Tinct · Library · Twelfth Night
Free online book

Twelfth Night

by William Shakespeare

Viola is shipwrecked in Illyria, disguises herself as a boy, and ends up wooing Olivia for Duke Orsino — whom she falls for. Olivia falls for the disguise. Meanwhile Sir Toby and friends gull the steward Malvolio into believing his mistress loves him. Shakespeare's most perfectly balanced comedy.

Start reading in Tinct →
Chapters
  1. Chapter 1Act 1, Scene 1 — An Apartment in the Duke’s Palace
  2. Chapter 2Act 1, Scene 2 — The sea-coast
  3. Chapter 3Act 1, Scene 3 — A Room in Olivia’s House
  4. Chapter 4Act 1, Scene 4 — A Room in the Duke’s Palace
  5. Chapter 5Act 1, Scene 5 — A Room in Olivia’s House
  6. Chapter 6Act 2, Scene 1 — The sea-coast
  7. Chapter 7Act 2, Scene 2 — A street
  8. Chapter 8Act 2, Scene 3 — A Room in Olivia’s House
  9. Chapter 9Act 2, Scene 4 — A Room in the Duke’s Palace
  10. Chapter 10Act 2, Scene 5 — Olivia’s garden
  11. Chapter 11Act 3, Scene 1 — Olivia’s garden
  12. Chapter 12Act 3, Scene 2 — A Room in Olivia’s House
  13. Chapter 13Act 3, Scene 3 — A street
  14. Chapter 14Act 3, Scene 4 — Olivia’s garden
  15. Chapter 15Act 4, Scene 1 — The Street before Olivia’s House
  16. Chapter 16Act 4, Scene 2 — A Room in Olivia’s House
  17. Chapter 17Act 4, Scene 3 — Olivia’s Garden
  18. Chapter 18Act 5, Scene 1 — The Street before Olivia’s House

Act 1, Scene 1 — An Apartment in the Duke’s Palace

Enter Orsino, Duke of Illyria, Curio, and other 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 sound 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._]