Page 625 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

A gentleman and follower of my lady’s.

OLIVIA
He shall enlarge him: fetch Malvolio hither.
And yet alas! now I remember me,
They say, poor gentleman, he’s much distract.

Enter Clown with a letter, and Fabian.

A most extracting frenzy of mine own [275]
From my remembrance clearly banish’d his.
How does he, sirrah?

CLOWN
Truly, Madam, he holds Belzebub at the stave’s end as well as a man in his
case may do; ‘has here writ a letter to you. I should have given’t you to-day

morning, [280] but as a madman’s epistles are no gospels, so it skills not
much when they are delivered.

OLIVIA
Open’t, and read it.

CLOWN
Look then to be well edified, when the fool delivers the madman. [285]
(Reads) By the Lord, madam, −

OLIVIA

How now, art thou mad?

CLOWN

No, madam, I do but read madness: and your ladyship will have it as it ought
to be, you must allow vox.

OLIVIA
Prithee, read i’ thy right wits. [290]

CLOWN