Oli. Who has done this, sir Andrew ?

Sir And. The count's gentleman, one Cesario. We took him for a coward, but he's the very devil incardinate.

Duke. My gentleman, Cesario ?

Sir And. 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.
Vio. Why do you speak to me?

I never hurt you:
You drew your sword upon me, without cause;
But I bespake you fair, and hurt you not.

Sir And. If a bloody coxcomb be a hurt, you have hurt me: I think you set nothing by a bloody coxcomb.

Enter Sir Toby BELCH, drunk, led by the Clown. Here comes sir Toby halting, you shall hear more: but if he had not been in drink, he would have tickled you othergates than he did.

Duke. How now, gentleman ! how is't with you?

Sir To. That's all one: he has hurt me, and there's the end on't.—Sot, did'st see Dick surgeon, sot?

Clo. O! he's drunk, sir Toby, an hour agone : his eyes were set at eight i' the morning.

Sir To. Then he's a rogue, and a passy-measures pavin". I hate a drunken rogue.

Sir And. I'll help you, sir Toby, because we'll be dressed together.

Sir To. Will you help? An ass-head, and a coxcomb, and a knave! a thin-faced knave, a gull! Oli. Get him to bed, and let his hurt be look’d to. [Exeunt Clown, Sir Toby, and Sir ANDREW.

Enter SEBASTIAN. Seb. I am sorry, madam, I have hurt your kinsman; But had it been the brother of my blood, 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. Duke. One face, one voice, one habit, and two per

sons;
A natural perspective”, that is, and is not !

Seb. Antonio ! O, my dear Antonio!
How have the hours rack'd and tortur'd me,
Since I have lost thee!

Ant. Sebastian are you?
Seb.

Fear'st thou that, Antonio?
Ant. How have you made division of yourself ?-
An apple cleft in two is not more twin
Than these two creatures. Which is Sebastian?

Oli. Most wonderful !

Seb. 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.-
[To V10LA.] Of charity, what kin are you to me?
What countryman? what name? what parentage?

1 You throw a strange regard upon me, and by that

I do perceive it hath offended you :) This is the regulation of the folios, which Malone altered by placing“ by that” at the beginning of the second line.

? A natural perspective,] i.e. a natural illusion, as if seen through a perspective glass, representing the same figure twice over.

Vio. 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 suit,
You come to fright us.
Seb.

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,
I should my tears let fall upon your cheek,
And say—thrice welcome, drowned Viola !

Vio. My father had a mole upon his brow.
Seb. And so had mine."

Vio. And died that day, when Viola from her birth
Had number'd thirteen years.

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

Vio. If nothing lets to make us happy both,
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,
Where lie my maiden weeds; by whose gentle help
I was preserv'd to serve this noble count.
All the occurrence of my fortune since
Hath been between this lady, and this lord.
Seb. So comes it, lady, [To OLIVIA.] you have been

mistook ;
But nature to her bias drew in that.
You would have been contracted to a maid,
Nor are you therein, by my life, deceiv'd :
You are betroth'd both to a maid and man.

Duke. Be not amaz’d; right noble is his blood. -
If this be so, as yet the glass seems true,
I shall have share in this most happy wreck.

Boy, [To VIOLA.] thou hast said to me a thousand times,
Thou never should'st love woman like to me.

Vio. And all those sayings will I over-swear,
And all those swearings keep as true in soul,
As doth that orbed continent, the fire
That severs day from night.
Duke.

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

Vio. The captain, that did bring me first on shore,
Hlath my maid's garments: he, upon some action,
Is now in durance at Malvolio's suit,
A gentleman, and follower of my lady's.
Oli. He shall enlarge him. — Fetch Malvolio

hither:
And yet, alas, now I remember me,
They say, poor gentleman, he's much distract.
A most extracting frenzy of mine own
From my remembrance clearly banish'd his.-

Re-enter Clown, with a letter. How does he, sirrah?

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

Oli. Open it, and read it.

Clo. Look then to be well edified, when the fool delivers the madman :-[Reads.] “ By the Lord, madam,”—

Oli. How now! art thou mad?

Clo. No, madam, I do but read madness: an your ladyship will have it as it ought to be, you must allow vox 4.

3

- it skills not much-] i.e. it signifies not much, a very common idiomatic expression. See also “ Henry VI." pt. 2, A. iii. sc. 1.

Oli. Pr’ythee, read i' thy right wits.

Clo. So I do, madonna; but to read his right wits, is to read thus : therefore perpend, my princess, and give ear. Oli. Read it you, sirrah.

[To FABIAN. Fab. [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 as 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.

“ The madly-used MalvoLIO.”

Oli. Did he write this?
Clo. Ay, madam.
Duke. This savours not much of distraction.
Oli. See bim deliver’d, Fabian: bring him hither.

[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.
Duke. Madam, I am most apt t embrace your

offer. [To VIOLA] Your master quits you ; and, for your ser

vice done him,
So much against the mettle of your sex,
So far beneath your soft and tender breeding,
And since you calld me master for so long,
Here is my hand : you shall from this time be
Your master's mistress.
Oli,

A sister :—you are she.

VOL. III.

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