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Twelfth Night (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editors: David Carnegie, Mark Houlahan
Peer Reviewed
Twelfe Night, or, What you will.
269
Vio. And you sir.
To. That defence thou hast, betake the too't: of what
1740nature the wrongs are thou hast done him, I knowe not:
but thy intercepter full of despight, bloody as the Hun-
ter, attends thee at the Orchard end: dismount thy tucke,
be yare in thy preparation, for thy assaylant is quick, skil-
full, and deadly.
1745Vio. You mistake sir I am sure, no man hath any quar-
rell to me: my remembrance is very free and cleere from
any image of offence done to any man.
To. You'l finde it otherwise I assure you: therefore, if
you hold your life at any price, betake you to your gard:
1750for your opposite hath in him what youth, strength, skill,
and wrath, can furnish man withall.
Vio. I pray you sir what is he?
To. He is knight dubb'd with vnhatch'd Rapier, and
on carpet consideration, but he is a diuell in priuate brall,
1755soules and bodies hath he diuorc'd three, and his incense-
ment at this moment is so implacable, that satisfaction
can be none, but by pangs of death and sepulcher: Hob,
nob, is his word: giu't or take't.
Vio. I will returne againe into the house, and desire
1760some conduct of the Lady. I am no fighter, I haue heard
of some kinde of men, that put quarrells purposely on o-
thers, to taste their valour: belike this is a man of that
quirke.
To. Sir, no: his indignation deriues it selfe out of a ve-
1765ry computent iniurie, therefore get you on, and giue him
his desire. Backe you shall not to the house, vnlesse you
vndertake that with me, which with as much safetie you
might answer him: therefore on, or strippe your sword
starke naked: for meddle you must that's certain, or for-
1770sweare to weare iron about you.
Vio. This is as vnciuill as strange. I beseech you doe
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.
1775To. I will doe so. Signiour Fabian, stay you by this
Gentleman, till my returne.
Exit Toby.
Vio. Pray you sir, do you know of this matter?
Fab. I know the knight is incenst against you, euen to
a mortall arbitrement, but nothing of the circumstance
1780more.
Vio. I beseech you what manner of man is he?
Fab. Nothing of that wonderfull promise to read him
by his forme, as you are like to finde him in the proofe of
his valour. He is indeede sir, the most skilfull, bloudy, &
1785fatall opposite that you could possibly haue found in anie
part of Illyria: will you walke towards him, I will make
your peace with him, if I can.
Vio. I shall bee much bound to you for't: I am one,
that had rather go with sir Priest, then sir knight: I care
1790not who knowes so much of my mettle.
Exeunt.
Enter Toby and Andrew.
To. Why man hee s a verie diuell, I haue not seen such
a firago: I had a passe with him, rapier, scabberd, and all:
and he giues me the stucke in with such a mortall motion
1795that it is ineuitable: and on the answer, he payes you as
surely, as your feete hits the ground they step on. They
say, he has bin Fencer to the Sophy.
And. Pox on't, Ile not meddle with him.
To. I but he will not now be pacified,
1800Fabian can scarse hold him yonder.
An. Plague on't, and I thought he had beene valiant,
and so cunning in Fence, I'de haue seene him damn'd ere
I'de haue challeng'd him. Let him let the matter slip, and
Ile giue him my horse, gray Capilet.
1805To. Ile make the motion: stand heere, make a good
shew on't, this shall end without the perdition of soules,
marry Ile ride your horse as well as I ride you.
Enter Fabian and Viola.
I haue his horse to take vp the quarrell, I haue perswaded
1810him the youths a diuell.
Fa. He is as horribly conceited of him: and pants, &
lookes pale, as if a Beare were at his heeles.
To. There's no remedie sir, he will fight with you for's
oath sake: marrie hee hath better bethought him of his
1815quarrell, and hee findes that now scarse to bee worth tal-
king of: therefore draw for the supportance of his vowe,
he protests he will not hurt you.
Vio. Pray God defend me: a little thing would make
me tell them how much I lacke of a man.
1820Fab. Giue ground if you see him furious.
To. Come sir Andrew, there's no remedie, the Gen-
tleman will for his honors sake haue one bowt with you:
he cannot by the Duello auoide it: but hee has promised
me, as he is a Gentleman and a Soldiour, he will not hurt
1825you. Come on, too't.
And. Pray God he keepe his oath.
Enter Antonio.
Vio. I do assure you tis against my will.
Ant. Put vp your sword: if this yong Gentleman
1830Haue done offence, I take the fault on me:
If you offend him, I for him defie you.
To. You sir? Why, what are you?
Ant. One sir, that for his loue dares yet do more
Then you haue heard him brag to you he will.
1835To. Nay, if you be an vndertaker, I am for you.
Enter Officers.
Fab. O good sir Toby hold: heere come the Officers.
To. Ile be with you anon.
Vio. Pray sir, put your sword vp if you please.
1840And. Marry will I sir: and for that I promis'd you Ile
be as good as my word. Hee will beare you easily, and
raines well.
1. Off. This is the man, do thy Office.
2. Off. Anthonio, I arrest thee at the suit of Count Orsino
1845An. You do mistake me sir.
1. Off. No sir, no iot: I know your fauour well:
Though now you haue no sea-cap on your head:
Take him away, he knowes I know him well.
Ant. I must obey. This comes with seeking you:
1850But there's no remedie, I shall answer it:
What will you do: now my necessitie
Makes me to aske you for my purse. It greeues mee
Much more, for what I cannot do for you,
Then what befals my selfe: you stand amaz'd,
1855But be of comfort.
2. Off. Come sir away.
Ant. I must entreat of you some of that money.
Vio. What money sir?
For the fayre kindnesse you haue shew'd me heere,
1860And part being prompted by your present trouble,
Out of my leane and low ability
Ile lend you something: my hauing is not much,
Ile make diuision of my present with you:
Hold, there's halfe my Coffer.
1865Ant. Will you deny me now,
Ist possible that my deserts to you
Can lacke perswasion. Do not tempt my misery,
Least that it make me so vnsound a man
As to vpbraid you with those kindnesses
Z3
That
270
Twelfe Night, or, What you will.