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SIR TOBY. Come, we'll have him in a dark room and bound. My niece

is already in the belief that he's mad. We may carry it thus, for
our pleasure and his penance, till our very pastime, tired out of

breath, prompt us to have mercy on him; at which time we will
bring the device to the bar and crown thee for a finder of

madmen. But see, but see.
Enter SIR ANDREW

FABIAN. More matter for a May morning.
AGUECHEEK. Here's the challenge; read it. I warrant there's vinegar

and pepper in't.
FABIAN. Is't so saucy?

AGUECHEEK. Ay, is't, I warrant him; do but read.
SIR TOBY. Give me. [Reads] 'Youth, whatsoever thou art, thou art

but a scurvy fellow.'
FABIAN. Good and valiant.

SIR TOBY. [Reads] 'Wonder not, nor admire not in thy mind, why I do
call thee so, for I will show thee no reason for't.'

FABIAN. A good note; that keeps you from the blow of the law.
SIR TOBY. [Reads] 'Thou com'st to the Lady Olivia, and in my sight

she uses thee kindly; but thou liest in thy throat; that is not
the matter I challenge thee for.'

FABIAN. Very brief, and to exceeding good sense- less.
SIR TOBY. [Reads] 'I will waylay thee going home; where if it be

thy chance to kill me'-
FABIAN. Good.

SIR TOBY. 'Thou kill'st me like a rogue and a villain.'
FABIAN. Still you keep o' th' windy side of the law. Good!

SIR TOBY. [Reads] 'Fare thee well; and God have mercy upon one of
our souls! He may have mercy upon mine; but my hope is better,

and so look to thyself. Thy friend, as thou usest him, and thy
sworn enemy,

ANDREW AGUECHEEK.'
If this letter move him not, his legs cannot. I'll give't him.

MARIA. You may have very fit occasion for't; he is now in some
commerce with my lady, and will by and by depart.

SIR TOBY. Go, Sir Andrew; scout me for him at the corner of the
orchard, like a bum-baily; so soon as ever thou seest him, draw;

and as thou draw'st, swear horrible; for it comes to pass oft
that a terrible oath, with a swaggering accentsharply twang'd

off, gives manhood more approbation than ever proof itself would
have earn'd him. Away.

AGUECHEEK. Nay, let me alone for swearing. Exit
SIR TOBY. Now will not I deliver his letter; for the behaviour of

the young gentleman gives him out to be of good capacity and
breeding; his employment between his lord and my niece confirms

no less. Therefore this letter, being so excellently ignorant,
will breed no terror in the youth: he will find it comes from a

clodpole. But, sir, I will deliver his challenge by word of
mouth, set upon Aguecheek notable report of valour, and drive the

gentleman- as know his youth will aptly receive it- into a most
hideous opinion of his rage, skill, fury, and impetuosity. This

will so fright them both that they will kill one another by the
look, like cockatrices.

Re-enter OLIVIA. With VIOLA
FABIAN. Here he comes with your niece; give them way till he take

leave, and presently after him.
SIR TOBY. I will meditate the while upon some horrid message for a

challenge.
Exeunt SIR TOBY, FABIAN, and MARIA

OLIVIA. I have said too much unto a heart of stone,
And laid mine honour too unchary out;

There's something in me that reproves my fault;
But such a headstrong potent fault it is

That it but mocks reproof.
VIOLA. With the same haviour that your passion bears

Goes on my master's griefs.
OLIVIA. Here, wear this jewel for me; 'tis my picture.

Refuse it not; it hath no tongue to vex you.
And I beseech you come again to-morrow.

What shall you ask of me that I'll deny,
That honour sav'd may upon asking give?

VIOLA. Nothing but this- your true love for my master.
OLIVIA. How with mine honour may I give him that

Which I have given to you?
VIOLA. I will acquit you.

OLIVIA. Well, come again to-morrow. Fare thee well;
A fiend like thee might bear my soul to hell. Exit

Re-enter SIR TOBY and SIR FABIAN
SIR TOBY. Gentleman, God save thee.

VIOLA. And you, sir.
SIR TOBY. That defence thou hast, betake thee tot. Of what nature

the wrongs are thou hast done him, I know not; but thy
intercepter, full of despite, bloody as the hunter, attends

thee at the orchard end. Dismount thy tuck, be yare in thy
preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skilful, and deadly.

VIOLA. You mistake, sir; I am sure no man hath any quarrel to me;
my remembrance is very free and clear from any image of offence

done to any man.
SIR TOBY. You'll find it otherwise, I assure you; therefore, if you

hold your life at any price, betake you to your guard; for your
opposite hath in him what youth, strength, skill, and wrath, can

furnish man withal.
VIOLA. I pray you, sir, what is he?

