Page:Shakespeare and astrology, from a student's point of view (IA sheakespeareastr00wils).pdf/6

 and concerned with the development of a character under certain well known astrological conditions, This habit of working with Zodiacal types appeared to grow as years went on. There is a beautiful instance of it in one of his later plays. In the 2nd. Scene of the 1st. Act of “Twelfth Night” Sir Toby says, in reply to Andrew's expressed yearning to “set about some  revels;”&mdash;

To the uninformed reader such words are meaningless. Singer explains them by saying that the errors were probably intentional; but Andrew’s clearly was not, while Toby’s as  surely was; the truth being that Shakespeare, himself a Taurus  man, was treating at the time the very best of his Taurian  characters (Falstaff and Bottom not forgotten); and Toby was  not the man to let his friend Capricorn’s misstatement pass  without rallying him with another. Why he chose that particular one is apparent from the context. Toby had the characteristic Taurian interest in physique, legs had special fascination for him (witness in a later scene, his remarks on these essentials  in the personality of Viola); Andrew’s shanks in particular  took his fancy:&mdash;

“I did think” says he, “by the excellent constitution of thy leg that it was formed under the star of a galliard.”

“Aye” says Andrew succumbing to the flattery, “‘tis strong and it does indifferent well in a flame coloured  stock.”

“What is thy excellence in a galliard, knight?” asks Toby, the exquisite, the inimitable,

“Faith” says the victim, “I can cut a caper.” And one can hear the Taurian chuckle and the basso comment, sotto  voce:&mdash;“And I can cut the mutton to’t.“

In the letter to Malvolio, in the composition of which Toby must have had a hand, (Act 2, Sc. 5) we have the words:&mdash;

“In my stars I am above thee;

but be not afraid of greatness.”

where the reference clearly is to Jupiter near Midheaven in the tenth or eleventh “house” as opposed to Jupiter beneath the  earth at time of birth. This is shown by the subsequent&mdash;