Twelfth Night

Act 4, Scene 1

Enter SEBASTIAN and FOOL

SEBASTIAN and the FOOL enter.

FOOL

Will you make me believe that I am not sent for you?

FOOL

Are you trying to tell me that I wasn’t sent to get you?

SEBASTIAN

Go to, go to, thou art a foolish fellow. Let me be clear of thee.

SEBASTIAN

Oh, who cares, you’re acting like a fool. Leave me alone.

FOOL

Well held out, i’ faith. No, I do not know you, nor I am not sent to you by my lady, to bid you come speak with her, nor your name is not Master Cesario, nor this is not my nose neither. Nothing that is so is so.

FOOL

Good for you, holding out on me like this! No, I don’t know you, and my lady didn’t send me to get you, and I’m not supposed to tell you to come speak with her, and your name is not Master Cesario, and this is not my nose, either. Nothing is what it is.

SEBASTIAN

I prithee, vent thy folly somewhere else. Thou know’st not me.

SEBASTIAN

Oh please, go somewhere else to blab your nonsense. You don’t know me.

FOOL

Vent my folly? He has heard that word of some great man and now applies it to a fool. Vent my folly! I am afraid this great lubber, the world, will prove a cockney. I prithee now, ungird thy strangeness and tell me what I shall vent to my lady. Shall I vent to her that thou art coming?

FOOL

Blab my nonsense? He must’ve heard that phrase describing some great man and now he’s using it on a jester. Blab my nonsense! What an idiotic place this world is. Now please stop being so strange and tell me what exactly I should blab to my lady. Should I blab to her that you’re coming?

SEBASTIAN

I prithee, foolish Greek, depart from me. There’s money for thee. (giving money) If you tarry longer, I shall give worse payment.

SEBASTIAN

Please, fool, go away. Here’s money for you. (giving him money) If you stay any longer, I’ll give you something worse.

FOOL

By my troth, thou hast an open hand. These wise men that give fools money get themselves a good report—after fourteen years’ purchase.

FOOL

Well, well. You’re a generous man. Wise men who give fools money might get a good reputation—if they keep up regular payments for fourteen years.

Enter SIR ANDREW, SIR TOBY BELCH, and FABIAN

SIR ANDREW, SIR TOBY BELCH, and FABIAN enter.

SIR ANDREW

(to SEBASTIAN) Now, sir, have I met you again? There’s for you.

SIR ANDREW

Well, sir, we meet again? Take that.

SIR ANDREW strikes SEBASTIAN

SIR ANDREW hits SEBASTIAN.

SEBASTIAN

(returning the blow) Why, there’s for thee, and there, and there. Are all the people mad?

SEBASTIAN

(returning the blow) Well, then, take that, and that, and that. Is everyone here insane?

SIR TOBY BELCH

Hold, sir, or I’ll throw your dagger o’er the house.

SIR TOBY BELCH

Stop right now or I’ll throw your dagger over the roof.

FOOL

(aside) This will I tell my lady straight. I would not be in some of your coats for two pence.

FOOL

(to himself) I’m going to tell my lady about this right away. I wouldn’t be in any of your shoes if you paid me.

Exit

FOOL exits.

SIR TOBY BELCH

(seizing SEBASTIAN) Come on, sir, hold!

SIR TOBY BELCH

(grabbing SEBASTIAN) Come on, sir, stop!

SIR ANDREW

Nay, let him alone. I’ll go another way to work with him. I’ll have an action of battery against him if there be any law in Illyria. Though I struck him first, yet it’s no matter for that.

SIR ANDREW

No, leave him alone. I’ll get back at him another way. I’ll sue him for assault and battery, if there’s any justice in Illyria. It doesn’t matter that I hit him first.

SEBASTIAN

(to SIR TOBY BELCH) Let go thy hand.

SEBASTIAN

(to SIR TOBY BELCH) Let me go.

SIR TOBY BELCH

Come, sir, I will not let you go. Come, my young soldier, put up your iron. You are well fleshed. Come on.

SIR TOBY BELCH

No, sir, I won’t let you go. Come on, put your sword away, my little soldier. You’re awfully eager to fight. Come on.

SEBASTIAN

I will be free from thee.

SEBASTIAN

I’ll get free of you.

SEBASTIAN pulls free and draws his sword

SEBASTIAN pulls free and draws his sword.

What wouldst thou now? If thou darest tempt me further, draw thy sword.

What are you going to do now? If you insist on trying my patience any further, then take out your sword right now.

SIR TOBY BELCH

What, what? Nay, then I must have an ounce or two of this malapert blood from you.

SIR TOBY BELCH

What? No. Because then I’d have to shed an ounce or two of your impudent blood.

SIR TOBY BELCH draws his sword Enter OLIVIA

SIR TOBY BELCH draws his sword. OLIVIA enters.

OLIVIA

Hold, Toby! On thy life I charge thee, hold!

OLIVIA

Stop, Sir Toby! I order you to stop!

SIR TOBY BELCH

Madam!

SIR TOBY BELCH

Madam!

OLIVIA

Will it be ever thus? Ungracious wretch,

Fit for the mountains and the barbarous caves,

Where manners ne’er were preach’d! Out of my sight!—

Be not offended, dear Cesario.—

Rudesby, be gone!

OLIVIA

Are you always going to be like this? You’re an ungrateful slob who’s only fit to live in the mountains, in caves far from civilized people where you won’t ever need good manners! Get out of my sight!—Dear Cesario, please don’t be offended.—Get out of here, you barbarian!

Exeunt SIR TOBY BELCH, SIR ANDREW, and FABIAN

SIR TOBY BELCH, SIR ANDREW, and FABIAN exit.

I prithee, gentle friend,

Let thy fair wisdom, not thy passion, sway

In this uncivil and unjust extent

Against thy peace. Go with me to my house,

And hear thou there how many fruitless pranks

This ruffian hath botched up, that thou thereby

Mayst smile at this. Thou shalt not choose but go.

Do not deny. Beshrew his soul for me!

He started one poor heart of mine in thee.

Oh, my dear friend, please don’t get too upset by these rude people who bothered you. Come with me to my house. I’ll tell you about all the pointless, clumsy pranks this thug uncle of mine has come up with, so that you can laugh at this one. You have to come with me. Please don’t say no. Damn that Toby! He made my heart leap for you.

SEBASTIAN

(aside) What relish is in this? How runs the stream?

Or I am mad, or else this is a dream.

Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep.

If it be thus to dream, still let me sleep!

SEBASTIAN

(to himself) What does this mean? Where is this all going? Either I’m insane or this is a dream. I hope these delusions continue. If this is a dream, let me keep on sleeping!

OLIVIA

Nay, come, I prithee. Would thou’dst be ruled by me!

OLIVIA

Come with me, please. I wish you’d do what I ask!

SEBASTIAN

Madam, I will.

SEBASTIAN

Madam, I will.

OLIVIA

Oh, say so, and so be!

OLIVIA

Oh, say it, and mean it!

Exeunt

They exit.