could only counterfeit love, and his professions could ||of forming ridiculous characters can confer praise be prompted, not by the hope of pleasure, but of only on him who originally discovered it, for it remoney. Thus the poet approached as near as he quires not much of either wit or judgment; its could to the work enjoined him; yet having per- success must be derived almost wholly from the haps in the former plays completed his own idea, player, but its power in a skilful mouth, even be seems not to have been able to give Falstaff all his that despises it, is unable to resist, former power of entertainment.

The conduct of this drama is deficient; the acThis comedy is remarkable for the variety and|tion begins and ends often, before the conclusion, number of the personages, who exhibit more char- and the different parts might change places withacters appropriated and discriminated, than per-out inconvenience; but its general power, that haps can be found in any other play.

power by which all works of genius shall finally be Whether Shakspeare was the first that produced tried, is such, that perhaps it never yet had reader upon the English stage the effect of language dis- or spectator who did not think it too soon at the torted and depraved by provincial or foreign pro-end. nunciation, I cannot certainly decide. This mode

JOHNSON.

TWELFTH-NIGHT; OR, WHAT YOU WILL.

,

PERSONS REPRESENTED.
Orsino, duke of Illyria.

|| Olivia, a rich countess.
Sebastian, a young gentleman, brother to Viola. Viola, in love with the duke.
Antonio, a sea-captain, friend to Sebastian. Maria, Olivia's woman.
A sea-captain, friend to Viola.
Valentine,
Curio,
gentlemen, attending on the duke.

Lords, priests, sailors, officers, musicians, and
Sir Toby Belch, uncle of Olivia.

other attendants.
Sir Andrew Ague-cheek.
Malvolio, steward to Olivia.
Fabian,
Clown, 3
servants to Olivia.

Scene, a city in Illyria; and the sea-coast near it.

may he be.

:

ACT 1.

Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else

That live in her! when liver, brain, and heart,
SCENE 1.-An apartment in the Duke's palace. (Her sweet perfections,) with one self king !

These sovereign thrones, are all supplied, and fillid,
Enter Duke, Curio, Lords ; musicians attending. Away before me to sweet beds of flowers ;
Drike.
Love-thoughts lie rich, when canopied with bowerg.

(Exeunt.
If music be the food of love, play on,
Give me excess of it; that, surfeiting,

SCENE II.—The sea-coast. Enter Viola, Cap-
The appetite may sicken, and so die.

tain, and Sailors.
That strain again ;-it had a dying fall :
O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet south, Vio. What country, friends, is this?
That breathes upon a bank of violets,

Cap.

Illyria, lady. Stealing, and giving odour.—Enough; no more;

Vio. And what should I do in Illyria?
'Tis not so sweet now, as it was before.

My brother he is in Elysium.
O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou ! Perchance, he is not drown'd :-What think you,
That notwithstanding thy capacity

sailors?
Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there,

Cap. It is perchance, that you yourself were Of what validity and pitch soever,

saved.
But falls into abatement and low price,

Vio. O my poor brother! and so, perchance,
Even in a minute! so full of shapes is fancy,
That it alone is high-fantastical.2

Cap. True, madam : and, to comfort you with
Cur. Will you go hunt, my lord ?

chance,
Drike.

What, Curio? Assure yourself, after our ship did split,
Cur.

The hart. When you, and that poor number saved with you,
Duke. Why, so I do, the noblest that I have: Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother,
O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first,

Most provident in peril, bind himself
Methought, she purg'd the air of pestilence;

(Courage and hope both teaching him the pracThat instant was I turn'd into a bart;

tice) And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,

To a strong mast, that lived upon the sea; E’er since pursue me.—How now? what news Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back, from her ?

I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves,

So long as I could see.
Enter Valentine.

Vio

For saying so, there's gold:

Minę own escape unfoldeth to my hope,
Val. So please my lord, I might not be admitted, | Whereto thy speech serves for authority,
But from her handmaid do return this answer : The like of him. Know'st thou this country?
The element itself, till seven years heat,

Cap. Ay, madam, well; for I was bred and
Shall not behold her face at ample view;

born,
But, like a cloistress, she will veiled walk, Not three hours' travel from this very place.
And water once a day her chamber round, Vio. Who governs here?
With eye-offending brine : all this, to season Cap.

A noble duke, in nature,
A brother's dead love, which she would keep fresh,|| As in his name.
And lasting, in her sad remembrance.

Vio

What is his name?
Duke. O, she that hath a heart of that fine frame, Cap.

Orsino.
To pay this debt of love but to a brother,

Vio. Orsino! I have heard my father name him : How will she love, when the rich golden shaft He was a bachelor then. (1) Value. (2) Fantastical to the height,

(3) Heated

K

1

Cap.
And so is now,

Mar. He bath, indeed, -almost natural : for,
Or was so very late; for but a month

besides that he's a fool, he's a great quarreller ; Ago I went from hence; and then 'twas fresh and, but that he bath the gift of a coward to allay In murmur (as, you know, what great ones do, the gust

he hath in quarrelling, 'tis thought among The less will prattle of,) that he did seek the prudent, he would quickly have the gift of å The love of fair Olivia.

grave. Vio. What's she?

