SIR To. If this letter move him not, his legs cannot I'll give't him.

MAR. You may have very fit occasion for't; he is now in some commerce with my lady, and will by and by depart.

SIR TO. Go, sir Andrew; scout me for him at the corner of the orchard, like a bum-bailie: so soon as ever thou seest him, draw; and, as thou drawest, swear horrible; for it comes to pass oft, that a terrible oath, with a swaggering accent sharply twanged off, gives manhood more approbation than ever proof itself would have earned him. Away!

SIR AND. Nay, let me alone for swearing.

[Exit.

SIR TO. Now will not I deliver his letter: for the behaviour of the young gentleman gives him out to be of good capacity and breeding; his employment between his lord and my niece confirms no less; therefore this letter, being so excellently ignorant, will breed no terror in the youth,-he will find it comes from a clodpole. But, sir, I will deliver his challenge by word of mouth; set upon Aguecheek a notable report of valour; and drive the gentleman, (as I know his youth will aptly receive it,) into a most hideous opinion of his rage, skill, fury, and impetuosity. This will so fright them both, that they will kill one another by the look, like cockatrices.

Thou liest in thy throat;] See note (2), p. 626, Vol. I. b Still you keep o' the windy side of the law;] Fabian alludes to a ridiculous distinction in the Rules of the Duello, which is aptly explained in the note just mentioned, at page 626, Vol. I. where it will be remarked that to tell a man, "thou liest by the throat," or even, "thou liest by the throat, like a rogue," was an offence expiable without resort to combat; but to say, "thou

FAB. Here he comes with your niece: give them way till he take leave, and presently after him.

SIR TO. I will meditate the while upon some horrid message for a challenge.

[Exeunt Sir TOBY, FABIAN, and MARIA.

Re-enter OLIVIA, with VIOLA.

OLI. I have said too much unto a heart of stone, And laid mine honour too unchary out:* There's something in me that reproves my fault; But such a headstrong potent fault it is, That it but mocks reproof. [bears, VIO. With the same 'haviour that your passion Go on my master's griefs. [picture; OLI. Here, wear this jewel for me,-'tis my Refuse it not; it hath no tongue to vex you: And, I beseech you, come again to-morrow. What shall you ask of me that I'll deny, That honour, sav'd, may upon asking give? VIO. Nothing but this-your true love for my [that OLI. How with mine honour may I give him Which I have given to you? VIO. OLI. Well, come again to-morrow: fare thee well;

master.

I will acquit you.

Re-enter Sir TOBY BELCH and FABIAN.
SIR TO. Gentleman, God save thee.
Vro. And you, sir.

SIR TO. That defence thou hast, betake thee to't of what nature the wrongs are thou hast done him, I know not; but thy intercepter, full of despite, bloody as the hunter, attends thee at the orchard-end dismount thy tuck," be yared in thy preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skilful, and deadly.

VIO. You mistake, sir, I am sure; no man hath any quarrel to me; my remembrance is very free and clear from any image of offence done to any

man.

SIR TO. You'll find it otherwise, I assure you: therefore, if you hold your life at any price, betake you to your guard; for your opposite hath in him what youth, strength, skill, and wrath, can furnish man withal.

(*) Old text, on't.

liest by the throat, like a rogue, as thou art," was an affront to be atoned for only by blood.

e Dismount thy tuck,-] Draw thy rapier. d Yare- Yare means brisk, nimble.

Vio. I pray you, sir, what is he?

SIR TO. He is knight, dubbed with unhatched a rapier and on carpet consideration; (7) but he is a devil in private brawl; souls and bodies hath he divorced three; and his incensement at this moment is so implacable, that satisfaction can be none but by pangs of death and sepulchre: hob, nob," is his word; give't or take't.

