Sir An. But it becomes me well enough, does 't not?

Sir To. Excellent; it hangs like flax on a distaff; and I hope to see a housewife take thee between her legs, and spin it off.

Sir An. Faith, I'll home to-morrow, sir Toby: your niece will not be seen; or, if she be, it's four to one she 'll none of me: the count himself, here hard by, woos her.

Sir To. She'll none o' the count; she 'll not match above her degree, neither in estate, years, nor wit; I have heard her swear it. Tut, there's life in 't, man.

Sir An. I'll stay a month longer. I am a fellow o' the strangest mind i' the world: I delight in masks and revels sometimes altogether.

Sir To. Art thou good at these kickshaws, knight?

Sir An. As any man in Illyria, whatsoever he be, under the degree of my betters; and yet I will not compare with an old man.1

Sir To. What is thy excellence in a galliard, knight?

Sir An. Faith, I can cut a caper.

Sir To. And I can cut the mutton to 't.

Sir An. And, I think, I have the back-trick, sim

ply as strong as any man in Illyria.

Sir To. Wherefore are these things hid? where

1 I will not claim much experience.

2 A sprightly dance, so called.

1

fore have these gifts a curtain before them? are they like to take dust, like mistress Mall's picture? Why dost thou not go to church in a galliard, and come home in a coranto? 2 My very walk should be a jig; I would not so much as make water, but in a sink-a-pace. What dost thou mean? is it a world to hide virtues in? I did think, by the excellent constitution of thy leg, it was formed under the star of a galliard.

Sir An. Ay, 'tis strong, and it does indifferent well in a flame-colored stock. Shall we set about some revels?

Sir To. What shall we do else? Were we not born under Taurus?

Sir An. Taurus? that's sides and heart.5

Sir To. No, sir; it is legs and thighs. Let me see thee caper: ha! higher: ha, ha!-excellent!

SCENE IV.

A room in the Duke's palace.

[Exeunt.

Enter VALENTINE, and VIOLA in man's attire.

Val. If the duke continue these favors towards you, Cesario, you are like to be much advanced: he

1 Alluding to the notorious Mary Frith, commonly called Mall Cutpurse.

2 A jig.

A cinque-pace, the name of a dance.

4 Stocking.

5 In allusion to the medical astrology still preserved in some almanacks.

SHAK.

IV.

B

hath known you but three days, and already you are

no stranger.

Vio. You either fear his humor or my negligence, that you call in question the continuance of his love. Is he inconstant, sir, in his favors ?

Val. No, believe me.

Enter DUKE, CURIO, and Attendants. Vio. I thank you. Here comes the count. Duke. Who saw Cesario, ho?

Vio. On your attendance, my lord; here.
Duke. Stand you awhile aloof.—Cesario,
Thou know'st no less but all; I have unclasp'd
To thee the book even of my secret soul:
Therefore, good youth, address thy gait1 unto her :
Be not denied access, stand at her doors,

And tell them, there thy fixed foot shall grow,
Till thou have audience.

Vio.

Sure, my noble lord,

If she be so abandon'd to her sorrow

As it is spoke, she never will admit me.

Duke. Be clamorous, and leap all civil bounds, Rather than make unprofited return.

Vio. Say I do speak with her, my lord; what

then?

Duke. O, then unfold the passion of my love;
Surprise her with discourse of my dear faith:
It shall become thee well to act my woes;

Go thy ways.

She will attend it better in thy youth,
Than in a nuncio of more grave aspect.
Vio. I think not so, my lord.

Duke.

Dear lad, believe it;
For they shall yet belie thy happy years,
That say, thou art a man. Diana's lip

Is not more smooth and rubious; 1 thy small pipe
Is, as the maiden's organ, shrill and sound,
And all is semblative a woman's part.2
I know, thy constellation is right apt

For this affair.-Some four or five, attend him ;
All, if you will; for I myself am best,

When least in company.-Prosper well in this,
And thou shalt live as freely as thy lord,

To call his fortunes thine.

Vio.

I'll do my best,

To woo your lady : yet, [aside.] a barful strife ! 3
Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

A room in Olivia's house.

Enter MARIA and CLOWN.

Mar. Nay, either tell me where thou hast been, or I will not open my lips, so wide as a bristle may

1 Ruddy.

Thy proper part in a play would be a woman's.
A contest full of impediments.

enter, in way of thy excuse: my lady will hang thee for thy absence.

Clown. Let her hang me: he, that is well hanged in this world, needs to fear no colors. Mar. Make that good.

Clown. He shall see none to fear.

Mar. A good lenten1 answer: I can tell thee where that saying was born, of, I fear no colors.

Clown. Where, good mistress Mary?

Mar. In the wars; and that may you be bold to say in your foolery.

Clown. Well, God give them wisdom, that have it; and those that are fools, let them use their talents.

Mar. Yet you will be hanged for being so long absent or, to be turned away;-is not that as good as a hanging to you?

Clown. Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage; and, for turning away, let summer bear it out.2

Mar. You are resolute then?

Clown. Not so neither; but I am resolved on two points.

Mar. That, if one break, the other will hold; or, if both break, your gaskins fall.3

1 Short and spare.

2 During which season I shall find employment in every field, and lodging under every hedge.

3 Points were metal hooks fastening the hose or bree. hes.