Twelfth Night - Act 3, scene 4
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Twelfth Night - Act 3, scene 4Act 3, scene 4
Synopsis:
Malvolio, dressed ridiculously and smiling grotesquely, appears before an astonished Olivia. Thinking him insane, she puts him in the care of Sir Toby, who decides to treat him as a madman by having him bound and put in a dark room. Toby also decides to deliver Sir Andrew’s challenge to Cesario in person in order to force the two of them into a duel. Terrified, they prepare to fight. At that moment, Antonio enters, thinks that Cesario is Sebastian, and comes to his defense. Antonio is immediately arrested by Orsino’s officers. Since he is sure that Viola is Sebastian, Antonio is bitter about the apparent denial of their friendship. Viola is herself delighted by Antonio’s angry words because, since he called her Sebastian, there is hope that her brother may in fact be alive.
Enter Olivia and Maria.OLIVIA, ⌜aside⌝
1548 I have sent after him. He says he’ll come.
1549 How shall I feast him? What bestow of him?
1550 For youth is bought more oft than begged or
1551 borrowed.
1552 5 I speak too loud.—
1553 Where’s Malvolio? He is sad and civil
1554 And suits well for a servant with my fortunes.
1555 Where is Malvolio?
MARIA 1556 He’s coming, madam, but in very strange manner.
1557 10 He is sure possessed, madam.
OLIVIA 1558 Why, what’s the matter? Does he rave?
MARIA 1559 No, madam, he does nothing but smile. Your
1560 Ladyship were best to have some guard about you if
1561 he come, for sure the man is tainted in ’s wits.
OLIVIA
1562 15 Go call him hither. ⌜Maria exits.⌝ I am as mad as he,
1563 If sad and merry madness equal be.
1564 How now, Malvolio?
MALVOLIO 1565 Sweet lady, ho, ho!
OLIVIA 1566 Smil’st thou? I sent for thee upon a sad
1567 20 occasion.
MALVOLIO 1568 Sad, lady? I could be sad. This does make
1569 some obstruction in the blood, this cross-gartering,
1570 but what of that? If it please the eye of one, it is
1571 with me as the very true sonnet is: “Please one, and
1572 25 please all.”
⌜OLIVIA⌝ 1573 Why, how dost thou, man? What is the matter
1574 with thee?
MALVOLIO 1575 Not black in my mind, though yellow in my
1576 legs. It did come to his hands, and commands shall
1577 30 be executed. I think we do know the sweet Roman
1578 hand.
OLIVIA 1579 Wilt thou go to bed, Malvolio?
MALVOLIO 1580 To bed? “Ay, sweetheart, and I’ll come to
1581 thee.”
OLIVIA 1582 35God comfort thee! Why dost thou smile so, and
1583 kiss thy hand so oft?
MARIA 1584 How do you, Malvolio?
MALVOLIO 1585 At your request? Yes, nightingales answer
1586 daws!
MARIA 1587 40Why appear you with this ridiculous boldness
1588 before my lady?
MALVOLIO 1589 “Be not afraid of greatness.” ’Twas well
1590 writ.
OLIVIA 1591 What mean’st thou by that, Malvolio?
MALVOLIO 1592 45“Some are born great—”
OLIVIA 1593 Ha?
MALVOLIO 1594 “Some achieve greatness—”
OLIVIA 1595 What sayst thou?
MALVOLIO 1596 “And some have greatness thrust upon
1597 50 them.”
MALVOLIO 1599 “Remember who commended thy yellow
1600 stockings—”
OLIVIA 1601 Thy yellow stockings?
MALVOLIO 1602 55“And wished to see thee cross-gartered.”
OLIVIA 1603 Cross-gartered?
MALVOLIO 1604 “Go to, thou art made, if thou desir’st to be
1605 so—”
OLIVIA 1606 Am I made?
MALVOLIO 1607 60“If not, let me see thee a servant still.”
