SCENE VI.

_A Street before_ OLIVIA'S _House_.

_Enter_ VIOLA, _and_ MALVOLIO _following_.

_Mal._ Sir, sir,--young gentleman: Were not you even now with the Countess Olivia?

_Vio._ Even now, sir.

_Mal._ She returns this ring to you, sir; 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 returned.--[_Throws the ring on the ground._] If it be worth stooping for, there it lies in your eye; if not, be it his that finds it. [_Exit_ MALVOLIO.

_Vio._ [_Takes up the ring._] 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, sure, methought, her eyes had lost 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 entangle this, not I; It is too hard a knot for me to untie. [_Exit._

ACT THE SECOND.