Malvolio’s Audition
MALVOLIO
M,
O, A, I; this simulation is not as the former: and yet, to crush this a little,
it would bow to 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 upon 'em.
Cast
thy humble slough and appear fresh. Be opposite with a kinsman, surly with
servants; 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 desirest to be so; if not, let me see thee a steward
still, the fellow of servants, and not worthy to touch Fortune's fingers.
Farewell.
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, I will be point-devise 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 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.
Reads
'Thou
canst not choose but know who I am.
If
thou entertainest 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 everything that thou wilt have me.