Act III begins as Cesario heads back to see Olivia. He first encounters Feste the Fool, whom he recognizes from his recent appearance at Orsino’s court, and then Sir Toby and Andrew, before Olivia appears. When Olivia and Cesario are alone, Cesario relays Orsino’s message of love, but Olivia refuses it and confesses that she’s in love with Cesario. Cesario tells her that he does not feel the same—instead telling Olivia, “I pity you” (III.1.129)—and the two soon part.

At Olivia’s estate, Andrew is resolved to give up his quest to court Olivia. Sir Toby insists that he should stay and tells Andrew to challenge Cesario to a duel in order to impress Olivia and win her love. He tells Andrew to go write a letter to Cesario, but when Andrew leaves, Toby confesses to Fabian that he will not deliver the letter, as he thinks Andrew is cowardly and that “oxen and wainropes cannot hale [Andrew and Cesario] together” for a duel (III.2.58-59). Maria enters and tells the men that Malvolio has obeyed “every point of the letter that I dropped to betray him” (III.