Page 566 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

FABIAN

Ay, and you had any eye behind you, you might see more detraction at your
heels than fortunes before you.

MALVOLIO
‘M.O.A.I.’ This simulation is not as the former: and yet, to crush this a little, it
would bow to [135] me, for every one of these letters are in my name. Soft!

here follows prose.
(Reads) If this fall into thy hand, revolve. In my stars I am above thee, but be
not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and
some have greatness thrust [140] upon ’em. Thy fates open their hands, let

thy blood and spirit embrace them, and to inure thyself to what thou art like
to be, cast thy humble slough, and appear fresh. Be opposite with a kinsman,
surly with servants. Let thy tongue tang arguments of state; put thyself into
the trick of singularity. [145] She thus advises thee, that sighs for thee.

Remember who commended thy yellow stockings, and wished to see thee
ever cross-gartered: I say, remember. Go to, thou art made, if thou desir’st to
be so. If not, let me see thee a steward still, the fellow of servants, and not
worthy to touch Fortune’s fingers. [150] Farewelt. She that would alter

services with thee,
The Fortunate Unhappy.
Daylight and champaign discovers not more! This is open. I will be proud, I
will read politic authors, I will baffle Sir Toby, I will wash off gross

acquaintance, [155] I will be point-device the very man. I do not now fool
myself, to let imagination jade me; for every reason excites to this, that my
lady loves me. She did commend my yellow stockings of late, she did praise
my leg being cross-gartered, and in this she manifests herself [160] to my

love, and with a kind of injunction drives me to these habits of her liking. I
thank my stars, I am happy. I will be strange, stout, in yellow stockings, and
cross-gartered, even with the swiftness of putting on. Jove and my stars be
praised!−Here is yet a postscript. [165] (Reads) Thou canst not choose but

know who I am. If thou entertain’st my love, let it appear in thy smiling, thy
smiles become thee well. Therefore in my presence still smile, dear my
sweet, I prithee. Jove, I thank thee, I will smile, I will do every thing that
thou wilt have me. [170]

Exit.

FABIAN