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, Re-enter Clown, with a letter. A most extracting 16 frenzy of mine own do; Clo. Truly, madam, he holds Belzebub at the stave's end, as well as a man in his case may 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 gospels, 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 vox 17. 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 18, my princess, and give ear. 16 i. e. a frenzy that drew me away from every thing but its object. 17 This may be explained: If you would have the letter read in character, you must allow me to assume the voice or frantic tone of a madman.' 18 Consider. 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. ther. Oli. See him delivered, Fabian; bring him hi[Exit FABIAN. My lord, so please you, these things further thought on, To think me as well a sister as a wife, One day shall crown the alliance on't, so please you, Here at my house, and at my proper cost. 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 19 of your sex, 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? 19 Frame and constitution. You must not now deny it is your hand, 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 22 in smiling, And in such forms which here were presuppos'd Upon thee in the letter. Pr'ythee, be content: This practice 23 hath most shrewdly pass'd upon thee; But, when we know the grounds and authors of it, 22 Thou is here understood: then cam'st thou in smiling.' 23 Practice is a deceit, an insidious stratagem. So in the Induction to the Taming of the Shrew. Thou shalt be both the plaintiff and the judge Of thine own cause. Fab. Good madam, hear me speak; And let no quarrel, nor no brawl to come, Taint the condition of this present hour, Which I have wonder'd at. In hope it shall not, That have on both sides past. Oli. Alas, poor fool! how have they baffled 25 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. [Exit. He hath not told us of the captain yet; 24 Importunacy. 25 Baffled is cheated. See Note on the first Scene of K. Rich. II. 26 i. e. Shall serve, agree, be convenient. 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. But when I came to man's estate, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, But when I came, alas! to wive, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, [Exit. |