Twelfth Night (Completed)

Twelfth Night

This etext was prepared by the PG Shakespeare Team, a team of about twenty Project Gutenberg volunteers.

TWELFTH NIGHT; OR, WHAT YOU WILL

by William Shakespeare

PERSONS REPRESENTED

ORSINO, Duke of Illyria. SEBASTIAN, a young Gentleman, brother to Viola. ANTONIO, a Sea Captain, friend to Sebastian. A SEA CAPTAIN, friend to Viola VALENTINE, Gentleman attending on the Duke CURIO, Gentleman attending on the Duke SIR TOBY BELCH, Uncle of Olivia. SIR ANDREW AGUE-CHEEK.

MALVOLIO, Steward to Olivia. FABIAN, Servant to Olivia. CLOWN, Servant to Olivia.

OLIVIA, a rich Countess. VIOLA, in love with the Duke. MARIA, Olivia's Woman.

Lords, Priests, Sailors, Officers, Musicians, and other Attendants.

SCENE: A City in Illyria; and the Sea-coast near it.

ACT I.

SCENE I. An Apartment in the DUKE'S Palace.

[Enter DUKE, CURIO, Lords; Musicians attending.]

DUKE. If music be the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it; that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken and so die.-- That strain again;--it had a dying fall; O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet south, That breathes upon a bank of violets, Stealing and giving odour.--Enough; no more; 'Tis not so sweet now as it was before. O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou! That, notwithstanding thy capacity Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there, Of what validity and pitch soever, But falls into abatement and low price Even in a minute! so full of shapes is fancy, That it alone is high-fantastical.

CURIO. Will you go hunt, my lord?

DUKE. What, Curio?

CURIO. The hart.

DUKE. Why, so I do, the noblest that I have: O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first, Methought she purg'd the air of pestilence; That instant was I turn'd into a hart; And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds, E'er since pursue me.--How now! what news from her?

[Enter VALENTINE.]

VALENTINE. So please my lord, I might not be admitted, But from her handmaid do return this answer: The element itself, till seven years' heat, Shall not behold her face at ample view; But like a cloistress she will veiled walk, And water once a-day her chamber round With eye-offending brine: all this to season A brother's dead love, which she would keep fresh And lasting in her sad remembrance.

DUKE. O, she that hath a heart of that fine frame To pay this debt of love but to a brother, How will she love when the rich golden shaft Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else That live in her; when liver, brain, and heart, These sovereign thrones, are all supplied and fill'd,-- Her sweet perfections,--with one self king!-- Away before me to sweet beds of flowers: Love-thoughts lie rich when canopied with bowers.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE II. The sea-coast.

[Enter VIOLA, CAPTAIN, and Sailors.]

VIOLA. What country, friends, is this?

CAPTAIN. This is Illyria, lady.

VIOLA. And what should I do in Illyria? My brother he is in Elysium. Perchance he is not drown'd--What think you, sailors?

CAPTAIN. It is perchance that you yourself were sav'd.

VIOLA. O my poor brother! and so perchance may he be.

CAPTAIN. True, madam; and, to comfort you with chance, Assure yourself, after our ship did split, When you, and those poor number sav'd with you, Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother, Most provident in peril, bind himself,--- Courage and hope both teaching him the practice,-- To a strong mast that liv'd upon the sea; Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back, I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves So long as I could see.