Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Act 1 - Scene 4
DUKE ORSINO’s palace.
Valentine : If the duke continue these favours towards you,
[p]Cesario, you are
like to be much advanced: he hath
[p]known you but three days, and
already you are no stranger.
Viola : You either fear his humour or my negligence, that
[p]you call in
question the continuance of his love:
[p]is he inconstant, sir, in his
favours?
Valentine : No, believe me.
Viola : I thank you. Here comes the count.
Orsino : Who saw Cesario, ho?
Viola : On your attendance, my lord; here.
Orsino : Stand you a while aloof, Cesario,
[p]Thou know'st no less but all; I
have unclasp'd
[p]To thee the book even of my secret
soul:
[p]Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her;
[p]Be not
denied access, stand at her doors,
[p]And tell them, there thy fixed
foot shall grow
[p]Till thou have audience.
Viola : Sure, my noble lord,
[p]If she be so abandon'd to her sorrow
[p]As it
is spoke, she never will admit me.
Orsino : Be clamorous and leap all civil bounds
[p]Rather than make unprofited
return.
Viola : Say I do speak with her, my lord, what then?
Orsino : O, then unfold the passion of my love,
[p]Surprise her with discourse
of my dear faith:
[p]It shall become thee well to act my woes;
[p]She
will attend it better in thy youth
[p]Than in a nuncio's of more grave
aspect.
Viola : I think not so, my lord.
Orsino : Dear lad, believe it;
[p]For they shall yet belie thy happy
years,
[p]That say thou art a man: Diana's lip
[p]Is not more smooth
and rubious; thy small pipe
[p]Is as the maiden's organ, shrill and
sound,
[p]And all is semblative a woman's part.
[p]I know thy
constellation is right apt
[p]For this affair. Some four or five
attend him;
[p]All, if you will; for I myself am best
[p]When least in
company. Prosper well in this,
[p]And thou shalt live as freely as thy
lord,
[p]To call his fortunes thine.
Viola : I'll do my best
[p]To woo your lady:
[p][Aside]
[p]yet, a barful
strife!
[p]Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife.
Previous: Act 1 - Scene 3
Next: Act 1 - Scene 5
