So went he suited to his watery tomb: Seb. Vio. And died that day when Viola from her birth Had numbered 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, I'll bring you to a captain in this town, Where lie my maiden weeds; by whose gentle help All the occurrence of my fortune since Seb. So comes it, lady, you have been mistook: But nature to her bias drew in that. Duke. Be not amazed; right noble is his blood.— [TO VIOLA Thou never shouldst love woman like to me. 1 Hinders. Vio. And all those sayings will I overswear; 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, 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. Oli. He shall enlarge him :-fetch Malvolio hither. And yet, alas, now I remember me, They say, poor gentleman, he's much distract. Re-enter Clown, with a letter. 1 A most extracting frenzy of mine own Clo. Truly, madam, he holds Beelzebub at the stave's end, as well as a man in his case may do; he has here writ a letter to you; I should have given it to you to-day morning; but as a madman's epistles are no gospels, so it skills not much when they are delivered. Oli. Open it, and read it. Clo. Look then to be well edified, when the fool delivers the madman.-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.2 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,3 my princess, and give ear. Oli. Read it you, sirrah. [TO FABIAN. 1 i. e. a frenzy that drew me away from every thing but its object. 2 This may be explained: "If you would have the letter read in character, you must allow me to assume the voice or frantic tone of a madman." 3 Consider. 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. Oli. Did he write this? Clo. Ay, madam. The madly-used Malvolio. Duke. This savors not much of distraction. Oli. See him delivered, 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 to embrace your offer. Your master quits you [To VIOLA]; and, for your service done him, So much against the mettle of your sex, So far beneath your soft and tender breeding, Write from it, if you can, in hand, or phrase; First told me thou wast mad: then cam'st in smiling, Of thine own cause. Fab. Good madam, hear me speak; And let no quarrel, nor no brawl to come, Taint the condition of this present hour, Which I have wondered at. In hope it shall not, 1 Inferior. 3 Practice is a deceit, an insidious stratagem. 2 Fool. 4 Importunacy. Oli. Alas, poor fool! how have they baffled' thee! Clo. Why, some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrown upon them. I was 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. Mal. I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you. [Exit. Oli. He hath been most notoriously abused. Of our dear souls.-Mean time, sweet sister, [Exeunt. SONG. Clo. When that I was and a little tiny boy, A foolish thing was but a toy, For the rain it raineth every day But when I came to man's estate, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, 'Gainst knaves and thieves men shut their gate, For the rain it raineth every day. But when I came, alas! to wive, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, 1 Cheated. 2 i. e. Shall serve, agree, be convenient. |