Antonio never yet was thief or pirate,

Though, I confess, on base and ground enough

Orsino’s enemy. A witchcraft drew me hither.

That most ingrateful boy there by your side

From the rude sea’s enraged and foamy mouth

Did I redeem. A wreck past hope he was.

His life I gave him, and did thereto add

My love without retention or restraint,

All his in dedication. For his sake

Did I expose myself, pure for his love,

Into the danger of this adverse town,

Drew to defend him when he was beset,

Where being apprehended, his false cunning—

Not meaning to partake with me in danger—

Taught him to face me out of his acquaintance,

And grew a twenty years’ removed thing

While one would wink, denied me mine own purse,

Which I had recommended to his use

Not half an hour before.

VIOLA How can this be?

ORSINO When came he to this town?

ANTONIO

Today, my lord, and for three months before,

No int’rim, not a minute’s vacancy,

Both day and night did we keep company.

Enter Olivia and attendants

ORSINO

Here comes the Countess. Now heaven walks on

earth.

But for thee, fellow—fellow, thy words are madness.

Three months this youth hath tended upon me.

But more of that anon. Take him aside.

OLIVIA

What would my lord, but that he may not have,

Wherein Olivia may seem serviceable?

Cesario, you do not keep promise with me.

VIOLA Madam—

ORSINO Gracious Olivia—

OLIVIA

What do you say, Cesario? Good my lord—

VIOLA

My lord would speak, my duty hushes me.

OLIVIA

If it be aught to the old tune, my lord,

It is as fat and fulsome to mine ear

As howling after music.

ORSINO Still so cruel?

OLIVIA Still so constant, lord.

ORSINO

What, to perverseness? You uncivil lady,

To whose ingrate and unauspicious altars

My soul the faithfull‘st off’rings hath breathed out

That e’er devotion tendered—what shall I do?

OLIVIA

Even what it please my lord that shall become him.

ORSINO

Why should I not, had I the heart to do it,

Like to th’ Egyptian thief, at point of death

Kill what I love—a savage jealousy

That sometime savours nobly. But hear me this:

Since you to non-regardance cast my faith,

And that I partly know the instrument

That screws me from my true place in your favour,

Live you the marble-breasted tyrant still.

But this your minion, whom I know you love,

And whom, by heaven I swear, I tender dearly,

Him will I tear out of that cruel eye

Where he sits crowned in his master’s spite.

(To Viola) Come, boy, with me. My thoughts are ripe

in mischief.

I’ll sacrifice the lamb that I do love

To spite a raven’s heart within a dove.

VIOLA

And I most jocund, apt, and willingly

To do you rest a thousand deaths would die.

OLIVIA

Where goes Cesario?

VIOLA

After him I love

More than I love these eyes, more than my life,

More by all mores than e’er I shall love wife.

If I do feign, you witnesses above,

Punish my life for tainting of my love.

OLIVIA

Ay me detested, how am I beguiled!

VIOLA

Who does beguile you? Who does do you wrong?

OLIVIA

Hast thou forgot thyself? Is it so long?

Call forth the holy father. Exit an attendant

ORSINO (to Viola)

Come, away.

OLIVIA

Whither, my lord? Cesario, husband, stay.

ORSINO

Husband?

OLIVIA Ay, husband. Can he that deny?

ORSINO (to Viola)

Her husband, sirrah?

VIOLA

No, my lord, not I.

OLIVIA

Alas, it is the baseness of thy fear

That makes thee strangle thy propriety.

Fear not, Cesario, take thy fortunes up,

Be that thou know‘st thou art, and then thou art

As great as that thou fear’st.

Enter the Priest

O welcome, father.

Father, I charge thee by thy reverence

Here to unfold—though lately we intended

To keep in darkness what occasion now

Reveals before ’tis ripe—what thou dost know

Hath newly passed between this youth and me.

PRIEST

A contract of eternal bond of love,

Confirmed by mutual joinder of your hands,

Attested by the holy close of lips,

Strengthened by interchangement of your rings,

And all the ceremony of this compact

Sealed in my function, by my testimony;

Since when, my watch hath told me, toward my grave

I have travelled but two hours.

ORSINO (to Viola)

O thou dissembling cub, what wilt thou be

When time hath sowed a grizzle on thy case?

Or will not else thy craft so quickly grow

That thine own trip shall be thine overthrow?

Farewell, and take her, but direct thy feet

Where thou and I henceforth may never meet.

VIOLA

My lord, I do protest.

OLIVIA

O, do not swear!

Hold little faith, though thou hast too much fear.

Enter Sir Andrew

SIR ANDREW For the love of God, a surgeon—send one presently to Sir Toby.

OLIVIA What’s the matter?

SIR ANDREW He’s broke my head across, and has given Sir Toby a bloody coxcomb, too. For the love of God, your help! I had rather than forty pound I were at home.