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Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
More Performances…
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Twelfth Night (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editors: David Carnegie, Mark Houlahan
Peer Reviewed
272
Twelfe Night, or, What you will.
Yet 'tis not madnesse. Where's Anthonio then,
I could not finde him at the Elephant,
2120Yet there he was, and there I found this credite,
That he did range the towne to seeke me out,
His councell now might do me golden seruice,
For though my soule disputes well with my sence,
That this may be some error, but no madnesse,
2125Yet doth this accident and flood of Fortune,
So farre exceed all instance, all discourse,
That I am readie to distrust mine eyes,
And wrangle with my reason that perswades me
To any other trust, but that I am mad,
2130Or else the Ladies mad; yet if 'twere so,
She could not sway her house, command her followers,
Take, and giue backe affayres, and their dispatch,
With such a smooth, discreet, and stable bearing
As I perceiue she do's: there's something in't
2135That is deceiueable. But heere the Lady comes.

Enter Oliuia, and Priest.
Ol. Blame not this haste of mine: if you meane well
Now go with me, and with this holy man
Into the Chantry by: there before him,
2140And vnderneath that consecrated roofe,
Plight me the full assurance of your faith,
That my most iealious, and too doubtfull soule
May liue at peace. He shall conceale it,
Whiles you are willing it shall come to note,
2145What time we will our celebration keepe
According to my birth, what do you say?
Seb. Ile follow this good man, and go with you,
And hauing sworne truth, euer will be true.
Ol. Then lead the way good father, & heauens so shine,
2150That they may fairely note this acte of mine.
Exeunt.
Finis Actus Quartus.


Actus Quintus. Scena Prima.


Enter Clowne and Fabian.
Fab. Now as thou lou'st me, let me see his Letter.
2155Clo. Good M. Fabian, grant me another request.
Fab. Any thing.
Clo. Do not desire to see this Letter.
Fab. This is to giue a dogge, and in recompence desire
my dogge againe.

2160
Enter Duke, Viola, Curio, and Lords.
Duke. Belong you to the Lady Oliuia, friends?
Clo. I sir, we are some of her trappings.
Duke. I know thee well: how doest thou my good
Fellow?
2165Clo. Truely sir, the better for my foes, and the worse
for my friends.
Du. Iust the contrary: the better for thy friends.
Clo. No sir, the worse.
Du. How can that be?
2170Clo. Marry sir, they praise me, and make an asse of me,
now my foes tell me plainly, I am an Asse: so that by my
foes sir, I profit in the knowledge of my selfe, and by my
friends I am abused: so that conclusions to be as kisses, if
your foure negatiues make your two affirmatiues, why
2175then the worse for my friends, and the better for my foes.
Du. Why this is excellent.
Clo. By my troth sir, no: though it please you to be
one of my friends.
Du. Thou shalt not be the worse for me, there's gold.
2180Clo. But that it would be double dealing sir, I would
you could make it another.
Du. O you giue me ill counsell.
Clo. Put your grace in your pocket sir, for this once,
and let your flesh and blood obey it.
2185Du. Well, I will be so much a sinner to be a double
dealer: there's another.
Clo. Primo, secundo, tertio, is a good play, and the olde
saying is, the third payes for all: the triplex sir, is a good
tripping measure, or the belles of S. Bennet sir, may put
2190you in minde, one, two, three.
Du. You can foole no more money out of mee 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.
2195Clo. Marry sir, lullaby to your bountie till I come a-
gen. I go sir, but I would not haue you to thinke, that
my desire of hauing is the sinne of couetousnesse: but as
you say sir, let your bounty take a nappe, I will awake it
anon.
Exit

2200
Enter Anthonio and Officers.
Vio. Here comes the man sir, that did rescue mee.
Du. That face of his I do remember well,
yet when I saw it last, it was besmear'd
As blacke as Vulcan, in the smoake of warre:
2205A bawbling Vessell was he Captaine of,
For shallow draught and bulke vnprizable,
With which such scathfull grapple did he make,
With the most noble bottome of our Fleete,
That very enuy, and the tongue of losse
2210Cride fame and honor on him: What's the matter?
1. Offi. Orsino, this is that Anthonio
That tooke the Phoenix, and her fraught from Candy,
And this is he that did the Tiger boord,
When your yong Nephew Titus lost his legge;
2215Heere in the streets, desperate of shame and state,
In priuate brabble did we apprehend him.
Vio. He did me kindnesse sir, drew on my side,
But in conclusion put strange speech vpon me,
I know not what 'twas, but distraction.
2220Du. Notable Pyrate, thou salt-water Theefe,
What foolish boldnesse brought thee to their mercies,
Whom thou in termes so bloudie, and so deere
Hast made thine enemies?
Ant. Orsino: Noble sir,
2225Be pleas'd that I shake off these names you giue mee:
Anthonio neuer yet was Theefe, or Pyrate,
Though I confesse, on base and ground enough
Orsino's enemie. A witchcraft drew me hither:
That most ingratefull boy there by your side,
2230From the rude seas enrag'd and foamy mouth
Did I redeeme: a wracke past hope he was:
His life I gaue him, and did thereto adde
My loue without retention, or restraint,
All his in dedication. For his sake,
2235Did I expose my selfe (pure for his loue)
Into the danger of this aduerse Towne,
Drew to defend him, when he was beset:
Where being apprehended, his false cunning
(Not meaning to partake with me in danger)
2240Taught him to face me out of his acquaintance,
And
Twelfe Night, or, What you will.
273