from Twelfth Night ; or What You Will
by William Shakespeare
Twelfth Night tells a complex tale of love and disguises. At the heart of the story are Orsino, duke of Illyria; Olivia, whom the duke loves; and Viola, a young woman who washes up on the shores of Illyria after a shipwreck. In the play's opening scene, Orsino declares his love for Olivia to Curio, a gentleman who attends him. Valentine is Orsino's servant.

SCENE:—A city in Illyria ; and the sea-coast near it.

ACT I. SCENE I. The DUKE'S palace.
[Enter ORSINO, Duke of Illyria, CURIO, and other LORDS; MUSICIANS attending.]

DUKE. If music be the food of love, play on,
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken and so die.
That strain again! It had a dying fall;
O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odour! Enough, no more;
'Tis not so sweet now as it was before.
O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou!
That, notwithstanding thy capacity
Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there,
Of what validity and pitch soe'er,
But falls into abatement and low price
Even in a minute. So full of shapes is fancy,
That it alone is high fantastical.

CURIO. Will you go hunt, my lord?

DUKE. What, Curio?

CURIO. The hart.

DUKE. Why, so I do, the noblest that O have.
O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first,
Methought she purg'd the air of pestilence!
That instant was I turn'd into a hart,
And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,
E'er since pursue me.
[Enter VALENTINE.]
How now! what news from her?

VALENTINE. So please my lord, I might not be admitted,
But from her handmaid do return this answer:
The element itself, till seven years' heat,
Shall not behold her face at ample view;
But like a cloistress she will veiled walk,
And water once a day her chamber round
With eye-offending brine; all this to season
A brother's dead love, which she would keep fresh
And lasting in her sad remembrance.

DUKE. O, she that hath a heart of that fine frame
To pay this debt of love but to a brother,
How will she love when the rich golden shaft
Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else
That live in her; when liver, brain, and heart,
These sovereign thrones, are all supplied and fill'd,
Her sweet perfections, with one self king!
Away before me to sweet beds of flow'rs:
Love-thoughts lie rich when canopied with bow'rs.

Viola is a young noblewoman from another country. Finding herself in Illyria, she fears she might be in danger if she reveals her true identity. Thus she disguises herself as a boy named Cesario and enters the service of the Duke Orsino. In the space of a few days, the Duke becomes fond of "Cesario." Viola, for her part, falls in love with Orsino.

SCENE IV. The DUKE'S palace.
[Enter VALENTINE, and VIOLA in man's attire.]

VALENTINE. If the Duke continue these favours towards you, Cesario, you are like to be much advanc'd; he hath known you but three days, and already you are no stranger.

VIOLA. You either fear his humour or my negligence, that you call in question the continuance of his love. Is he inconstant, sir, in his favours?

VALENTINE. No, believe me.
[Enter DUKE, CURIO, and ATTENDANTS.]

VIOLA. I thank you. Here comes the Count.

DUKE. Who saw Cesario, ho?

VIOLA. On your attendance, my lord, here.

DUKE. Stand you awhile aloof. Cesario,
Thou know'st no less but all; I have unclasp'd
To thee the book even of my secret soul.
Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her;
Be not denied access, stand at her doors,
And tell them there thy fixed foot shall grow
Till thou have audience.

VIOLA. Sure, my noble lord,
If she be so abandon'd to her sorrow
As it is spoke, she never will admit me.

DUKE. Be clamorous and leap all civil bounds,
Rather than make unprofited return.

VIOLA. Say I do speak with her, my lord, what then?

DUKE. O, then unfold the passion of my love,
Surprise her with discourse of my dear faith!
It shall become thee well to act my woes:
She will attend it better in thy youth
Than in a nuncio's of more grave aspect.

VIOLA. I think not so, my lord.

DUKE. Dear lad, believe it,
For they shall yet belie thy happy years
That say thou art a man: Diana's lip
Is not more smooth and rubious; thy small pipe
Is as the maiden's organ, shrill and sound,
And all is semblative a woman's part.
I know thy constellation is right apt
For this affair. Some four or five attend him—
All, if you will, for I myself am best
When least in company. Prosper well in this,
And thou shalt live as freely as thy lord
To call his fortunes thine.

VIOLA. I'll do my best
To woo your lady. [ Aside. ] Yet, a barful strife!
Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife.

1.	IMAGERY What sentiment is Orsino expressing with this comparison of love and food?
2.	THEME What feelings about love does Orsino express in this speech?
3.	IMAGERY Why does Orsino compare himself to a hart-or deer-that is being hunted?
4.	IMAGERY Brine means saltwater. What action does this verse describe? Why does Shakespeare use the term "eye-offending" to describe the brine?
5.	SUMMARIZE Tell in a few words what we have learned about Orsino and Olivia in this scene.
6.	SUMMARIZE What is the gist of this speech?
7.	IMAGERY What is the purpose of these comparisons with the goddess Diana and a "maiden's organ"?
8.	SUMMARIZE What does the Duke ask of Viola, and what does he promise?
9.	COMPARE/CONTRAST What do Orsino and Viola have in common in these two scenes?