Twelfth Night: Act V, Scene i

Twelfth Night.         Act 5, Scene 1.      Olivia

(This text is featured in our interview with Mei Ann Teo)

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OLIVIA
236 Most Wonderful!

OTHER OPTION

ORSINO 
 118.  Why should I not, had I the heart to do it,
 119.  Like to th’ Egyptian thief at point of death,
 120.  Kill what I love?—a savage jealousy
 121.  That sometime savors nobly. But hear me this:
 122.  Since you to nonregardance cast my faith,
 123.  And that I partly know the instrument
 124.  That screws me from my true place in your favor,
 125.  Live you the marble-breasted tyrant still.
 126.  But this your minion, whom I know you love,
 127.  And whom, by heaven I swear, I tender dearly,
 128.  Him will I tear out of that cruel eye
 129.  Where he sits crownèd in his master’s spite.—
 130.  Come, boy, with me. My thoughts are ripe in mischief.
 131.  I’ll sacrifice the lamb that I do love
 132.  To spite a raven’s heart within a dove.

VIOLA 
 133.  And I, most jocund, apt, and willingly,
 134.  To do you rest a thousand deaths would die.

OLIVIA 
 135.  Where goes Cesario?

VIOLA                             
                                                              After him I love
 136.  More than I love these eyes, more than my life,
 137.  More by all mores than e’er I shall love wife.
 138.  If I do feign, you witnesses above,
 139.  Punish my life for tainting of my love.

OLIVIA 
 140.  Ay me, detested! How am I beguiled!

VIOLA 
 141.  Who does beguile you? Who does do you wrong?

OLIVIA 
 142.  Hast thou forgot thyself? Is it so long?—
 143.  Call forth the holy father.⌜An Attendant exits.⌝

ORSINO, ⌜to Viola⌝   
                                            Come, away!

OLIVIA 
 144.  Whither, my lord?—Cesario, husband, stay.

ORSINO 
 145.  Husband?

OLIVIA   
                        Ay, husband. Can he that deny?

ORSINO 
 146.  Her husband, sirrah?

VIOLA   
                                      No, my lord, not I.

OLIVIA 
147.   Alas, it is the baseness of thy fear
148.  That makes thee strangle thy propriety.
149.  Fear not, Cesario. Take thy fortunes up.
150.  Be that thou know’st thou art, and then thou art
151.  As great as that thou fear’st.