V10. I will return again into the house, and desire some conduct of the lady. I am no fighter. I have heard of some kind of men that put quarrels

Dubbed with unhatched rapier-] From the context it would appear that Malone was right in thinking we ought to read an hatch'd rapier, that is, a rapier, the hilt of which was richly inlaid and ornamented. The ordinary lection is unhacked rapier. b Hob, nob,-] The same as Habbe or Nubbe, have or not have,

you, do me this courteous office, as to know of the knight what my offence to him is; it is something of my negligence, nothing of my purpose.

SIR TO. I will do so.-Signior Fabian, stay you by this gentleman till my return.

[Exit Sir TOBY. Vio. Pray you, sir, do you know of this matter? FAB. I know the knight is incensed against you, even to a mortal arbitrement; but nothing of the circumstance more.

VIO. I beseech you, what manner of man is he? FAB. Nothing of that wonderful promise, to read him by his form, as you are like to find him in the proof of his valour. He is, indeed, sir, the most skilful, bloody, and fatal opposite that you could possibly have found in any part of Illyria. Will you walk towards him? I will make your peace with him, if I can.

Vio. I shall be much bound to you for't: I am one that would rather go with sir priest than sir knight I care not who knows so much of my mettle. [Exeunt.

SCENE V.-The Street adjoining Olivia's Garden.

Enter Sir TOBY BELCH and Sir ANDREW AGUECHEEK.

a

SIR TO. Why, man, he's a very devil; I have not seen such a firago. I had a pass with him, rapier, scabbard, and all, and he gives me the stuck-in, with such a mortal motion, that it is inevitable; and on the answer, he pays you as surely as your feet hit the ground they step on : they say, he has been fencer to the Sophy.

SIR AND. Pox on't, I'll not meddle with him. SIR TO. Ay, but he will not now be pacified: Fabian can scarce hold him yonder.

SIR AND. Plague on't; an I thought he had been valiant and so cunning in fence, I'd have seen him damned ere I'd have challenged him. Let him let the matter slip, and I'll give him my horse, grey Capilet.

SIR To. I'll make the motion: stand here, make a good show on't; this shall end without the perdition of souls. [Aside.] Marry, I'll ride horse as well as I ride

you.

Enter FABIAN and VIOLA.

your

FAB. He is as horribly conceited of him, and pants and looks pale, as if a bear were at his heels.

SIR TO. [TO VIO.] There's no remedy, sir; he will fight with you for his oath sake: marry, he hath better bethought him of his quarrel, and he finds that now scarce to be worth talking of: therefore draw, for the supportance of his vow; he protests, he will not hurt you.

VIO. Pray God defend me! A little thing would make me tell them how much I lack of a man. [Aside.

FAB. Give ground, if you see him furious. SIR TO. Come, sir Andrew, there's no remedy; the gentleman will, for his honour's sake, have one bout with you: he cannot by the duello avoid it: but he has promised me, as he is a gentleman and a soldier, he will not hurt you. Come on: to't. SIR AND. Pray God, he keep his oath!

b

Than you have heard him brag to you he will. SIR TO. Nay, if you be an undertaker, I am for you. [Draws. FAB. O good sir Toby, hold! here come the officers. SIR TO. I'll be with you anon. [To ANTONIO. Vio. Pray, sir, put your sword up, if you please. [To Sir ANDREW. SIR AND. Marry, will I, sir;—and, for that I promised you, I'll be as good as my word: he will bear you easily, and reins well.

Though now you have no sea-cap on your head.—
Take him away; he knows I know him well.
ANT. I must obey.-This comes [To V10.] with
seeking you ;—

b An undertaker,-] One who undertakes the quarrel of another.

ANT.

O heavens themselves!

2 OFF. Come, sir, I pray you, go.
ANT. Let me speak a little. This youth that
you see here

I snatch'd one half out of the jaws of death;
Reliev'd him with such sanctity of love,-
And to his image, which methought did promise
Most venerable worth, did I devotion.

1 OFF. What's that to us? The time goes by; away! [god!ANT. But, O, how vile an idol proves this Thou hast, Sebastian, done good feature shame.