First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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Enter Duke, Viola, Curio, and others. | Enter Orsino, Viola, Curio, and others | | TN II.iv.1.1 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
Giue me some Musick; Now good morow frends. | Give me some music! Now, good morrow, friends! | morrow (n.)morning | TN II.iv.1 | |
Now good Cesario , but that peece of song, | Now, good Cesario, but that piece of song, | | TN II.iv.2 | |
That old and Anticke song we heard last night; | That old and antique song we heard last night. | antic, antick(e), antique (adj.)old-fashioned, old-world, antiquated | TN II.iv.3 | |
Me thought it did releeue my passion much, | Methought it did relieve my passion much, | methinks(t), methought(s) (v.)it seems / seemed to me | TN II.iv.4 | |
| | passion (n.)suffering, torment, deep grief | | |
More then light ayres, and recollected termes | More than light airs and recollected terms | recollected (adj.)studied, artificial, refined | TN II.iv.5 | |
| | term (n.)word, expression, utterance | | |
Of these most briske and giddy-paced times. | Of these most brisk and giddy-paced times. | giddy-pacedwhirling, moving at a bewildering pace | TN II.iv.6 | |
Come, but one verse. | Come, but one verse. | | TN II.iv.7 | |
Cur. | CURIO | | | |
He is not heere (so please your Lordshippe) that should | He is not here, so please your lordship, that should | | TN II.iv.8 | |
sing it? | sing it. | | TN II.iv.9 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
Who was it? | Who was it? | | TN II.iv.10 | |
Cur. | CURIO | | | |
Feste the Iester my Lord, a foole that the Ladie | Feste the jester, my lord, a fool that the Lady | | TN II.iv.11 | |
Oliuiaes Father tooke much delight in. He is about the | Olivia's father took much delight in. He is about the | | TN II.iv.12 | |
house. | house. | | TN II.iv.13 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
Seeke him out, and play the tune the while. | Seek him out, and play the tune the while. | | TN II.iv.14 | |
| Exit Curio | | TN II.iv.14 | |
Musicke playes. | Music plays | | TN II.iv.15 | |
Come hither Boy, if euer thou shalt loue | Come hither, boy. If ever thou shalt love, | | TN II.iv.15 | |
In the sweet pangs of it, remember me: | In the sweet pangs of it, remember me. | | TN II.iv.16 | |
For such as I am, all true Louers are, | For such as I am, all true lovers are: | | TN II.iv.17 | |
Vnstaid and skittish in all motions else, | Unstaid and skittish in all motions else, | motion (n.)emotion, inclination, desire, impulse | TN II.iv.18 | |
| | skittish (adj.)changeable, fickle, inconstant | | |
| | unstaid (adj.)unsteady, unsettled, vacillating | | |
Saue in the constant image of the creature | Save in the constant image of the creature | | TN II.iv.19 | |
That is belou'd. How dost thou like this tune? | That is beloved. How dost thou like this tune? | | TN II.iv.20 | |
Vio. | VIOLA | | | |
It giues a verie eccho to the seate | It gives a very echo to the seat | | TN II.iv.21 | |
Where loue is thron'd. | Where love is throned. | | TN II.iv.22.1 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
Thou dost speake masterly, | Thou dost speak masterly. | masterly (adv.)from experience, in a masterly way | TN II.iv.22.2 | |
My life vpon't, yong though thou art, thine eye | My life upon't, young though thou art, thine eye | | TN II.iv.23 | |
Hath staid vpon some fauour that it loues: | Hath stayed upon some favour that it loves. | favour (n.)[facial] appearance, countenance, features, looks | TN II.iv.24 | |
Hath it not boy? | Hath it not, boy? | | TN II.iv.25.1 | |
Vio. | VIOLA | | | |
A little, by your fauour. | A little, by your favour. | | TN II.iv.25.2 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
What kinde of woman ist? | What kind of woman is't? | | TN II.iv.26.1 | |
Vio. | VIOLA | | | |
Of your complection. | Of your complexion. | | TN II.iv.26.2 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
She is not worth thee then. What yeares ifaith? | She is not worth thee, then. What years, i'faith? | | TN II.iv.27 | |
Vio. | VIOLA | | | |
About your yeeres my Lord. | About your years, my lord. | | TN II.iv.28 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
Too old by heauen: Let still the woman take | Too old, by heaven. Let still the woman take | still (adv.)constantly, always, continually | TN II.iv.29 | |
