Mar. SCENE III. An Apartment in Olivia's Houfe. N Enter Maria, and Clown. TAY, I pr'ythee, put on this gown, and this beard; make him believe, thou art Sir 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 first 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 graceful man and a great fcholar. 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, s very wit tily faid to a neice 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. 4 as to fay, a CAREFUL man and a great fcholar.] This refers to what went before, I am not tall enough to become the function well, nor lean enough to be thought a good fudent; it is plain then that Shakespear wrote, as to fay a GRACEFUL man, i. e. comely. To this the Oxford Editor fays, rectè. 5 very wittily faid that that is, is:] This is a very humourous banter of the rules established in the schools, that all reafonings are ex præcognitis & præconceffis, which lay the foundation of every science in thefe maxims, whatfoever is, is; and it is impoffible for the fame thing to be and not to be; with much trifling of the like kind. Clo. Clo. What, hoa, I fay, peace in this prifon! Sir To. The knave counterfeits well; a good knave, [Malvolio within. Mal. Who calls there? 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 vexeft thou this man? Talkeft thou of nothing but ladies? Sir To. Well faid, mafter Parfon. Mal. Sir Topas, never was man thus wrong'd; good Sir Topas, do not think I am mad; they have laid me here in hideous darkness. Clo. Fie, thou dishonest fathan; I call thee by the most modeft terms; for I am one of thofe gentle ones, that will ufe the devil himself with curtefie: fay'ft thou, that house is dark? Mal. As hell, Sir Topas. Clo. Why, it hath bay-windows tranfparent as ba ricadoes, and the clear ftones 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 houfe is dark. Clo, Madman, thou erreft; I fay, there is no darknefs 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 are, make the tryal of it in any conftant question. Clo. What is the opinion of Pythagoras, concerning wild-fowl? Mal. 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 th' 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 ! Mar. Thou might'ft 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 neice, that I cannot pursue with any fafety this fport to the upfhot. Come by and by to my chamber. [Exit with Maria. SCENE IV. Clo. Hey Robin, jolly Robin, tell me how my lady does. Mal. Fool, Clo. My lady is unkind, perdie. Mal. Fool, Clo. Alas, why is fhe fo? Mal. Fool, I fay; Clo. She loves another who calls, ha? [Singing. 6 Nay, I am for all waters.] A phrafe taken from the actor's ability of making the audience cry either with mirth or grief. Mal. 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. Clo. Mr. Malvolio! Mal. Ay, good fool. Clo. Alas, Sir, how fell wits? you befides your five Mal. Fool, there was never man fo notoriously abús'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, 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 fay you, Sir? I am fhent for fpeaking 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't. But tell me true, are you not mad, indeed, or do you but counterfeit? Mal. Mal. Believe me, I am not: I tell thee true. Clo. Nay, I'll ne'er believe a mad-man, '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, [Singing. I'll be with you again In a trice, like to the old vice, Your need to fuftain: Who with dagger of lath, in his rage, and his wrath, Cries, ab, ba! to the devil: Like a mad lad, pare thy nails, dad, Adieu, good man drivel. SCENE V. [Exit. Changes to another Apartment in Olivia's House. Enter Sebaftian. HIS is the air, that is the glorious fun; Seb. This pearl fhe gave me, I do feel't and fee't. And though 'tis wonder that enwraps me thus, Yet there he was, and there I found this credit, 7 I found this credit.] Credit, for account, information. The Oxford Editor roundly alters it to current; as he does almost every word that Shakespear ufes in an anomalous fignification. all inftance, all difcourfe;] Infiance, for fenfe; difcourfe, for reason, That |