Enter VIOLA, and Attendants
VIOLA 

The honourable lady of the house, which is she?

OLIVIA 

Speak to me; I shall answer for her.
Your will?


VIOLA 

Most radiant, exquisite and unmatchable beauty,--I
pray you, tell me if this be the lady of the house,
for I never saw her: I would be loath to cast away
my speech, for besides that it is excellently well
penned, I have taken great pains to con it. Good
beauties, let me sustain no scorn; I am very
comptible, even to the least sinister usage.


OLIVIA 

Whence came you, sir?

VIOLA 

I can say little more than I have studied, and that
question's out of my part. Good gentle one, give me
modest assurance if you be the lady of the house,
that I may proceed in my speech.


OLIVIA 

Are you a comedian?

VIOLA 

No, my profound heart: and yet, by the very fangs
of malice I swear, I am not that I play. Are you
the lady of the house?


OLIVIA 

If I do not usurp myself, I am.

VIOLA 

Most certain, if you are she, you do usurp
yourself; for what is yours to bestow is not yours
to reserve. But this is from my commission: I will
on with my speech in your praise, and then show you
the heart of my message.


OLIVIA 

Come to what is important in't: I forgive you the praise.

VIOLA 

Alas, I took great pains to study it, and 'tis poetical.

OLIVIA 

It is the more like to be feigned: I pray you,
keep it in. I heard you were saucy at my gates,
and allowed your approach rather to wonder at you
than to hear you. If you be not mad, be gone; if
you have reason, be brief: 'tis not that time of
moon with me to make one in so skipping a dialogue.


MARIA 

Will you hoist sail, sir? here lies your way.

VIOLA 

No, good swabber; I am to hull here a little
longer. Some mollification for your giant, sweet
lady. Tell me your mind: I am a messenger.


OLIVIA 

Sure, you have some hideous matter to deliver, when
the courtesy of it is so fearful. Speak your office.


VIOLA 

It alone concerns your ear. I bring no overture of
war, no taxation of homage: I hold the olive in my
hand; my words are as fun of peace as matter.


OLIVIA 

Yet you began rudely. What are you? what would you?

VIOLA 

The rudeness that hath appeared in me have I
learned from my entertainment. What I am, and what I
would, are as secret as maidenhead; to your ears,
divinity, to any other's, profanation.


OLIVIA 

Give us the place alone: we will hear this divinity.

Exeunt MARIA and Attendants
Now, sir, what is your text?


VIOLA 

Most sweet lady,--

OLIVIA 

A comfortable doctrine, and much may be said of it.
Where lies your text?


VIOLA 

In Orsino's bosom.

OLIVIA 

In his bosom! In what chapter of his bosom?

VIOLA 

To answer by the method, in the first of his heart.

OLIVIA 

O, I have read it: it is heresy. Have you no more to say?

VIOLA 

Good madam, let me see your face.

OLIVIA 

Have you any commission from your lord to negotiate
with my face? You are now out of your text: but
we will draw the curtain and show you the picture.
Look you, sir, such a one I was this present: is't
not well done?


Unveiling
VIOLA 

Excellently done, if God did all.

OLIVIA 

'Tis in grain, sir; 'twill endure wind and weather.

VIOLA 

'Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white
Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on:
Lady, you are the cruell'st she alive,
If you will lead these graces to the grave
And leave the world no copy.


OLIVIA 

O, sir, I will not be so hard-hearted; I will give
out divers schedules of my beauty: it shall be
inventoried, and every particle and utensil
labelled to my will: as, item, two lips,
indifferent red; item, two grey eyes, with lids to
them; item, one neck, one chin, and so forth. Were
you sent hither to praise me?


VIOLA 

I see you what you are, you are too proud;
But, if you were the devil, you are fair.
My lord and master loves you: O, such love
Could be but recompensed, though you were crown'd
The nonpareil of beauty!


OLIVIA 

How does he love me?

VIOLA 

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


OLIVIA 

Your lord does know my mind; I cannot love him:
Yet I suppose him virtuous, know him noble,
Of great estate, of fresh and stainless youth;
In voices well divulged, free, learn'd and valiant;
And in dimension and the shape of nature
A gracious person: but yet I cannot love him;
He might have took his answer long ago.


VIOLA 

If I did love you in my master's flame,
With such a suffering, such a deadly life,
In your denial I would find no sense;
I would not understand it.


OLIVIA 

Why, what would you?

VIOLA 

Make me a willow cabin at your gate,
And call upon my soul within the house;
Write loyal cantons of contemned love
And sing them loud even in the dead of night;
Halloo your name to the reverberate hills
And make the babbling gossip of the air
Cry out 'Olivia!' O, You should not rest
Between the elements of air and earth,
But you should pity me!


OLIVIA 

You might do much.
What is your parentage?


VIOLA 

Above my fortunes, yet my state is well:
I am a gentleman.


OLIVIA 

Get you to your lord;
I cannot love him: let him send no more;
Unless, perchance, you come to me again,
To tell me how he takes it. Fare you well:
I thank you for your pains: spend this for me.


VIOLA 

I am no fee'd post, lady; keep your purse:
My master, not myself, lacks recompense.
Love make his heart of flint that you shall love;
And let your fervor, like my master's, be
Placed in contempt! Farewell, fair cruelty.


Exit

12night