TWELFTH NIGHT

Act 1 Scene 4

(Enter Valentine, and Viola as Cesario in man's attire)
l1l	Valentine	 If the Duke continue these favours towards
l2l		you, Cesario, you are like to be much advanced. He
l3l		hath known you but three days, and already you are
l4l		no stranger.
l5l	Viola	You either fear his humour or my negligence, that
l6l		you call in question the continuance of his love. Is he
l7l		inconstant, sir, in his favours?
l8l	Valentine	No, believe me.
		(Enter the Duke, Curio, and attendants)
l9l	Viola	 I thank you. Here comes the Count.
l10l	Orsino	Who saw Cesario, ho?
l11l	Viola	On your attendance, my lord, here.
l12l	Orsino	(to Curio and attendants)
		 Stand you a while aloof.
		(To Viola)
		 Cesario,
l13l		Thou know’st no less but all. I have unclasped
l14l		To thee the book even of my secret soul.
l15l		Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her,
l16l		Be not denied access, stand at her doors,
l17l		And tell them there thy fixèd foot shall grow
l18l		Till thou have audience.
	Viola	Sure, my noble lord,
l19l		If she be so abandoned to her sorrow
l20l		As it is spoke, she never will admit me.
l21l	Orsino	Be clamorous, and leap all civil bounds,
l22l		Rather than make unprofited return.
l23l	Viola	Say I do speak with her, my lord, what then?
l24l	Orsino	O then unfold the passion of my love,
l25l		Surprise her with discourse of my dear faith.
l26l		It shall become thee well to act my woes—
l27l		She will attend it better in thy youth
l28l		Than in a nuncio’s of more grave aspect.
l29l	Viola	I think not so, my lord.
	Orsino	Dear lad, believe it#
l30l		For they shall yet belie thy happy years
l31l		That say thou art a man. Diana’s lip
l32l		Is not more smooth and rubious# thy small pipe
l33l		Is as the maiden’s organ, shrill and sound,
l34l		And all is semblative a woman’s part.
l35l		I know thy constellation is right apt
l36l		For this affair.
		(To Curio and attendants)
		 Some four or five attend him.
l37l		All if you will, for I myself am best
l38l		When least in company.
		(To Viola)
		 Prosper well in this
l39l		And thou shalt live as freely as thy lord,
l40l		To call his fortunes thine.
	Viola	I’ll do my best
l41l		To woo your lady—
		(aside)
		 yet a barful strife—
l42l		Whoe’er I woo, myself would be his wife.
		(Exeunt)