SCENE XI. Enter Olivia and Viola. Fab. Here he comes with your niece; give them way, 'till he take leave, and prefently after him. Sir To. I will meditate the while upon fome horrid meffage for a challenge. [Exeunt. Oli. I've faid too much unto a heart of ftone, And laid mine honour too unchary out. There's fomething in me, that reproves my fault; Vio. With the fame 'haviour that your paffion bears, Goes on my mafter's grief. Oli. Here, wear this jewel for me, 'tis my picture; Refuse it not, it hath no tongue to vex you : And, I befeech you, come again to-morrow. What fhall you ask of me that I'll deny, That, honour fav'd, may upon asking give? Vio. Nothing but this, your true love for my mafter. 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 foul to hell. [Exit. Enter Sir Toby and Fabian. Sir To. Gentleman, God fave thee. Vio. And you, Sir. Sir To. That defence thou haft, betake thee to't of what nature the wrongs are thou haft done him, know not; but thy interpreter, full of defpight, bloody as the hunter, attends thee at the orchard-end; dif Jewel does not properly fignify a single gem, but any precious ornament or fuperfluity. mount mount thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy affailant is quick, fkilful, and deadly. Vio. You mistake, Sir; I am fure, no man hath any quarrel to me; my remembrance is very free and clear from any image of offence done to any man. Sir To. You'll find it other wife, I affure you; therefore, if you hold your life at any price, betake you to your guard; for your oppofite hath in him, what youth, ftrength, fkill, and wrath, can furnish man withal. Vio. I pray you, Sir, what is he? ra Sir To. He is Knight, dubb'd with unhack'd 2 pier, and on carpet confideration; but he is a devil in private brawl; fouls and bodies hath he divorc'd three; and his incenfement at this moment is fo implacable, that fatisfaction can be none but by pangs of death and fepulcher: hob, nob, is his word; give't, or take't. Vio. I will return again into the houfe, and defire fome conduct of the lady. I am no fighter. I have heard of fome kind of men, that put quarrels purpofely on others to tafte their valour: belike, this is a man of that quirk. Sir To. Sir, no; his indignation derives itfelf out of a very competent injury; therefore get you on, and give him his defire. Back you fhall not to the house, 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 must, that's certain, or forfwear to wear iron about you. 2 He is Knight, dubb'd with unback'd rapier, and on carpet confideration;-] That is, he is no foldier by profeffion, not a Knight Banneret, dubbed in the field of battle, but, on carpet confideration, at a feftivity, or on fome peaceable occafion, when knights receive their dignity kneeling not on the ground, as in war, but on a carpet. This is, I believe, the original of the contemptuous term a carpet knight, who was naturally held in fcorn by the men of war. Ee 2 Vio. Vio. This is as uncivil, as ftrange. I beseech you, do me this courteous office, as to know of the Knight what my offence to him is: it is fomething of my neg. ligence, nothing of my purpose. Sir To. I will do fo. 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 incens'd against you, even to a mortal arbitrement; but nothing of the cir cumftance more. Vio. I befeech 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 in the proof of his valour. He is, indeed, Sir, the most skilful, 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. [Exeunt. SCENE XIII. Enter Sir Toby, and Sir Andrew. 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 anfwer, he pays you as furely as your feet hit the ground they step on. They fay, he has been fencer to the Sophy. Sir And. Pox on't, I'll not meddle with him. Fabian can fcarce hold him yonder. Sir And. Plague on't; an I thought he had been va Virago cannot be properly ufed here, unless we fuppofe Sir Toby to mean, I never law one that had fo much the look of woman with the prowess of man. liant, and fo cunning in fence, I'd have feen 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 shall end without the perdition of fouls; marry, I'll ride your horse 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 and looks pale, as if a bear were at his heels. pants Sir To. There's no remedy, Sir, he will fight with you for's oath fake: marry, he hath better bethought, him of his quarrel, and he finds that now fcarce 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! 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; [Drawing. If you offend him, I for him defy you. Ee 3 Than Than you have heard him brag to you he will. Sir To. Nay, if you be an undertaker, I am for you. [Draws. Enter Officers. 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'd you, I'll be as good as my word.-He will bear you eafily, and reins well. 1 Off. This is the man; do thy office. 2 Off. Antonio, I arreft thee at the fuit of Duke Orfino. Ant. You do miftake me, Sir. 1 Off. No, Sir, no jot; I know your favour well; Makes me to ask you for my purfe. It grieves me 2 Off. Come, Sir, away. Ant. I muft intreat of you fome of that money. For the fair kindnefs you have fhew'd me here, I'll lend you fomething; my Having is not much; Hold, there's half my coffer. Ant. Will you deny me now? Is't poffible, that my deferts to you Can lack perfuafion? do not tempt my mifery, Le |