Scene
SCENE, Olivia's garden.
Enter Viola and Clown.
Viola.
Save thee, friend, and thy musick: dost thou
live by the tabor?
Clo.
No, Sir, I live by the church.
Vio.
Art thou a churchman?
Clo.
No such matter, Sir, I do live by the church:
for I do live at my house, and my house doth stand
by the church.
Vio.
Art not thou the lady Olivia's fool?
Clo.
No indeed, Sir, the lady Olivia has no folly,
she will keep no fool, Sir, 'till she be married; and
fools are as like husbands, as pilchers are to herrings,
the husband's the bigger: I am indeed not her fool,
but her corrupter of words.
Vio.
I saw thee late at the duke Orsino's.
Clo.
Foolery, Sir, does walk about the orb, like the
sun; it shines every where.* note I would be sorry, Sir,
but the fool should be as oft with your master, as
with my mistress: I think I saw your wisdom there.
Vio.
Nay, an thou pass upon me, I'll no more
with thee. Hold, there's expences for thee.
[Gives him a piece of money.
Clo.
Now Jove, in his next commodity of hair,
send thee a beard!
Vio.
By my troth, I'll tell thee, I am almost sick
for one. Is thy lady within?
Clo.
Would not a pair of these have bred, Sir?
Vio.
Yes, being kept together, and put to use.
-- 350 --
Clo.
I would play lord Pandarus of Phrygia, Sir,
to bring a Cressida to this Troylus.
Vio.
I understand you, Sir, 'tis well begg'd.
Clo.
The matter I hope is not great, Sir; begging
but a beggar: Cressida was a beggar. My lady is
within, Sir. I will construe to her whence you come;
who you are, and what you would, is out of my
welkin; I might say element, but the word is overworn.
[Exit.
Vio.
This fellow is wise enough to play the fool,
And to do that well, craves a kind of wit.
John Bell [1774], Bell's Edition of Shakespeare's Plays, As they are now performed at the Theatres Royal in London; Regulated from the Prompt Books of each House By Permission; with Notes Critical and Illustrative; By the Authors of the Dramatic Censor (Printed for John Bell... and C. Etherington [etc.], York) [word count] [S10401].
