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No Fear Shakespheare

Twelfth Night

William Shakespeare

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Act 1, Scene 5

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Enter MARIA and the FOOL
MARIA and the FOOL enter.



MARIA
Nay, either tell me where thou hast been, or I will not open
my lips so wide as a bristle may enter in way of thy excuse.
My lady will hang thee for thy absence.
 MARIA
No. Either tell me where you’ve been, or I won’t make any excuses for you to Lady Olivia. Lady Olivia will have you executed for not showing up.


5		 FOOL
Let her hang me. He that is well hanged in this world needs
to fear no colors.
 FOOL
So let her execute me. Anyone who’s executed doesn’t have to be afraid of anything he sees.

MARIA
Make that good.
 MARIA
How do you know?

FOOL
He shall see none to fear.
 FOOL
Well, he’ll be dead, so he won’t see anything.


MARIA
A good lenten answer. I can tell thee where that saying was
born, of “I fear no colors.”
 MARIA
That’s a lame answer. By the way, I know where you get all your brave talk about not being afraid of anything.

10		 FOOL
Where, good Mistress Mary?
 FOOL
Where, good Miss Mary?


MARIA
In the wars. And that may you be bold to say in your
foolery.
 MARIA
From soldiers. But you’ll never see the front lines. It’s easy for you to talk about bravery, working as a fool in this palace.


FOOL
Well, God give them wisdom that have it. And those that
are fools, let them use their talents.
 FOOL
Well, we all have our special gifts. Some people are born wise; those of us who were meant to be fools should do what they do best.

15
 MARIA
Yet you will be hanged for being so long absent. Or to be
turned away, is not that as good as a hanging to you?
 MARIA
But still, she’s going to kill you for being gone so long. Or at least fire you. And wouldn’t that be as bad for you as being killed?
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