131 unless you undertake that with me, which with as much fafety you might anfwer him: therefore on, or ftrip your fword ftark naked; for meddle you muft, that's certain, or forfwear to wear iron about you. Vio. This is as uncivil as ftrange. I befeech 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 fo. Signior Fabian, ftay 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 incens'd against you, even to a mortal arbitriment; but nothing of the circumftance more. Vio. I befeech you, what manner of man is he? Fab. Nothing of that wonderful promife to read him by his form, as you are like to find in the proof of his valour. He is indeed, Sir, the moft fkilful, bloody, and fatal oppofite that you could poffibly have found in any part of Illyria. Will you walk towards him? I will make your peace with him, if I can. Vio. I fhall be much bound to you for 't: I am one that had rather go with Sir Prieft than Sir Knight: I care not who knows fo much of my mettle. SCENE XIII. Enter Sir Toby, and Sir Andrew. [Exeunt. Sir To. Why, man, he's a very devil; I have not feen fuch a virago: I had a pass with him, rapier, fcabbard and all; and he gives me the ftuck in with fuch a mortal motion, that it is inevitable; and on the answer, he pays you as furely as your feet hit the ground they ftep on. They fay 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 fcarce hold him yonder. Sir And. Plague on 't, an I thought he had been valiant, and fo cunning in fence, I'd have seen him damn'd ere I'd have challeng'd him. Let him let the matter flip, and I'll give him my horfe, grey Capilet. Sir To. I'll make the motion; ftand here, make a good fhew on 't.-This fhall end without the perdition of fouls; marry, I'll ride your horfe as well as I ride you. [Afide. Enter Fabian, and Viola. I have his horfe to take up the quarrel; I have perfuaded him the youth's a devil. [To Fabian. Fab. He is as horribly conceited of him; and pants and looks pale, as if a bear were at his heels. Sir To. There's no remedy, Sir; he will fight with you for's oath fake: marry, he had better bethought him of his quarrel, and he finds that now scarce to be worth talking of; therefore draw for the fupportance of his vow, he protefts 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. Fab. Give ground, if you fee him furious. Sir To. Come, Sir Andrew, there's no remedy; the gentleman will for his honour's fake have one bout with you; he cannot by the duello avoid it; but he has promis'd me, as he is a gentleman and a foldier, he will not hurt you. Come on, to't. [They draw. Sir And. Pray God he keep his oath! SCENE XIV. Enter Anthonio. Vio. I do affure you 'tis against my will. Ant. Put up your fword; if this young gentleman Have done offence, I take the fault on me; you offend him, I for him defy you. If Sir To. You, Sir? why, what are you? [Drawing. Ant. One, Sir, that for his love dares yet do more Than you have heard him brag to you he will. Sir To. Nay, if you be an undertaker, I am for you. Enter Officers. [Draws. Fab. O good Sir Toby, hold; here come the officers. Sir To. I'll be with you anon. Vio. Pray, Sir, put your fword up, if you please. [To Sir Andrew. . Sir And. Marry, will I, Sir; and for that I promis you, I'll be as good as my word. He will bear you cafily, and reins well. 1 Of. This is the man; do thy office. 2 Off. Antonio, I arreft thee at the suit of Duke OrAnt. You do miftake me, Sir. [fino. It grieves me 2 Off. Come, Sir, away. you Ant. I muft intreat of fome of that money. For the fair kindness you have fhew'd me here, I'll lend you fomething; my having is not much; Ant. Will you deny me now? Can lack perfuafion? do not tempt my mifery, As to upbraid you with thofe kindnesses Vis. I know of none, Nor know I you by voice, or any feature: Than lying, vainness, babling, drunkenness, Or any taint of vice, whofe ftrong corruption Ant. Oh, heav'ns themselves! 2 Off. Come, Sir, I pray you, go. Ant. Let me fpeak a little. This youth that you fee I fnatch'd one half out of the jaws of death; [here, And to his image, which, methought, did promife VOL. III, M Moft venerable worth, did I devotion. 1 Off. What's that to us? the time goes by; away. Ant. But oh, how vile an idol proves this god! Thou haft, Sebastian, done good feature shame. In nature there's no blemish but the mind: None can be call'd deform'd, but the unkind. Virtue is beauty; but the beauteous evil Are empty trunks, o'erflourish'd by the devil. 1 Off. The man grows mad, away with him: Come, come, Sir. Ant. Lead me on. [Exit Antonio with Officers. Vio. Methinks his words do from fuch paffion fly, That he believes himself; fo do not I: Prove true, imagination, oh, prove true, That I, dear brother, be now ta'en for you! Sir To. Come hither, Knight; come hither, Fabian; we'll whisper o'er a couplet or two of moft fage faws. Vio. He nam'd Sebastian; I my brother know Yet living in my glafs; even fuch, and for In favour was my brother; and he went Still in this fashion, colour, ornament; For him I imitate: oh, if it prove, Tempefts are kind, and falt waves fresh in love. [Exit. Sir To. A very difhoneft paltry boy, and more a coward than a hare; his difhonefty appears in leaving his friend here in neceffity, and denying him; and for his cowardfhip, afk Fabian. Fab. A coward, a moft devout coward, religious in it. Sir And. 'Slid, I'll after him again, and beat him. Sir To. Do, cuff him foundly, but never draw thy fword. Sir And. An I do not, Fab. Come, let's fee the event. [Exit Sir Andrew. Sir To. I dare lay any money, 'twill be nothing yet. [Exeunt. SCENE I. ACT IV. Clo. The Street. Enter Sebaftian, and Clown. Ill you make me believe that I am not fent W for you? Seb. Go to, go to; thou art a foolish fellow. Let me be clear of thee. Clo. Well held out, i' faith: no, I do not know you; nor I am not fent to you by my Lady, to bid you come speak with her; nor your name is not Mafter Cefario; nor this is not my nofe neither; nothing that is fo, is fo.. Seb. I pr'ythec, vent thy felly fome where else; thou know'it not me. Cla. Vent my folly he has heard that word of fome great man, and now applies it to a fool. Vent my folly! I am afraid this great lubber the world will prove a cockney: I pr'ythee now, ungird thy ftrangenefs, and tell me what I fhall vent to my Lady; fhall I vent to her that thou art coming? Seb. I pr'ythee, foolish Greek *, depart from me; there's money for thee. If you tarry longer, I fhall give worfe payment. Clo. By my troth, thou haft an open hand; these wife men that give fools money, get themselves a good report after fourteen years purchase †. Enter Sir Andrew, Sir Toby, and Fabian. Sir And. Now, Sir, have I met you again? there's for you. [Striking Sebaftian. Seb. Why, there's for thee, and there, and there; are all the people mad? [Beating Sir Andrew. * Greek, was as much as to fay bawd or pander. He understood the Clown to be acting in that office. A bawdy-house was called Corinth, and the frequenters of it Corinthians; which words eccur frequently in Shakespear; especially in Timon of Athens, and Henry IV. This feems to carry a piece of fatyr upon monopolies, the crying grievance of that time. The grants generally were for fourteen years; and the petitions being referred to a committee, it was fu fpected that money gained favourable reports from thence. |