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TWELFTH NIGHT  5.1

Before OLIVIA's house.

[Enter Clown and FABIAN]

FABIAN Now, as thou lovest me, let me see his letter.

Clown Good Master Fabian, grant me another request.

FABIAN Any thing.

Clown Do not desire to see this letter.

FABIAN This is, to give a dog, and in recompense desire my5
dog again.
[Enter DUKE ORSINO, VIOLA, CURIO, and Lords]

DUKE ORSINO Belong you to the Lady Olivia, friends?

Clown Ay, sir; we are some of her trappings.

DUKE ORSINO I know thee well; how dost thou, my good fellow?

Clown Truly, sir, the better for my foes and the worse10
for my friends.

DUKE ORSINO Just the contrary; the better for thy friends.

Clown No, sir, the worse.

DUKE ORSINO How can that be?

Clown Marry, sir, they praise me and make an ass of me;15
now my foes tell me plainly I am an ass: so that by
my foes, sir I profit in the knowledge of myself,
and by my friends, I am abused: so that,
conclusions to be as kisses, if your four negatives
make your two affirmatives why then, the worse for20
my friends and the better for my foes.

DUKE ORSINO Why, this is excellent.

Clown By my troth, sir, no; though it please you to be
one of my friends.

DUKE ORSINO Thou shalt not be the worse for me: there's gold.25

Clown But that it would be double-dealing, sir, I would
you could make it another.

DUKE ORSINO O, you give me ill counsel.

Clown Put your grace in your pocket, sir, for this once,
and let your flesh and blood obey it.30

DUKE ORSINO Well, I will be so much a sinner, to be a
double-dealer: there's another.

Clown Primo, secundo, tertio, is a good play; and the old
saying is, the third pays for all: the triplex,
sir, is a good tripping measure; or the bells of35
Saint Bennet, sir, may put you in mind; one, two, three.

DUKE ORSINO You can fool no more money out of me at this throw:
if you will let your lady know I am here to speak
with her, and bring her along with you, it may awake
my bounty further.40

Clown Marry, sir, lullaby to your bounty till I come
again. I go, sir; but I would not have you to think
that my desire of having is the sin of covetousness:
but, as you say, sir, let your bounty take a nap, I
will awake it anon.45
[Exit]

VIOLA Here comes the man, sir, that did rescue me.
[Enter ANTONIO and Officers]

DUKE ORSINO That face of his I do remember well;
Yet, when I saw it last, it was besmear'd
As black as Vulcan in the smoke of war:
A bawbling vessel was he captain of,50
For shallow draught and bulk unprizable;
With which such scathful grapple did he make
With the most noble bottom of our fleet,
That very envy and the tongue of loss
Cried fame and honour on him. What's the matter?55

First Officer Orsino, this is that Antonio
That took the Phoenix and her fraught from Candy;
And this is he that did the Tiger board,
When your young nephew Titus lost his leg:
Here in the streets, desperate of shame and state,60
In private brabble did we apprehend him.

VIOLA He did me kindness, sir, drew on my side;
But in conclusion put strange speech upon me:
I know not what 'twas but distraction.

DUKE ORSINO Notable pirate! thou salt-water thief!65
What foolish boldness brought thee to their mercies,
Whom thou, in terms so bloody and so dear,
Hast made thine enemies?

ANTONIO Orsino, noble sir,
Be pleased that I shake off these names you give me:70
Antonio never yet was thief or pirate,
Though I confess, on base and ground enough,
Orsino's enemy. A witchcraft drew me hither:
That most ingrateful boy there by your side,
From the rude sea's enraged and foamy mouth75
Did I redeem; a wreck past hope he was:
His life I gave him and did thereto add
My love, without retention or restraint,
All his in dedication; for his sake
Did I expose myself, pure for his love,80
Into the danger of this adverse town;
Drew to defend him when he was beset:
Where being apprehended, his false cunning,
Not meaning to partake with me in danger,
Taught him to face me out of his acquaintance,85
And grew a twenty years removed thing
While one would wink; denied me mine own purse,
Which I had recommended to his use
Not half an hour before.

VIOLA How can this be?90

DUKE ORSINO When came he to this town?

ANTONIO To-day, my lord; and for three months before,
No interim, not a minute's vacancy,
Both day and night did we keep company.
[Enter OLIVIA and Attendants]

DUKE ORSINO Here comes the countess: now heaven walks on earth.95
But for thee, fellow; fellow, thy words are madness:
Three months this youth hath tended upon me;
But more of that anon. Take him aside.

OLIVIA What would my lord, but that he may not have,
Wherein Olivia may seem serviceable?100
Cesario, you do not keep promise with me.

