MALVOLIO.
And then to have the humour of state; and after a demure travel of
regard, telling them I know my place as I would they should do theirs,
to ask for my kinsman Toby.
SIR TOBY.
Bolts and shackles!
FABIAN.
O, peace, peace, peace! Now, now.
MALVOLIO.
Seven of my people, with an obedient start, make out for him. I frown
the while, and perchance wind up my watch, or play with some rich
jewel. Toby approaches; curtsies there to me—
SIR TOBY.
Shall this fellow live?
FABIAN.
Though our silence be drawn from us with cars, yet peace!
MALVOLIO.
I extend my hand to him thus, quenching my familiar smile with an
austere regard of control—
SIR TOBY.
And does not Toby take you a blow o’ the lips then?
MALVOLIO.
Saying ‘Cousin Toby, my fortunes having cast me on your niece, give me
this prerogative of speech—’
SIR TOBY.
What, what?
MALVOLIO.
‘You must amend your drunkenness.’
SIR TOBY.
Out, scab!
FABIAN.
Nay, patience, or we break the sinews of our plot.
MALVOLIO.
‘Besides, you waste the treasure of your time with a foolish knight—’
SIR ANDREW.
That’s me, I warrant you.
MALVOLIO.
‘One Sir Andrew.’
SIR ANDREW.
I knew ’twas I, for many do call me fool.
MALVOLIO.
[_Taking up the letter._] What employment have we here?
FABIAN.
Now is the woodcock near the gin.
SIR TOBY.
O, peace! And the spirit of humours intimate reading aloud to him!
MALVOLIO.
By my life, this is my lady’s hand: these be her very C’s, her U’s, and
her T’s, and thus makes she her great P’s. It is in contempt of
question, her hand.
SIR ANDREW.
Her C’s, her U’s, and her T’s. Why that?
MALVOLIO.
[_Reads._] _To the unknown beloved, this, and my good wishes._ Her very
phrases! By your leave, wax. Soft! and the impressure her Lucrece, with
which she uses to seal: ’tis my lady. To whom should this be?
FABIAN.
This wins him, liver and all.
MALVOLIO.
[_Reads._]
_ Jove knows I love,
But who?
Lips, do not move,
No man must know._
‘No man must know.’ What follows? The numbers alter’d! ‘No man must
know.’—If this should be thee, Malvolio?
SIR TOBY.
Marry, hang thee, brock!
MALVOLIO.
_ I may command where I adore,
But silence, like a Lucrece knife,
With bloodless stroke my heart doth gore;
M.O.A.I. doth sway my life._
FABIAN.
A fustian riddle!
SIR TOBY.
Excellent wench, say I.
MALVOLIO.
‘M.O.A.I. doth sway my life.’—Nay, but first let me see, let me see,
let me see.
FABIAN.
What dish o’ poison has she dressed him!
SIR TOBY.
And with what wing the staniel checks at it!
MALVOLIO.
‘I may command where I adore.’ Why, she may command me: I serve her,
she is my lady. Why, this is evident to any formal capacity. There is
no obstruction in this. And the end—what should that alphabetical
position portend? If I could make that resemble something in me!
Softly! ‘M.O.A.I.’—
SIR TOBY.
O, ay, make up that:—he is now at a cold scent.
FABIAN.
Sowter will cry upon’t for all this, though it be as rank as a fox.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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