• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

MALVOLIO.

Good fool, as ever thou wilt deserve well at my hand,

help me to a candle, and pen, ink, and paper; as I am a

gentleman, I will live to be thankful to thee for't.

CLOWN.

Master Malvolio?

MALVOLIO.

Ay, good fool.

CLOWN.

Alas, sir, how fell you besides your five wits?

MALVOLIO.

Fool, there was never man so notoriously abus'd;

I am as well in my wits, fool, as thou art.

CLOWN.

But as well? Then you are mad indeed, if you be no better in

your wits than a fool.

MALVOLIO.

They have here propertied me; keep me in darkness, send

ministers to me, asses, and do all they can to face me out of my wits.

CLOWN.

Advise you what. you say: the minister is here.

[Speaking as SIR TOPAS] Malvolio, thy wits the heavens restore!

Endeavour thyself to sleep, and leave thy vain bibble-babble.

MALVOLIO.

Sir Topas!

CLOWN.

Maintain no words with him, good fellow.- Who, I, sir?

Not

I, sir. God buy you, good Sir Topas.- Marry, amen.- I will

sir, I will.

MALVOLIO.

Fool, fool, fool, I say!

CLOWN.

Alas, sir, be patient. What say you, sir? I am shent for speaking to you.

MALVOLIO.

Good fool, help me to some light and some paper.

I tell thee I am as well in my wits as any man in Illyria.

CLOWN.

Well-a-day that you were, sir!

MALVOLIO.

By this hand, I am. Good fool, some ink, paper, and

light; and convey what I will set down to my lady. It shall

advantage thee more than ever the bearing of letter did.

CLOWN.

I will help you to't. But tell me true, are you not mad

indeed, or do you but counterfeit?

MALVOLIO.

Believe me, I am not; I tell thee true.

CLOWN.

Nay, I'll ne'er believe a madman till I see his brains.

I will fetch you light and paper and ink.

MALVOLIO.

Fool, I'll requite it in the highest degree; I prithe be gone.

CLOWN.

[Singing]

I am gone, sir,

And anon, sir,

I'll be with you again,

In a trice,

Like to the old Vice,

Your need to sustain;

Who with dagger of lath,

In his rage and his wrath,

Cries, Ah, ha! to the devil,

Like a mad lad,

Pare thy nails, dad.

Adieu, goodman devil. Exit

SCENE III. OLIVIA'S garden

Enter SEBASTIAN

SEBASTIAN.

This is the air; that is the glorious sun;

This pearl she gave me, I do feel't and see't;

And though 'tis wonder that enwraps me thus,

Yet 'tis not madness. Where's Antonio, then?

I could not find him at the Elephant;

Yet there he was; and there I found this credit,

That he did range the town to seek me out.

His counsel now might do me golden service;

For though my soul disputes well with my sense

That this may be some error, but no madness,

Yet doth this accident and flood of fortune

So far exceed all instance, all discourse,

That I am ready to distrust mine eyes

And wrangle with my reason, that persuades me

To any other trust but that I am mad,

Or else the lady's mad; yet if 'twere so,

She could not sway her house, command her followers,

Take and give back affairs and their dispatch

With such a smooth, discreet, and stable bearing,

As I perceive she does. There's something in't

That is deceivable. But here the lady comes.

Enter OLIVIA and PRIEST

OLIVIA.

Blame not this haste of mine. If you mean well,

Now go with me and with this holy man

Into the chantry by; there, before him

And underneath that consecrated roof,

Plight me the fun assurance of your faith,

That my most jealous and too doubtful soul

May live at peace. He shall conceal it

Whiles you are willing it shall come to note,

What time we will our celebration keep

According to my birth. What do you say?

SEBASTIAN.

I'll follow this good man, and go with you;

And, having sworn truth, ever will be true.

OLIVIA.

Then lead the way, good father; and heavens so shine

That they may fairly note this act of mine! Exeunt

ACT V. SCENE I. Before OLIVIA's house

Enter CLOWN and FABIAN

FABIAN.

Now, as thou lov'st me, let me see his letter.

CLOWN.

Good Master Fabian, grant me another request.

FABIAN.

Anything.

CLOWN.

Do not desire to see this letter.