Sebastian proves himself no coward, for he valiantly beats Sir Andrew, when Sir Toby and Fabian interpose:

Sir To. Hold, sir, or 'I 'll throw your dagger o'er the house. Come on, sir! hold!

Seizing

[Sebastian.

Sir And. Nay, let him alone; I'll go 'another way to work with him; I 1l have an action of battery against him.

Seb. Let go thy hand!

Sir To. Come, sir, I will 'not let you go.
Seb. I 'will be free from thee.

Disengages

himself.

Sir To. What, what? Nay, then I must have an ounce or two of this malapert blood from you.

Both draw

their swords,

The Lady Olivia, hearing the affray, comes out of the house to stop the combatants, and she too mistakes Sebastian for the page Cesario

Oli. Hold, Toby! On thy life I charge thee, hold!—
Will it be 'ever thus? Ungracious wretch,

Fit for the mountains and the barbarous caves,

Where manners ne'er were preached! Out of my sight!

Be not offended, dear Cesario.-Rudesby", be gone!

The crest-fallen Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Fabian slink away. [se] I pr'ythee, gentle friend,

Seb.

To

Let thy fair 'wisdom, not thy passion, sway,
In this uncivil and unjust extent

Against thy peace. Go with me to my house;
And hear thou there how 'many fruitless pranks
This ruffian hath botched-up; that thou thereby
May'st smile at 'this. Thou shalt not 'choose but go.
What 'relish is in this? 'how runs the stream?
Or I am 'mad, or else this is a 'dream!

Let fancy 'still my sense in Lethe' steep;
If it be 'thus to dream, 'still let me sleep.

Oli. Nay; come, I pr'ythee. 'Would thou 'dst be ruled by

'me!

Seb. Madam, I will.

Oli.

O! 'say so, and so 'be.

[Exeunt.

While these events have been in progress, poor Malvolio, treated as a lunatic, remains in semi-confinement; and the merry Maria, aided by the jolly Sir Toby, easily persuades the Clown to visit him, in the disguise of the parish Curate.

Mar. Nay, I pr'ythee, put on this gown and this beard:

disrespectful, saucy. brude fellow. peculiar pleasure (flavour).

extension of power. d clumsily made up. f the river of forgetfulness in Hell.

make him believe thou art Sir Topas the Curate: do it quickly; I'll call Sir Toby the whilst.

[Exit.

Clo. Well, I'll put it on, and I will dissemblea myself in 't: and I would I were the 'first that ever dissembled in

Putting

it on

'such a gown. [ing] I am not fat enough to become the function well; nor lean enough to be thought a good 'student.

When the Clown has put on his clerical disguise, Sir Toby and Maria enter.

Sir To. Jove bless thee, Master Parson.

Clo. Bonos dies, Sir Toby.

Sir To. To him, Sir Topas.

The Clown approaches the crib in which Malvolio is lying:

Clo. What, ho, I say!-peace in this prison!

Mal. [W] Who calls there?

in.

Clo. Sir Topas the Curate, who comes to visit Malvolio the lunatic.

"With

Mal. [W] Sir Topas! Sir Topas! good Sir Topas! go to

in.

my lady.

Clo. Out, hyperbolical fiend! Talkest thou nothing but of 'ladies?

With

Mal. [] Sir Topas, never was man thus wronged. Good

in.

Sir Topas, do not think I am mad: they have laid me here, in hideous darkness.

Clo. Madman, thou errest: I say, there is 'no darkness but 'ignorance; in which thou art more puzzled than the Egyptians in their 'fog.

With

Mal. [] I say, this 'house is as dark as ignorance. I

in.

am no more mad than 'you are: make the 'trial of it, in any constant question.a

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

in.

Mal. [] That the soul of our 'grandam might haply' inhabit a 'bird.

Clo. What thinkest 'thou of his opinion?

in.

Mal. [W] I think 'nobly of the 'soul, and no way 'approve his opinion.

Clo. Fare thee well. Remain thou 'still in darkness. Thou 'shalt hold the opinion of Pythagoras, ere I will allow

a disguise.

DO. R. tall.

of souls,

sustained argument.

c good day. a celebrated Greek philosopher (B, C, 570) who taught the belief in transmigration fO. R. happily.

of thy 'wits; and fear to kill a woodcock," lest thou dispossess the soul of thy grandam. Fare thee well.

[Exeunt Sir Toby and Maria.

Sir Toby and Maria go off to find the Lady Olivia. The Clown at once casts off the Curate's gown and beard, and begins to sing in his own voice:

Sing

Clo. [S]

ing.

Hey Robin, jolly Robin,
Tell me how thy lady does.b

Malvolio at once recognizes the voice of his fellow-servitor, and shouts to him:

Mal. [W] Fool! Fool! Fool, I say!—

in.

Clo. Who calls, ha?

Mal. [W] Good Fool, as ever thou wilt deserve well at 'my hand, help me to a candle, and pen, ink, and paper: as I am a gentleman, I will live to be thankful to thee for 't.

Clo. Master Malvolio? Alas, sir! how fell you beside your five wits?c

in.

