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The First Web Folio Edition of Shakespeare's Works
| DUKE ORSINO'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 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: | 5 | ||
| is he inconstant, sir, in his favours? |
| VALENTINE | No, believe me. |
| VIOLA | I thank you. Here comes the count. | ||
| [Enter DUKE ORSINO, CURIO, and Attendants] |
| DUKE ORSINO | Who saw Cesario, ho? |
| VIOLA | On your attendance, my lord; here. | 10 |
| DUKE ORSINO | Stand you a while 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. | 45 | ||
| [Exeunt] |
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