VIOLA Madam!

DUKE ORSINO Gracious Olivia,--

OLIVIA What do you say, Cesario? Good my lord,--

VIOLA My lord would speak; my duty hushes me.105

OLIVIA If it be aught to the old tune, my lord,
It is as fat and fulsome to mine ear
As howling after music.

DUKE ORSINO Still so cruel?

OLIVIA Still so constant, lord.110

DUKE ORSINO What, to perverseness? you uncivil lady,
To whose ingrate and unauspicious altars
My soul the faithfull'st offerings hath breathed out
That e'er devotion tender'd! What shall I do?

OLIVIA Even what it please my lord, that shall become him.115

DUKE ORSINO Why should I not, had I the heart to do it,
Like to the Egyptian thief at point of death,
Kill what I love?--a savage jealousy
That sometimes savours nobly. But hear me this:
Since you to non-regardance cast my faith,120
And that I partly know the instrument
That screws me from my true place in your favour,
Live you the marble-breasted tyrant still;
But this your minion, whom I know you love,
And whom, by heaven I swear, I tender dearly,125
Him will I tear out of that cruel eye,
Where he sits crowned in his master's spite.
Come, boy, with me; my thoughts are ripe in mischief:
I'll sacrifice the lamb that I do love,
To spite a raven's heart within a dove.130

VIOLA And I, most jocund, apt and willingly,
To do you rest, a thousand deaths would die.

OLIVIA Where goes Cesario?

VIOLA After him I love
More than I love these eyes, more than my life,135
More, by all mores, than e'er I shall love wife.
If I do feign, you witnesses above
Punish my life for tainting of my love!

OLIVIA Ay me, detested! how am I beguiled!

VIOLA Who does beguile you? who does do you wrong?140

OLIVIA Hast thou forgot thyself? is it so long?
Call forth the holy father.

DUKE ORSINO Come, away!

OLIVIA Whither, my lord? Cesario, husband, stay.

DUKE ORSINO Husband!145

OLIVIA         Ay, husband: can he that deny?

DUKE ORSINO Her husband, sirrah!

VIOLA No, my lord, not I.

OLIVIA Alas, it is the baseness of thy fear
That makes thee strangle thy propriety:
Fear not, Cesario; take thy fortunes up;150
Be that thou know'st thou art, and then thou art
As great as that thou fear'st.
[Enter Priest]
                     O, welcome, father!
Father, I charge thee, by thy reverence,
Here to unfold, though lately we intended155
To keep in darkness what occasion now
Reveals before 'tis ripe, what thou dost know
Hath newly pass'd between this youth and me.

Priest A contract of eternal bond of love,
Confirm'd by mutual joinder of your hands,160
Attested by the holy close of lips,
Strengthen'd by interchangement of your rings;
And all the ceremony of this compact
Seal'd in my function, by my testimony:
Since when, my watch hath told me, toward my grave165
I have travell'd but two hours.

DUKE ORSINO O thou dissembling cub! what wilt thou be
When time hath sow'd a grizzle on thy case?
Or will not else thy craft so quickly grow,
That thine own trip shall be thine overthrow?170
Farewell, and take her; but direct thy feet
Where thou and I henceforth may never meet.

VIOLA My lord, I do protest--

OLIVIA O, do not swear!
Hold little faith, though thou hast too much fear.175
[Enter SIR ANDREW]

SIR ANDREW For the love of God, a surgeon! Send one presently
to Sir Toby.

OLIVIA What's the matter?

SIR ANDREW He has broke my head across and has given Sir Toby
a bloody coxcomb too: for the love of God, your180
help! I had rather than forty pound I were at home.

OLIVIA Who has done this, Sir Andrew?

SIR ANDREW The count's gentleman, one Cesario: we took him for
a coward, but he's the very devil incardinate.

DUKE ORSINO My gentleman, Cesario?185

SIR ANDREW 'Od's lifelings, here he is! You broke my head for
nothing; and that that I did, I was set on to do't
by Sir Toby.

VIOLA Why do you speak to me? I never hurt you:
You drew your sword upon me without cause;190
But I bespoke you fair, and hurt you not.

SIR ANDREW If a bloody coxcomb be a hurt, you have hurt me: I
think you set nothing by a bloody coxcomb.
[Enter SIR TOBY BELCH and Clown]
Here comes Sir Toby halting; you shall hear more:
but if he had not been in drink, he would have195
tickled you othergates than he did.

DUKE ORSINO How now, gentleman! how is't with you?

SIR TOBY BELCH That's all one: has hurt me, and there's the end
on't. Sot, didst see Dick surgeon, sot?