An elder then her selfe, so weares she to him; | An elder than herself; so wears she to him; | wear (v.)fashion, adapt, conform | TN II.iv.30 | |
So swayes she leuell in her husbands heart: | So sways she level in her husband's heart. | level (adj.)steady, steadfast, constant | TN II.iv.31 | |
| | sway (v.)move, proceed, progress | | |
For boy, howeuer we do praise our selues, | For, boy, however we do praise ourselves, | | TN II.iv.32 | |
Our fancies are more giddie and vnfirme, | Our fancies are more giddy and unfirm, | giddy (adj.)frivolous, flighty, fickle, irresponsible | TN II.iv.33 | |
| | fancy (n.)love, amorousness, infatuation | | |
| | unfirm (adj.)unsteady, flighty, capricious | | |
More longing, wauering, sooner lost and worne, | More longing, wavering, sooner lost and worn, | worn (adj.)worn out, exhausted, spent | TN II.iv.34 | |
Then womens are. | Than women's are. | | TN II.iv.35.1 | |
Vio. | VIOLA | | | |
I thinke it well my Lord. | I think it well, my lord. | | TN II.iv.35.2 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
Then let thy Loue be yonger then thy selfe, | Then let thy love be younger than thyself, | | TN II.iv.36 | |
Or thy affection cannot hold the bent: | Or thy affection cannot hold the bent. | affection (n.)love, devotion | TN II.iv.37 | |
| | bent (n.)degree, capacity, extent [to which a bow can be bent] | | |
For women are as Roses, whose faire flowre | For women are as roses whose fair flower, | | TN II.iv.38 | |
Being once displaid, doth fall that verie howre. | Being once displayed, doth fall that very hour. | displayed (adj.)unfolded, opened, in full bloom | TN II.iv.39 | |
Vio. | VIOLA | | | |
And so they are: alas, that they are so: | And so they are. Alas, that they are so, | | TN II.iv.40 | |
To die, euen when they to perfection grow. | To die, even when they to perfection grow. | | TN II.iv.41 | |
Enter Curio & Clowne. | Enter Curio and Feste | | TN II.iv.42 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
O fellow come, the song we had last night: | O, fellow, come, the song we had last night. | | TN II.iv.42 | |
Marke it Cesario, it is old and plaine; | Mark it, Cesario; it is old and plain. | old (adj.)olden, ancient, bygone | TN II.iv.43 | |
| | mark (v.)note, pay attention [to], take notice [of] | | |
The Spinsters and the Knitters in the Sun, | The spinsters, and the knitters in the sun, | spinster (n.)domestic woman, one who stays at home spinning | TN II.iv.44 | |
And the free maides that weaue their thred with bones, | And the free maids that weave their thread with bones, | free (adj.)free of worry, untroubled, carefree | TN II.iv.45 | |
| | bone (n.)[weaving] bobbin made of bone | | |
Do vse to chaunt it: it is silly sooth, | Do use to chant it. It is silly sooth, | sooth (n.)truth | TN II.iv.46 | |
| | silly (adj.)simple, lowly, humble | | |
And dallies with the innocence of loue, | And dallies with the innocence of love | dally (v.)deal lightly, play about, tease | TN II.iv.47 | |
Like the old age. | Like the old age. | old (adj.)olden, ancient, bygone | TN II.iv.48 | |
Clo. | FESTE | | | |
Are you ready Sir? | Are you ready, sir? | | TN II.iv.49.1 | |
Duke. | ORSINO | | | |
I prethee sing. | Ay, prithee sing. | | TN II.iv.49.2 | |
Musicke. | Music plays | | TN II.iv.50 | |
| FESTE | | | |
The Song. | (sings) | | TN II.iv.50 | |
Come away, come away death, | Come away, come away, death, | | TN II.iv.50 | |
And in sad cypresse let me be laide. | And in sad cypress let me be laid. | sad (adj.)downcast, distressed, mournful, gloomy | TN II.iv.51 | |
Fye away, fie away breath, | Fie away, fie away, breath! | fie away (v.)be off, be gone | TN II.iv.52 | |
I am slaine by a faire cruell maide: | I am slain by a fair cruel maid. | | TN II.iv.53 | |
My shrowd of white, stuck all with Ew, | My shroud of white, stuck all with yew, | | TN II.iv.54 | |
O prepare it. | O, prepare it! | | TN II.iv.55 | |
My part of death no one so true | My part of death, no one so true | true (adj.)loyal, firm, faithful in allegiance | TN II.iv.56 | |
did share it. | Did share it. | | TN II.iv.57 | |
Not a flower, not a flower sweete | Not a flower, not a flower sweet | | TN II.iv.58 | |
On my blacke coffin, let there be strewne: | On my black coffin let there be strewn. | | TN II.iv.59 | |
Not a friend, not a friend greet | Not a friend, not a friend greet | greet (v.)bewail, lament, weep for | TN II.iv.60 | |
