FABIAN Now, as thou lovest me, let me see his letter. VIOLA Good Master Fabian, grant me another request. FABIAN Anything. VIOLA Do not desire to see this letter. FABIAN This is, to give a dog, and in recompense desire my dog again. [Enter DUKE ORSINO, VIOLA, CURIO, and Lords] ORSINO Belong you to the Lady Olivia, friends? FABIAN Ay, sir; we are some of her trappings. ORSINO I know thee well; how dost thou, my good fellow? CLOWN Truly, sir, the better for my foes and the worse for my friends. ORSINO Just the contrary; the better for thy friends. CLOWN No, sir, the worse. ORSINO 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, concluding, the better for my foes and the worse for my friends. ORSINO By my troth, thou hast an open hand. These wise men that give fools money get themselves a good report--after fourteen years' purchase. [Enter ANTONIO and Officers] ANTONIO 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 bawbling vessel was he captain of, For shallow draught and bulk unprizable; On which he 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. ORSINO 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 pleased 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 enraged and foamy mouth Did I redeem; a wreck past hope he was: His life I gave him and did thereto add 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? ORSINO When came he to this town? ANTONIO To-day, my lord; and for three months before, No interim, not a minute's vacancy, Both day and night did we keep company. [Enter OLIVIA and attendants] ORSINO Here comes the countess: now heaven walks on earth. But for thee, fellow; fellow, thy words are madness: Three months this youth hath tended upon me; But more of that anon. Take him aside. OLIVIA What would my lord, but that he may not have, Wherein Olivia may seem serviceable? Cesario, you do not keep promise with me. VIOLA Madam! OLIVIA Gracious Orsino, I owe you no submission, and I fear Your gifts have been but poorly husbanded. The time has not been equal. Let me see: Your last suit was for love. ORSINO It was, and still is. OLIVIA You're cruel still. ORSINO True; and with what truth do I love you. OLIVIA Still so cruel? ORSINO Still so constant, lady. OLIVIA What, to perverseness? you uncivil lady, To whose ingrate and unauspicious altars My soul the faithfull'st offerings hath breathed out That e'er devotion tender'd! What shall I do? OLIVIA Even what it please my lord, that shall become him. ORSINO Why should I not, had I the heart to do it, Like to the Egyptian thief at point of death, Kill what I love?--a savage jealousy That sometimes savours nobly. But hear me this: Since you to non-regardance cast my faith, And that I partly know the instrument That screws me from my true place in your favour, Live you the marble-breasted tyrant still; But this your minion, whom I know you love, And whom, by heaven I swear, I tender dearly, Him will I tear out of that cruel eye, Where he sits crowned in his master's spite. Come, boy, with me; my thoughts are ripe in mischief: I'll sacrifice the lamb that I do love, To spite a raven's heart within a dove. OLIVIA Where goes Cesario? VIOLA After him I love More than I love these eyes, more than my life, More than e'er I shall love wife. If I do feign, you witnesses above Punish my life for tainting of my love! OLIVIA Ay me, detested! how am I beguiled! VIOLA Who does beguile you? who does do you wrong? OLIVIA Hast thou forgot thyself? is it so long? Call forth the holy father. VIOLA Come, away! OLIVIA Whither, my lord? Cesario, husband, stay. ORSINO Husband! OLIVIA Ay, husband: can he that deny? ORSINO Her husband, sirrah! VIOLA No, my lord, not I! OLIVIA Alas, it is the baseness of thy fear That makes thee strangle thy propriety: Fear not, Cesario; take thy fortunes up; Be that thou know'st thou art, and then thou art As brave as e'er thou wast. O, welcome, father! [Enter Priest] Father, I charge thee, by thy reverence, Here to unfold, though lately we intended To keep in darkness what occasion now Reveals before 'tis ripe, what thou dost know Hath newly pass'd between this youth and me. PRIEST A contract of eternal bond of love, Confirm'd by mutual joinder of your hands, Attested by the holy close of lips, Strengthened by interchangement of your rings; And all the ceremony of this compact Seal'd in my function, by my testimony: Since when, my watch hath told me, toward my grave I have travell'd but two hours. ORSINO O thou dissembling cub! what wilt thou be When time hath sow'd a grizzle on thy case? When will thou be found like goodness? O thou thing Of nature, here's another wrack upon't Again deceiveth and undo thee: thou dost lie, Now go with me; and with this holy man, Into the chantry by: there, before him, And underneath that consecrated roof, Plight me the full assurance of your faith; That my most jealous and too doubtful soul May live at peace. He shall conceal it Whiles you are willing it shall come to note, What time we will our celebration keep According to my birth. What do you say? SEBASTIAN [Entering] I'll follow this good man, and go with you; And, having sworn truth, ever will be true. ORSINO Then lead the way, good father; and heavens so shine, That they may fairly note this act of mine! [Exeunt]