Enter Viola, Malvolio following. Mal. Were not you even now with the Countess Olivia? Vio. Even now, sir; on a moderate pace I have since arrived but hither. Mal. She returns this ring to you, sir: you might have 5 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 10 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 returned: if it be worth stooping for, there it lies in your eye; if not, be it his that finds it. [Exit. 15 Vio. I left no ring with her: what means this lady? Fortune forbid my outside have not charm'd her! She made good view of me; indeed, so much, That methought her eyes had lost her tongue, For she did speak in starts distractedly. 20 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. 25 Disguise, I see, thou art a wickedness, Wherein the pregnant enemy does much. How easy is it for the proper-false In women's waxen hearts to set their forms! Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we! 30 For such as we are made of, such we be. How will this fadge? my master loves her dearly; And I, poor monster, fond as much on him; And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me. What will become of this? As I am man, 35 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 to untie! [Exit.

LINENOTES:

Scene ii. Enter....] Enter V. and M. at severall doores. Ff.

[1] even, ev'n Ff. e'en Rowe.

[4] sir:] sir; for being your Lord's she'll none of it. Hanmer.

[9, 10] Receive it so] Receive it, sir Capell.

[11] the ring of me: I'll] the ring of me, Ile Ff (I'le F3 F4). the ring of me! I'll Malone (Anon. conj.). no ring of me; I'll Malone conj. this ring of me! She'll Id. conj.

[16] have not] should have Hanmer.

[18] That] F1. That sure F2 F3 F4. That oft] Jackson conj. That, as Anon. conj.

That ... her] Methought her eager Seymour conj.

had lost] did let Hanmer. had crost Warburton. had los'd Becket conj.

[22] None ... none.] This line is transposed by Hanmer to the beginning of the speech.

[23] I am the] I should be Hanmer.

man: if it be so, as 'tis,] man, if ... so, as tis, F1. man, if ... so as tis, F2 ('tis, F3 F4). man, if ... so: as 'tis, Hanmer. if it be so, (as, 'tis;) Theobald.

[27, 28] the proper-false ... their forms] thy purpose false ... thy forms Jackson conj.

[27] proper-false] Malone. proper false Ff.

[29] our] F2 F3 F4. O F1.

[30] made of, such] Rann (Tyrwhitt conj.). made, if such Ff. made, ev'n such Hanmer. See note (vi).

[32] monster] minister Hanmer.

[32, 33] as much on him; And] as much on him As Dyce conj.

[34] man] a man F3 F4.

[39] to untie] t'unty Ff.