ving that she was mistress of a fine house, and
that she ordered her affairs and seemed to govern her family discreetly,
and that in all but her sudden love for him she appeared in the full
possession of her reason, he well approved of the courtship; and Olivia
finding Cesario in this good humour, and fearing he might change his
mind, proposed that, as she had a priest in the house, they should be
instantly married. Sebastian assented to this proposal; and when the
marriage ceremony was over, he left his lady for a short time, intending
to go and tell his friend Antonio the good fortune that he had met with.
In the meantime Orsino came to visit Olivia: and at the moment he
arrived before Olivia's house, the officers of justice brought their
prisoner, Antonio, before the duke. Viola was with Orsino, her master;
and when Antonio saw Viola, whom he still imagined to be Sebastian, he
told the duke in what manner he had rescued this youth from the perils
of the sea; and after fully relating all the kindness he had really
shown to Sebastian, he ended his complaint with saying, that for three
months, both day and night, this ungrateful youth had been with him. But
now the Lady Olivia coming forth from her house, the duke could no
longer attend to Antonio's story; and he said, "Here comes the countess:
now Heaven walks on earth! but for thee, fellow, thy words are madness.
Three months has this youth attended on me:" and then he ordered Antonio
to be taken aside. But Orsino's heavenly countess soon gave the duke
cause to accuse Cesario as much of ingratitude as Antonio had done, for
all the words he could hear Olivia speak were words of kindness to
Cesario: and when he found his page had obtained this high place in
Olivia's favour, he threatened him with all the terrors of his just
revenge; and as he was going to depart, he called Viola to follow him,
saying, "Come, boy, with me. My thoughts are ripe for mischief." Though
it seemed in his jealous rage he was going to doom Viola to instant
death, yet her love made her no longer a coward, and she said she would
most joyfully suffer death to give her master ease. But Olivia would not
so lose her husband, and she cried, "Where goes my Cesario?" Viola
replied, "After him I love more than my life." Olivia, however,
prevented their departure by loudly proclaiming that Cesario was her
husband, and sent for the priest, who declared that not two hours had
passed since he had married the La