than you are, make the tryal of it in any constant question 2.

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'st thou of his opinion?

Mal. I think nobly of the foul, and no way ap prove of his opinion.

Clo. Fare thee well: remain thou ftill in darkness; thou shalt hold the 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!

Sir To. My most exquifite Sir Topas !

Clo. Nay, I am for all waters3.

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'ft 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 niece, that I cannot pursue with any safety this fport to the upshot. Come by and by to my chamber. [Exit with Maria.

2

Clo. Hey Robin, jolly Robin, tell me how my lady does.

Mal. Fool

Clo. My lady is unkind, perdie.

[Singing.

Conftant question.] A fettled. cry either with mirth or grief. a determinate, a regular queftion.

3 Nay, I am for all waters.] A phrafe taken from the actor's ability of making the audience

WARBURTON.

I rather think this expreffion borrowed from fportfmen, and relating to the qualifications of a complete spaniel.

Mal.

Mal. Fool,.

Clo. Alas, why is she fo?

Mal. Fool, I fay ;

Clo. She loves another

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.

A

Clo. Mr. Malvolto!
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 its than a fool.

Mal. They have here propertied me; keep me in darkness, fend 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: endeavour thyself 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.

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.

4 Propertied me.] They have taken poffeffion of me as of a man unable to look to himself.

* Here the Clown in the dark acts two perfons, and counterfeits, by variation of voice, a

dialogue between himself and Sir Topas.. -I will, Sir, I will, is fpoken after a paufe, as if, in the mean time, Sir Topas had whispered.

Clo

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 hall advantage thee more than ever the bearing of letter did.

Clo. I will help you tot.

But tell me true, are you

not mad, indeed, or do you but counterfeit 5?

Mal. Believe me, I am not: I tell thee true.

Clo. Nay, ne'er believe a madman, '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 *,

Your need to fuftain:

[Singing.

Who with dagger of lath, in his rage, and his wrath,

Cries, ab, ba! to the devil:

Like a mad lad, pair thy nails, dad,

Seb.

Adieu, good man drivel.

SCENE V.

[Exit.

Changes to another apartment in Olivia's Houfe.

T

Enter Sebaftian.

HIS is the air, that is the glorious fun; This pearl fhe gave me, I do feel't and fee't.

5 Tell me, are you not mad, or

do you
but counterfeit ?] If he was
not mad, what did he counter-
feit by declaring that he was not
mad? The fool, who meant to
infult him, I think, afks, are

you mad, or do you but counterfeit?
That is, you look like a madman,
vou talk like a madman: Is
your

Se

madness real, or have you any cret defign in it? This, to a man in poor Malvolio's ftate, was a fevere taunt.

*Vice was the fool of the old moralities. Some traces of this character are fill preferved in puppet-shows, and by country

mummers.

And

And though 'tis wonder that enwraps me thus,
Yet 'tis not madness. Where's Antonio then?
I could not find him at the Elephant ;

Yet there he was, and there I found this credit",
That he did range the town to feek me out.
His counsel now might do me golden fervice;
For tho' my foul difputes well with my fenfe,
That this may be fome error, but no madness;
Yet doth this accident and flood of fortune
So far exceed all inftance, all difcourfe";
That I am ready to diftruft mine eyes,
And wrangle with my reafon that perfuades me
To any other truft *, but that I'm mad;
Or else the Lady's mad; yet if 'twere fo,

She could not fway her house, command her followers,
Take and give back affairs, and their dispatch,
With fuch a smooth, discreet, and stable bearing,
As, I perceive, fhe does: there's something in't,
That is deceivable. But here fhe comes.

Enter Olivia and Priest.

Oli. Blame not this hafte of mine: if you mean

well,

• Yet there be was, and there I found this Credit, That he did range, &c.] i. e. I found it justified, credibly vouched. Whether the Word Credit will eafily carry this Meaning, I am doubtful. The expreffion feems obfcure; and tho' I have not difturbed the Text, I very much suspect that the Poet wrote;

-and there I found this credent. He ufes the fame Term again in the very fame Senfe in the Winter's Tale.

-Then 'tis very credent, Thou may'ft enjoin with some

Now go with me, and with this holy man,
Into the chantry by; there before him,
And underneath that confecrated roof,
Plight me the full affurance of your faith;
That my moft jealous and too doubtful foul
May live at peace. He fhall conceal it,
*Whiles you are willing it fhall come to note;
What time we will our celebration keep
According to my birth.-What do you say?

Seb. I'll follow this good man, and go with you z And having fworn † truth, ever will be true.

Oli. Then lead the way, good father; and heav'n fo fhine,

That they may fairly note this act of mine! [Exeunt.

ACT V. SCENE Í.

The STREET.

Enter Clown, and Fabian.

FABIAN.

OW, as thou lov'ft me, let me fee this letter.
Clo. Good Mr. Fabian, grant me another

Now

request.

Fab. Any thing.

Clo. Do not defire to fee this letter.

Fab. This is to give a dog, and in recompence de fire 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.

* Whiles is until. This word counties.

is ftill fo ufed in the northern

VOL. II.

+ Truth is fidelitys