Twelfth Night

by William Shakespeare

Act III, Scene IV

Olivia's garden.

Enter OLIVIA and MARIA

I have sent after him: he says he'll come;
How shall I feast him? what bestow of him?
For youth is bought more oft than begg'd or borrow'd.
I speak too loud.
Where is Malvolio? he is sad and civil,
And suits well for a servant with my fortunes:
Where is Malvolio?

He's coming, madam; but in very strange manner. He
is, sure, possessed, madam.

Why, what's the matter? does he rave?

No. madam, he does nothing but smile: your
ladyship were best to have some guard about you, if
he come; for, sure, the man is tainted in's wits.

Go call him hither.

Exit MARIA

I am as mad as he,
If sad and merry madness equal be.

Re-enter MARIA, with MALVOLIO

How now, Malvolio!

Sweet lady, ho, ho.

Smilest thou?
I sent for thee upon a sad occasion.

Sad, lady! I could be sad: this does make some
obstruction in the blood, this cross-gartering; but
what of that? if it please the eye of one, it is
with me as the very true sonnet is, 'Please one, and
please all.'

Why, how dost thou, man? what is the matter with thee?

Not black in my mind, though yellow in my legs. It
did come to his hands, and commands shall be
executed: I think we do know the sweet Roman hand.

Wilt thou go to bed, Malvolio?

To bed! ay, sweet-heart, and I'll come to thee.

God comfort thee! Why dost thou smile so and kiss
thy hand so oft?

How do you, Malvolio?

At your request! yes; nightingales answer daws.

Why appear you with this ridiculous boldness before my lady?

'Be not afraid of greatness:' 'twas well writ.

What meanest thou by that, Malvolio?

'Some are born great,'—

Ha!

'Some achieve greatness,'—

What sayest thou?

'And some have greatness thrust upon them.'

Heaven restore thee!

'Remember who commended thy yellow stocking s,'—

Thy yellow stockings!

'And wished to see thee cross-gartered.'

Cross-gartered!

'Go to thou art made, if thou desirest to be so;'—

Am I made?

'If not, let me see thee a servant still.'

Why, this is very midsummer madness.

Enter Servant

Madam, the young gentleman of the Count Orsino's is
returned: I could hardly entreat him back: he
attends your ladyship's pleasure.

I'll come to him.

Exit Servant

Good Maria, let this fellow be looked to. Where's
my cousin Toby? Let some of my people have a special
care of him: I would not have him miscarry for the
half of my dowry.

Exeunt OLIVIA and MARIA

O, ho! do you come near me now? no worse man than
Sir Toby to look to me! This concurs directly with
the letter: she sends him on purpose, that I may
appear stubborn to him; for she incites me to that
in the letter. 'Cast thy humble slough,' says she;
'be opposite with a kinsman, surly with servants;
let thy tongue tang with arguments of state; put
thyself into the trick of singularity;' and
consequently sets down the manner how; as, a sad
face, a reverend carriage, a slow tongue, in the
habit of some sir of note, and so forth. I have
limed her; but it is Jove's doing, and Jove make me
thankful! And when she went away now, 'Let this
fellow be looked to:' fellow! not Malvolio, nor
after my degree, but fellow. Why, every thing
adheres together, that no dram of a scruple, no
scruple of a scruple, no obstacle, no incredulous
or unsafe circumstance—What can be said? Nothing
that can be can come between me and the full
prospect of my hopes. Well, Jove, not I, is the
doer of this, and he is to be thanked.

Re-enter MARIA, with SIR TOBY BELCH and FABIAN

Which way is he, in the name of sanctity? If all
the devils of hell be drawn in little, and Legion
himself possessed him, yet I'll speak to him.

Here he is, here he is. How is't with you, sir?
how is't with you, man?

Go off; I discard you: let me enjoy my private: go
off.

Lo, how hollow the fiend speaks within him! did not
I tell you? Sir Toby, my lady prays you to have a
care of him.

Ah, ha! does she so?

