Page 586 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

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 [55] 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 [60] not have him miscarry for the half of my dowry.
(Exeunt Olivia and Maria different ways.)

MALVOLIO
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 [65] the letter. ‘Cast thy
humble slough’, says she; ‘be opposite with a kisman, surly with servants, let
thy tongue tang 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 [70] tongue, in the habit of some sir of note, and so forth. I
have limed her, but it is Jove’s doing, and Jove make me thankful! And when
she went away now, ‘Let this fellow be looked to’−’fellow’!− not Malvolio, nor

after my degree, but ‘fellow’. Why, everything adheres [75] 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 thanked. [80]

Enter Sir Toby, Fabian and Maria.