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Clo. Out, hyperbolical fiend, how vexeft thou this man?

Talkeft thou of nothing but ladies?

Sir To. Well faid, mafter Parfon.

Mal. Sir Topas, never was man thus wrong'd; good Sir Topas, do not think, I am mad; they have laid me here in hideous darkness.

Clo. Fie, thour dishonest fathan; I call thee by the moft modeft terms; for I am one of thofe gentle ones, that will use the devil himself with curtefie: fay'ft thou, that house is dark?

Mal. As hell, Sir Topas.

Clo. Why, it hath bay-windows tranfparent as baricadoes, and the clear ftones towards the fouth-north are as luftrous as ebony; and yet complaineft thou of obftruction?

Mal. I am not mad, Sir Topas; I fay to you, this houfe is dark.

Clo. Madman, thou erreft; I fay, there is no darkness but ignorance; in which thou art more puzzled than the Egyptians in their fog.

Mal. I fay, this houfe is as dark as ignorance, though ignorance were as dark as hell; and I fay, there was never man thus abus'd; I am no more mad than you are, make the tryal of it in any conftant question.

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

Mal. That the foul of our grandam might happily inhabit a bird.

Clo. What think'ft thou of his opinion?

Mal. I think nobly of the foul, and no way approve his opinion.

Cia. Fare thee well: remain thou ftill in darkness; thou shalt hold th' opinion of Pythagoras, ere I will allow of thy wits; and fear to kill a woodcock, left thou difpoffefs the foul of thy grandam. Fare thee well.

Mal. Sir Topas, Sir Topas !

Sir To. My most exquifite Sir Topas!
Cla. Nay, I am for all waters.

Mar

Mar. Thou might'ft have done this without thy beard and gown; he fees thee not.

Sir To. To him in thine own voice, and bring me word how thou find'ft him: I would, we were all rid of this knavery. If he may be conveniently deliver'd, I would, he were; for I am now fo far in offence with my neice, that I cannot purfue with any fafety this sport to the upfhot. Come by and by to my chamber. [Exit with Maria. Clo. Hey Robin, jolly Robin, tell me how my lady

does.

Mal. Fool,

Clo. My lady is unkind, perdie.

Mal. Fool,

Clo. Alas, why is she so?

Mal. Fool, I fay;

Clo. She loves another

-who calls, ha?

[Singing.

Mal. Good fool, as ever thou wilt deferve 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. Mr. Malvolio!

Mal. Ay, good fool.

Cio. Alas, Sir, how fell you befides your five wits? Mal. Fool, there was never man fo notoriously abus'd; I am as well in my wits, fool, as thou art.

Clo. But as well! then thou art mad, indeed, if you be no better in your wits than a fool.

Mal. They have here propertied me; keep me in darkness, send minifters to me, affes, and do all they can to face me out of my wits.

Clo. Advife you what you fay: the minifter is here. Malvolio, Malvolio, thy wits the heav'ns restore: endea vour thy felf to fleep, and leave thy vain bibble babble. Mal. Sir Topas,

Clo. Maintain no words with him, good fellow. Who, I, Sir? not I, Sir. God b'w'you, good Sir Topas

Marry, amen.I will, Sir, I will.

Mal. Fool, fool, fool, I fay.

Cla

Clo. Alas, Sir, be patient. What fay you, Sir? I am fhent for fpeaking to you.

Mal. Good fool, help me to fome light, and fome paper; I tell thee, I am as well in my wits, as any man in Illyria.

Clo. Well-a-day, that you were, Sir!

Mal. By this hand, I am: good fool, fome ink, paper and light; and convey what I fet down to my Lady: It fhall 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 mad-man, 'till I fee 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.

Clo. I am gone, Sir, and anon, Sir,
I'll be with you again

In a trice, like to the old vice, (10)

Your need to fuftain :

[Singing.

Who with dagger of lath, in his rage, and his wrath,

Cries, ah, ha! to the devil:

Like a mad lad, pare thy nails, dad,

Adieu, good man drivel.

[Exit.

SCENE changes to another Apartment in

Seb.

TH

Olivia's Houfe.

Enter Sebaftian.

HIS is the air, that is the glorious fun;
This pearl fhe gave me, I do feel't and fee't.

And though 'tis wonder that enwraps me thus,

Yet 'tis not madness. Where's Anthonio then?

(10) Like to the old Vice,] I have explain'd this Word, and the Character meant by it, in a Note upon this Line of King Richard IIId.

Thus, like the formal Vice, Iniquity, &c.

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I could not find him at the Elephant ;

Yet there he was, and there I found this credit, (11)
That he did range the town to feek me out.
His counfel now might do me golden fervice;
For tho' my foul disputes well with my sense,
That this may be fome error, but no madness;
Yet doth this accident and flood of fortune
So far exceed all inftance, all discourse;
That I am ready to distrust mine eyes,
And wrangle with my reason that persuades me
To any other truft, but that I'm mad;

Or elfe the Lady's mad; yet if 'twere so,

She could not fway her house, command her followers,
Take, and give back affairs, and their dispatch,
With fuch a smooth, difcreet, and ftable bearing,
As, I perceive, fhe does: there's fomething in't,
That is deceiveable. But here fhe comes.

Enter Olivia and Prieft.

Oli. Blame not this hafte of mine: if you mean well, Now go with me, and with this holy man,

Into the chantry by; there before him,
And underneath that confecrated roof,
Plight me the full affurance of your faith;
That my moft jealous and too doubtful foul
May live at peace. He fhall conceal it,
Whiles you are willing it fhall come to note;
What time we will our celebration keep
According to my birth. What do you say?

(11) Yet there he was, and there I found this Credit,

That he did range, &c.] i. e. I found it justified, credibly vouch'd. Whether the Word Credit will eafily carry this Meaning, I am doubtful: The Expreffion feems obfcure; and tho' I have not disturb'd the Text, I very much fufpect that the Poet wrote;

and there I found this credent. He uses the fame Term again in the very fame Sense in The Winter's Tale.

Then 'tis very credent,

Thou may'st co-join with something, and thou doft, &c.

Seb.

Seb. I'll follow this good man, and go with you; And having fworn truth, ever will be true.

Oli. Then lead the way, good father; and heav'ns fo

fhine,

That they may fairly note this act of mine!

[Exeunt.

6

ACT V.

SCENE, The Street.

Enter Clown, and Fabian.

FABIAN.

WOW, as thou lov'ft me, let me fee his letter.

Now

Clo. Good Mr. Fabian, grant me another request.

Fab. Any thing.

Clo. Do not defire to fee this letter.

Fab. This is to give a dog, and in recompence defire my dog again.

Enter Duke, Viola, Curio, and lords.

Duke. Belong you to the lady Olivia, friends? Clo. Ay, Sir, we are fome of her trappings. Duke. I know thee well; how doft thou, my good fellow ?

Clo. Truly, Sir, the better for my foes, and the worfe for my friends.

Duke. Juft the contrary; the better for thy friends.
Clo. No, Sir, the worse.

Duke. How can that be?

Clo. Marry, Sir, they praise me, and make an afs of me; now, my foes tell me plainly, I am an afs: fo that by my foes, Sir, I profit in the knowledge of myfelf; and by my friends I am abused: so that, conclufion to

be

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