OLIVIA 1608 Why, this is very midsummer madness!
Enter Servant.
SERVANT 1609 Madam, the young gentleman of the Count
1610 Orsino’s is returned. I could hardly entreat him
1611 back. He attends your Ladyship’s pleasure.
OLIVIA 1612 65I’ll come to him. ⌜Servant exits.⌝ Good Maria, let
1613 this fellow be looked to. Where’s my Cousin Toby?
1614 Let some of my people have a special care of him. I
1615 would not have him miscarry for the half of my
1616 dowry.
⌜Olivia and Maria⌝ exit ⌜in different directions.⌝
MALVOLIO 1617 70O ho, do you come near me now? No worse
1618 man than Sir Toby to look to me. This concurs
1619 directly with the letter. She sends him on purpose
1620 that I may appear stubborn to him, for she incites
1621 me to that in the letter: “Cast thy humble slough,”
1622 75 says she. “Be opposite with a kinsman, surly with
1623 servants; let thy tongue ⌜tang⌝ with arguments of
1624 state; put thyself into the trick of singularity,” and
1625 consequently sets down the manner how: as, a sad
1626 face, a reverend carriage, a slow tongue, in the habit
1627 80 of some Sir of note, and so forth. I have limed her,
1628 but it is Jove’s doing, and Jove make me thankful!
1629 And when she went away now, “Let this fellow be
1630 looked to.” “Fellow!” Not “Malvolio,” nor after my
1632 85 that no dram of a scruple, no scruple of a
1633 scruple, no obstacle, no incredulous or unsafe
1634 circumstance—what can be said? Nothing that can
1635 be can come between me and the full prospect of
1636 my hopes. Well, Jove, not I, is the doer of this, and
1637 90 he is to be thanked.
Enter Toby, Fabian, and Maria.
TOBY 1638 Which way is he, in the name of sanctity? If all
1639 the devils of hell be drawn in little, and Legion
1640 himself possessed him, yet I’ll speak to him.
FABIAN 1641 Here he is, here he is.—How is ’t with you, sir?
1642 95 How is ’t with you, man?
MALVOLIO 1643 Go off, I discard you. Let me enjoy my
1644 private. Go off.
MARIA, ⌜to Toby⌝ 1645 Lo, how hollow the fiend speaks
1646 within him! Did not I tell you? Sir Toby, my lady
1647 100 prays you to have a care of him.
MALVOLIO 1648 Aha, does she so?
TOBY, ⌜to Fabian and Maria⌝ 1649 Go to, go to! Peace, peace.
1650 We must deal gently with him. Let me alone.—How
1651 do you, Malvolio? How is ’t with you? What, man,
1652 105 defy the devil! Consider, he’s an enemy to mankind.
MALVOLIO 1653 Do you know what you say?
MARIA, ⌜to Toby⌝ 1654 La you, an you speak ill of the devil,
1655 how he takes it at heart! Pray God he be not
1656 bewitched!
FABIAN 1657 110Carry his water to th’ wisewoman.
MARIA 1658 Marry, and it shall be done tomorrow morning
1659 if I live. My lady would not lose him for more than
1660 I’ll say.
MALVOLIO 1661 How now, mistress?
MARIA 1662 115O Lord!
TOBY 1663 Prithee, hold thy peace. This is not the way. Do
1664 you not see you move him? Let me alone with
1665 him.
1667 120 fiend is rough and will not be roughly used.
TOBY, ⌜to Malvolio⌝ 1668 Why, how now, my bawcock? How
1669 dost thou, chuck?
MALVOLIO 1670 Sir!
TOBY 1671 Ay, biddy, come with me.—What, man, ’tis not
1672 125 for gravity to play at cherry-pit with Satan. Hang
1673 him, foul collier!
MARIA 1674 Get him to say his prayers, good Sir Toby; get
1675 him to pray.
MALVOLIO 1676 My prayers, minx?
