Twelfth Night | Act I, Scene IV

Scene IV

Duke Orsino' 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 advanced: 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,(5)
sir, in his favours?
VALENTINE:
No, believe me.
VIOLA:
I thank you. Here comes the Count.

[Enter Duke, Curio, and Attendants.]

DUKE ORSINO:
Who saw Cesario, ho?
VIOLA:
On your attendance, my lord; here.(10)
DUKE ORSINO:
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,(15)
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.(20)
DUKE ORSINO:
Be clamorous and leap all civil bounds,
Rather than make unprofited return.
VIOLA:
Say I do speak with her, my lord, what then?
DUKE ORSINO:
O, then unfold the passion of my love,
Surprise her with discourse of my dear faith:(25)
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 ORSINO:
Dear lad, believe it;(30)
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.(35)
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,(40)
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.

[Exeunt.]

  • temper, attitude
  • changeable
  • detached, distant
  • direct your steps
  • noisy, boisterous
  • talk, discussion
  • messenger's
  • appearance
  • to contradict or disprove
  • a reference to the goddess of the hunt from ancient Roman mythology
  • bright red
  • throat
  • resembles
  • nature, character
  • a difficult situation filled with obstacles
  • With this statement, Viola makes it clear that she has fallen in love with Orsino. The love triangle which surrounds the plot is now completely set up. Orsino is in love with Olivia, while Olivia is falling for Cesario, who is Viola in disguise. Viola now confesses that she is in love with Orsino. Making this triangle even more problematic is the fact that both Olivia and Orsino believe that Viola is a man.