gown. I am not tall enough to become the function well, nor lean enough to be thought a good student; but to be faid an honest man and a good housekeeper, goes as fairly, as to fay, a careful man and a great scholar. The competitors enter.

Enter Sir Toby and Maria.

Sir To. Jove bless thee, Mr. Parfon.

CLO. Bonos dies, Sir Toby; for as the old hermit of Prague, that never faw pen and ink, very wittily faid to a niece of king Gorboduck, that that is, is: fo I being Mr. Parfon, am Mr. Parfon; for what is that, but that? and is, but is ?

Sir To. To him, Sir Topas.

CLO. What, hoa, I fay,-peace in this prison!

Sir To. The knave counterfeits well; a good knave.
MAL. Who calls there?

[Malvolio within. CLO. Sir Topas the curate, who comes to vifit Malvolio the lunatick.

MAL. Sir Topas, Sir Topas, good Sir Topas, go to my lady.

CLO. Out, hyperbolical fiend, how vexest thou this man? Talkeft thou of nothing but ladies?

Sir To. Well faid, master Parfon.

MAL. Sir Topas, never was a man thus wrong'd; good Sir Topas, do not think I am mad; they have laid me here in hideous darkness.

CLO. Fy, thou dishonest fathan; I call thee by the most modeft terms; for I am one of those gentle ones, that will ufe the devil himself with curtefy: fay'st thou, that house is dark?

MAL. As hell, Sir Topas.

CLO. Why, it hath bay-windows tranfparent as baricadoes, VOL. II.

T

and the clear stones towards the fouth-north are as luftrous as ebony: and yet complaineft thou of obstruction?

MAL. I am not mad, Sir Topas; I fay to you, this house is dark.

CLO. Madman, thou erreft; I fay, there is no darkness but ignorance; in which thou art more puzzled than the Egyptians in their fog.

MAL. I fay, this houfe is as dark as ignorance, though ignorance were as dark as hell; and I fay, there was never man thus abus'd; I am no more mad than you, make the tryal of it in in any constant question.

CLO. What is the opinion of Pythagoras concerning wildfowl?

MAL. That the foul of our grandam might happily inhabit a bird.

CLO. What think'ft thou of his opinion?

MAL. I think nobly of the foul, and no way approve of his opinion.

CLO. Fare thee well: remain thou ftill in darkness; thou fhalt hold the opinion of 'Pythagoras, ere I will allow of thy wits; and fear to kill a woodcock, left thou dispossess 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 waters.

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 fafety this fport to the upshot. Come by and by to my chamber. [Exit with Maria.

SCENE IV.

CLO, "Hey, Robin, jolly Robin, tell me how my lady

does?"

CLO. "She loves another."--who calls, ha ?

[Singing.

MAL. Good fool, as ever thou wilt deserve 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.

CLO. Mr. Malvolio !

MAL. Ay, good fool.

you

befides your

five wits?

CLO. Alas, fir, how fell MAL. Fool, there was never man so 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 wits than a fool.

MAL. They have here propertied me; keep me in darkness, send 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. Mal volio, 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, fir? not I, fir. God b'w'you, good fir Topas-
Marry, amen.➡➡➡I will, fir, I will,

MAL. Fool, fool, fool, I say.

CLO. Alas, fir, be patient. What fay you, fir? I am fhent for fpeaking to you.

MAL. Good fool, help me to fome light, and some paper; I tell thee, I am as well in my wits as any man in Illyria. CLO. Well-a-day- -that you were, fir. MAL. By this hand, I am. Good fool, fome ink, paper and light; and convey what I fet down to my lady: It shall advantage thee more than ever the bearing of letter did.

CLO. I will help you to't. But tell me true, are you not mad, indeed, or do you but counterfeit ?

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

CLO. Nay, I'll ne'er believe a madman, 'till I fee his brains. I will fetch you light, and paper, and ink.

MAL. Fool, F'll requite it in the highest degree; I pr'ythee, be gone.

CLO.

I am gone, fir, and anon, fir,

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, ah, ha! to the devil:

Like a mad lad, pair thy nails, daď,

Adieu, good man drivel.

[Exit.

SCENE V. Changes to another apartment in Olivia's

house.

Enter Sebaftian.

SEB. This is the air, that is the glorious fun; This pearl fhe gave me, do feel't and fee't. And though 'tis wonder that enwraps me thus, It is 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 seek me out.
His counsel now might do me golden fervice;-
For tho' my foul disputes well with my sense,
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 diftrust mine eyes,
And wrangle with my reason that perfuades me
To any other truft, but that I'm mad;

Or elfe the lady's mad; yet if 'twere so,

She could not sway her house, command her followers,
Take and give back affairs, and their dispatch,
With such a smooth, difcreet, and ftable bearing,
As, I perceive, she does: there's fomething in't,
That is deceivable. But here fhe comes.

Enter Olivia and priest.

OLI. Blame not this hafte of mine: if you mean well, 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 shall 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;

And having fworn truth, ever will be true.

QLI. Then lead the way, good father; and heav'n so shine, That they may fairly note this act of mine!

[Exeunt.