MARIA, ⌜to Toby⌝ 1677 130No, I warrant you, he will not hear of
1678 godliness.
MALVOLIO 1679 Go hang yourselves all! You are idle, shallow
1680 things. I am not of your element. You shall
1681 know more hereafter.He exits.
TOBY 1682 135Is ’t possible?
FABIAN 1683 If this were played upon a stage now, I could
1684 condemn it as an improbable fiction.
TOBY 1685 His very genius hath taken the infection of the
1686 device, man.
MARIA 1687 140Nay, pursue him now, lest the device take air
1688 and taint.
FABIAN 1689 Why, we shall make him mad indeed.
MARIA 1690 The house will be the quieter.
TOBY 1691 Come, we’ll have him in a dark room and
1692 145 bound. My niece is already in the belief that he’s
1693 mad. We may carry it thus, for our pleasure and his
1694 penance, till our very pastime, tired out of breath,
1695 prompt us to have mercy on him, at which time we
1696 will bring the device to the bar and crown thee for a
1697 150 finder of madmen. But see, but see!
Enter Sir Andrew.
FABIAN 1698 More matter for a May morning.
ANDREW, ⌜presenting a paper⌝ 1699 Here’s the challenge.
1700 Read it. I warrant there’s vinegar and pepper in ’t.
ANDREW 1702 155Ay, is ’t. I warrant him. Do but read.
TOBY 1703 Give me. ⌜He reads.⌝ Youth, whatsoever thou art,
1704 thou art but a scurvy fellow.
FABIAN 1705 Good, and valiant.
TOBY ⌜reads⌝ 1706 Wonder not nor admire not in thy mind
1707 160 why I do call thee so, for I will show thee no reason
1708 for ’t.
FABIAN 1709 A good note, that keeps you from the blow of
1710 the law.
TOBY ⌜reads⌝ 1711 Thou com’st to the Lady Olivia, and in my
1712 165 sight she uses thee kindly. But thou liest in thy throat;
1713 that is not the matter I challenge thee for.
FABIAN 1714 Very brief, and to exceeding good sense—less.
TOBY ⌜reads⌝ 1715 I will waylay thee going home, where if it be
1716 thy chance to kill me—
FABIAN 1717 170Good.
TOBY ⌜reads⌝ 1718 Thou kill’st me like a rogue and a villain.
FABIAN 1719 Still you keep o’ th’ windy side of the law.
1720 Good.
TOBY ⌜reads⌝ 1721 Fare thee well, and God have mercy upon
1722 175 one of our souls. He may have mercy upon mine, but
1723 my hope is better, and so look to thyself. Thy friend, as
1724 thou usest him, and thy sworn enemy,
1725 Andrew Aguecheek.
1726 If this letter move him not, his legs cannot. I’ll
1727 180 give ’t him.
MARIA 1728 You may have very fit occasion for ’t. He is now
1729 in some commerce with my lady and will by and
1730 by depart.
TOBY 1731 Go, Sir Andrew. Scout me for him at the corner
1732 185 of the orchard like a bum-baily. So soon as ever
1733 thou seest him, draw, and as thou draw’st, swear
1734 horrible, for it comes to pass oft that a terrible oath,
1735 with a swaggering accent sharply twanged off, gives
1736 manhood more approbation than ever proof itself
1737 190 would have earned him. Away!
TOBY 1739 Now will not I deliver his letter, for the behavior
1740 of the young gentleman gives him out to be of good
1741 capacity and breeding; his employment between
1742 195 his lord and my niece confirms no less. Therefore,
1743 this letter, being so excellently ignorant, will breed
1744 no terror in the youth. He will find it comes from a
1745 clodpoll. But, sir, I will deliver his challenge by
1746 word of mouth, set upon Aguecheek a notable
1747 200 report of valor, and drive the gentleman (as I know
1748 his youth will aptly receive it) into a most hideous
1749 opinion of his rage, skill, fury, and impetuosity. This
1750 will so fright them both that they will kill one
1751 another by the look, like cockatrices.
