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.
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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.