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.

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.

Clo.

You have said, Sir: to see this age! a sentence is but a chev'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 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 loath 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.

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.

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 mens folly fall'n, quite taints their wit.

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