d in the "Historie of Apolonius and Silla"
as told by Barnabe Riche in the book _Riche his Farewell to
Militarie Profession_. Riche took the tale from Bandello's Italian,
or from de Belleforest's French translation from it. Three
sixteenth-century Italian plays are based on this fable. All of
these sources may have been known to Shakespeare.

The sub-plot, and the characters contained in it, seem to be
original creations.

_The Fable._ Viola, who thinks that she has lost her brother
Sebastian by shipwreck, disguises herself as a boy, and calls
herself Cesario. She takes service with the Duke Orsino, who is in
love with the lady Olivia. She carries love messages from the Duke
to Olivia.

Olivia, who is in mourning for her brother, refuses the Duke's
suit, but falls in love with Cesario.

In her house is Malvolio, the steward, who reproves her uncle, Sir
Toby Belch, for rioting at night with trivial companions. The
trivial companions forge a letter, which causes Malvolio to think
that his mistress is in love with him. The thought makes his
behaviour so strange that he is locked up as a madman.

Sir Toby Belch finds further solace for life in making his gull,
Sir Andrew, challenge Cesario to a duel. The duel is made dangerous
by the sudden appearance of Sebastian, who is mistaken for Cesario.
He beats Sir Andrew and Sir Toby, and encounters the lady Olivia.
Olivia woos him as she has wooed Cesario, but with better fortune.

They are married. The Duke marries Viola. Malvolio is released from
prison. Sir Toby marries Maria, Olivia's waiting-woman. Sir Andrew
is driven out like a plucked pigeon. Malvolio, unappeased by his
release, vows to be revenged for the mock put upon him.

This is the happiest and one of the loveliest of all the Shakespearean
plays. It is the best English comedy. The great mind that mixed a
tragedy of intellect with a tragedy of stupidity, here mixes mirth with
romantic beauty. The play is so mixed with beauty that one can see it
played night after night, week after week, without weariness, even in a
London theatre.

The play presents images of self-deception, or delusional
sentimentality, by means of a romantic fable and a vigorous fable. It
shows us three souls suffering from the kind of sickly vanity that feeds
on day-dreams. Orsino is in an unreal mood