enough

Mar. The diu'll a Puritane that hee is, or any thing constantly but a time-pleaser, an affection'd Asse, that cons State without booke, and vtters it by great swarths. The best perswaded of himselfe: so cram'd (as he thinkes) with excellencies, that it is his grounds of faith, that all that looke on him, loue him: and on that vice in him, will my reuenge finde notable cause to worke

To. What wilt thou do? Mar. I will drop in his way some obscure Epistles of loue, wherein by the colour of his beard, the shape of his legge, the manner of his gate, the expressure of his eye, forehead, and complection, he shall finde himselfe most feelingly personated. I can write very like my Ladie your Neece, on a forgotten matter wee can hardly make distinction of our hands

To. Excellent, I smell a deuice

An. I hau't in my nose too

To. He shall thinke by the Letters that thou wilt drop that they come from my Neece, and that shee's in loue with him

Mar. My purpose is indeed a horse of that colour

An. And your horse now would make him an Asse

Mar. Asse, I doubt not

An. O twill be admirable

Mar. Sport royall I warrant you: I know my Physicke will worke with him, I will plant you two, and let the Foole make a third, where he shall finde the Letter: obserue his construction of it: For this night to bed, and dreame on the euent: Farewell.

Exit

To. Good night Penthisilea

An. Before me she's a good wench

To. She's a beagle true bred, and one that adores me:what o'that?An. I was ador'd once too

To. Let's to bed knight: Thou hadst neede send formore money

An. If I cannot recouer your Neece, I am a foule wayout

To. Send for money knight, if thou hast her not i'thend, call me Cut

An. If I do not, neuer trust me, take it how you will

To. Come, come, Ile go burne some Sacke, tis too late to go to bed now: Come knight, come knight.

Exeunt.

Scena Quarta.

Enter Duke, Viola, Curio, and others

Du. Giue me some Musick; Now good morow frends.Now good Cesario, but that peece of song,That old and Anticke song we heard last night;Me thought it did releeue my passion much,More then light ayres, and recollected termesOf these most briske and giddy-paced times.Come, but one verse

Cur. He is not heere (so please your Lordshippe) thatshould sing it?Du. Who was it?Cur. Feste the Iester my Lord, a foole that the LadieOliuiaes Father tooke much delight in. He is about thehouse

Du. Seeke him out, and play the tune the while.

Musicke playes.

Come hither Boy, if euer thou shalt loueIn the sweet pangs of it, remember me:For such as I am, all true Louers are,Vnstaid and skittish in all motions else,Saue in the constant image of the creatureThat is belou'd. How dost thou like this tune?Vio. It giues a verie eccho to the seateWhere loue is thron'd

Du. Thou dost speake masterly,My life vpon't, yong though thou art, thine eyeHath staid vpon some fauour that it loues:Hath it not boy?Vio. A little, by your fauour

Du. What kinde of woman ist?Vio. Of your complection

Du. She is not worth thee then. What yeares ifaith?Vio. About your yeeres my Lord

Du. Too old by heauen: Let still the woman takeAn elder then her selfe, so weares she to him;So swayes she leuell in her husbands heart:For boy, howeuer we do praise our selues,Our fancies are more giddie and vnfirme,More longing, wauering, sooner lost and worne,Then womens are

Vio. I thinke it well my Lord

Du. Then let thy Loue be yonger then thy selfe,Or thy affection cannot hold the bent:For women are as Roses, whose faire flowreBeing once displaid, doth fall that verie howre

Vio. And so they are: alas, that they are so:To die, euen when they to perfection grow.Enter Curio & Clowne.

Du. O fellow come, the song we had last night:Marke it Cesario, it is old and plaine;The Spinsters and the Knitters in the Sun,And the free maides that weaue their thred with bones,Do vse to chaunt it: it is silly sooth,And dallies with the innocence of loue,Like the old age

Clo. Are you ready Sir?Duke. I prethee sing.

Musicke.

The Song.

Come away, come away death,And in sad cypresse let me be laide.Fye away, fie away breath,I am slaine by a faire cruell maide:My shrowd of white, stuck all with Ew, O prepare it.My part of death no one so true did share it.Not a flower, not a flower sweeteOn my blacke coffin, let there be strewne:Not a friend, not a friend greetMy poore corpes, where my bones shall be throwne:A thousand thousand sighes to saue, lay me o whereSad true louer neuer find my graue, to weepe there

Du. There's for thy paines

Clo. No paines sir, I take pleasure in singing sir

Du. Ile pay thy pleasure then

Clo. Truely sir, and pleasure will be paide one time, or another

Du. Giue me now leaue, to leaue thee

Clo. Now the melancholly God protect thee, and the Tailor make thy doublet of changeable Taffata, for thy minde is a very Opall. I would haue men of such constancie put to Sea, that their businesse might be euery thing, and their intent euerie where, for that's it, that alwayes makes a good voyage of nothing. Farewell.

