OLIVIA.
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’s Malvolio?—He is sad and civil,
And suits well for a servant with my fortunes;
Where is Malvolio?
MARIA.
He’s coming, madam:
But in very strange manner. He is sure possessed, madam.
OLIVIA.
Why, what’s the matter? Does he rave?
MARIA.
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.
OLIVIA.
Go call him hither. I’m as mad as he,
If sad and merry madness equal be.
Enter Malvolio.
How now, Malvolio?
MALVOLIO.
Sweet lady, ho, ho!
OLIVIA.
Smil’st thou? I sent for thee upon a sad occasion.
MALVOLIO.
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.’
OLIVIA.
Why, how dost thou, man? What is the matter with thee?
MALVOLIO.
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.
OLIVIA.
Wilt thou go to bed, Malvolio?
MALVOLIO.
To bed? Ay, sweetheart, and I’ll come to thee.
OLIVIA.
God comfort thee! Why dost thou smile so, and kiss thy hand so oft?
MARIA.
How do you, Malvolio?
MALVOLIO.
At your request? Yes, nightingales answer daws!
MARIA.
Why appear you with this ridiculous boldness before my lady?
MALVOLIO.
‘Be not afraid of greatness.’ ’Twas well writ.
OLIVIA.
What mean’st thou by that, Malvolio?
MALVOLIO.
‘Some are born great’—
OLIVIA.
Ha?
MALVOLIO.
‘Some achieve greatness’—
OLIVIA.
What say’st thou?
MALVOLIO.
‘And some have greatness thrust upon them.’
OLIVIA.
Heaven restore thee!
MALVOLIO.
‘Remember who commended thy yellow stockings’—
OLIVIA.
Thy yellow stockings?
MALVOLIO.
‘And wished to see thee cross-gartered.’
OLIVIA.
Cross-gartered?
MALVOLIO.
‘Go to: thou art made, if thou desir’st to be so:’—
OLIVIA.
Am I made?
MALVOLIO.
‘If not, let me see thee a servant still.’
OLIVIA.
Why, this is very midsummer madness.
Enter Servant.
SERVANT.
Madam, the young gentleman of the Count Orsino’s is returned; I could
hardly entreat him back. He attends your ladyship’s pleasure.
OLIVIA.
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._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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