Go to, go to; peace, peace; we must deal gently
with him: let me alone. How do you, Malvolio? how
is't with you? What, man! defy the devil:
consider, he's an enemy to mankind.

Do you know what you say?

La you, an you speak ill of the devil, how he takes
it at heart! Pray God, he be not bewitched!

Carry his water to the wise woman.

Marry, and it shall be done to-morrow morning, if I
live. My lady would not lose him for more than I'll say.

How now, mistress!

O Lord!

Prithee, hold thy peace; this is not the way: do
you not see you move him? let me alone with him.

No way but gentleness; gently, gently: the fiend is
rough, and will not be roughly used.

Why, how now, my bawcock! how dost thou, chuck?

Sir!

Ay, Biddy, come with me. What, man! 'tis not for
gravity to play at cherry-pit with Satan: hang
him, foul collier!

Get him to say his prayers, good Sir Toby, get him to pray.

My prayers, minx!

No, I warrant you, he will not hear of godliness.

Go, hang yourselves all! you are idle shallow
things: I am not of your element: you shall know
more hereafter.

Exit

Is't possible?

If this were played upon a stage now, I could
condemn it as an improbable fiction.

His very genius hath taken the infection of the device, man.

Nay, pursue him now, lest the device take air and taint.

Why, we shall make him mad indeed.

The house will be the quieter.

Come, we'll have him in a dark room and bound. My
niece is already in the belief that he's mad: we
may carry it thus, for our pleasure and his penance,
till our very pastime, tired out of breath, prompt
us to have mercy on him: at which time we will
bring the device to the bar and crown thee for a
finder of madmen. But see, but see.

Enter SIR ANDREW

More matter for a May morning.

Here's the challenge, read it: warrant there's
vinegar and pepper in't.

Is't so saucy?

Ay, is't, I warrant him: do but read.

Give me.

Reads

'Youth, whatsoever thou art, thou art but a scurvy fellow.'

Good, and valiant.

[Reads] 'Wonder not, nor admire not in thy mind,
why I do call thee so, for I will show thee no reason for't.'

A good note; that keeps you from the blow of the law.

[Reads] 'Thou comest to the lady Olivia, and in my
sight she uses thee kindly: but thou liest in thy
throat; that is not the matter I challenge thee for.'

Very brief, and to exceeding good sense—less.

[Reads] 'I will waylay thee going home; where if it
be thy chance to kill me,'—

Good.

[Reads] 'Thou killest me like a rogue and a villain.'

Still you keep o' the windy side of the law: good.

[Reads] 'Fare thee well; and God have mercy upon
one of our souls! He may have mercy upon mine; but
my hope is better, and so look to thyself. Thy
friend, as thou usest him, and thy sworn enemy,
ANDREW AGUECHEEK.'
If this letter move him not, his legs cannot:
I'll give't him.

You may have very fit occasion for't: he is now in
some commerce with my lady, and will by and by depart.

Go, Sir Andrew: scout me for him at the corner of the
orchard like a bum-baily: so soon as ever thou seest
him, draw; and, as thou drawest swear horrible; for
it comes to pass oft that a terrible oath, with a
swaggering accent sharply twanged off, gives manhood
more approbation than ever proof itself would have
earned him. Away!

Nay, let me alone for swearing.

Exit

Now will not I deliver his letter: for the behavior
of the young gentleman gives him out to be of good
capacity and breeding; his employment between his
lord and my niece confirms no less: therefore this
letter, being so excellently ignorant, will breed no
terror in the youth: he will find it comes from a
clodpole. But, sir, I will deliver his challenge by
word of mouth; set upon Aguecheek a notable report
of valour; and drive the gentleman, as I know his
youth will aptly receive it, into a most hideous
opinion of his rage, skill, fury and impetuosity.
This will so fright them both that they will kill
one another by the look, like cockatrices.

Re-enter OLIVIA, with VIOLA

Here he comes with your niece: give them way till
he take leave, and presently after him.

I will meditate the while upon some horrid message
for a challenge.

