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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 otherwife, 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?

2

Sir To. He is Knight, dubb'd with unhack'd rapier, 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 house, 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 itself out of a very competent injury; therefore get you on, and give him his defire. Back you shall not to the house, unless you undertake that with me, which with as much fafety you might answer him; therefore on, or strip 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.

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Vio.

Vio. This is as uncivil, as ftrange. I befeech you, do me this courteous office, as to know of the Knight what my offence to him is: it is fomething of my negligence, nothing of my purpose.

Sir To. I will do fo. Signior Fabian, ftay 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; but nothing of the circumftance 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 in the proof of his valour. He is, indeed, Sir, the most skilful, bloody, and fatal opposite that you could possibly 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.

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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 pafs with him, rapier, fcabbard and all; and he gives me the stuck-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'l not meddle with him. Sir To. Ay, but he will not now be pacified: 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 faw one

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that had fo much the look of woman with the prowess of

man.

liant,

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 fhall end without the perdition of fouls, marry, I'll ride your horfe as well as I ride you.

Enter Fabian and Viola.

[Afide.

I have his horse to take up the quarrel; I have fuaded him, the youth's a devil.

per[To Fabian.

Fab. He is as horribly conceited 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's oath's fake: marry, he hath better bethought him of his quarrel, and he finds that now scarce to be worth talking of; therefore draw for the fupportance 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.

Fab. Give ground, if you see 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 promised 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!

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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.
Sir To. You, Sir? why what are you?
Ant. One, Sir, that for his love dares yet do more

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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

Sir And. Marry, will I, Sir,

up if you please.

[To Sir Andrew.

and for that I pro

mis'd 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 arreft thee at the fuit of Duke Orfino.

Ant. You do mistake me, Sir.

1 Off. No, Sir, no jot; I know your favour well;
Tho' now you have no fea-cap on your head.
-Take him away; he knows I know him well.
Ant. I must obey.-This comes with feeking you;
But there's no remedy. 1 fhall answer it.
What will you do? now my neceffity

Makes me to afk for my purfe. It grieves me
Much more, for what I cannot do for you,
Than what befals myfelf: you ftand amaz'd,
But be of comfort,

2. Off. Come, Sir, away.

Ant. I muft intreat of you fome of that money. Vio. What money, Sir?

For the fair kindness you have fhew'd me here,
And part being prompted by your prefent trouble,
Out of my lean and low ability

I'll lend you fomething; my Having is not much;
I'll make divifion of my present with you :
Hold there's half my coffer.

And. Will you deny me now?

Is't poffible, that my deferts to you

Can lack perfuafion? do not tempt my mifery,

Left

Left that it make me fo unfound a man,
As to upbraid you with those kindneffes
That I have done for you.

Vio. I know of none,

Nor know I you by voice, or any feature :
I hate ingratitude more in a man,

Than lying, vainnefs, babling drunkenness,
Or any taint of vice, whofe ftrong corruption
Inhabits our frail blood.

Ant. Oh, heav'ns themselves!

2 Off. Come, Sir, I pray you, go.

Ant. Let me fpeak a little. This youth that you fee here,

I fnatch'd one half out of the jaws of death;
Reliev'd him with fuch fanctity of love,

And to his image, which, methought, did promise
Moft venerable worth, did I devotion.

1 Off. What's that to us?-the time goes by-away. Ant. But oh, how vile an idol proves this god! Thou haft, Sebaftian, done good feature fhame. In nature there's no blemish but the mind: None can be call'd deform'd, but the unkind. Virtue is beauty; but the beauteous evil Are empty trunks, o'erflourish'd by the devil. 1 Off. The man grows mad, away with him. -Come, come, Sir.

Ant. Lead me on.

[Exit Antonio with Officers. Vio. Methinks his words do from fuch paffion fly, That he believes himself-fo do not I *.

Prove true, imagination, oh, prove true,

That I, dear brother, be now ta'en for you!

Sir To. Come hither, Knight; come hither, Fabian; we'll whisper o'er a couplet or two of moft fage faws. Vio. He nam'd Sebastian; I my brother know Yet living in my glafs. Even fuch, and fo

In favour was my brother;

*So do not I.] This, I believe, means, I do not yet believe my

and he went

felf, when, from this accident, Igather hope of my brother's life. E e 4

Still

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