Clown O, he's drunk, Sir Toby, an hour agone; his eyes200
were set at eight i' the morning.

SIR TOBY BELCH Then he's a rogue, and a passy measures panyn: I
hate a drunken rogue.

OLIVIA Away with him! Who hath made this havoc with them?

SIR ANDREW I'll help you, Sir Toby, because well be dressed together.205

SIR TOBY BELCH Will you help? an ass-head and a coxcomb and a
knave, a thin-faced knave, a gull!

OLIVIA Get him to bed, and let his hurt be look'd to.
[Exeunt Clown, FABIAN, SIR TOBY BELCH, and SIR ANDREW]
[Enter SEBASTIAN]

SEBASTIAN I am sorry, madam, I have hurt your kinsman:
But, had it been the brother of my blood,210
I must have done no less with wit and safety.
You throw a strange regard upon me, and by that
I do perceive it hath offended you:
Pardon me, sweet one, even for the vows
We made each other but so late ago.215

DUKE ORSINO One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons,
A natural perspective, that is and is not!

SEBASTIAN Antonio, O my dear Antonio!
How have the hours rack'd and tortured me,
Since I have lost thee!220

ANTONIO Sebastian are you?

SEBASTIAN            Fear'st thou that, Antonio?

ANTONIO How have you made division of yourself?
An apple, cleft in two, is not more twin
Than these two creatures. Which is Sebastian?

OLIVIA Most wonderful!225

SEBASTIAN Do I stand there? I never had a brother;
Nor can there be that deity in my nature,
Of here and every where. I had a sister,
Whom the blind waves and surges have devour'd.
Of charity, what kin are you to me?230
What countryman? what name? what parentage?

VIOLA Of Messaline: Sebastian was my father;
Such a Sebastian was my brother too,
So went he suited to his watery tomb:
If spirits can assume both form and suit235
You come to fright us.

SEBASTIAN A spirit I am indeed;
But am in that dimension grossly clad
Which from the womb I did participate.
Were you a woman, as the rest goes even,240
I should my tears let fall upon your cheek,
And say 'Thrice-welcome, drowned Viola!'

VIOLA My father had a mole upon his brow.

SEBASTIAN And so had mine.

VIOLA And died that day when Viola from her birth245
Had number'd thirteen years.

SEBASTIAN O, that record is lively in my soul!
He finished indeed his mortal act
That day that made my sister thirteen years.

VIOLA If nothing lets to make us happy both250
But this my masculine usurp'd attire,
Do not embrace me till each circumstance
Of place, time, fortune, do cohere and jump
That I am Viola: which to confirm,
I'll bring you to a captain in this town,255
Where lie my maiden weeds; by whose gentle help
I was preserved to serve this noble count.
All the occurrence of my fortune since
Hath been between this lady and this lord.

SEBASTIAN [To OLIVIA] So comes it, lady, you have been mistook:260
But nature to her bias drew in that.
You would have been contracted to a maid;
Nor are you therein, by my life, deceived,
You are betroth'd both to a maid and man.

DUKE ORSINO Be not amazed; right noble is his blood.265
If this be so, as yet the glass seems true,
I shall have share in this most happy wreck.
[To VIOLA]
Boy, thou hast said to me a thousand times
Thou never shouldst love woman like to me.

VIOLA And all those sayings will I overswear;270
And those swearings keep as true in soul
As doth that orbed continent the fire
That severs day from night.

DUKE ORSINO Give me thy hand;
And let me see thee in thy woman's weeds.275

VIOLA The captain that did bring me first on shore
Hath my maid's garments: he upon some action
Is now in durance, at Malvolio's suit,
A gentleman, and follower of my lady's.

OLIVIA He shall enlarge him: fetch Malvolio hither:280
And yet, alas, now I remember me,
They say, poor gentleman, he's much distract.
[Re-enter Clown with a letter, and FABIAN]
A most extracting frenzy of mine own
From my remembrance clearly banish'd his.
How does he, sirrah?285

Clown Truly, madam, he holds Belzebub at the staves's end as
well as a man in his case may do: has here writ a
letter to you; I should have given't you to-day
morning, but as a madman's epistles are no gospels,
so it skills not much when they are delivered.290

OLIVIA Open't, and read it.

Clown Look then to be well edified when the fool delivers
the madman.
[Reads]
'By the Lord, madam,'--

OLIVIA How now! art thou mad?295

Clown No, madam, I do but read madness: an your ladyship
will have it as it ought to be, you must allow Vox.

OLIVIA Prithee, read i' thy right wits.

