Twelfth Night: Act I, Scene v

 

Twelfth Night       Act I, Scene v       Viola and Olivia

This speech is used in our conversation with Carl Cofield.

Click here for First Folio version.

OLIVIA
243.  O, sir, I will not be so hard-hearted! I will give
244.  out divers schedules of my beauty. It shall be
245.  inventoried and every particle and utensil labeled
246.  to my will: as, item, two lips indifferent red; item,
247.  two gray eyes with lids to them; item, one neck, one
248.  chin, and so forth. Were you sent hither to praise
249.  me?

VIOLA
250.  I see you what you are. You are too proud.
251.  But if you were the devil you are fair.
252.  My lord and master loves you. O, such love
253.  Could be but recompensed though you were crowned
254.  The nonpareil of beauty.

OLIVIA
                                           How does he love me?

VIOLA
255.  With adorations, fertile tears,
256.  With groans that thunder love, with sighs of fire.

OLIVIA
257.  Your lord does know my mind. I cannot love him.
258.  Yet I suppose him virtuous, know him noble,
259.  Of great estate, of fresh and stainless youth;
260.  In voices well divulged, free, learned, and valiant,
261.  And in dimension and the shape of nature
262.  A gracious person. But yet I cannot love him.
263.  He might have took his answer long ago.

VIOLA
264.  If I did love you in my master’s flame,
265.  With such a suff’ring, such a deadly life,
266.  In your denial I would find no sense.
267.  I would not understand it.

OLIVIA
                                            Why, what would you?

VIOLA
268.  Make me a willow cabin at your gate
269.  And call upon my soul within the house,
270.  Write loyal cantons of contemnèd love
271.  And sing them loud even in the dead of night,
272.  Hallow your name to the reverberate hills
273.  And make the babbling gossip of the air
274.  Cry out “Olivia!” O, you should not rest
275.  Between the elements of air and earth
276.  But you should pity me.

OLIVIA
                                          You might do much.
277.  What is your parentage?

VIOLA
278.  Above my fortunes, yet my state is well.
279.  I am a gentleman.

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