Twelfth Night
Act III, Scene 4
Olivia’s garden.
Now will not I deliver his letter
W. Heath Robinson, 1908
- Enter Olivia and Maria.
Olivia
1 - 7- Aside.
- 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
8 - 9- He’s coming, madam, but in very strange manner. He is sure
- possess’d, madam.
Olivia
10- Why, what’s the matter? Does he rave?
Maria
11 - 13- 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
14 - 17- Go call him hither.
- Enter Malvolio.
- I am as mad as he,
- If sad and merry madness equal be.
- How now, Malvolio?
Malvolio
18- Sweet lady, ho, ho.
Olivia
19- Smil’st thou? I sent for thee upon a sad occasion.
Malvolio
20 - 23- 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
24- Why, how dost thou, man? What is the matter with thee?
Malvolio
25 - 27- 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
28- Wilt thou go to bed, Malvolio?
Malvolio
29- To bed? Ay, sweet heart, and I’ll come to thee.
Olivia
30 - 31- God comfort thee! Why dost thou smile so, and kiss thy hand
- so oft?
Maria
32- How do you, Malvolio?
Malvolio
33- At your request! Yes, nightingales answer daws.
Maria
34- Why appear you with this ridiculous boldness before my lady?
Malvolio
35- “Be not afraid of greatness”: ’twas well writ.
Olivia
36- What mean’st thou by that, Malvolio?
Malvolio
37- “Some are born great”—
Olivia
38- Ha?
Malvolio
39- “Some achieve greatness”—
Olivia
40- What say’st thou?
Malvolio
41- “And some have greatness thrust upon them.”
Olivia
42- Heaven restore thee!
Malvolio
43- “Remember who commended thy yellow stockings”—
Olivia
44- Thy yellow stockings?
Malvolio
45- “And wish’d to see thee cross-garter’d.”
Olivia
46- Cross-garter’d?
Malvolio
47- “Go to, thou art made, if thou desir’st to be so”—
Olivia
48- Am I made?
Malvolio
49- “If not, let me see thee a servant still.”
Olivia
50- Why, this is very midsummer madness.
- Enter Servant.
Olivia’s Servant
51 - 53- Madam, the young gentleman of the Count Orsino’s is
- return’d. I could hardly entreat him back. He attends your
- ladyship’s pleasure.
Olivia
54 - 57- I’ll come to him.
- Exit Servant.
- Good Maria, let this fellow be look’d 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.
- Exit with Maria.
Malvolio
58 - 75- 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 lim’d her, but it is Jove’s doing, and Jove make me
- thankful! And when she went away now, “Let this fellow be
- look’d 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 thank’d.
- Enter Toby, Fabian, and Maria.
Byam Shaw, 1901
Sir Toby
76 - 78- Which way is he, in the name of sanctity? If all the devils
- of hell be drawn in little, and Legion himself possess’d
- him, yet I’ll speak to him.
Fabian
79- Here he is, here he is. How is’t with you, sir?
Sir Toby
80- How is’t with you, man?
Malvolio
81- Go off, I discard you. Let me enjoy my private. Go off.
Maria
82 - 83- 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.
Malvolio
84- Ah ha, does she so?
Sir Toby
85 - 87- 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.
Malvolio
88- Do you know what you say?
Maria
89 - 90- La you, and you speak ill of the devil, how he takes it at
- heart! Pray God he be not bewitch’d!
Fabian
91- Carry his water to th’ wise woman.
Maria
92 - 93- Marry, and it shall be done tomorrow morning if I live. My
- lady would not lose him for more than I’ll say.
Malvolio
94- How now, mistress?
Maria
95- O Lord!
Sir Toby
96 - 97- Prithee hold thy peace, this is not the way. Do you not see
- you move him? Let me alone with him.
Fabian
98 - 99- No way but gentleness, gently, gently. The fiend is rough,
- and will not be roughly us’d.
Sir Toby
100- Why, how now, my bawcock? How dost thou, chuck?
Malvolio
101- Sir!
Sir Toby
102 - 103- Ay, biddy, come with me. What, man, ’tis not for gravity to
- play at cherry-pit with Satan. Hang him, foul collier!
Maria
104- Get him to say his prayers, good Sir Toby, get him to pray.
Malvolio
105- My prayers, minx!
Maria
106- No, I warrant you, he will not hear of godliness.
Malvolio
107 - 108- Go hang yourselves all! You are idle shallow things, I am
- not of your element. You shall know more hereafter.
- Exit.
Sir Toby
109- Is’t possible?
Fabian
110 - 111- If this were play’d upon a stage now, I could condemn it as
- an improbable fiction.
Sir Toby
112- His very genius hath taken the infection of the device, man.
Maria
113- Nay, pursue him now, lest the device take air, and taint.
