ACT 1
[Enter VALENTINE and VIOLA in man's attire]
VALENTINE
If the duke continue these favours towards you,
If Duke Orsino keeps on being nice
Cesario, you are like to be much advanced: he hath
to you, Cesario, you’ll get promoted.
known you but three days, and already you are no stranger.
He’s only known you three days, but he likes you.
VIOLA
You either fear his humour or my negligence, that
You either think he’s fickle or I’ll screw up
you call in question the continuance of his love:
because you doubt his love will carry on.
is he inconstant, sir, in his favours?
Is he erratic with the folk he likes?
VALENTINE
No, believe me.
Oh no, believe me.
VIOLA
I thank you. Here comes the count.
Thank you. Here’s the Duke.
[Enter DUKE ORSINO, CURIO, and Attendants]
DUKE ORSINO
Who saw Cesario, ho?
Who’s seen Cesario, then?
VIOLA
On your attendance, my lord; here.
I’m waiting for you here, my lord.
DUKE ORSINO
Stand you a while aloof, Cesario,
Wait there where you can’t hear. Cesario,
Thou know'st no less but all; I have unclasped
You know the all of me. I have revealed
To thee the book even of my secret soul:
To you the very secrets of my soul.
Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her;
And so, young man, go take yourself to her
Be not denied access, stand at her doors,
And don’t be turned away. Stand at her doors
And tell them, there thy fixed foot shall grow
And tell them that you will not budge an inch
Till thou have audience.
Until you’ve seen her.
VIOLA
Sure, my noble lord,
Surely though, my lord,
If she be so abandoned to her sorrow
If she’s completely overwhelmed with grief,
As it is spoke, she never will admit me.
As people say, she won’t invite me in.
DUKE ORSINO
Be clamorous and leap all civil bounds
Be blatantly obnoxious, out of order,
Rather than make unprofited return.
Instead of coming back without reply.
VIOLA
Say I do speak with her, my lord, what then?
And if I speak to her, what should I say?
DUKE ORSINO
O, then unfold the passion of my love,
Well, then reveal the passion of my heart.
Surprise her with discourse of my dear faith:
Surprise her by disclosing I’m besotted.
It shall become thee well to act my woes;
You will do well to show how much I’m suffering.
She will attend it better in thy youth
She’ll hear it better coming from a youngster
Than in a nuncio's of more grave aspect.
Than from a messenger who’s growing old.
VIOLA
I think not so, my lord.
I don’t think so, my lord.
DUKE ORSINO
Dear lad, believe it;
Dear lad, believe it,
For they shall yet belie thy happy years,
For they’ll misrepresent your youthful looks
That say thou art a man: Diana's lip
By calling you a man. Diana’s lips
Is not more smooth and rubious; thy small pipe
Are not as smooth and red as yours; your voice
Is as the maiden's organ, shrill and sound,
Is like a young girl’s voice, high-pitched and shrill,
And all is semblative a woman's part.
And all the rest of you looks feminine.
I know thy constellation is right apt
I know your nature, set by stars, is right
For this affair. Some four or five attend him;
To do this job. Go, four or five of you,
All, if you will; for I myself am best
Or all if you prefer, for I am best
When least in company. Prosper well in this,
When left alone. If you do well at this,
And thou shalt live as freely as thy lord,
Then you shall live as freely as your lord,
To call his fortunes thine.
And all my fortune’s yours.
VIOLA
I'll do my best
I’ll do my best
To woo your lady:
To woo your lady.
[Aside]
yet, a barful strife!
Oh, conflicted strife!
Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife.
I’ll woo her, but I hope to be his wife.
[Exeunt]
