The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]Shakespeare, William
General
The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]
Shakespeare, William
English drama
_Mar._ 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.
_Mal._ Ah, ha! does she so?
_Sir To._ Go to, go to; peace, peace; we must deal 90
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.
_Mal._ Do you know what you say?
_Mar._ La you, an you speak ill of the devil, how he 95
takes it at heart! Pray God, he be not bewitched!
_Fab._ Carry his water to the wise woman.
_Mar._ Marry, and it shall be done to-morrow morning,
if I live. My lady would not lose him for more than I'll
say. 100
_Mal._ How now, mistress!
_Mar._ O Lord!
_Sir To._ Prithee, hold thy peace; this is not the way:
do you not see you move him? let me alone with him.
_Fab._ No way but gentleness; gently, gently: the fiend 105
is rough, and will not be roughly used.
_Sir To._ Why, how now, my bawcock! how dost thou,
chuck?
_Mal._ Sir!
_Sir To._ Ay, Biddy, come with me. What, man! 'tis 110
not for gravity to play at cherry-pit with Satan: hang him,
foul collier!
_Mar._ Get him to say his prayers, good Sir Toby, get
him to pray.
_Mal._ My prayers, minx! 115
_Mar._ No, I warrant you, he will not hear of godliness.
_Mal._ Go, hang yourselves all! you are idle shallow
things: I am not of your element: you shall know more
hereafter. [_Exit._
_Sir To._ Is't possible? 120
_Fab._ If this were played upon a stage now, I could
condemn it as an improbable fiction.
_Sir To._ His very genius hath taken the infection of
the device, man.
_Mar._ Nay, pursue him now, lest the device take air 125
and taint.
_Fab._ Why, we shall make him mad indeed.
_Mar._ The house will be the quieter.
_Sir To._ Come, we'll have him in a dark room and
bound. My niece is already in the belief that he's mad: 130
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. 135
_Enter_ SIR ANDREW.
_Fab._ More matter for a May morning.
_Sir And._ Here's the challenge, read it: I warrant
there's vinegar and pepper in't.
_Fab._ Is't so saucy?
_Sir And._ Ay, is't, I warrant him: do but read. 140
_Sir To._ Give me. [_Reads_] Youth, whatsoever thou art,
thou art but a scurvy fellow.
_Fab._ Good, and valiant.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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