Clown So I do, madonna; but to read his right wits is to
read thus: therefore perpend, my princess, and give ear.300

OLIVIA Read it you, sirrah.
[To FABIAN]

FABIAN [Reads] 'By the Lord, madam, you wrong me, and the
world shall know it: though you have put me into
darkness and given your drunken cousin rule over
me, yet have I the benefit of my senses as well as305
your ladyship. I have your own letter that induced
me to the semblance I put on; with the which I doubt
not but to do myself much right, or you much shame.
Think of me as you please. I leave my duty a little
unthought of and speak out of my injury.310
                     THE MADLY-USED MALVOLIO.'

OLIVIA Did he write this?

Clown Ay, madam.

DUKE ORSINO This savours not much of distraction.

OLIVIA See him deliver'd, Fabian; bring him hither.315
[Exit FABIAN]
My lord so please you, these things further
thought on,
To think me as well a sister as a wife,
One day shall crown the alliance on't, so please you,
Here at my house and at my proper cost.320

DUKE ORSINO Madam, I am most apt to embrace your offer.
[To VIOLA]
Your master quits you; and for your service done him,
So much against the mettle of your sex,
So far beneath your soft and tender breeding,
And since you call'd me master for so long,325
Here is my hand: you shall from this time be
Your master's mistress.

OLIVIA A sister! you are she.
[Re-enter FABIAN, with MALVOLIO]

DUKE ORSINO Is this the madman?

OLIVIA Ay, my lord, this same.330
How now, Malvolio!

MALVOLIO           Madam, you have done me wrong,
Notorious wrong.

OLIVIA         Have I, Malvolio? no.

MALVOLIO Lady, you have. Pray you, peruse that letter.
You must not now deny it is your hand:
Write from it, if you can, in hand or phrase;335
Or say 'tis not your seal, nor your invention:
You can say none of this: well, grant it then
And tell me, in the modesty of honour,
Why you have given me such clear lights of favour,
Bade me come smiling and cross-garter'd to you,340
To put on yellow stockings and to frown
Upon Sir Toby and the lighter people;
And, acting this in an obedient hope,
Why have you suffer'd me to be imprison'd,
Kept in a dark house, visited by the priest,345
And made the most notorious geck and gull
That e'er invention play'd on? tell me why.

OLIVIA Alas, Malvolio, this is not my writing,
Though, I confess, much like the character
But out of question 'tis Maria's hand.350
And now I do bethink me, it was she
First told me thou wast mad; then camest in smiling,
And in such forms which here were presupposed
Upon thee in the letter. Prithee, be content:
This practise hath most shrewdly pass'd upon thee;355
But when we know the grounds and authors of it,
Thou shalt be both the plaintiff and the judge
Of thine own cause.

FABIAN Good madam, hear me speak,
And let no quarrel nor no brawl to come360
Taint the condition of this present hour,
Which I have wonder'd at. In hope it shall not,
Most freely I confess, myself and Toby
Set this device against Malvolio here,
Upon some stubborn and uncourteous parts365
We had conceived against him: Maria writ
The letter at Sir Toby's great importance;
In recompense whereof he hath married her.
How with a sportful malice it was follow'd,
May rather pluck on laughter than revenge;370
If that the injuries be justly weigh'd
That have on both sides pass'd.

OLIVIA Alas, poor fool, how have they baffled thee!

Clown Why, 'some are born great, some achieve greatness,
and some have greatness thrown upon them.' I was375
one, sir, in this interlude; one Sir Topas, sir; but
that's all one. 'By the Lord, fool, I am not mad.'
But do you remember? 'Madam, why laugh you at such
a barren rascal? an you smile not, he's gagged:'
and thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges.380

MALVOLIO I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you.
[Exit]

OLIVIA He hath been most notoriously abused.

DUKE ORSINO Pursue him and entreat him to a peace:
He hath not told us of the captain yet:
When that is known and golden time convents,385
A solemn combination shall be made
Of our dear souls. Meantime, sweet sister,
We will not part from hence. Cesario, come;
For so you shall be, while you are a man;
But when in other habits you are seen,390
Orsino's mistress and his fancy's queen.
[Exeunt all, except Clown]

Clown [Sings]
When that I was and a little tiny boy,
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
A foolish thing was but a toy,395
For the rain it raineth every day.
But when I came to man's estate,
With hey, ho, &c.
'Gainst knaves and thieves men shut their gate,
For the rain, &c.400
But when I came, alas! to wive,
With hey, ho, &c.
By swaggering could I never thrive,
For the rain, &c.
But when I came unto my beds,405
With hey, ho, &c.
With toss-pots still had drunken heads,
For the rain, &c.
A great while ago the world begun,
With hey, ho, &c.410
But that's all one, our play is done,
And we'll strive to please you every day.
[Exit]

 

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