And laid mine honour too unchary 12 out: That it but mocks reproof. Vio. With the same 'haviour that your passion bears, Go on my master's griefs. Oli. Here, wear this jewel 13 for me, 'tis my pic ture; Refuse it not, it hath no tongue to vex you: Vio. Nothing but this, your true love for my master. Oli. How with mine honour may I give him that Which I have given to you? Vio. I will acquit you. Oli. Well, come again to-morrow: Fare thee well; A fiend, like thee, might bear my soul to hell. [Exit.. Re-enter SIR TOBY BELCH and FABIAN. Sir To. Gentleman, God save thee. Vio. 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 despight, bloody as the hunter, attends thee at the orchard end: dismount thy tuck 14, be yare 15 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. 12 Uncautiously. 13 Jewel anciently signified any precious ornament of superfluity. 14 Rapier. 15 Ready, nimble. 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. Vio. I pray you, sir, what is he? Sir To. He is knight, dubbed with unhatched rapier, and on carpet consideration 16; 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, nob17, is his word; give't, or take't. Vio. 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 purposely on others, to taste their valour: belike, this is a man of that quirk 18. Sir To. Sir, no; his indignation derives itself out of a very competent injury; therefore, get you on, and give him his desire. Back you shall not to the house, unless you undertake that with me, which with as much safety you might answer him: therefore on, or strip your sword stark naked; for meddle you must, that's certain, or forswear to wear iron about you. Vio. This is as uncivil, as strange. I beseech do me this courteous office, as to know of the you, 16 i.e. he is a carpet-knight not dubbed in the field, but on some peaceable occasion; unhatch'd was probably used in the sense of unhack'd. But perhaps we should read an hatch'd rapier, i. e. a rapier the hilt of which was enriched with silver or gold. 17 A corruption most probably of hab or nab: have or have not, hit or miss, at a venture. Quasi, have, or n'ave, i. e. have not from the Saxon habban, to have: nabban, not to have. So, in Holinshed's description of Ireland, The citizens in their rage shot habbe or nabbe,' 18 Sort. 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 19; 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 20 that you could possibly have found in any part of Illyria: Will you walk towards him? I will make him, if I can. your peace with 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. Re-enter SIR TOBY, with SIR ANDREW. Sir To. Why, man, he's a very devil 21; I have not seen such a firago 22. I had a pass with him, rapier, scabbard, and all, and he gives me the stuckin 23, with such a mortal motion, that it is inevitable; and on the answer, he 24 pays you as surely as your feet hit the ground they step on: been fencer to the Sophy. 19 Decision. They say, he has 20 Adversary. 21 Shakspeare may have caught a hint for this scene from the behaviour of Sir John Daw and Sir A. La Foole in Jonson's Silent Woman, which was printed in 1609. 22 Firago, for virago. The meaning appears to be, I have never seen the most furious woman so obstreperous and violent as he is. 23 A corruption of stoccata, an Italian term in fencing. 24 i. e. hits you. 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: Marry, I'll ride your horse as well as I ride you. Re-enter FABIAN and VIOLA. [Aside. I have his horse [to FAB.] to take up the quarrel; I have persuaded him, the youth's a devil. Fab. He is as horribly conceited 25 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 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 26 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! [Draws. 25 He has a horrid conception of him. 26 Laws of duel. Enter ANTONIO. Vio. I do assure you, 'tis against my will. [Draws. Ant. Put up your sword;-If this young gentleman Have done offence, I take the fault on me; If you offend him, I for him defy you. [Drawing. Sir To. You, sir? why, what are you? 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 27, for you. Enter Two Officers. I am [Draws. Fab. O good Sir Toby, hold; here come the offi cers. Sir To. I'll be with you anon. [TO ANTONIO. Vio. Pray, sir, put up your sword, if you please. [To SIR ANDRew. pro Sir And. Marry, will I, sir;—and, for that I mised you, I'll be as good as my word: He will bear you easily; and reins well. 1 Off. This is the man; do thy office. 2 Off. Antonio, I arrest thee at the suit Of count Orsino. Ant. You do mistake me, sir. 1 Off. No, sir, no jot; I know your favour 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 with seeking you; Makes me to ask you for my purse: It grieves me 27 i. e. one who takes up or undertakes the quarrel of another. |