Enter Olivia and Viola.
FABIAN 1752 205Here he comes with your niece. Give them
1753 way till he take leave, and presently after him.
TOBY 1754 I will meditate the while upon some horrid
1755 message for a challenge.
⌜Toby, Fabian, and Maria exit.⌝
OLIVIA
1756 I have said too much unto a heart of stone
1757 210 And laid mine honor too unchary on ’t.
1758 There’s something in me that reproves my fault,
1759 But such a headstrong potent fault it is
1760 That it but mocks reproof.
VIOLA
1761 With the same ’havior that your passion bears
1762 215 Goes on my master’s griefs.
OLIVIA
1763 Here, wear this jewel for me. ’Tis my picture.
1764 Refuse it not. It hath no tongue to vex you.
1765 And I beseech you come again tomorrow.
1766 What shall you ask of me that I’ll deny,
1767 220 That honor, saved, may upon asking give?
1768 Nothing but this: your true love for my master.
OLIVIA
1769 How with mine honor may I give him that
1770 Which I have given to you?
VIOLA 1771 I will acquit you.
OLIVIA
1772 225 Well, come again tomorrow. Fare thee well.
1773 A fiend like thee might bear my soul to hell.
⌜She exits.⌝
Enter Toby and Fabian.
TOBY 1774 Gentleman, God save thee.
VIOLA 1775 And you, sir.
TOBY 1776 That defense thou hast, betake thee to ’t. Of what
1777 230 nature the wrongs are thou hast done him, I know
1778 not, but thy intercepter, full of despite, bloody as
1779 the hunter, attends thee at the orchard end. Dismount
1780 thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy
1781 assailant is quick, skillful, and deadly.
VIOLA 1782 235You mistake, sir. I am sure no man hath any
1783 quarrel to me. My remembrance is very free and
1784 clear from any image of offense done to any man.
TOBY 1785 You’ll find it otherwise, I assure you. Therefore,
1786 if you hold your life at any price, betake you to your
1787 240 guard, for your opposite hath in him what youth,
1788 strength, skill, and wrath can furnish man withal.
VIOLA 1789 I pray you, sir, what is he?
TOBY 1790 He is knight dubbed with unhatched rapier and
1791 on carpet consideration, but he is a devil in private
1792 245 brawl. Souls and bodies hath he divorced three, and
1793 his incensement at this moment is so implacable
1794 that satisfaction can be none but by pangs of death
1795 and sepulcher. “Hob, nob” is his word; “give ’t or
1796 take ’t.”
VIOLA 1797 250I will return again into the house and desire
1799 heard of some kind of men that put quarrels purposely
1800 on others to taste their valor. Belike this is a
1801 man of that quirk.
TOBY 1802 255Sir, no. His indignation derives itself out of a very
1803 competent injury. Therefore get you on and give
1804 him his desire. Back you shall not to the house,
1805 unless you undertake that with me which with as
1806 much safety you might answer him. Therefore on,
1807 260 or strip your sword stark naked, for meddle you
1808 must, that’s certain, or forswear to wear iron about
1809 you.
VIOLA 1810 This is as uncivil as strange. I beseech you, do
1811 me this courteous office, as to know of the knight
1812 265 what my offense to him is. It is something of my
1813 negligence, nothing of my purpose.
TOBY 1814 I will do so.—Signior Fabian, stay you by this
1815 gentleman till my return.Toby exits.
VIOLA 1816 Pray you, sir, do you know of this matter?
FABIAN 1817 270I know the knight is incensed against you even
1818 to a mortal arbitrament, but nothing of the circumstance
1819 more.
VIOLA 1820 I beseech you, what manner of man is he?
