“This comes with seeking you,” said Antonio to Viola, whom he took for
Sebastian; “but there is no remedy, I shall answer it. What will you
do now that my necessity makes me ask you for my purse? I am much more
grieved for what I am prevented doing for you than for anything that
befalls myself. You stand amazed, but be comforted.”
“Come, sir, away,” said one of the officers, as Viola stood staring in
astonishment at Antonio. Of course she did not know in the least what
he meant, for she had never seen him before in her life.
“I must entreat of you some of that money,” pleaded Antonio.
“What money, sir?” asked Viola. “Because of the kindness you have
shown me here, and partly prompted by your present trouble, I will
lend you something out of my own very small means; I have not much. I
will divide with you what I have. Hold! there is half my purse.”
Antonio was deeply wounded by such apparent ingratitude from one
for whom he had done so much. He was reluctant to proclaim his
own good deeds, but when Viola persisted in declaring that she
did not know him, he could not help relating how he had saved the
youth from shipwreck, and what devotion he had lavished on him
afterwards. In telling this, he called him by his name, as he
thought--“Sebastian”--but he was hurried away by the officers before
Viola had time to answer.
This name “Sebastian” filled her with sudden hope; she knew how
closely she resembled her brother, and she had imitated the same
fashion, colour, and ornament which he was accustomed to wear.
Perhaps, then, the tempests had been kind and Sebastian was really
saved.
“A very dishonest, paltry boy, and more a coward than a hare,” was Sir
Toby’s disgusted comment, as Viola walked off. “His dishonesty appears
in leaving his friend here in necessity, and denying him; and for his
cowardice, ask Fabian.”
“A coward--a most devout coward,” agreed Fabian.
“Ha, I’ll after him again, and beat him,” said the valiant Sir Andrew.
“Do, cuff him soundly, but never draw your sword,” said Sir Toby.
“If I do not----” bragged Sir Andrew, swaggering away.
“Come, let us see what happens,” said Fabian.
“I dare lay any money, it will be nothing, after all,” said Sir Toby
shrewdly.
Yellow Stockings
Olivia was very sad when Viola, or the young page Cesario, as she
thought her, went away saying that no woman should ever win his heart;
and feeling that Malvolio’s grave dignity just suited her present
mood, she asked for her steward.
“He is coming, madam, but in very strange manner,” said the naughty
Maria. “He is surely possessed, madam.”
“Why, what is the matter? Doth he rave?”
“No, madam, he does nothing but smile. Your ladyship were best to have
some guard about you if he come; for, sure, the man has something
wrong with his wits.”
“Go, call him hither,” said Olivia.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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