Exit

Du. Let all the rest giue place: Once more Cesario,Get thee to yond same soueraigne crueltie:Tell her my loue, more noble then the worldPrizes not quantitie of dirtie lands,The parts that fortune hath bestow'd vpon her:Tell her I hold as giddily as Fortune:But 'tis that miracle, and Queene of IemsThat nature prankes her in, attracts my soule

Vio. But if she cannot loue you sir

Du. It cannot be so answer'd

Vio. Sooth but you must.Say that some Lady, as perhappes there is,Hath for your loue as great a pang of heartAs you haue for Oliuia: you cannot loue her:You tel her so: Must she not then be answer'd?Du. There is no womans sidesCan bide the beating of so strong a passion,As loue doth giue my heart: no womans heartSo bigge, to hold so much, they lacke retention.Alas, their loue may be call'd appetite,No motion of the Liuer, but the Pallat,That suffer surfet, cloyment, and reuolt,But mine is all as hungry as the Sea,And can digest as much, make no compareBetweene that loue a woman can beare me,And that I owe Oliuia

Vio. I but I know

Du. What dost thou knowe?Vio. Too well what loue women to men may owe:In faith they are as true of heart, as we.My Father had a daughter lou'd a manAs it might be perhaps, were I a womanI should your Lordship

Du. And what's her history?Vio. A blanke my Lord: she neuer told her loue,But let concealment like a worme i'th buddeFeede on her damaske cheeke: she pin'd in thought,And with a greene and yellow melancholly,She sate like Patience on a Monument,Smiling at greefe. Was not this loue indeede?We men may say more, sweare more, but indeedOur shewes are more then will: for still we proueMuch in our vowes, but little in our loue

Du. But di'de thy sister of her loue my Boy?Vio. I am all the daughters of my Fathers house,And all the brothers too: and yet I know not.Sir, shall I to this Lady?Du. I that's the Theame,To her in haste: giue her this Iewell: say,My loue can giue no place, bide no denay.

Exeunt.

Scena Quinta.

Enter Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Fabian.

To. Come thy wayes Signior Fabian

Fab. Nay Ile come: if I loose a scruple of this sport,let me be boyl'd to death with Melancholly

To. Wouldst thou not be glad to haue the niggardlyRascally sheepe-biter, come by some notable shame?Fa. I would exult man: you know he brought me outo' fauour with my Lady, about a Beare-baiting heere

To. To anger him wee'l haue the Beare againe, andwe will foole him blacke and blew, shall we not sir Andrew?An. And we do not, it is pittie of our liues.Enter Maria.

To. Heere comes the little villaine: How now my Mettle of India? Mar. Get ye all three into the box tree: Maluolio's comming downe this walke, he has beene yonder i'the Sunne practising behauiour to his own shadow this halfe houre: obserue him for the loue of Mockerie: for I know this Letter wil make a contemplatiue Ideot of him. Close in the name of ieasting, lye thou there: for heere comes the Trowt, that must be caught with tickling.

Exit

Enter Maluolio.

Mal. 'Tis but Fortune, all is fortune. Maria once told me she did affect me, and I haue heard her self come thus neere, that should shee fancie, it should bee one of my complection. Besides she vses me with a more exalted respect, then any one else that followes her. What should I thinke on't? To. Heere's an ouer-weening rogue

Fa. Oh peace: Contemplation makes a rare TurkeyCocke of him, how he iets vnder his aduanc'd plumes

And. Slight I could so beate the Rogue

To. Peace I say

Mal. To be Count Maluolio

To. Ah Rogue

An. Pistoll him, pistoll him

To. Peace, peace

Mal. There is example for't: The Lady of the Strachy, married the yeoman of the wardrobe

An. Fie on him Iezabel

Fa. O peace, now he's deepely in: looke how imaginationblowes him

Mal. Hauing beene three moneths married to her,sitting in my state

To. O for a stone-bow to hit him in the eye

Mal. Calling my Officers about me, in my branch'd Veluet gowne: hauing come from a day bedde, where I haue left Oliuia sleeping

To. Fire and Brimstone

Fa. O peace, peace

Mal. And then to haue the humor of state: and after a demure trauaile of regard: telling them I knowe my place, as I would they should doe theirs: to aske for my kinsman Toby

To. Boltes and shackles

Fa. Oh peace, peace, peace, now, now

Mal. Seauen of my people with an obedient start, make out for him: I frowne the while, and perchance winde vp my watch, or play with my some rich Iewell: Toby approaches; curtsies there to me

