Vio. Art not thou the Lady Oliuia's foole? Clo. No indeed sir, the Lady Oliuia has no folly, shee will keepe no foole sir, till she be married, and fooles are as like husbands, as Pilchers are to Herrings, the Husbands the bigger, I am indeede not her foole, but hir corrupter of words
Vio. I saw thee late at the Count Orsino's
Clo. Foolery sir, does walke about the Orbe like the Sun, it shines euery where. I would be sorry sir, but the Foole should be as oft with your Master, as with my Mistris: I thinke I saw your wisedome there
Vio. Nay, and thou passe vpon me, Ile no more with thee. Hold there's expences for thee
Clo. Now Ioue in his next commodity of hayre, send thee a beard
Vio. By my troth Ile tell thee, I am almost sicke for one, though I would not haue it grow on my chinne. Is thy Lady within? Clo Would not a paire of these haue bred sir? Vio. Yes being kept together, and put to vse
Clo. I would play Lord Pandarus of Phrygia sir, to bring a Cressida to this Troylus
Vio. I vnderstand you sir, tis well begg'd
Clo. The matter I hope is not great sir; begging, but a begger: Cressida was a begger. My Lady is within sir. I will conster to them whence you come, who you are, and what you would are out of my welkin, I might say Element, but the word is ouer-worne.
Exit
Vio. This fellow is wise enough to play the foole, And to do that well, craues a kinde of wit: He must obserue their mood on whom he iests, The quality of persons, and the time: And like the Haggard, checke at euery Feather That comes before his eye. This is a practice, As full of labour as a Wise-mans Art: For folly that he wisely shewes, is fit; But wisemens folly falne, quite taint their wit. Enter Sir Toby and Andrew.
To. Saue you Gentleman
Vio. And you sir
And. Dieu vou guard Monsieur
Vio. Et vouz ousie vostre seruiture
An. I hope sir, you are, and I am yours
To. Will you incounter the house, my Neece is desirous you should enter, if your trade be to her
Vio. I am bound to your Neece sir, I meane she is the list of my voyage
To. Taste your legges sir, put them to motion
Vio. My legges do better vnderstand me sir, then I vnderstand what you meane by bidding me taste my legs
To. I meane to go sir, to enter
Vio. I will answer you with gate and entrance, but we are preuented. Enter Oliuia, and Gentlewoman.
Most excellent accomplish'd Lady, the heauens raine Odours on you
And. That youth's a rare Courtier, raine odours, wel
Vio. My matter hath no voice Lady, but to your owne most pregnant and vouchsafed eare
And. Odours, pregnant, and vouchsafed: Ile get 'em all three already
Ol. Let the Garden doore be shut, and leaue mee to my hearing. Giue me your hand sir
Vio. My dutie Madam, and most humble seruice
Twelfth Night · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.