Exit VIOLA Pray you, sir, do you know of this matter? FABIAN I know the knight is incensed 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 had rather go with sir priest than sir knight:
I care not who knows so much of my mettle.
Exeunt Re-enter SIR TOBY BELCH, with SIR ANDREW SIR TOBY BELCH 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 mortal motion, 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. SIR ANDREW Pox on't, I'll not meddle with him. SIR TOBY BELCH Ay, but he will not now be pacified:
Fabian can scarce hold him yonder. SIR ANDREW Plague on't, an I thought he had been valiant and so cunning in fence, I'ld have seen him damned ere I'ld have challenged him. Let him let the matter slip, and I'll give him my horse, grey Capilet. SIR TOBY BELCH 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 He is as horribly conceited of him; and pants and looks pale, as if a bear were at his heels. SIR TOBY BELCH [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 BELCH 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 promised me, as he is a gentleman and a soldier, he will not hurt you. Come on; to't. SIR ANDREW Pray God, he keep his oath! VIOLA I do assure you, 'tis against my will.
They draw Enter ANTONIO 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 BELCH 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 BELCH 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 BELCH I'll be with you anon. VIOLA Pray, sir, put your sword up, if you please. SIR ANDREW Marry, will I, sir; and, for that I promised 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 amazed;
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 Can lack persuasion? Do not tempt my misery, Lest that it make me so unsound a man As to upbraid you with those kindnesses That I have done for you. VIOLA I know of none;
Nor know I you by voice or any feature:
I hate ingratitude more in a man Than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness, Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption Inhabits our frail blood. ANTONIO O heavens themselves! Second Officer Come, sir, I pray you, go. ANTONIO Let me speak a little. This youth that you see here I snatch'd one half out of the jaws of death, Relieved him with such sanctity of love, And to his image, which methought did promise Most venerable worth, did I devotion. First Officer What's that to us? The time goes by: away! ANTONIO But O how vile an idol proves this god Thou hast, Sebastian, done good feature shame.
In nature there's no blemish but the mind;
None can be call'd deform'd but the unkind:
Virtue is beauty, but the beauteous evil Are empty trunks o'erflourish'd by the devil. First Officer The man grows mad: away with him! Come, come, sir. ANTONIO Lead me on.
Exit with Officers VIOLA Methinks his words do from such passion fly, That he believes himself: so do not I.
Prove true, imagination, O, prove true, That I, dear brother, be now ta'en for you! SIR TOBY BELCH Come hither, knight; come hither, Fabian: we'll whisper o'er a couplet or two of most sage saws. VIOLA He named Sebastian: I my brother know Yet living in my glass; even such and so In favour was my brother, and he went Still in this fashion, colour, ornament, For him I imitate: O, if it prove, Tempests are kind and salt waves fresh in love.
Exit SIR TOBY BELCH A very dishonest paltry boy, and more a coward than a hare: his dishonesty appears in leaving his friend here in necessity and denying him; and for his cowardship, ask Fabian. FABIAN A coward, a most devout coward, religious in it. SIR ANDREW 'Slid, I'll after him again and beat him. SIR TOBY BELCH Do; cuff him soundly, but never draw thy sword. SIR ANDREW An I do not,-- FABIAN Come, let's see the event. SIR TOBY BELCH I dare lay any money 'twill be nothing yet.