Twelfth Night: Act II, Scene v

 

Twelfth Night.         Act 2, Scene 5.      Malvolio

(This text is featured in our interview with Ted Lewis)

MALVOLIO

20  ‘Tis but fortune; all is fortune. Maria once told
21  me she did affect me: and I have heard herself come
22  thus near, that, should she fancy, it should be one
23  of my complexion. Besides, she uses me with a more
24  exalted respect than any one else that follows her.
25  What should I think on’t?

SIR TOBY BELCH

26  Here’s an overweening rogue!

FABIAN

27  O, peace! Contemplation makes a rare turkey-cock
28  of him: how he jets under his advanced plumes!

SIR ANDREW

29  ‘Slight, I could so beat the rogue!

SIR TOBY BELCH

30  Peace, I say.

MALVOLIO

31  To be Count Malvolio!

SIR TOBY BELCH

32  Ah, rogue!

SIR ANDREW

33  Pistol him, pistol him.

SIR TOBY BELCH

34  Peace, peace!

MALVOLIO

35  There is example for’t; the lady of the Strachy
36  married the yeoman of the wardrobe.

SIR ANDREW

37  Fie on him, Jezebel!

FABIAN

38  O, peace! now he’s deeply in: look how
39  imagination blows him.

MALVOLIO

40  Having been three months married to her, sitting in
41  my state,–

SIR TOBY BELCH

42  O, for a stone-bow, to hit him in the eye!

MALVOLIO

43  Calling my officers about me, in my branched velvet
44  gown; having come from a day-bed, where I have left
45  Olivia sleeping,–

SIR TOBY BELCH

46  Fire and brimstone!

FABIAN

47  O, peace, peace!

MALVOLIO

48  And then to have the humour of state; and after a
49  demure travel of regard, telling them I know my
50  place as I would they should do theirs, to for my
51  kinsman Toby,–

SIR TOBY BELCH

52  Bolts and shackles!

FABIAN

53  O peace, peace, peace! now, now.

MALVOLIO

54  Seven of my people, with an obedient start, make
55  out for him: I frown the while; and perchance wind
56  up watch, or play with my–some rich jewel. Toby
57  approaches; courtesies there to me,–

SIR TOBY BELCH

58  Shall this fellow live?

FABIAN

59  Though our silence be drawn from us with cars, yet peace.

MALVOLIO

60  I extend my hand to him thus, quenching my familiar
61  smile with an austere regard of control,–

SIR TOBY BELCH

62  And does not Toby take you a blow o’ the lips then?

MALVOLIO

63  Saying, ‘Cousin Toby, my fortunes having cast me on
64  your niece give me this prerogative of speech,’–

SIR TOBY BELCH

65  What, what?

MALVOLIO

66  ‘You must amend your drunkenness.’

SIR TOBY BELCH

67  Out, scab!

FABIAN

68  Nay, patience, or we break the sinews of our plot.

MALVOLIO

69  ‘Besides, you waste the treasure of your time with
70  a foolish knight,’–

SIR ANDREW

71  That’s me, I warrant you.

MALVOLIO

72  ‘One Sir Andrew,’–