Twelfth Night, Act 3 Scene 4

Intro: Olivia’s garden O: [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: He’s coming, madam, but in a very strange manner. He is sure possessed, madam. O: 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. O: Go call him hither. I am as mad as he if sad and merry madness equal be.[Malvolio enters.]How now Malvolio?
Mal: Sweet lady, ho, ho! [kneel] O: Smil’st thou? I sent for thee upon a sad occasion. [confused]
Mal: 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.” [shows cross-gartering to audience] O: Why, how dost thou, man? What is the matter with thee?
Mal: 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. [reach for hand] O: Wilt thou go to bed, Malvolio? [pull hand away and back away]
Mal: To bed? Ay, sweetheart, and I’ll come to thee. [chase] O: God comfort thee! Why dost thou smile so, and kiss thy hand so oft?Why appear you with this ridiculous boldness? [duck under arms]
Mal: “Be not afraid of greatness”: twas well writ. O: What mean’st thou by that, Malvolio?
Mal: “Some are born great-“ O: Ha?
Mal: “Some achieve greatness-“ O: What say’st thou?
Mal: “And some have greatness thrust upon them.” O: Heaven restore thee! [sit w head in hands]
Mal: “Remember who commended thy yellow stockings-“ O: Thy yellow stockings?
Mal: “And wished to see thee cross-gartered.” [legs on chair] O: Cross-gartered? [get up from chair]
Mal: “Go to thou art made, if thou desir’st to be so-“ O: Am I made? [offended]
Mal: “If not, let me see thee a servant still.” O: Why, this is very midsummer madness.[Cesario arrives at door] [rush away to leave while reciting lines]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.[Exit.]
July 28, 2019