Act IV

Feste is sent to fetch Cesario but runs into Sebastian instead. Feste insists he is someone else and but Sebastian denies knowing him or his lady. Sir Toby and Sir Andrew enter next and strike Sebastian. They too believe he is Cesario, who they just saw supposedly give up his friend. They are startled when Sebastian takes out his dagger and strikes Sir Andrew back. Sir Toby has to hold him off, and Feste goes to tell Olivia what has happened. Sir Toby and Sebastian are about to fight when Olivia comes in drives everyone but Sebastian away. She entreats him to come back to her house and he follows her home like a lost puppy. Sebastian:

"What relish is in this? How runs the stream?
Or I am mad, or else this is a dream.
Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep.
If it be thus to dream, still let me sleep."

Later, Maria dresses Feste up as Sir Topas the curate who may determine whether poor Malvolio, who is locked up in a dark room, is possessed or crazy. He speaks to Malvolio through the door first as Sir Topos, then as the fool, then as Sir Topos, until Feste is having a conversation with himself and Malvolio is the one accused of being insane? Malvolio finally gets Feste to agree to send a letter to Olivia describing his current situation. Malvolio:

"I say this house is as dark as ignorance, thoug igno-
rance were as dark as hell; and I say there was never man thus
abused. I am no more mad than you are. Make the trial of it in
any constant question."

Meanwhile, Sebastian wonders what happened to Antonio as he has heard rumors that Antonio went looking for him. Olivia has asked Sebastian, who she still believes is Cesario, to marry her. Strangely enough, he says yes. She returns with a priest to marry them before he can change his mind. Sebastian:

"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 my eyes
And wrangle with my reason that persuades me
To any other trust but that I am mad,
Or else the lady's mad."