That day that made my sister thirteen years. Do not embrace me, till each circumstance I'll bring you to a captain in this town, Where lie my maiden weeds; by whose gentle help All the occurrence of my fortune since But nature to her bias drew in that. [TO VIOLA. Thou never should'st love woman like to me. Duke. Give me thy hand; And let me see thee in thy woman's weeds. Vio. The captain, that did bring me first on shore, Hath my maid's garments: he, upon some action, Is now in durance; at Malvolio's suit, A gentleman, and follower of my lady's. -- Oli. He shall enlarge him:-Fetch Malvolio hither:And yet, alas, now I remember me, They say, poor gentleman, he's much distract. Re-enter Clown, with a letter. A most extracting frenzy of mine own Clo. Truly, madam, he holds Belzebub at the stave's end, as well as a man in his case may do: he has here writ a letter to you, I should have given it you to-day morning; but as a madman's epistles are no gospel, so it skills not much, when they are delivered. Oli. Open it, and read it. Clo. Look then to be well edified, when the fool delivers the madman:-By the Lord, madam, Oli. How now! art thou mad? Clo. No, madam, I do but read madness: an your ladyship will have it as it ought to be, you must allow του. Oli. Pr'ythee, read i'thy right wits. Clo. So I do, madonna; but to read his right wits, is to read thus: therefore perpend, my princess, and give ear. Oli. Read it you, sirrah. [TO FABIAN. Fab. [Reads.] By the Lord, madam, you wrong me, and the world shall know it: though you have put me into darkness, and given your drunken cousin rule over me, yet have I the benefit of my senses as well as your ladyship. I have your own letter that induced me to the semblance I put on; with the which I doubt not but to do myself much right, or you much shame. Think of me as you please. I leave my duty a little unthought of, and speak out of my injury. The madly used MALVOLIO. Oli. Did he write this? Clo. Ay, madam. Duke. This savours not much of distraction. Oli. See him deliver'd, Fabian; bring him hither. [Exit FABIAN. My lord, so please you, these things further thought on, Duke. Madam, I am most apt to embrace your offer.Your master quits you; [To VIOLA.] and, for your service done him, So much against the mettle of your sex, So far beneath your soft and tender breeding, Oli. A sister?-you are she. Re-enter FABIAN, with MALVOLIO. Duke. Is this the madman ? Oli. Ay, my lord, this same : How now, Malvolio? Mal. Madam, you have done me wrong, Notorious wrong. Oli. Have I, Malvolio? no. Mal. Lady, you have. Pray you, peruse that letter: You must not now deny it is your hand, Write from it, if you can, in hand, or phrase; Or say, 'tis not your seal, nor your invention : Why you have given me such clear lights of favour; Oli. Alas, Malvolio, this is not my writing, First told me, thou wast mad; then cam'st in smiling, Fab. Good madam, hear me speak; And let no quarrel, nor no brawl to come, Which I have wonder'd at. In hope it shall not, In recompense whereof, he hath married her. That have on both sides past. Oli. Alas, poor fool! how have they baffled thee! Clo. Why, some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrown upon them. I was one, sir, in this interlude; one Sir Topas, sir; but that's all one:-By the Lord, fool, I am not mad; But do you remember? Madam, why laugh you at such a barren rascal? an you smile not, he's gagg'd: And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges. Mal. I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you. Oli. He hath been most notoriously abus'd. [Exit. Duke. Pursue him, and entreat him to a peace:He hath not told us of the captain yet; When that is known and golden time convents, A solemn combination shall be made Of our dear souls-Mean time, sweet sister, SONG. Clo. When that I was and a little tiny boy, A foolish thing was but a toy, For the rain it raineth every day. [Exeunt. |