This ruffian hath botched up, that thou thereby Mayeft finile at this. Thou shalt not chufe but go: Do not deny; befhrew his foul for me,

He started one poor heart of mine in thee.

Seb. What relifh is in this? how runs the stream? Or I am mad, or else this is a dream.

Let fancy ftill my fenfe in Lethe steep,
If it be thus to dream, still let me fleep.

Oli. Nay, come, I pray: 'would thou'dit be ruled
Seb. Madam, I will.

Oli. O, fay fo, and so be!

[by me: [Exeunt.

SCENE, an Apartment in Olivia's House.

Enter MARIA and Clown.

Mar. Nay, I pr'ythee put on this gown and this beard; make him believe thou art Šir Topas the curate; do it quickly. I'll call Sir Toby the whilft [Exit Maria,

Clo. Well, I'll put it on, and I will diffemble myfelf in't; and I would I were the firit that ever diffembled in fuch a 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 honeft man, and a good housekeeper, goes as fairly, as to fay, a careful man and a great scholar. The competitors enter.

Enter Sir TOLY and MARIA.

Sir To. Jove blefs 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 prifon! Sir To. The knave counterfeits well; a good knave.

Mal. within.] Who calls there?

Clo. Sir Topas the curate, who comes to vifit Malvolio the lunatic,

Mal. Sir Topas, Sir Topas, good Sir Topas, go to my Lady.

Clo. Out, hyperbolical fiend, how vexeft thou this man? talkeft thou of nothing but of ladies?

Sir To. Well faid, mafter Parfon.

Mal. Sir Topas, never was man thus wronged; good Sir Topas, do not think I am mad; they have laid me here in hideous darkness.

Clo. Fy, thou difhoneft Sathan; I call thee by the most modeft terms; for I am one of thofe gentle ones that will ufe the devil himself with curtery; fay't thou that house is dark?

Mal. As hell, Sir Topas.

Clo. Why, it hath bay-windows transparent as baricadoes, and the clear itones towards the fouthnorth, are as luftrous as ebony; and yet complaineit thou of obftruction?

Mal. I am not mad, Sir Topas; I fay to you, this houfe is dark.

Clo. Madman, thou erreft; I fay, there is no darknefs but ignorance; in which thou art more puzzled than the Ægyptians 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 abufed; I am no more mad than you are, make the trial of it in any conftant question.

Clo. What is the opinion of Pythagoras concerning wild-fowl?

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

Cl. What thinkeft thou of his opinion?

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

Clo. Fare thee well: remain thee 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 difpoffefs the foul of thy grandam. Fare thee well.

Mal. Sir Topas, Sir Tepas,

Sir To. My moft exquifite Sir Topas!
Clo. Nay, I am for all waters.

Mar. Thou mightest 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 findeft him: I would we were all rid of this knavery. If he may be conveniently delivered, I would he were; for I am now fo far in offence with my niece, that I cannot purfue with any fafety this fport to the upfhot. Come by and by to my chamber. [Exit with Maria.

Clo."Hey Robin, jolly Robin, tell me how my

66 Lady does."

Mal. Fool----

Clo. "My Lady is unkind, perdie."

Mal. Fool,

Clo. "Alas, why is fhe fo?"

Mal. Fool, I fay;

[Singing

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

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 it.

Clo. Mr Malvolio!
Mal. Ay, good fool.

Clo. Alas, Sir! how fell you befides your five wits?

Mal. Fool, there was never man fo notoriously abused; 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. C

Mal. They have here propertied me; keep me in darkness, fend minifters to me, alles, 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 Heavens 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 fay 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.

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

Clo. I will help you to it. But tell me true, are you not mad, indeed, or do you but counterfeit ! Mal. Believe me, I am not: I tell thee true.

Cio. Nay, I'll 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, (17)

Your need to fuftain:

[Singing,

Who with dagger of lath, in his rage, and his
Cries, ah, ha! to the devil

Like a mad lad, pare thy nails, dad,

Adieu, good man drivel.

[wrath,

[Exit.

SCENE changes to another Apartment in Olivia's

Houfe.

Enter SEBASTIAN.

Seb. This is the air, that is the glorious fun;
This pearl the gave me, I do feel't and fee't:
And though 'tis wonder that enwarps 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, (18)
That he did range the town to feek me out.
His counfel now might do me golden fervice;-----
For though my foul disputes well with my sense,

(17) In a trice, like to the old Vice.] So in Ben Johnson's The Devil is an Afs;

What is he calls upon me, and would feem to lack a Vice? Ere his words be balf fpoken, I am with him in a trice. In both thefe places, by Vice, is meant that buffoon, droll character fo general in the old plays, who was dressed up in a long coat, a fool's cap with affes ears, and furnished with a wooden fword, with which he was as active and wanton as Arlequin But I have explained the word and character more particularly in a note upon this line of King

Richard III.

Thus, like the formal Vice, iniquity, &c. (18) Yet there he was, and there I found this credit,

That he did range, &c.] i. e. I found it juftified, credibly vouched. Whether the word credit will easily carry this meaning, I am doubtful: the expreflion feems obfcure;