Fabian
114- Why, we shall make him mad indeed.
Maria
115- The house will be the quieter.
Sir Toby
116 - 121- 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,
- tir’d 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.
Fabian
122- More matter for a May morning.
Sir Andrew
123 - 124- Here’s the challenge, read it. I warrant there’s vinegar and
- pepper in’t.
Fabian
125- Is’t so saucy?
Sir Andrew
126- Ay, is’t! I warrant him. Do but read.
Sir Toby
127 - 128- Give me.
- Reads.
- “Youth, whatsoever thou art, thou art but a scurvy fellow.”
Fabian
129- Good, and valiant.
Sir Toby
130 - 131- Reads.
- “Wonder not, nor admire not in thy mind, why I do call thee
- so, for I will show thee no reason for’t.”
Fabian
132- A good note, that keeps you from the blow of the law.
Sir Toby
133 - 135- Reads.
- “Thou com’st 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.”
Go off, I discard you. Let me enjoy my private. Go off.
George Cruikshank, mid 19th cent.
Fabian
136- Very brief, and to exceeding good sense—less.
Sir Toby
137 - 138- Reads.
- “I will waylay thee going home, where if it be thy chance to
- kill me”—
Fabian
139- Good.
Sir Toby
140- Reads.
- “Thou kill’st me like a rogue and a villain.”
Fabian
141- Still you keep o’ th’ windy side of the law; good.
Sir Toby
142 - 148- 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.
Maria
149 - 150- You may have very fit occasion for’t; he is now in some
- commerce with my lady, and will by and by depart.
Sir Toby
151 - 156- Go, Sir Andrew, scout me for him at the corner of the
- orchard like a burn-baily. So soon as ever thou seest him,
- draw, and as thou draw’st, swear horrible; for it comes to
- pass oft that a terrible oath, with a swaggering accent
- sharply twang’d off, gives manhood more approbation than
- ever proof itself would have earn’d him. Away!
Sir Andrew
157- Nay, let me alone for swearing.
- Exit.
Sir Toby
158 - 169- 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 valor, 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.
- Enter Olivia and Viola.
Fabian
170 - 171- Here he comes with your niece. Give them way till he take
- leave, and presently after him.
Sir Toby
172 - 173- I will meditate the while upon some horrid message for a
- challenge.
- Exeunt Sir Toby, Fabian, and Maria.
Olivia
174 - 178- I have said too much unto a heart of stone,
- And laid mine honor too unchary on’t.
- There’s something in me that reproves my fault;
- But such a headstrong potent fault it is
- That it but mocks reproof.
Viola
179 - 180- With the same havior that your passion bears
- Goes on my master’s griefs.
Olivia
181 - 185- 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 tomorrow.
- What shall you ask of me that I’ll deny,
- That honor, sav’d, may upon asking give?
Viola
186- Nothing but this—your true love for my master.
Olivia
187 - 188- How with mine honor may I give him that
- Which I have given to you?
Viola
189- I will acquit you.
Olivia
190 - 191- Well, come again tomorrow. Fare thee well.
- A fiend like thee might bear my soul to hell.
- Exit.
- Enter Toby and Fabian.
Sir Toby
192- Gentleman, God save thee!
Viola
193- And you, sir.
Sir Toby
194 - 199- That defense 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, skillful, and
- deadly.
Viola
200 - 202- You mistake, sir, I am sure; no man hath any quarrel to me.
- My remembrance is very free and clear from any image of
- offense done to any man.
Why, how dost thou, man?
Herbert Beerbohm Tree and Maud Jeffries in Twelfth Night
At Her Majesty's Theatre
Balliol Salmon, 1901
Sir Toby
203 - 206- 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.
Viola
207- I pray you, sir, what is he?
Sir Toby
208 - 213- He is knight, dubb’d with unhatch’d rapier, and on carpet
- consideration, but he is a devil in private brawl. Souls and
- bodies hath he divorc’d 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.
Viola
214 - 217- 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
- valor. Belike this is a man of that quirk.
Sir Toby
218 - 224- 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.
Viola
225 - 228- This is as uncivil as strange. I beseech you do me this
- courteous office, as to know of the knight what my offense
- to him is. It is something of my negligence, nothing of my
- purpose.
Sir Toby
229 - 230- I will do so. Signior Fabian, stay you by this gentleman
- till my return.
- Exit Toby.
Viola
231- Pray you, sir, do you know of this matter?
Fabian
232 - 233- I know the knight is incens’d against you, even to a mortal
- arbitrement, but nothing of the circumstance more.
Viola
234- I beseech you, what manner of man is he?
Fabian
235 - 240- Nothing of that wonderful promise, to read him by his form,
- as you are like to find him in the proof of his valor. He is
- indeed, sir, the most skillful, 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.