Sir To. By this hand, they are scoundrels, and Cap. A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count substractors, that say so of him. Who are they? That died some twelvemonth since; then leaving Mar. They that add moreover, he's drunk nighther

ly in your company: In the protection of his son, her brother,

Sir To. With drinking healths to my niece; I'll Who shortly also died: for whose dear love,

drink to her, as long as there is a passage in my They say, she hath abjur'd the company

throat, and drink in Illyria : he's a coward, and a And sight of men.

coystril,3 that will not drink to my niece, till his Vio.

O, that I served that lady ; brains turn o' the toe, like a parish-top. What,
And might not be delivered to the world, wench? Castiliano vulgo; for here comes sir An-
Till I had made mine own occasion mellow, drew Ague-face.
What my estate is.
Cap.
That were hard to compass ;

Enter Sir Andrew Ague-cheek.
Because she will admit no kind of suit,

Sir And. Sir Toby Belch! how now, sir Toby No, not the duke's.

Belch? Vio. There is a fair behaviour in thee, captain ;

Sir To. Sweet sir Andrew ! And though that nature with a beauteous wall

Sir And. Bless you, fair shrew.
Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee

Mar. And you too, sir.
I will believe, thou hast a mind that suits
With this thy fair and outward character.

Sir To. Accost, sir Andrew, accost

Sir And. What's that? I pray thee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,

Sir To. My neice's chamber-maid. Conceal me what I am; and be my aid

Sir And. Good mistress Accost, I desire better For such disguise as, haply, shall become

acquaintance. The form of my intent. "I'll serve this duke ;

Mar. My name is Mary, sir. Thou shalt present me as a eunuch to him,

Sir And. Good mistress Mary Accost, It may be worth thy pains; for I can sing,

Sir To. You mistake, knight : accost, is, front And speak to him in many sorts of music,

her, board her, woo her, assail her. That will allowl me very worth his service. What else may hap, to time I will commit;

Sir And. By my troth, I would not undertake Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.

her in this company. Is that the meaning of accost? Cap. Be you his eunuch, and your mute I'll be:

Mar. Fare you well, gentlemen. When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see!

Sir To. An ibou lei part so, sir Andrew, 'would Vio. I thank thee: lead me on. (Exeunt.

thou might'st never draw sword again.

Sir And. An you part so, mistress, I would I SCENE III.-A room in Olivia's house. En. I might never draw sword again. Fair lady, do you

think ter Sir Toby Belch, and Maria.

have fools in hand ? you

Mar. Sir, I have not you by the hand. Sir To. What a plague means my niece, to take Sir And. Marry, but you shall have; and here's the death of her brother thus ? I am sure, care's my hand. an enemy to life.

Mar. Now, sir, thought is free : I pray you, Mar. "By troth, sir Toby, you must come in bring your hand to the buttery-bar, and let it drink. earlier o' nights; your cousin, my lady, takes great Sir And. Wherefore, sweetheart? what's your exceptions to your ill hours.

mctaphor ? Sir To. Why, let her except before excepted. Mar. It's dry, sir.

Mar. Ay, but you must confine yourself within Sir And. Why, I think so ; I am not such an ass, the modest limits of order.

but I can keep my hand dry. But what's your jest? Sir To. Confine ? I'll confine myself no finer than Mar. A dry jest, sir. I am: these clothes are good enough to drink in, Sir And. Are you full of them? and so be these boots too; an they be not, let Mar. Ay, sir; I have them at my fingers' ends : them hang themselves in their own straps. marry, now I let go your hand, I am barren. Mar. That quaffing and drinking will undo you:

(Exit Maria. I heard my lady talk of it yesterday; and of a Sir To. O knight, thou lack'st a cup of canary : foolish knight, that you brought in one night here, when did I see thee so put down? to be her wooer.

Sir And. Never in your life, I think ; unless Sir To. Who? Sir Andrew Ague-cheek? you see canary put me down: methinks, someMar. Ay, he.

times I have no more wit than a Christian, or an Sir To. He's as talla a man as any's in Illyria. ordinary man has : but I am a great eater of beef, Mar. What's that to the purpose ?

and, I believe, that does harm to my wit. Sir To. Why, he has three thousand ducats a Sir To. No question. year.

Sir And. An I thought that, I'd forswear it. I'll Mar. Ay, but he'll have but a year in all these ride home to-morrow, sir Toby. ducats; he's a very fool, and a prodigal.

Sir To. Pourquoy, my dear knight?
Sir To. Fie, that you'll say so! he plays o' the Sir And. What is pourquoy? do or not do? I
viol-de-gambo, and speaks three or four languages would I had bestowed that time in the tongues,
word for word without book, and hath all the good that I have in fencing, dancing, and bear-baiting
gifts of nature.

O, had I but followed the arts
(1) Approve.
(2) Stout

(3) Keystril, a bastard hawk.

a

Sir To. Then hadst thou had an excellent head || To thee the book even of my secret soul : of hair.