Exeunt SIR TOBY BELCH, FABIAN, and MARIA

I have said too much unto a heart of stone
And laid mine honour too unchary out:
There's something in me that reproves my fault;
But such a headstrong potent fault it is,
That it but mocks reproof.

With the same 'havior that your passion bears
Goes on my master's grief.

Here, wear this jewel for me, 'tis my picture;
Refuse it not; it hath no tongue to vex you;
And I beseech you come again to-morrow.
What shall you ask of me that I'll deny,
That honour saved may upon asking give?

Nothing but this; your true love for my master.

How with mine honour may I give him that
Which I have given to you?

I will acquit you.

Well, come again to-morrow: fare thee well:
A fiend like thee might bear my soul to hell.

Exit

Re-enter SIR TOBY BELCH and FABIAN

Gentleman, God save thee.

And you, sir.

That defence thou hast, betake thee to't: of what
nature the wrongs are thou hast done him, I know
not; but thy intercepter, full of despite, bloody as
the hunter, attends thee at the orchard-end:
dismount thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for
thy assailant is quick, skilful and deadly.

You mistake, sir; I am sure no man hath any quarrel
to me: my remembrance is very free and clear from
any image of offence done to any man.

You'll find it otherwise, I assure you: therefore,
if you hold your life at any price, betake you to
your guard; for your opposite hath in him what
youth, strength, skill and wrath can furnish man withal.

I pray you, sir, what is he?

He is knight, dubbed with unhatched rapier and on
carpet consideration; but he is a devil in private
brawl: souls and bodies hath he divorced three; and
his incensement at this moment is so implacable,
that satisfaction can be none but by pangs of death
and sepulchre. Hob, nob, is his word; give't or take't.

I will return again into the house and desire some
conduct of the lady. I am no fighter. I have heard
of some kind of men that put quarrels purposely on
others, to taste their valour: belike this is a man
of that quirk.

Sir, no; his indignation derives itself out of a
very competent injury: therefore, get you on and
give him his desire. Back you shall not to the
house, unless you undertake that with me which with
as much safety you might answer him: therefore, on,
or strip your sword stark naked; for meddle you
must, that's certain, or forswear to wear iron about you.

This is as uncivil as strange. I beseech you, do me
this courteous office, as to know of the knight what
my offence to him is: it is something of my
negligence, nothing of my purpose.

I will do so. Signior Fabian, stay you by this
gentleman till my return.

Exit

Pray you, sir, do you know of this matter?

I know the knight is incensed against you, even to a
mortal arbitrement; but nothing of the circumstance more.

I beseech you, what manner of man is he?

Nothing of that wonderful promise, to read him by
his form, as you are like to find him in the proof
of his valour. He is, indeed, sir, the most skilful,
bloody and fatal opposite that you could possibly
have found in any part of Illyria. Will you walk
towards him? I will make your peace with him if I
can.

I shall be much bound to you for't: I am one that
had rather go with sir priest than sir knight: I
care not who knows so much of my mettle.

Exeunt

Re-enter SIR TOBY BELCH, with SIR ANDREW

Why, man, he's a very devil; I have not seen such a
firago. I had a pass with him, rapier, scabbard and
all, and he gives me the stuck in with such a mortal
motion, that it is inevitable; and on the answer, he
pays you as surely as your feet hit the ground they
step on. They say he has been fencer to the Sophy.

Pox on't, I'll not meddle with him.

Ay, but he will not now be pacified: Fabian can
scarce hold him yonder.

Plague on't, an I thought he had been valiant and so
cunning in fence, I'ld have seen him damned ere I'ld
have challenged him. Let him let the matter slip,
and I'll give him my horse, grey Capilet.

I'll make the motion: stand here, make a good show
on't: this shall end without the perdition of souls.

Aside

Marry, I'll ride your horse as well as I ride you.

Re-enter FABIAN and VIOLA

To FABIAN

I have his horse to take up the quarrel:
I have persuaded him the youth's a devil.