Viola
241 - 243- 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.
- Enter Toby and Andrew.
Sir Toby
244 - 249- 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 hits the ground they step on. They say he has been
- fencer to the Sophy.
Sir Andrew
250- Pox on’t, I’ll not meddle with him.
Sir Toby
251 - 252- Ay, but he will not now be pacified. Fabian can scarce hold
- him yonder.
Sir Andrew
253 - 256- Plague on’t, and I thought he had been valiant, and so
- cunning in fence, I’d have seen him damn’d ere I’d have
- challeng’d him. Let him let the matter slip, and I’ll give
- him my horse, grey Capilet.
Sir Toby
257 - 261- 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.
- Enter Fabian and Viola.
- To Fabian.
- I have his horse to take up the quarrel. I have persuaded
- him the youth’s a devil.
Fabian
262 - 263- He is as horribly conceited of him; and pants and looks
- pale, as if a bear were at his heels.
Sir Toby
264 - 268- 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.
Viola
269 - 270- Aside.
- Pray God defend me! A little thing would make me tell them
- how much I lack of a man.
Well, come again tomorrow. Fare thee well.
W. Heath Robinson, 1908
Fabian
271- Give ground if you see him furious.
Sir Toby
272 - 276- Come, Sir Andrew, there’s no remedy, the gentleman will for
- his honor’s sake have one bout with you. He cannot by the
- duello avoid it; but he has promis’d me, as he is a
- gentleman and a soldier, he will not hurt you. Come on,
- to’t.
Sir Andrew
277- Pray God he keep his oath!
- Enter Antonio.
Viola
278- I do assure you, ’tis against my will.
- They draw.
Antonio
279 - 281- Put up your sword. If this young gentleman
- Have done offense, I take the fault on me;
- If you offend him, I for him defy you.
Sir Toby
282- You, sir? Why, what are you?
Antonio
283 - 284- One, sir, that for his love dares yet do more
- Than you have heard him brag to you he will.
Sir Toby
285- Nay, if you be an undertaker, I am for you.
- They draw.
- Enter Officers.
Fabian
286- O good Sir Toby, hold! Here come the officers.
Sir Toby
287- To Antonio.
- I’ll be with you anon.
- Steps aside to avoid the Officers.
Viola
288- Pray, sir, put your sword up, if you please.
Sir Andrew
289 - 290- Marry, will I, sir; and for that I promis’d you, I’ll be as
- good as my word. He will bear you easily, and reins well.
First Officer
291- This is the man, do thy office.
Second Officer
292- Antonio, I arrest thee at the suit of Count Orsino.
Antonio
293- You do mistake me, sir.
First Officer
294 - 296- No, sir, no jot. I know your favor well,
- Though now you have no sea-cap on your head.
- Take him away, he knows I know him well.
Antonio
297 - 304- 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 amaz’d,
- But be of comfort.
Second Officer
305- Come, sir, away.
Antonio
306- I must entreat of you some of that money.
Viola
307 - 313- 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.
Antonio
314 - 319- 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.
Viola
320 - 325- 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.
Antonio
326- O heavens themselves!
Second Officer
327- Come, sir, I pray you go.
Antonio
328 - 332- Let me speak a little. This youth that you see here
- I snatch’d one half out of the jaws of death,
- Reliev’d him with such sanctity of love,
- And to his image, which methought did promise
- Most venerable worth, did I devotion.
First Officer
333- What’s that to us? The time goes by; away!
Antonio
334 - 339- But O, how vild 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 duel between Viola and Sir Andrew Aguecheek
Henry William Bunbury, 1806
First Officer
340- The man grows mad, away with him! Come, come, sir.
Antonio
341- Lead me on.
- Exit with Officers.
Viola
342 - 345- 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!
Sir Toby
346 - 347- Come hither, knight; come hither, Fabian; we’ll whisper o’er
- a couplet or two of most sage saws.
Viola
348 - 353- He nam’d Sebastian. I my brother know
- Yet living in my glass; even such and so
- In favor was my brother, and he went
- Still in this fashion, color, ornament,
- For him I imitate. O, if it prove,
- Tempests are kind and salt waves fresh in love.
- Exit.
Sir Toby
354 - 357- 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.
Fabian
358- A coward, a most devout coward, religious in it.
Sir Andrew
359- ’Slid, I’ll after him again, and beat him.
Sir Toby
360- Do, cuff him soundly, but never draw thy sword.
Sir Andrew
361- And I do not—
- Exit.
Fabian
362- Come, let’s see the event.
Sir Toby
363- I dare lay any money ’twill be nothing yet.
- Exeunt.
Sad, lady? I could be sad.
Karl August Büchel, circa 1910