Therefore, good youth, address thy gaitz unto her ; Sir And. Why, would that have mended my hair? | Be not deny'd access, stand at her doors,

Sir To. Past question; for thou seest, it will not And tell them, there thy fixed foot shall grow, curl by nature.

Till thou have audience. Sir And. But it becomes me well enough, does't Vio

Sure, my noble lord, not?

If she be so abandon'd to her sorrow Sir To. Excellent; it hangs like fax on a dis- || As it is spoke, she never will admit me. taff; and I hope to see a bousewife take thee be- Duke. Be clamorous, and leap all civil bounds, tween ber legs, and spin it off.

Rather than make unprofited return. Sir And. "Faith, I'll home to-morrow, sir Toby: Vio. Say, I do speak with her, my lord; what your niece will not be seen ; or, if she be, it's four

then? to one she'll none of me: the count himself, here Duke. O, then unfold the passion of my love, nard by, woos her.

Surprise ber with discourse of my dear faith: Sir To. She'll none othe count: she'll not It shall become thee well to act my woes; match above her degree, neither in estate, years, | She will attend it better in thy youth, nor wit; I have heard her swear it. Tut, there's Than in a nuncio of more grave aspéct. life in't, man.

Vio. I think not so, my lord. Sir And. I'll stay a month longer. I am a fel- Duke.

Dear lad, believe it; low o'the strangest mind i' the world; I delight in For they shall yet belie thy happy years masques and revels sometimes altogether. That say, thou art a man: Diana's lip

Sir To. Art thou good at these kick-shaws, || Is not more smooth and rubious; thy small pipe knight?

Is as the maiden's organ, shrill and sound, Sir And. As any man in Illyria, whatsoever heAnd all is semblative a woman's part. be, under the degree of my betters; and yet I will I know, thy constellation is right apt not compare with an old man.

For this affair:-Some four, or five, attend him; Sir To. What is thy excellence in a galliard, || All, if you will; for I myself am best, knight?

When least in company :-Prosper well in this, Sir And. 'Faith, I can cut a caper.

And thou shalt live as freely as thy lord,
Sir To. And I can cut the mutton to't. To call his fortunes thine.
Sir And. And, I think, I have the back-trick, Vio

I'll do my best, simply as strong as any man in Illyria.

To woo your lady: yet (Aside.) a barful4 strife! Sir To. Wherefore are these things hid? where. Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife. fore have these gifts a curtain before them? are

(Exeunt. they like to take dust, like mistress Mall's picture? Why dost thou not go to church in a galliard, SCENE V.-A room in Olivia's house. Enter and come home in a coranto? My very walk

Maria and Clown. should be a jig; I would not so much as make water, but in a sink-a-pace. What dost thou

Mar. Nay, either tell me where thou hast been, mean? is it a world to hide virtues in? I did think, jenter, in way of thy excuse: my lady will hang

or I will not open my lips so wide as a bristle may by the excellent constitution of thy leg, it was || thee for thy absence. formed under the star of a galliard. Sir And. Ay, 'tis strong, and it does indifferent in this world, needs to fear

no colours.

Clo. Let her hang me: he, that is well banged well in a flame-coloured stock.2 Shall we set about

Mar. Make that good. some revels?

Clo. He shall see none to fear. Sir To. What shall we do else? were we not born under Taurus ?

Mar. A good lentens answer: I can tell thee Sir And. Taurus ? that's sides and heart.

where that saying was born, of, I fear no colours. Sir To. No, sir; it is legs and thighs. Let me

Clo. Where, good mistress Mary?

Mar. In the wars; and that may you be bold to see thee caper: ha! higher: ha, ha -excellent !

say in (Exeunt.

Clo. Well, God give them wisdom, that have it; SCENE IV-A room in the Duke's palace.

and those that are fools, let them use their talents.

Mar. Yet you will be hanged, for being so long Enter Valentine, and Viola in man's attire.

absent: or, to be turned away, is not that as good Val. If the duke continue these favours towards as a hanging to you? you, Cesario, you are like to be much advanced ; Clo. Many a good hanging prevents a bad mar. he hath known you but three days, and already' || riage; and, for turning away, let summer bear it you are no stranger.

Vio. You either fear his humour, or my negli- Mar. You are resolute then? gence, that you call in question the continuance of Clo. Not so neither ; but I am resolved on two his love: is he inconstant, sir, in his favours ? points. Val. No, believe me.

Mar. That, if one break, the other will hold;

if both break, your gaskins fall. Enter Duke, Curio, and attendants.

Clo. Apt, in good faith; very apt! Well, go thy Vio. I thank you. Here comes the count. way; if sir Toby would leave drinking, thou wert Duke. Who saw Cesario, ho?

as witty a piece of Eve's flesh as any in Illyria. Vio. On your attendance, my lord; here. Mar. Peace, you rogue, no more o' that; here Duke. Stand you awhile aloof.–Cesario, comes my lady: make your excuse wisely, you Thou know'st no less but all; I have unclasp'd

were best.

(Erit. (1) Cinque-pace, the name of a dance. (5) Short and spare. (2) Stocking. (3) Go thy way.

(6) Points were books which fastened the hose or (4) Full of impediments.

a

your foolery.

out.

or,