FABIAN 1821 Nothing of that wonderful promise, to read
1822 275 him by his form, as you are like to find him in the
1823 proof of his valor. He is indeed, sir, the most skillful,
1824 bloody, and fatal opposite that you could possibly
1825 have found in any part of Illyria. Will you walk
1826 towards him? I will make your peace with him if I
1827 280 can.
VIOLA 1828 I shall be much bound to you for ’t. I am one
1829 that had rather go with Sir Priest than Sir Knight, I
1830 care not who knows so much of my mettle.
They exit.
Enter Toby and Andrew.
1832 285 a firago. I had a pass with him, rapier, scabbard,
1833 and all, and he gives me the stuck-in with such
1834 a mortal motion that it is inevitable; and on the
1835 answer, he pays you as surely as your feet hits the
1836 ground they step on. They say he has been fencer
1837 290 to the Sophy.
ANDREW 1838 Pox on ’t! I’ll not meddle with him.
TOBY 1839 Ay, but he will not now be pacified. Fabian can
1840 scarce hold him yonder.
ANDREW 1841 Plague on ’t! An I thought he had been
1842 295 valiant, and so cunning in fence, I’d have seen him
1843 damned ere I’d have challenged him. Let him let
1844 the matter slip, and I’ll give him my horse, gray
1845 Capilet.
TOBY 1846 I’ll make the motion. Stand here, make a good
1847 300 show on ’t. This shall end without the perdition of
1848 souls. ⌜Aside.⌝ Marry, I’ll ride your horse as well as I
1849 ride you.
Enter Fabian and Viola.
⌜Toby crosses to meet them.⌝
1850 ⌜Aside to Fabian.⌝ I have his horse to take up the
1851 quarrel. I have persuaded him the youth’s a devil.
FABIAN, ⌜aside to Toby⌝ 1852 305He is as horribly conceited of
1853 him, and pants and looks pale as if a bear were at his
1854 heels.
TOBY, ⌜to Viola⌝ 1855 There’s no remedy, sir; he will fight
1856 with you for ’s oath sake. Marry, he hath better
1857 310 bethought him of his quarrel, and he finds that now
1858 scarce to be worth talking of. Therefore, draw for
1859 the supportance of his vow. He protests he will not
1860 hurt you.
VIOLA 1861 Pray God defend me! ⌜Aside.⌝ A little thing
1862 315 would make me tell them how much I lack of a
1863 man.
⌜Toby crosses to Andrew.⌝
TOBY 1865 Come, Sir Andrew, there’s no remedy. The
1866 gentleman will, for his honor’s sake, have one bout
1867 320 with you. He cannot by the duello avoid it. But he
1868 has promised me, as he is a gentleman and a soldier,
1869 he will not hurt you. Come on, to ’t.
ANDREW, ⌜drawing his sword⌝ 1870 Pray God he keep his
1871 oath!
VIOLA, ⌜drawing her sword⌝
1872 325 I do assure you ’tis against my will.
Enter Antonio.
ANTONIO, ⌜to Andrew⌝
1873 Put up your sword. If this young gentleman
1874 Have done offense, I take the fault on me.
1875 If you offend him, I for him defy you.
TOBY 1876 You, sir? Why, what are you?
ANTONIO, ⌜drawing his sword⌝
1877 330 One, sir, that for his love dares yet do more
1878 Than you have heard him brag to you he will.
TOBY, ⌜drawing his sword⌝
1879 Nay, if you be an undertaker, I am for you.
Enter Officers.
FABIAN 1880 O, good Sir Toby, hold! Here come the officers.
TOBY, ⌜to Antonio⌝ 1881 I’ll be with you anon.
VIOLA, ⌜to Andrew⌝ 1882 335Pray, sir, put your sword up, if
1883 you please.
ANDREW 1884 Marry, will I, sir. And for that I promised
1885 you, I’ll be as good as my word. He will bear you
1886 easily, and reins well.
FIRST OFFICER 1887 340This is the man. Do thy office.