Mal. [W] Fool, there was 'never 'man so 'notoriously 'abused: I am as well in my wits, Fool, as 'thou art. Clo. But 'as well? then you are mad 'indeed, if you be no better in your wits than a 'Fool.

Mal. I tell thee, I am as 'well in my wits as any man in Illyria. By this hand, I am. Good Fool, some ink, paper, and light; and convey what I will set down to my lady: it shall advantage thee, more than 'ever the bearing of letter did.

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

Mal. 'Believe me, I am not; I tell thee 'true.

Clo. Nay, I'll ne'er believe a 'madman, till I see his 'brains. I 'will fetch you light, and paper, and ink. Mal. Fool, I'll requite it in the highest degree: I'pr'ythee, be gone!

The good-natured Clown, leaving poor Malvolio in the crib, sings his good-bye :

Clo.

"I am gone, sir,

And anon, sir,

I'll be with you again."

[Exit.

a proverbially foolish bird. Percy's" Reliques."

b The original song is reprinted at full in Bishop < The five wits were analogous to the five senses. only.

The Scene now returns to Olivia's garden; where we overhear Viola's brother, Sebastian, ruminating on his unexpected change of fortune, yet doubtful of everything.

Seb. This is the 'air? that is the glorious 'sun?

This pearl she 'gave me ?-I do 'feel 't, and 'see 't;
And though 't is 'wonder that enwraps me thus,
Yet 't is not 'madness. Where 's Antonio, then?
I could not find him at the "Elephant;"

Yet there he 'was, and there I found this credited,*—
That he did range the town to seek 'me out.
His counsel 'now might do me golden service;
For though my soul disputes well with my 'sense
That this may be some 'error, (but no 'madness,)
Yet doth this accident and flood of fortune
So far exceed all instance," all discourse,
That I am ready to distrust mine 'eyes,

And wrangle with my 'reason, that persuades me
To any other trust, but that I'm 'mad,-

Or else the lady's mad! There's something in 't,
That is 'deceivable! But here the lady 'comes.

The Lady Olivia and a Priest enter.

Oli. 'Blame not this haste of mine. If you mean well,
'Now go with me, and with this holy man,
Into the Chantry' by; there, before 'him,
'Plight me the full assurance of your faith;
That my most jealous and too doubtful soul
May live at peace. He shall 'conceal it,
Tills you are willing it shall come to note."
Seb. I'll follow this good man, and go with you;

And, having 'sworn truth,' ever 'will be true.

exit

Friar

Oli. Then lead the way, good Father; [F] and heavens so shine,

That they may 'fairly note this act of mine!

[Exeunt.

The Lady Olivia is delighted that she has at last secured Cesario as her husband; and Sebastian prudently makes no objection to a beautiful wife, a large estate, and a luxurious household. After the ceremony, the happy bridegroom goes in search of his seafriend Antonio, to inform him of his good fortune.

Wearied with repeated and defeated importunities, the Duke himself, attended by his Page, now comes to visit the Lady Olivia ; but, just as he arrives, the officers of Justice bring before him their prisoner, the sea-captain Antonio, charged with robbery, piracy, and street-brawling, Antonio vindicates his character as that of the Duke's enemy, engaged in acts of war; then, mistaking the Page Viola for her brother Sebastian, makes a series of charges against him in addressing the Duke:

Ant. A 'witchcraft drew me hither:

That most ingrateful boy there, by your side,
From the rude sea's enraged and foamy mouth
Did I redeem; a wreck past hope he was:
His life I gave him; and also for his sake
Did I expose myself, pure for his love,
Into the danger of this adverse town;
Drew to defend him, when he was beset:

Where, being apprehended, his false cunning

Taught him to face me out of his acquaintance;

Nay, more; ungratefully denied me mine own purse,
Which I had recommended to his use,

Not half-an-hour before.

Duke. When 'came he to this town?

Ant. To-day, my lord; and for three months before—
No interim, not a 'minute's vacancy—

Both day and night did we keep company.

Duke. Here comes the 'Countess: now 'heaven walks on 'earth!

But for thee, fellow,-fellow, thy words are madness:
Three months this youth hath tended' upon 'me.

The new bride, the Lady Olivia, uneasy at her husband's absence, now enters; and, looking reprovingly on Cesario (whom she mistakes for Sebastian,) addresses the Duke:

Oli. What would my lord,-buts 'that he may not have,-
Wherein 'Olivia may seem serviceable?—
Cesario, you do not keep promise with me.

Duke. Gracious Olivia,

Το

Viola,

The amorous Duke would gladly renew his suit, but she turns from her lover to chide her husband:

Oli. What do you 'say, Cesario?

Vio. My 'lord would speak; my duty hushes 'me.
Oli. [The] If it be aught to the 'old tune, my lord,
It is as flat and fulsome to mine ear

Duke.

As 'howling, after 'music.

O. R. wrack.

binserted word.

to deny impudently, (as not knowing me). three interpolated words. ⚫ entrusted. fattended. 8 except. O. R. fat.