Act II.
Scene II.
Scene II.—A Street.
Enter VIOLA; MALVOLIO following.
Mal. Were not you even now with the
Countess Olivia?
Vio. Even now, sir: on a moderate pace I
have since arrived but hither.
Mal. She returns this ring to you, sir: you
might have saved 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.
Vio. She took the ring of me; I'll none of it.
Mal. Come, sir, you peevishly threw it to
her; and her will is it should be so returned:
if it be worth stooping for, there it lies in your
eye; if not, be it his that finds it. [Exit.
Vio. I left no ring with her; what means
this lady?
Fortune forbid my outside hath not charm'd
her!
She made good view of me; indeed, so much,
That sure 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 to untie. [Exit.
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