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],
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
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.
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!
That instant was I turn'd into a hart;
And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,
[E'er] since pursue me.
How now! what news from her?
Val. So please my lord, I might not be admitted;
But from her handmaid do return this answer:
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
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
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:
[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?
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
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,
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,
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?
25
Cap. A noble Duke, in nature as [in name].
Vio. What is his name?
Cap. Orsino.
Vio. Orsino! I have heard my father name him:
[He was] a bachelor then.
30
Cap. And so is now, or was so very late;
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.
35
Vio. What's she?
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]
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,
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
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:
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;
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.
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
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.
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?
20
Sir To. Why, he [has] three thousand ducats a year.
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.
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.
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.
35
Sir To. With drinking healths to my niece: I 'll drink
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
[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.
45
Sir To. Accost, Sir Andrew, accost.
Sir And. What's that?
Sir To. My niece's chambermaid.
[Sir And]. Good Mistress Accost, I desire better [acquaintance].
50
Mar. My name is Mary, sir.
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'?
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
fools in hand?
Mar. Sir, I have not you by the hand.
Sir And. Marry, but you shall have; and here's my
hand.
65
Mar. [Now], sir, 'thought is free': I pray you, bring your
hand to the buttery-bar and let it drink.
Sir And. Wherefore, sweet-heart? what's your metaphor?
Mar. It's dry, sir.
70
Sir And. Why, I think so: I am not such an ass but I
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].
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
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.
85
Sir To. [Pourquoi], my dear knight?
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!
90
Sir To. Then hadst thou had an excellent head of
hair.
Sir And. Why, would that have mended my hair?
Sir To. Past question; for thou seest it will not [curl]
by nature.
95
Sir And. But it becomes [me] well enough, does't not?
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
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.
105
Sir And. I'll stay a month longer. I am a fellow o'
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
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.
115
Sir And. And I think I have the back-trick simply [as]
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
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.
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?
130
Sir And. Taurus! [That's] sides and heart.
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
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?
10
Vio. On your attendance, my lord; here.
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,
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.
20
Duke. Be clamorous and leap all civil bounds
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;
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
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;
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, strife!
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].
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.'
10
Clo. Where, good Mistress Mary?
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.
15
Mar. Yet you will be hanged for being so long absent;
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.
20
Mar. [You] are resolute, then?
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
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
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]!
35
Oli. Take the fool away.
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
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,
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.
50
Clo. Misprision in the highest degree! Lady, cucullus
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?
55
Clo. [Dexteriously], good madonna.
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.
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.
65
Clo. The more [fool], madonna, to mourn for your brother's
soul being in heaven. Take away the fool,
gentlemen.
Oli. What think you of this fool, Malvolio? doth he
not mend?
70
Mal. Yes, and shall do till the pangs of death shake
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
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
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.
85
Oli. O, you are sick of self-love, Malvolio, and taste
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.
Clo. Now Mercury endue thee with [leasing], for thou
speakest well of fools!
Mar. Madam, there is at the gate a young gentleman
much desires to speak with you.
95
Oli. From the [Count] Orsino, is it?
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].
100
Oli. Fetch him off, I pray you; he speaks nothing but
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.
105
Clo. Thou hast spoke for us, madonna, as if thy eldest son
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]?
110
Sir To. A gentleman.
Oli. A gentleman! what gentleman?
Sir To. 'Tis a [gentleman here]—a plague o' these pickle-[herring]!
How now, sot!
Clo. Good Sir Toby!
115
Oli. [Cousin, cousin], how have you come so early by
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.
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.
125
Oli. Go thou and seek the [crowner], and let him sit o'
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].
130
Mal. Madam, [yond] young fellow swears he will speak
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
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.
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.
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
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.
155
Oli. Give me my veil: come, throw it o'er my face.
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
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.
165
Oli. Whence came you, sir?
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.
170
Oli. Are you a comedian?
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.
175
Vio. Most certain, if you are she, you do usurp your-self;
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.
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.
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.
190
Vio. No, good swabber; I am to hull here a little
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.
195
Vio. It alone concerns your ear. I bring no overture
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?
200
Vio. The rudeness that hath appeared in me have I
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?
Vio. Most sweet lady,—
Oli. A comfortable doctrine, and much may be said of
it. Where lies [your text]?
Vio. In Orsino's bosom.
210
Oli. In his bosom! In what chapter of his bosom?
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.
215
Oli. Have 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 show you the picture. Look
you, sir, such a one I was this present: [is't] not well done?
Vio. Excellently done, if God did all.
220
Oli. 'Tis in grain, sir; 'twill endure wind and weather.
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.
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
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
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,
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.
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]?
250
Vio. Make me a willow cabin at your gate,
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
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?
260
Vio. Above my fortunes, yet my state is well:
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.
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.
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]!
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.
What ho, 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,
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.
290
Oli. I do I know not what, and fear to find
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.