Twelfth Night
Act II, Scene 2
Illyria. A street.
E.H. Sothern as Malvoilo
William A. Sands, photographer; circa 1905
- Enter Viola and Malvolio at several doors.
Malvolio
1- Were you not ev’n now with the Countess Olivia?
Viola
2 - 3- Even now, sir; on a moderate pace I have since arriv’d but
- hither.
Malvolio
4 - 9- She returns this ring to you, sir. You might have sav’d me
- my pains, to have taken it away yourself. She adds moreover,
- that you should put your lord into a desperate assurance she
- will none of him. And one thing more, that you be never so
- hardy to come again in his affairs, unless it be to report
- your lord’s taking of this. Receive it so.
Viola
10- She took the ring of me, I’ll none of it.
Malvolio
11 - 13- Come, sir, you peevishly threw it to her; and her will is,
- it should be so return’d. If it be worth stooping for, there
- it lies, in your eye; if not, be it his that finds it.
- Exit.
Viola
14 - 38- I left no ring with her. What means this lady?
- Fortune forbid my outside have not charm’d her!
- She made good view of me; indeed so much
- That methought her eyes had lost her tongue,
- For she did speak in starts distractedly.
- She loves me sure, the cunning of her passion
- Invites me in this churlish messenger.
- None of my lord’s ring? Why, he sent her none.
- I am the man! If it be so, as ’tis,
- Poor lady, she were better love a dream.
- Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness
- Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.
- How easy is it for the proper-false
- In women’s waxen hearts to set their forms!
- Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we,
- For such as we are made of, such we be.
- How will this fadge? My master loves her dearly,
- And I (poor monster) fond as much on him;
- And she (mistaken) seems to dote on me.
- What will become of this? As I am man,
- My state is desperate for my master’s love;
- As I am woman (now alas the day!),
- What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe!
- O time, thou must untangle this, not I,
- It is too hard a knot for me t’ untie.
- Exit.