Mal.

Young gentleman, were you not ev'n now with the countess Olivia?

Vio.

Even now, Sir, on a moderate pace I have since arriv'd but hither.

Mal.

She returns this ring to you, Sir; for being your lord's, she'll none of it. 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 return'd: if it be worth stooping for, there it lies in your eye; if not, be it his that finds it.

Vio.
None of my lord's ring! why, he sent her none,
I left no ring with her; what means this lady?
Fortune forbid my outside should have charm'd her!
She made good view of me, indeed so much,
That sure methought her eyes did let 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.
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'unty. [Exit.

Previous section

Next section