My poore corpes, where my bones shall be throwne: | My poor corpse, where my bones shall be thrown. | | TN II.iv.61 | |
A thousand thousand sighes to saue, | A thousand thousand sighs to save, | | TN II.iv.62 | |
lay me ô where | Lay me, O, where | | TN II.iv.63 | |
Sad true louer neuer find my graue, | Sad true lover never find my grave | | TN II.iv.64 | |
to weepe there. | To weep there. | | TN II.iv.65 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
There's for thy paines. | There's for thy pains. | | TN II.iv.66 | |
| He gives Feste money | | TN II.iv.67 | |
Clo. | FESTE | | | |
No paines sir, I take pleasure in singing sir. | No pains, sir. I take pleasure in singing, sir. | | TN II.iv.67 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
Ile pay thy pleasure then. | I'll pay thy pleasure, then. | | TN II.iv.68 | |
Clo. | FESTE | | | |
Truely sir, and pleasure will be paide one time, or | Truly, sir, and pleasure will be paid, one time or | | TN II.iv.69 | |
another. | another. | | TN II.iv.70 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
Giue me now leaue, to leaue thee. | Give me now leave, to leave thee. | | TN II.iv.71 | |
Clo. | FESTE | | | |
Now the melancholly God protect thee, and the | Now the melancholy god protect thee, and the | | TN II.iv.72 | |
Tailor make thy doublet of changeable Taffata, for thy | tailor make thy doublet of changeable taffeta, for thy | changeable (adj.)of varying colour [when viewed from different angles], shot | TN II.iv.73 | |
| | doubletman's close-fitting jacket with short skirt | | |
minde is a very Opall. I would haue men of such constancie | mind is a very opal. I would have men of such constancy | | TN II.iv.74 | |
put to Sea, that their businesse might be euery thing, | put to sea, that their business might be everything, | | TN II.iv.75 | |
and their intent euerie where, for that's it, that | and their intent everywhere; for that's it that | intent (n.)intention, purpose, aim | TN II.iv.76 | |
alwayes makes a good voyage of nothing. Farewell. | always makes a good voyage of nothing. Farewell. | | TN II.iv.77 | |
Exit | Exit Feste | | TN II.iv.77 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
Let all the rest giue place: | Let all the rest give place. | | TN II.iv.78.1 | |
| Curio and attendants withdraw | | TN II.iv.78 | |
Once more Cesario, | Once more, Cesario, | | TN II.iv.78.2 | |
Get thee to yond same soueraigne crueltie: | Get thee to yond same sovereign cruelty. | | TN II.iv.79 | |
Tell her my loue, more noble then the world | Tell her my love, more noble than the world, | world (n.)whole of mankind, human race, mass of society | TN II.iv.80 | |
Prizes not quantitie of dirtie lands, | Prizes not quantity of dirty lands. | | TN II.iv.81 | |
The parts that fortune hath bestow'd vpon her: | The parts that fortune hath bestowed upon her | part (n.)quality, attribute, gift, accomplishment [of mind or body] | TN II.iv.82 | |
Tell her I hold as giddily as Fortune: | Tell her I hold as giddily as fortune. | giddily (adv.)lightly, carelessly, inconsequentially | TN II.iv.83 | |
But 'tis that miracle, and Queene of Iems | But 'tis that miracle and queen of gems | | TN II.iv.84 | |
That nature prankes her in, attracts my soule. | That nature pranks her in, attracts my soul. | prank (v.)dress up, deck out, adorn | TN II.iv.85 | |
Vio. | VIOLA | | | |
But if she cannot loue you sir. | But if she cannot love you, sir? | | TN II.iv.86 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
It cannot be so answer'd. | It cannot be so answered. | | TN II.iv.87.1 | |
Vio. | VIOLA | | | |
Sooth but you must. | Sooth, but you must. | sooth (n.)truth [in exclamations, emphasizing an assertion] | TN II.iv.87.2 | |
Say that some Lady, as perhappes there is, | Say that some lady, as perhaps there is, | | TN II.iv.88 | |
Hath for your loue as great a pang of heart | Hath for your love as great a pang of heart | | TN II.iv.89 | |
As you haue for Oliuia: you cannot loue her: | As you have for Olivia. You cannot love her. | | TN II.iv.90 | |
You tel her so: Must she not then be answer'd? | You tell her so. Must she not then be answered? | | TN II.iv.91 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
There is no womans sides | There is no woman's sides | | TN II.iv.92 | |
Can bide the beating of so strong a passion, | Can bide the beating of so strong a passion | bide (v.)endure, suffer, undergo | TN II.iv.93 | |
