| ACT I SCENE IV | DUKE ORSINO's palace. | |
| | Enter VALENTINE and VIOLA in man's attire | |
| VALENTINE | If the duke continue these favours towards you, | |
| | Cesario, you are like to be much advanced: he hath | |
| | known you but three days, and already you are no stranger. | |
| VIOLA | You either fear his humour or my negligence, that | 5 |
| | you call in question the continuance of his love: | |
| | is he inconstant, sir, in his favours? | |
| VALENTINE | No, believe me. | |
| VIOLA | I thank you. Here comes the count. | |
| | Enter DUKE ORSINO, CURIO, and Attendants | |
| DUKE ORSINO | Who saw Cesario, ho? | 10 |
| VIOLA | On your attendance, my lord; here. | |
| DUKE ORSINO | Stand you a while aloof, Cesario, | |
| | Thou know'st no less but all; I have unclasp'd | |
| | To thee the book even of my secret soul: | |
| | Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her; | 15 |
| | Be not denied access, stand at her doors, | |
| | And tell them, there thy fixed foot shall grow | |
| | Till thou have audience. | |
| VIOLA | Sure, my noble lord, | |
| | If she be so abandon'd to her sorrow | 20 |
| | As it is spoke, she never will admit me. | |
| DUKE ORSINO | Be clamorous and leap all civil bounds | |
| | Rather than make unprofited return. | |
| VIOLA | Say I do speak with her, my lord, what then? | |
| DUKE ORSINO | O, then unfold the passion of my love, | 25 |
| | Surprise her with discourse of my dear faith: | |
| | It shall become thee well to act my woes; | |
| | She will attend it better in thy youth | |
| | Than in a nuncio's of more grave aspect. | |
| VIOLA | I think not so, my lord. | 30 |
| DUKE ORSINO | Dear lad, believe it; | |
| | For they shall yet belie thy happy years, | |
| | That say thou art a man: Diana's lip | |
| | Is not more smooth and rubious; thy small pipe | |
| | Is as the maiden's organ, shrill and sound, | 35 |
| | And all is semblative a woman's part. | |
| | I know thy constellation is right apt | |
| | For this affair. Some four or five attend him; | |
| | All, if you will; for I myself am best | |
| | When least in company. Prosper well in this, | 40 |
| | And thou shalt live as freely as thy lord, | |
| | To call his fortunes thine. | |
| VIOLA | I'll do my best | |
| | To woo your lady: | |
| | Aside | |
| | yet, a barful strife! | 45 |
| | Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife. | |
| | Exeunt | |
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