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, thou difhoneft fathan; I call thee by the moft modeft terms; for I am one of those 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 transparent 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. Clo. 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 !- Mar. Mar. Thou might'st 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'st 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 upshot. Come by and by to my chamber. Clo. Hey Robin, jolly Robin, [Exit with Maria. tell me how my lady [Singing. who calls, ha? 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. Clo. 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. Advise you what you fay: the minifter is here. Malvolio, Malvolio, thy wits the heav'ns reftore: 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. Cle. Clo. Alas, Sir, be patient. What say you, Sir? I am fhent for speaking 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 ? 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, ab, ha! to the devil: Like a mad lad, pare thy nails, dad, Adieu, good man drivel. [Exit. SCENE changes to another Apartment in Seb. Olivia's Houfe. Enter Sebaftian. HIS is the air, that is the glorious fun ; TH 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 Anthonie 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. I could not find him at the Elephant ; Yet there he was, and there I found this credit, (11) Or elfe the Lady's mad; yet if 'twere so, She could not fway her house, command her followers, Enter Olivia and Priest. 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, (11) Tet 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 easily carry this Meaning, I am doubtful: The Expreffion feems obfcure; and tho' I have not disturb'd the Text, I very much suspect 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'ft co-join with fomething, and theu 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. ACT V. SCENE, The Street. Enter Clown, and Fabian. FABIAN. OW, as thou lov'ft me, let me fee his letter. 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 worse for my friends. Duke. Juft the contrary; the better for thy friends. 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 myself; and by my friends I am abused: fo that, conclufion to be |