He is as horribly conceited of him; and pants and
looks pale, as if a bear were at his heels.

[To VIOLA] There's no remedy, sir; he will fight
with you for's oath sake: marry, he hath better
bethought him of his quarrel, and he finds that now
scarce to be worth talking of: therefore draw, for
the supportance of his vow; he protests he will not hurt you.

[Aside] Pray God defend me! A little thing would
make me tell them how much I lack of a man.

Give ground, if you see him furious.

Come, Sir Andrew, there's no remedy; the gentleman
will, for his honour's sake, have one bout with you;
he cannot by the duello avoid it: but he has
promised me, as he is a gentleman and a soldier, he
will not hurt you. Come on; to't.

Pray God, he keep his oath!

I do assure you, 'tis against my will.

They draw

Enter ANTONIO

Put up your sword. If this young gentleman
Have done offence, I take the fault on me:
If you offend him, I for him defy you.

You, sir! why, what are you?

One, sir, that for his love dares yet do more
Than you have heard him brag to you he will.

Nay, if you be an undertaker, I am for you.

They draw

Enter Officers

O good Sir Toby, hold! here come the officers.

I'll be with you anon.

Pray, sir, put your sword up, if you please.

Marry, will I, sir; and, for that I promised you,
I'll be as good as my word: he will bear you easily
and reins well.

This is the man; do thy office.

Antonio, I arrest thee at the suit of Count Orsino.

You do mistake me, sir.

No, sir, no jot; I know your favour well,
Though now you have no sea-cap on your head.
Take him away: he knows I know him well.

I must obey.

To VIOLA

This comes with seeking you:
But there's no remedy; I shall answer it.
What will you do, now my necessity
Makes me to ask you for my purse? It grieves me
Much more for what I cannot do for you
Than what befalls myself. You stand amazed;
But be of comfort.

Come, sir, away.

I must entreat of you some of that money.

What money, sir?
For the fair kindness you have show'd me here,
And, part, being prompted by your present trouble,
Out of my lean and low ability
I'll lend you something: my having is not much;
I'll make division of my present with you:
Hold, there's half my coffer.

Will you deny me now?
Is't possible that my deserts to you
Can lack persuasion? Do not tempt my misery,
Lest that it make me so unsound a man
As to upbraid you with those kindnesses
That I have done for you.

I know of none;
Nor know I you by voice or any feature:
I hate ingratitude more in a man
Than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness,
Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption
Inhabits our frail blood.

O heavens themselves!

Come, sir, I pray you, go.

Let me speak a little. This youth that you see here
I snatch'd one half out of the jaws of death,
Relieved him with such sanctity of love,
And to his image, which methought did promise
Most venerable worth, did I devotion.

What's that to us? The time goes by: away!

But O how vile an idol proves this god
Thou hast, Sebastian, done good feature shame.
In nature there's no blemish but the mind;
None can be call'd deform'd but the unkind:
Virtue is beauty, but the beauteous evil
Are empty trunks o'erflourish'd by the devil.

The man grows mad: away with him! Come, come, sir.

Lead me on.

Exit with Officers

Methinks his words do from such passion fly,
That he believes himself: so do not I.
Prove true, imagination, O, prove true,
That I, dear brother, be now ta'en for you!

Come hither, knight; come hither, Fabian: we'll
whisper o'er a couplet or two of most sage saws.

He named Sebastian: I my brother know
Yet living in my glass; even such and so
In favour was my brother, and he went
Still in this fashion, colour, ornament,
For him I imitate: O, if it prove,
Tempests are kind and salt waves fresh in love.

Exit

A very dishonest paltry boy, and more a coward than
a hare: his dishonesty appears in leaving his
friend here in necessity and denying him; and for
his cowardship, ask Fabian.

A coward, a most devout coward, religious in it.

'Slid, I'll after him again and beat him.

Do; cuff him soundly, but never draw thy sword.

An I do not,—

Come, let's see the event.

I dare lay any money 'twill be nothing yet.

Exeunt

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