第26章 Before OLIVIA's house(1)

Enter CLOWN and FABIAN

FABIAN.Now, as thou lov'st me, let me see his letter.CLOWN.Good Master Fabian, grant me another request.FABIAN.Anything.CLOWN.Do not desire to see this letter.FABIAN.This is to give a dog, and in recompense desire my dog again.

Enter DUKE, VIOLA, CURIO, and LORDS

DUKE.Belong you to the Lady Olivia, friends? CLOWN.Ay, sir, we are some of her trappings.DUKE.I know thee well.How dost thou, my good fellow? CLOWN.Truly, sir, the better for my foes and the worse for my friends.DUKE.Just the contrary: the better for thy friends.CLOWN.No, sir, the worse.DUKE.How can that be? CLOWN.Marry, sir, they praise me and make an ass of me.Now my foes tell me plainly I am an ass; so that by my foes, sir, I profit in the knowledge of myself, and by my friends I am abused; so that, conclusions to be as kisses, if your four negatives make your two affirmatives, why then, the worse for my friends, and the better for my foes.DUKE.Why, this is excellent.CLOWN.By my troth, sir, no; though it please you to be one of my friends.DUKE.Thou shalt not be the worse for me.There's gold.CLOWN.But that it would be double-dealing, sir, I would you could make it another.DUKE.O, you give me ill counsel.CLOWN.Put your grace in your pocket, sir, for this once, and let your flesh and blood obey it.DUKE.Well, I will be so much a sinner to be a double-dealer.There's another.CLOWN.Primo, secundo, tertio, is a good play; and the old saying is 'The third pays for all.' The triplex, sir, is a good tripping measure; or the bells of Saint 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 speak with her, and bring her along with you, it may awake my bounty further.CLOWN.Marry, sir, lullaby to your bounty till I come again.I go, sir; but I would not have you to think that my desire of having is the sin of covetousness.But, as you say, sir, let your bounty take a nap; I will awake it anon.ExitEnter ANTONIO and OFFICERS

VIOLA.Here comes the man, sir, that did rescue me.DUKE.That face of his I do remember well; Yet when I saw it last it was besmear'd As black as Vulcan in the smoke of war.A baubling vessel was he captain of, For shallow draught and bulk unprizable, With which such scathful grapple did he make With the most noble bottom of our fleet That very envy and the tongue of los Cried fame and honour on him.What's the matter? FIRST OFFICER.Orsino, this is that Antonio That took the Phoenix and her fraught from Candy; And this is he that did the Tiger board When your young nephew Titus lost his leg.Here in the streets, desperate of shame and state, In private brabble did we apprehend him.VIOLA.He did me kindness, sir; drew on my side; But in conclusion put strange speech upon me.I know not what 'twas but distraction.DUKE.Notable pirate, thou salt-water thief! What foolish boldness brought thee to their mercies Whom thou, in terms so bloody and so dear, Hast made thine enemies? ANTONIO.Orsino, noble sir, Be pleas'd that I shake off these names you give me: Antonio never yet was thief or pirate, Though I confess, on base and ground enough, Orsino's enemy.A witchcraft drew me hither: That most ingrateful boy there by your side From the rude sea's enrag'd and foamy mouth Did I redeem; a wreck past hope he was.His life I gave him, and did thereto ad My love without retention or restraint, All his in dedication; for his sake, Did I expose myself, pure for his love, Into the danger of this adverse town; Drew to defend him when he was beset; 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 Not half an hour before.VIOLA.How can this be? DUKE.When came he to this town? ANTONIO.To-day, my lord; and for three months before, No int'rim, not a minute's vacancy, Both day and night did we keep company.

Enter OLIVIA and ATTENDANTS