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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [671]

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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 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.

AGUECHEEK.

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