SECOND OFFICER 1888 Antonio, I arrest thee at the suit of
1889 Count Orsino.
ANTONIO 1890 You do mistake me, sir.
1891 No, sir, no jot. I know your favor well,
1892 345 Though now you have no sea-cap on your head.—
1893 Take him away. He knows I know him well.
ANTONIO
1894 I must obey. ⌜To Viola.⌝ This comes with seeking
1895 you.
1896 But there’s no remedy. I shall answer it.
1897 350 What will you do, now my necessity
1898 Makes me to ask you for my purse? It grieves me
1899 Much more for what I cannot do for you
1900 Than what befalls myself. You stand amazed,
1901 But be of comfort.
SECOND OFFICER 1902 355 Come, sir, away.
ANTONIO, ⌜to Viola⌝
1903 I must entreat of you some of that money.
VIOLA 1904 What money, sir?
1905 For the fair kindness you have showed me here,
1906 And part being prompted by your present trouble,
1907 360 Out of my lean and low ability
1908 I’ll lend you something. My having is not much.
1909 I’ll make division of my present with you.
1910 Hold, there’s half my coffer.⌜Offering him money.⌝
ANTONIO 1911 Will you deny me now?
1912 365 Is ’t possible that my deserts to you
1913 Can lack persuasion? Do not tempt my misery,
1914 Lest that it make me so unsound a man
1915 As to upbraid you with those kindnesses
1916 That I have done for you.
VIOLA 1917 370 I know of none,
1918 Nor know I you by voice or any feature.
1919 I hate ingratitude more in a man
1920 Than lying, vainness, babbling drunkenness,
1921 Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption
1922 375 Inhabits our frail blood—
ANTONIO 1923 O heavens themselves!
ANTONIO
1925 Let me speak a little. This youth that you see here
1926 I snatched one half out of the jaws of death,
1927 380 Relieved him with such sanctity of love,
1928 And to his image, which methought did promise
1929 Most venerable worth, did I devotion.
FIRST OFFICER
1930 What’s that to us? The time goes by. Away!
ANTONIO
1931 But O, how vile an idol proves this god!
1932 385 Thou hast, Sebastian, done good feature shame.
1933 In nature there’s no blemish but the mind;
1934 None can be called deformed but the unkind.
1935 Virtue is beauty, but the beauteous evil
1936 Are empty trunks o’erflourished by the devil.
FIRST OFFICER
1937 390 The man grows mad. Away with him.—Come,
1938 come, sir.
ANTONIO 1939 Lead me on.
⌜Antonio and Officers⌝ exit.
VIOLA, ⌜aside⌝
1940 Methinks his words do from such passion fly
1941 That he believes himself; so do not I.
1942 395 Prove true, imagination, O, prove true,
1943 That I, dear brother, be now ta’en for you!
TOBY 1944 Come hither, knight; come hither, Fabian. We’ll
1945 whisper o’er a couplet or two of most sage saws.
⌜Toby, Fabian, and Andrew move aside.⌝
VIOLA, ⌜aside⌝
1946 He named Sebastian. I my brother know
1947 400 Yet living in my glass. Even such and so
1948 In favor was my brother, and he went
1949 Still in this fashion, color, ornament,
1950 For him I imitate. O, if it prove,
1951 Tempests are kind, and salt waves fresh in love!
⌜She exits.⌝
1953 than a hare. His dishonesty appears in leaving his
1954 friend here in necessity and denying him; and for
1955 his cowardship, ask Fabian.
FABIAN 1956 A coward, a most devout coward, religious
1957 410 in it.
ANDREW 1958 ’Slid, I’ll after him again and beat him.
TOBY 1959 Do, cuff him soundly, but never draw thy
1960 sword.
ANDREW 1961 An I do not—
FABIAN 1962 415Come, let’s see the event.
TOBY 1963 I dare lay any money ’twill be nothing yet.
⌜They⌝ exit.