ORSINO, Duke of Illyria.
Sebastian, a young Gentleman, Brother to Viola.
Antonio, a Sea-captain, Friend to Sebastian.
Valentine,} Gentlemen, attending on the Duke.
Sir Toby Belch, Uncle to Olivia.
Sir Andrew Ague-cheek, a foolish Knight, pretending to
Olivia.
A Sea-captain, Friend to Viola.
Fabian, Servant to Olivia.
Malvolio, a fantastical Steward to Olivia.
Clown, Servant to Olivia.
Olivia, a Lady of great Beauty and Fortune, belov'd by
the Duke. Viola, in love with the Duke. Maria, Olivia's Woman.
Priest, Sailors, Officers, and other Attendants,
SCENE, a City on the coast of Illyria.
Enter the Duke, Curio, and Lords.
F mufick be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it ; that, furfeiting, (1 The appetite may ficken, and fo die.
That strain again ;--it had a dying fall :
O, it came o'er my ear, like the sweet
south,
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing, and giving odour. Enough!--no more ;
'Tis not so sweet now, as it was before.
O fpirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou !
That, notwithstanding thy capacity
Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there,
Of what validity and pitch foe'er,
But falls into abatement and low price,
Even
Even in a minute ; (1) so full of shapes in fancy,
That it alone is high fantastical.
Cur. Will you go hunt, my Lord ?
Duke. What, Curio ?
Cur. The hart.
Duke. Why, so I do, the nobleft that I have :
0, when my eyes did see Olivia first,
Methought, the purg'd the air of peftilence ;
That instant was I turn'd into a hart,
And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,
E’er fince pursue me. How now, what news from her ?
Enter Valentine.
Val. So please my Lord, I might not be admitted,
But from her hand-maid do return this answer :
The element itself, 'till seven years hence,
Shall not behold her face at ample view;
But, like a cloystress, she will veiled walk,
And water once a day her chamber round
With eye-offending brine: all this to season
A brother's dead love, which she would keep fresh
And lasting in her fad remembrance.
Duke. O, she, that hath a heart of that fine frame,
To pay this debt of love but to a brother,
How will she love, when the rich golden shaft
Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else
That live in her ? when liver, brain, and heart,
These sov’reign thrones, are all supply'd, and fillid,
Her sweet perfections, with one self-fame King !
Away before me to sweet beds of flowers ;
Love-thoughts lye rich, when canopy'd with bowers.
[Exeunt. (1)
so full of Shapes is Fancy, That it alone is high fantastical.] There can be no Reason why the Duke here, who is altogether serious, and moralizing on the Qualities of Love, should tell us, that Fancy is along the most fantastical Thing imaginable. I am persuaded, the Alteration of is into in has given us the Poet's genuine Mean. ing; that Love is most fantasical, in being fo variable in its Fancies.
Mr. Warburton.
SCENE
Vic
. WHAT
country, friends, is this?
SCE N E, The Street,
Enter Viola, a Captain and Sailors.
THAT country, friends, is this?
,
Vio. And what should I do in Illyria ?
My brother he is in Elyfium.
Perchance, he is not drown'd; what think
you, sailors ? Cap. It is perchance, that you yourself were fav’d. Vio. O my poor brother ! so, perchance, may he be.
Cap. True, Madam: and to comfort you with chance, , Affure yourself, after our ship did split, When you, and that
poor
number fav'd with you,
Hang on our driving boat : I saw your brother,
Most provident in peril, bind himself
(Courage and hope both teaching him the practice)
To a strong maft, that liv'd upon the sea ;
Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back,
I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves,
So long as I could fee.
Vio. For saying so, there's gold.
Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope,
Whereto thy speech ferves for authority,
The like of him. Know'st thou this country?
Cap. Ay, Madam, well ; for I was bred and born, Not three hours travel from this very place.
Vio. Who governs here?
Cap. "A noble Duke in nature, as in name.
Vio. What is his name?
Cap. Orfino.
Vio. Orfino! I have heard my father name him :
He was a batchelor then.
Cap. And fo is now, or was so very
For but a month ago I went from hence,
And then 'twas fresh in murmur (as you know,
What Great ones do, the less will prattle of)
That he did seek the love of fair Olivia.
Vio. What's fhe?
Cap. A virtuous maid, the daughter of a Count,
E 4
That
That dy'd some twelve months since, then leaving her
In the protection of his son, her brother,
Who shortly alío dy'd; for whose dear love,
They say, she hath abjur'd the fight
And company of men.
Vio. O, that I sery'd that lady,
And might not be deliver'd to the world,
'Till I had made mine own occasion mellow
What my estate is !
Cap. That were hard to compass ;
Because she will admit no kind of suit,
No, not the Duke's.
Vio. There is a fair behaviour in thee, Captain ;
And tho' that nature with a beauteous wall
Doth oft close in pollution ; yet of thee,
I will believe, thou hast a mind that suits
With this thy fair and outward character:
I pr’ythee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as, haply, shall become
The form of my intent. I'll serve this Duke ;
Thou shalt present me as an eunuch to him,
It may be worth thy pains ; for I can fing,
And speak to him in many sorts of musick,
That will allow me very worth his service,
What else may hap, to time I will comimit ;
Only shape thou thy filence to my wit.
Cap. Be you his eunuch, and your mute I'll be :
When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see,
Vio. I thank thee ; lead me on.
Exeant.
SCENE, an Apartment in Olivia's House.
Enter Sir Toby, and Maria. Sir To. THAT a plague means my neice, to take the death of her brother thus ? I am
sure, care's an enemy to life.
Mar. By my troth, Sir Toby, you must come in earlier a-nights; your neice, my lady, takes great exceptions to your ill hours.
|