To. Shall this fellow liue?Fa. Though our silence be drawne from vs with cars,yet peace

Mal. I extend my hand to him thus: quenching myfamiliar smile with an austere regard of controll

To. And do's not Toby take you a blow o'the lippes,then?Mal. Saying, Cosine Toby, my Fortunes hauing castme on your Neece, giue me this prerogatiue of speech

To. What, what?Mal. You must amend your drunkennesse

To. Out scab

Fab. Nay patience, or we breake the sinewes of ourplot?Mal. Besides you waste the treasure of your time,with a foolish knight

And. That's mee I warrant you

Mal. One sir Andrew

And. I knew 'twas I, for many do call mee foole

Mal. What employment haue we heere?Fa. Now is the Woodcocke neere the gin

To. Oh peace, and the spirit of humors intimate readingaloud to him

Mal. By my life this is my Ladies hand: these bee her very C's, her V's, and her T's, and thus makes shee her great P's. It is in contempt of question her hand

An. Her C's, her V's, and her T's: why that?Mal. To the vnknowne belou'd, this, and my good Wishes:Her very Phrases: By your leaue wax. Soft, and the impressureher Lucrece, with which she vses to seale: tis myLady: To whom should this be?Fab. This winnes him, Liuer and all

Mal. Ioue knowes I loue, but who, Lips do not mooue, noman must know. No man must know. What followes?The numbers alter'd: No man must know,If this should be thee Maluolio?To. Marrie hang thee brocke

Mal. I may command where I adore, but silence like a Lucresseknife:With bloodlesse stroke my heart doth gore, M.O.A.I. dothsway my life

Fa. A fustian riddle

To. Excellent Wench, say I

Mal. M.O.A.I. doth sway my life. Nay but first let me see, let me see, let me see

Fab. What dish a poyson has she drest him? To. And with what wing the stallion checkes at it? Mal. I may command, where I adore: Why shee may command me: I serue her, she is my Ladie. Why this is euident to any formall capacitie. There is no obstruction in this, and the end: What should that Alphabeticall position portend, if I could make that resemble something in me? Softly, M.O.A.I

To. O I, make vp that, he is now at a cold sent

Fab. Sowter will cry vpon't for all this, though it bee as ranke as a Fox

Mal. M. Maluolio, M. why that begins my name

Fab. Did not I say he would worke it out, the Curre is excellent at faults

Mal. M. But then there is no consonancy in the sequell that suffers vnder probation: A. should follow, but O. does

Fa. And O shall end, I hope

To. I, or Ile cudgell him, and make him cry O

Mal. And then I. comes behind

Fa. I, and you had any eye behinde you, you might see more detraction at your heeles, then Fortunes before you

Mal. M,O,A,I. This simulation is not as the former: and yet to crush this a little, it would bow to mee, for euery one of these Letters are in my name. Soft, here followes prose: If this fall into thy hand, reuolue. In my stars I am aboue thee, but be not affraid of greatnesse: Some are become great, some atcheeues greatnesse, and some haue greatnesse thrust vppon em. Thy fates open theyr hands, let thy blood and spirit embrace them, and to invre thy selfe to what thou art like to be: cast thy humble slough, and appeare fresh. Be opposite with a kinsman, surly with seruants: Let thy tongue tang arguments of state; put thy selfe into the tricke of singularitie. Shee thus aduises thee, that sighes for thee. Remember who commended thy yellow stockings, and wish'd to see thee euer crosse garter'd: I say remember, goe too, thou art made if thou desir'st to be so: If not, let me see thee a steward still, the fellow of seruants, and not woorthie to touch Fortunes fingers Farewell, Shee that would alter seruices with thee, the fortunate vnhappy daylight and champian discouers not more: This is open, I will bee proud, I will reade politicke Authours, I will baffle Sir Toby, I will wash off grosse acquaintance, I will be point deuise, the very man. I do not now foole my selfe, to let imagination iade mee; for euery reason excites to this, that my Lady loues me. She did commend my yellow stockings of late, shee did praise my legge being crosse-garter'd, and in this she manifests her selfe to my loue, & with a kinde of iniunction driues mee to these habites of her liking. I thanke my starres, I am happy: I will bee strange, stout, in yellow stockings, and crosse Garter'd, euen with the swiftnesse of putting on. Ioue, and my starres be praised. Heere is yet a postscript. Thou canst not choose but know who I am. If thou entertainst my loue, let it appeare in thy smiling, thy smiles become thee well. Therefore in my presence still smile, deero my sweete, I prethee. Ioue I thanke thee, I will smile, I wil do euery thing that thou wilt haue me.


Back to IndexNext