That this may be fome error, but no madness;
Yet doth this accident and flood of fortune
So far exceed all instance, all discourse,
That I am ready to diftruit 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, [lowers, She could not sway her houfe, command her folTake and give back affairs, and their dispatch, With fuch a fmooth, difcreet, and table bearing, As, I perceive, fhe does: there's fonething in't That is deceivable. But here he comes.

Enter OLIVIA and Prieft.

Oli. Blame not this hafte of mine: if you mean Now go with me, and with this holy man, [we I, Into the chauntry 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 fay?

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

Oli. Then lead the way, good father; and Heavens fo fhine,

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

and though I have not disturbed the text, I very much fufpect that the Poet wrote;

and there I found this credent. He ufes the fame term again in the very fame fenfe in The Winter's Tale;

-Then 'tis very credent, Thou mayeft co-join with something, and thou doft, &c.

No

A CT V.

SCENE, the Street.

Enter Clown and FABIAN.

FABIAN.

OW, as thou loveft me, let me fee this letter.
Clo. Good Mr Fabian, grant me another re-

queft.

Fab. Any thing.

Clo. Do not defire to fee this letter.

Fab. This is to give a dog, and in recompenfe defire my dog again.

Enter Duke, VIOLA, CURIO, and Ļords.

Duke. Belong you to the Lady Olivia, friends? Cl. Ay, Sir, we are fome of her trappings. Duke. I know thee well; how doft thou, my good fellow?

Clo. Truly, Sir, the better for my foes, and the worfe for my friends.

Duke. Juft the contrary; the better for thy friends. Clo. No, Sir, the worfe.

Duke How can that be?

Cla. Marry, Sir, they praife me, and make an afs of me: now, my foes tell me plainly I am an afs; fo that by my foes, Sir, I profit in the knowledge of myfelf; and by my friends I am abufed: fo that, conclufion to be afked, is, (19) if your

(19) So that conclufion to be as kiffes.] Though it might be unreasonable to call our Poet's fools and knaves every where to account, yet if we did, for the generality we fliould find them refponfible. But what monitrous abfurdi

four negatives make your two affirmatives, why then the worfe for my friends, and the better for my foes.

Duke. Why, this is excellent.

Clo. By my troth, Sir, no; tho' it please you to be one of my friends.

Duke. Thou shalt not be the worfe for me; there's gold.

Clo. But that it would be double-dealing, Sir, I would you could make it another.

Duke. O, you give me ill counsel.

Clo. Put your grace in your pocket, Sir, for this once, and let your fleth and blood obey it.

Duke. Well, I will be to much a finner to be a double-dealer: there's another.

Clo. Primo, fecundo, tertio, is a good play; and the old faying is, the third pays for all: the triplex, Sir, is a good tripping meafure; or the bells of St Bennet, Sir, may put you in mind, one, two, three.

Duke. You can fool no more money out of me at this throw; if you will let your Lady know I am here to fpeak with her, and bring her along with you, it may awake my bounty further.

Clo. Marry, Sir, lullaby to your bounty 'till I come again. I go, Sir; but I would not have you

:

ty have we here? To fuppofe the text genuine, we must acknowledge it too wild to have any known meaning and what has no known meaning, cannot be allowed to have either wit or humour. Befides, the Clown is affecting to ar gue feriously and in form. I imagine the Poet wrote;

So that conclufion to be asked, is.

i. e. So that the conclufion I have to demand of you is this, if your four, &c He had in the preceding words been inferring fome premiffes, and now comes to the conclufion very logically; You grant me, (fays he,) the premiffes; I now atk you to grant the conclufion." Mr Warburton.

to think, that my defire of having is the fin of covetoufnefs; but, as you fay, Sir, let your bounty take a nap, I will awake it anon. [Exit Clown.

Enter ANTONIO, and Officers.

Vio. Here comes the man, Sir, that did rescue

me.

Duke. That face of his I do remember well;
Yet when I faw it laft, it was befmeared:
As black as Vulcan, in the fmoke of war:
A bawbling veffel was he captain of,

For fhallow draught and bulk unprizable,
With which fuch feathful grapple did he make
With the most noble bottom of our fleet,
That very envy and the tongue of lofs

Cry'd fame and honour on him. What's the matter?
Offi. Orfino, this is that Antonio

That took the Phoenix and her fraught from Candy;
And this is he that did the Tyger board,
When your young nephew Titus loft his leg:
Here in the streets, defperate of fhame and state,
In private brabble did we apprehend him."

Vio He did me kindnefs, Sir; drew on my fide;
But in conclufion put ftrange speech upon me,
I know not what 'twas, but distraction.

Duke. Notable pirate! thou falt-water thief What foolith boldnefs brought thee to their mercies, Whom thou in terms fo bloody, and fo dear, Haft made thine enemies?

Ant. Orfino, noble Sir,

Be pleafed that I thake off thefe names you give me: Antonio never yet was thief, or pirate;

Though, I contels, on bafe and ground enough, Orfino's enemy. A witchcraft drew me hither: That moit ungrateful boy there, by your fide, From the rude iea's enraged and foamy mouth

Did I redeem; a wreck past hope he was:
His life I gave him, and did thereto add
My love without retention or restraint;
All his in dedication. For his fake
Did I expofe myfelf (pure for his love)
Into the danger of this adverse town;
Drew to defend him when he was befet;
Where being apprehended, his false cunning
(Not meaning to partake with me in danger)
Taught him to face me out of his acquaintance,
And grew a twenty years removed thing,
While one would wink: denied me mine own purse,
Which I had recommended to his use

Duke. When came he to this town?

Axt. To-day, my Lord; and for three months (No interim, not a minute's vacancy,)

Both day and night did we keep company.

Enter OLIVIA and Attendants.

[before

Duke. Here comes the Countefs; now Heaven
walks on earth.

But for thee, fellow, fellow, thy words are madness:
Three months this youth hath tended upon me;
But more of that anon.-
-Take him afide.-

Oli. What would my Lord, but that he may
not have,

Wherein Olivia may feem ferviceable?
Cefario, you do not keep promise with me.
Vio. Madam!

Duke. Gracious Olivia,

Oli. What do you fay, Cefario? Good my LordVio. My Lord would speak, my duty hufhes me. Oli. If it be aught to the old tune, my Lord, It is as fat and fulfome to mine ear,