Twelfth Night: Act 4, Scene 1
Enter SEBASTIAN and Clown.
Clown
1
Will you make me believe that I am not sent
1. Will you: Are you trying to.
2
for you?
SEBASTIAN
3
Go to, go to, thou art a foolish fellow:
4
Let me be clear of thee.
4. clear: rid.
Clown
5
Well held out, i' faith! No, I do not know you;
5. Well held out: i.e.,way to hang in there (with the pretense that you don't know what I'm talking about).
6
nor I am not sent to you by my lady, to bid
7
you come speak with her; nor your name is not
8
Master Cesario; nor this is not my nose neither.
9
Nothing that is so is so.
SEBASTIAN
10
I prithee, vent thy folly somewhere else: Thou
10. vent: air, ventas in, "He's just venting."
11
know'st not me.
Clown
12
Vent my folly! he has heard that word of some
12. that word: i.e., vent. (It wasn't, and isn't, an unusual word, even though the Clown mocks it as too high-flown.)
13
great man and now applies it to a fool. Vent my
14
folly! I am afraid this great lubber, the world,
14. lubber: a big, clumsy, stupid fellow; especially one who lives in idleness; a lout.
15
will prove a cockney. I prithee now, ungird thy
16
strangeness and tell me what I shall vent to my
15-16. ungird thy strangeness: Mockingly fancy for "quit pretending to be a stranger.
17
lady: shall I vent to her that thou art coming?
SEBASTIAN
18
I prithee, foolish Greek, depart from me: There's
18. Greek: jester.
19
money for thee: if you tarry longer, I shall give
20
worse payment.
20. worse payment: Like maybe a whack upside the head.
Clown
21
By my troth, thou hast an open hand. These wise
21. hast an open hand: are generous. (The Clown is probably being sarcastic.)
22
men that give fools money get themselves a good
23
report after fourteen years' purchase.
23. report: reputation.
fourteen years' purchase:
Enter [SIR] ANDREW, [SIR] TOBY [BELCH],
and FABIAN.
SIR ANDREW
24
Now, sir, have I met you again? [Hits Sebastian.]
25
There's for you.
SEBASTIAN
26
Why, [Hitting Sir Andrew.] there's for thee, and there,
27
and there. Are all the people mad? [Draws his dagger.]
SIR TOBY BELCH
28
Hold, sir, [Restrains Sebastian.] or I'll throw your dagger
28. Hold: Stop.
29
o'er the house.
Clown
30
This will I tell my lady straight: I would not be in some
30. straight: straightway, immediately.
31
of your coats for two pence.
30-31. be in some of your coats: i.e., be in the shoes of some of you. (Apparently the Clown knows that Olivia won't like anyone manhandling "Cesario.")
[Exit.]
SIR TOBY BELCH
32
Come on, sir; hold.
SIR ANDREW
33
Nay, let him alone: I'll go another way to work
34
with him; I'll have an action of battery against
33-34. go another way to work with him: i.e., get back at him another way. action of battery: lawsuit for assault and battery. 36. it's no matter for that: Of course Sir Andrew, the natural fool, is wrong; it would matter that he struck first.
35
him, if there be any law in Illyria: though I
36
struck him first, yet it's no matter for that.
SEBASTIAN
37
Let go thy hand.
SIR TOBY BELCH
38
Come, sir, I will not let you go. Come, my young
39
soldier, put up your iron: you are well fleshed.
39. you are well fleshed: To be "fleshed" is to have a taste of battle. Sir Toby seems to be saying that the young man, by striking Sir Andrew, has done enough fighting.
40
Come on.
SEBASTIAN
41
I will be free from thee. [Breaks free and draws
42
his sword.] What wouldst thou now? If thou darest
43
tempt me further, draw thy sword.
43. tempt me further: test me some more.
SIR TOBY BELCH
44
What, what? Nay, then I must have an ounce or two
44
of this malapert blood from you. [Draws his sword.]
44. malapert: impudent, insolent.
Enter OLIVIA.
OLIVIA
45
Hold, Toby; on thy life I charge thee, hold!
45. Hold: stop.
SIR TOBY BELCH
46
Madam
OLIVIA
47
Will it be ever thus? Ungracious wretch,
47. Ungracious: graceless, uncivilized.
48
Fit for the mountains and the barbarous caves,
49
Where manners ne'er were preach'd! out of my sight!
50
Be not offended, dear Cesario.
51
Rudesby, be gone!
51. Rudesby: ruffian.
[Exeunt SIR TOBY BELCH, SIR ANDREW,]
and FABIAN.]
51
I prithee, gentle friend,
52
Let thy fair wisdom, not thy passion, sway
52. sway: rule (your mind and emotions).
53
In this uncivil and thou unjust extent
53. unjust: unlawful. extent: outbreak of violence, attack.
54
Against thy peace. Go with me to my house,
55
And hear thou there how many fruitless pranks
55. fruitless pranks: pointless practical jokes.
56
This ruffian hath botch'd up, that thou thereby
56. botch'd up: patched together, clumsily contrived.
57
Mayst smile at this: thou shalt not choose but go:
57. this: i.e., what Sir Toby has just done to you.
58
Do not deny. Beshrew his soul for me,
58. Beshrew his soul for me: curse his soul for me.
59
He started one poor heart of mine in thee.
59. started: startled, terrified. 60. What relish is in this?: i.e., Something's odd in what she just said. What is it?. Or: either.
SEBASTIAN
60
What relish is in this? how runs the stream?
61
Or I am mad, or else this is a dream:
62
Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep;
62. fancy: imagination. Lethe: the river of forgetfulness.
63
If it be thus to dream, still let me sleep!
OLIVIA
64
Nay, come, I prithee; would thou'ldst be ruled
64
by me!
64. be ruled by me: take my advice.
SEBASTIAN
65
Madam, I will.
OLIVIA
65
O, say so, and so be!
65. and so be: (If "Cesario" is really ruled by her, he will return her love.)
Exeunt.