Malvolio re-enters with news of Cesario. Notice how he doesn’t pass judgment on this young pageboy until Olivia asks him. Before this exchange, Malvolio had been reproached by Olivia for taking a fool too seriously. He introduces the subject of Cesario very matter of factly, almost as if he were following procedure in wishing off an embassy:

MALVOLIO
Madam, yond young fellow swears he will speak with you.
I told him you were sick, he takes on him to
understand so much, and therefore comes to speak with
you. I told him you were asleep, he seems to have a
fore knowledge of that too, and therefore comes to
speak with you. What is to be said to him, Lady, he’s
fortified against any denial.

I think Malvolio is actually exasperated as he recounts this stubborn Cesario to Olivia, so that by the time he says, “Lady, he’s fortified against any denial,” he’s asking for both Olivia’s permission to send Cesario away and her sympathy.

Olivia: Tell him, he shall not speak with me.

Malvolio: He’s been told so: and he says he’ll stand at your
door like a Sheriff’s post, and be the supporter to a
bench, but he’ll speak with you.

Malvolio reveals foolishness, here, in demanding more sympathy from Olivia than the situation deserves. If he were to nod and leave, and not make the situation more difficult (and non-standard-procedure) than it is, he wouldn’t have invoked Olivia’s curiosity–and for want of other idleness–her interest.

Olivia: What kind of man is he?

Malvolio: Why of man kind…

This isn’t just Malvolio being coy. He’s actually starting to realize his folly–dear God, she can’t be interested in this young peascod, can she?

Olivia: What manner of man?

Malvolio: Of very ill manner: he’ll speak with you, will you, or
no.

It appears that what Malvolio finds repugnant, Olivia finds interesting (shouldn’t he have caught on already, with Feste, earlier):

Olivia: Of what personage and years is he?

Malvolio perhaps smiles as he gives Olivia what he hopes to be a verbal painting of a pathetic personage:

Malvolio: Not yet old enough for a man, nor young enough for a
boy: as a squash before ’tis a peascod, or a Codling
when ’tis almost an Apple: ‘Tis with him in standing
water, between boy and man. He is very well-favour’d
and he speaks very shrewishly: One would think his
mother’s milk were scarce out of him.

Malvolio seems a horrible judge of character. Of course, the Lady Olivia, for want of other idleness, would be interested in a young boy.

Olivia: Let him approach: Call in my Gentlewoman

Malvolio: Gentlewoman, my Lady calls.

I imagine Malvolio would leave muttering to himself, as Maria enters. Now he has more than Feste to worry about.

Tags: Malvolio, Olivia