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Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
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SCENE I. Olivia's Garden. Enter Viola, and Clown.

Viola.

Save thee, Friend, and thy musick: dost thou live by thy 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.

So thou may'st say, the King lyes by a Beggar, if a Beggar dwell near him: or the Church stands by thy Tabor, if thy Tabor stand by the Church.

-- 162 --

Clo.

You have said, Sir: to see this age!—A sentence is but, a 1 notechev'ril glove to a good wit; how quickly the wrong side may be turned outward?

Vio.

Nay, that's certain; they, that dally nicely with words, may quickly make them wanton.

Clo.

I would therefore, my Sister had had no Name, Sir.

Vio.

Why, Man?

Clo.

Why, Sir, her Name's a word; and to dally with that word, might make my Sister wanton; but, indeed, words are very rascals, since bonds disgrac'd them.

Vio.

Thy reason, Man?

Clo.

Troth, Sir, I can yield you none without words; and words are grown so false, I am loth to prove reason with them.

Vio.

I warrant, thou art a merry Fellow, and carest for nothing.

Clo.

Not so, Sir, I do care for something; but, in my conscience, Sir, I do not care for you: if that be to care for nothing, Sir, I would, it would make you invisible.

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. 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.

-- 163 --

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, though I would not have it grow on my chin. Is thy lady within?

Clo.

Would not a pair of these have bred, Sir?

Vio.

Yes, being kept together, and put to use.

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 conster to them whence you come; who you are, and what you would, is out of my welkin; I might say, element; but the word is over-worn.

[Exit.

Vio.
This fellow is wise enough to play the fool,
And, to do that well, craves a kind of wit:
He must observe their mood on whom he jests,
The quality of the persons, and the time;
And, like the haggard, check at every feather
That comes before his eye. This is a practice,
As full of labour as a wise-man's art:
For folly, that he wisely shews, is fit;
But wise men's folly-fall'n, quite taints their wit.

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Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
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