As loue doth giue my heart: no womans heart | As love doth give my heart; no woman's heart | | TN II.iv.94 | |
So bigge, to hold so much, they lacke retention. | So big to hold so much, they lack retention. | retention (n.)[medicine] power to retain emotion | TN II.iv.95 | |
Alas, their loue may be call'd appetite, | Alas, their love may be called appetite, | appetite (n.)desire, longing, inclination, fancy | TN II.iv.96 | |
No motion of the Liuer, but the Pallat, | No motion of the liver, but the palate, | motion (n.)emotion, inclination, desire, impulse | TN II.iv.97 | |
| | liver (n.)part of the body thought to be the seat of the passions [especially sexual desire] | | |
That suffer surfet, cloyment, and reuolt, | That suffer surfeit, cloyment, and revolt. | suffer (v.)undergo, sustain, endure | TN II.iv.98 | |
| | surfeit (n.)sickness brought on by excess | | |
| | cloyment (n.)excessive gratification, gorging, satiety | | |
But mine is all as hungry as the Sea, | But mine is all as hungry as the sea, | | TN II.iv.99 | |
And can digest as much, make no compare | And can digest as much. Make no compare | compare (n.)comparison, simile, analogy | TN II.iv.100 | |
Betweene that loue a woman can beare me, | Between that love a woman can bear me | | TN II.iv.101 | |
And that I owe Oliuia. | And that I owe Olivia. | | TN II.iv.102.1 | |
Vio. | VIOLA | | | |
I but I know. | Ay, but I know – | | TN II.iv.102.2 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
What dost thou knowe? | What dost thou know? | | TN II.iv.103 | |
Vio. | VIOLA | | | |
Too well what loue women to men may owe: | Too well what love women to men may owe. | | TN II.iv.104 | |
In faith they are as true of heart, as we. | In faith, they are as true of heart as we. | | TN II.iv.105 | |
My Father had a daughter lou'd a man | My father had a daughter loved a man – | | TN II.iv.106 | |
As it might be perhaps, were I a woman | As it might be perhaps, were I a woman, | | TN II.iv.107 | |
I should your Lordship. | I should your lordship. | | TN II.iv.108.1 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
And what's her history? | And what's her history? | | TN II.iv.108.2 | |
Vio. | VIOLA | | | |
A blanke my Lord: she neuer told her loue, | A blank, my lord. She never told her love, | | TN II.iv.109 | |
But let concealment like a worme i'th budde | But let concealment, like a worm i'the bud, | worm (n.)germ, microbe, bug | TN II.iv.110 | |
Feede on her damaske cheeke: she pin'd in thought, | Feed on her damask cheek. She pined in thought, | thought (n.)melancholic reflection, anxiety, sorrow, worry | TN II.iv.111 | |
| | damask (adj./n.)light-red, pink [colour of the damask rose] | | |
And with a greene and yellow melancholly, | And with a green and yellow melancholy, | | TN II.iv.112 | |
She sate like Patience on a Monument, | She sat like Patience on a monument, | | TN II.iv.113 | |
Smiling at greefe. Was not this loue indeede? | Smiling at grief. Was not this love indeed? | | TN II.iv.114 | |
We men may say more, sweare more, but indeed | We men may say more, swear more, but indeed | | TN II.iv.115 | |
Our shewes are more then will: for still we proue | Our shows are more than will; for still we prove | will (n.)desire, wish, liking, inclination | TN II.iv.116 | |
| | still (adv.)constantly, always, continually | | |
| | show (n.)appearance, exhibition, display | | |
Much in our vowes, but little in our loue. | Much in our vows, but little in our love. | | TN II.iv.117 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
But di'de thy sister of her loue my Boy? | But died thy sister of her love, my boy? | | TN II.iv.118 | |
Vio. | VIOLA | | | |
I am all the daughters of my Fathers house, | I am all the daughters of my father's house, | | TN II.iv.119 | |
And all the brothers too: and yet I know not. | And all the brothers too; and yet, I know not. . . . | | TN II.iv.120 | |
Sir, shall I to this Lady? | Sir, shall I to this lady? | | TN II.iv.121.1 | |
Du. | ORSINO | | | |
I that's the Theame, | Ay, that's the theme. | | TN II.iv.121.2 | |
To her in haste: giue her this Iewell: say, | To her in haste; give her this jewel; say | | TN II.iv.122 | |
My loue can giue no place, bide no denay. | My love can give no place, bide no denay. | denay (n.)denial, refusal, rejection | TN II.iv.123 | |
| | bide (v.)endure, suffer, undergo | | |
exeunt | Exeunt | | TN II.iv.123 | |