Vio. And died that day when Viola from her birth Had number'd thirteen years. Seb. O, that record is lively in my soul! That day that made my sister thirteen years. I'll bring you to a captain in this town, Hath been between this lady and this lord. [TO OLIVIA. But nature to her bias drew in that. Duke. Be not amaz'd; right noble is his blood.- I shall have share in this most happy wrack: Boy, thou hast said to me a thousand times, [To V10. Vio. And all those sayings will I over-swear; 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. A most extracting a frenzy of mine own, From my remembrance clearly banish'd his.-- Clo. Truly, madam, he holds Belzebub 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 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.b Oli. Prithee, read i' thy right wits. Clo. So I do, madonna; but to read his right wits, is to read thus: therefore perpend, my princess, and give ear. Oli. Read it you, sirrah. [TO FABIAN. "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. a Extracting-absorbing. THE MADLY-USED MALVOLIO." b When the Clown begins to read, he raves and gesticulates; upon which Oirvia says, "Art thou mad?" His answer is clear enough you must allow vor-you must let me use my voice-if I am to read madness as it ought to be read. Oli. Did he write this? Clo. Ay, madam. Duke. This savours not much of distraction. Oli. See him deliver'd, 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 a of your sex, Oli. A sister?--You are she. Re-enter FABIAN, with MALVOLIO. Duke. Is this the madman? Have I, Malvolio? no. Mal. Lady, you have. Pray you, peruse that letter: You must not now deny it is your hand; Write from it, if you can, in hand, or phrase; And tell me, in the modesty of honour, Why you have given me such clear lights of favour; To put on yellow stockings, and to frown Oli. Alas, Malvolio, this is nc my writing, First told me thou wast mad; thou cam'st in smiling, Fab. Good madam, hear me speak; Which I have wonder'd at. In hope it shall not, a Geck. To geck is to deride, and hence a geck is one derided. b Importance-importunity. If that the injuries be justly weigh'd That have on both sides pass'd. Oli. Alas, poor fool! how have they baffled thee! Clo. Why, 66 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 abus'd. - Of our dear souls-Meantime, sweet sister, SONG. Clo. When that I was 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, [Exeunt. 'Gainst knaves and thieves men shut their gate, But when I came, alas! to wive, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, a Convents-serves, agrees, is convenient. |