SIR TOBY. He is knight, dubb'd with unhatch'd rapier and on carpet
consideration; but he is a devil in private brawl. Souls and

bodies hath he divorc'd three; and his incensement at this moment
is so implacable that satisfaction can be none but by pangs of

death and sepulchre. Hob-nob is his word- give't or take't.
VIOLA. I will return again into the house and desire some conduct

of the lady. I am no fighter. I have heard of some kind of men
that put quarrels purposely on others to taste their valour;

belike this is a man of that quirk.
SIR TOBY. Sir, no; his indignation derives itself out of a very

competent injury; therefore, get you on and give him his desire.
Back you shall not to the house, unless you undertake that with

me which with as much safety you might answer him; therefore on,
or strip your sword stark naked; for meddle you must, that's

certain, or forswear to wear iron about you.
VIOLA. This is as uncivil as strange. I beseech you do me this

courteous office as to know of the knight what my offence to him
is: it is something of my negligence, nothing of my purpose.

SIR TOBY. I Will do so. Signior Fabian, stay you by this gentleman
till my return. Exit SIR TOBY

VIOLA. Pray you, sir, do you know of this matter?
FABIAN. I know the knight is incens'd against you, even to a mortal

arbitrement; but nothing of the circumstance more.
VIOLA. I beseech you, what manner of man is he?

FABIAN. Nothing of that wonderful promise, to read him by his form,
as you are like to find him in the proof of his valour. He is

indeed, sir, the most skilful, bloody, and fatal opposite that
you could possibly have found in any part of Illyria. Will you

walk towards him? I will make your peace with him if I can.
VIOLA. I shall be much bound to you for't. I am one that would

rather go with sir priest than sir knight. I care not who knows
so much of my mettle. Exeunt

Re-enter SIR TOBY With SIR ANDREW
SIR TOBY. Why, man, he's a very devil; I have not seen such a

firago. I had a pass with him, rapier, scabbard, and all, and he
gives me the stuck in with such a mortalmotion that it is

inevitable; and on the answer, he pays you as surely as your feet
hit the ground they step on. They say he has been fencer to the

Sophy.
AGUECHEEK. Pox on't, I'll not meddle with him.

SIR TOBY. Ay, but he will not now be pacified; Fabian can scarce
hold him yonder.

AGUECHEEK. Plague on't; an I thought he had been valiant, and so
cunning in fence, I'd have seen him damn'd ere I'd have

challeng'd him. Let him let the matter slip, and I'll give him
my horse, grey Capilet.

SIR TOBY. I'll make the motion. Stand here, make a good show on't;
this shall end without the perdition of souls. [Aside] Marry,

I'll ride your horse as well as I ride you.
Re-enter FABIAN and VIOLA

[To FABIAN] I have his horse to take up the quarrel; I have
persuaded him the youth's a devil.

FABIAN. [To SIR TOBY] He is as horriblyconceited of him; and pants
and looks pale, as if a bear were at his heels.

SIR TOBY. [To VIOLA] There's no remedy, sir: he will fight with you
for's oath sake. Marry, he hath better bethought him of his

quarrel, and he finds that now scarce to be worth talking of.
Therefore draw for the supportance of his vow; he protests he

will not hurt you.
VIOLA. [Aside] Pray God defend me! A little thing would make me

tell them how much I lack of a man.
FABIAN. Give ground if you see him furious.

SIR TOBY. Come, Sir Andrew, there's no remedy; the gentleman will,
for his honour's sake, have one bout with you; he cannot by the

duello avoid it; but he has promis'd me, as he is a gentleman and
a soldier, he will not hurt you. Come on; to't.

AGUECHEEK. Pray God he keep his oath! [They draw]
Enter ANTONIO

VIOLA. I do assure you 'tis against my will.
ANTONIO. Put up your sword. If this young gentleman

Have done offence, I take the fault on me:
If you offend him, I for him defy you.

SIR TOBY. You, sir! Why, what are you?
ANTONIO. One, sir, that for his love dares yet do more

Than you have heard him brag to you he will.
SIR TOBY. Nay, if you be an undertaker, I am for you.

[They draw]
Enter OFFICERS

FABIAN. O good Sir Toby, hold! Here come the officers.
SIR TOBY. [To ANTONIO] I'll be with you anon.

VIOLA. Pray, sir, put your sword up, if you please.
AGUECHEEK. Marry, will I, sir; and for that I promis'd you, I'll be

as good as my word. He will bear you easily and reins well.
FIRST OFFICER. This is the man; do thy office.

SECOND OFFICER. Antonio, I arrest thee at the suit
Of Count Orsino.

ANTONIO. You do mistake me, sir.
FIRST OFFICER. No, sir, no jot; I know your favour well,

Though now you have no sea-cap on your head.
Take him away; he knows I know him well.

ANTONIO. I Must obey. [To VIOLA] This comes with seeking you;
But there's no remedy; I shall answer it.

What will you do, now my necessity
Makes me to ask you for my purse? It grieves me

Much more for what I cannot do for you
Than what befalls myself. You stand amaz'd;

But be of comfort.
SECOND OFFICER. Come, sir, away.

ANTONIO. I must entreat of you some of that money.
VIOLA. What money, sir?

For the fair kindness you have show'd me here,
And part being prompted by your present trouble,

Out of my lean and low ability
I'll lend you something. My having is not much;

I'll make division of my present with you;
Hold, there's half my coffer.

ANTONIO. Will you deny me now?
Is't possible that my deserts to you



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