| Original text | Modern text | Key line |
| IF Musicke be the food of Loue, play on,! | If music be the food of love, play on, | TN I.i.1 |
| Giue me excesse of it: that surfetting, | Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, | TN I.i.2 |
| The appetite may sicken, and so dye. | The appetite may sicken, and so die. | TN I.i.3 |
| That straine agen, it had a dying fall: | That strain again! It had a dying fall. | TN I.i.4 |
| O, it came ore my eare, like the sweet sound | O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound | TN I.i.5 |
| That breathes vpon a banke of Violets; | That breathes upon a bank of violets, | TN I.i.6 |
| Stealing, and giuing Odour. Enough, no more, | Stealing and giving odour. Enough, no more! | TN I.i.7 |
| 'Tis not so sweet now, as it was before. | 'Tis not so sweet now as it was before. | TN I.i.8 |
| O spirit of Loue, how quicke and fresh art thou, | O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou, | TN I.i.9 |
| That notwithstanding thy capacitie, | That, notwithstanding thy capacity | TN I.i.10 |
| Receiueth as the Sea. Nought enters there, | Receiveth as the sea, naught enters there, | TN I.i.11 |
| Of what validity, and pitch so ere, | Of what validity and pitch soe'er, | TN I.i.12 |
| But falles into abatement, and low price | But falls into abatement and low price | TN I.i.13 |
| Euen in a minute; so full of shapes is fancie, | Even in a minute. So full of shapes is fancy | TN I.i.14 |
| That it alone, is high fantasticall. | That it alone is high fantastical. | TN I.i.15 |
| | | |
| What Curio? | What, Curio? | TN I.i.17 |
| | | |
| Why so I do, the Noblest that I haue: | Why, so I do, the noblest that I have. | TN I.i.19 |
| O when mine eyes did see Oliuia first, | O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first, | TN I.i.20 |
| Me thought she purg'd the ayre of pestilence; | Methought she purged the air of pestilence. | TN I.i.21 |
| That instant was I turn'd into a Hart, | That instant was I turned into a hart, | TN I.i.22 |
| And my desires like fell and cruell hounds, | And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds, | TN I.i.23 |
| Ere since pursue me. | E'er since pursue me. | TN I.i.24.1 |
| | | |
| How now what newes from her? | How now! What news from her? | TN I.i.24.2 |
| | | |
| O she that hath a heart of that fine frame | O, she that hath a heart of that fine frame | TN I.i.34 |
| To pay this debt of loue but to a brother, | To pay this debt of love but to a brother – | TN I.i.35 |
| How will she loue, when the rich golden shaft | How will she love, when the rich golden shaft | TN I.i.36 |
| Hath kill'd the flocke of all affections else | Hath killed the flock of all affections else | TN I.i.37 |
| That liue in her. When Liuer, Braine, and Heart, | That live in her; when liver, brain, and heart, | TN I.i.38 |
| These soueraigne thrones, are all supply'd and fill'd | These sovereign thrones, are all supplied and filled – | TN I.i.39 |
| Her sweete perfections with one selfe king: | Her sweet perfections – with one self king! | TN I.i.40 |
| Away before me, to sweet beds of Flowres, | Away before me to sweet beds of flowers! | TN I.i.41 |
| Loue-thoughts lye rich, when canopy'd with bowres. | Love thoughts lie rich when canopied with bowers. | TN I.i.42 |
| | | |
| Who saw Cesario hoa? | Who saw Cesario, ho? | TN I.iv.10 |
| | | |
| Stand you a-while aloofe. Cesario, | Stand you awhile aloof. (To Viola) Cesario, | TN I.iv.12 |
| Thou knowst no lesse, but all: I haue vnclasp'd | Thou knowest no less but all. I have unclasped | TN I.iv.13 |
| To thee the booke euen of my secret soule. | To thee the book even of my secret soul. | TN I.iv.14 |
| Therefore good youth, addresse thy gate vnto her, | Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her. | TN I.iv.15 |
| Be not deni'de accesse, stand at her doores, | Be not denied access; stand at her doors, | TN I.iv.16 |
| And tell them, there thy fixed foot shall grow | And tell them, there thy fixed foot shall grow | TN I.iv.17 |
| Till thou haue audience. | Till thou have audience. | TN I.iv.18.1 |
| | | |
| Be clamorous, and leape all ciuill bounds, | Be clamorous and leap all civil bounds | TN I.iv.21 |
| Rather then make vnprofited returne, | Rather than make unprofited return. | TN I.iv.22 |
| | | |
| O then, vnfold the passion of my loue, | O, then unfold the passion of my love. | TN I.iv.24 |
| Surprize her with discourse of my deere faith; | Surprise her with discourse of my dear faith. | TN I.iv.25 |
| It shall become thee well to act my woes: | It shall become thee well to act my woes; | TN I.iv.26 |
| She will attend it better in thy youth, | She will attend it better in thy youth | TN I.iv.27 |
| Then in a Nuntio's of more graue aspect. | Than in a nuncio's of more grave aspect. | TN I.iv.28 |
| | | |
| Deere Lad, beleeue it; | Dear lad, believe it. | TN I.iv.299.2 |
| For they shall yet belye thy happy yeeres, | For they shall yet belie thy happy years | TN I.iv.30 |
| That say thou art a man: Dianas lip | That say thou art a man. Diana's lip | TN I.iv.31 |
| Is not more smooth, and rubious: thy small pipe | Is not more smooth and rubious. Thy small pipe | TN I.iv.32 |
| Is as the maidens organ, shrill, and sound, | Is as the maiden's organ, shrill and sound, | TN I.iv.33 |
| And all is semblatiue a womans part. | And all is semblative a woman's part. | TN I.iv.34 |
| I know thy constellation is right apt | I know thy constellation is right apt | TN I.iv.35 |
| For this affayre: some foure or fiue attend him, | For this affair. Some four or five attend him – | TN I.iv.36 |
| All if you will: for I my selfe am best | All, if you will; for I myself am best | TN I.iv.37 |
| When least in companie: prosper well in this, | When least in company. Prosper well in this, | TN I.iv.38 |
| And thou shalt liue as freely as thy Lord, | And thou shalt live as freely as thy lord, | TN I.iv.39 |
| To call his fortunes thine. | To call his fortunes thine. | TN I.iv.40.1 |
| | | |
| Giue me some Musick; Now good morow frends. | Give me some music! Now, good morrow, friends! | 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. | TN II.iv.3 |
| Me thought it did releeue my passion much, | Methought it did relieve my passion much, | TN II.iv.4 |
| More then light ayres, and recollected termes | More than light airs and recollected terms | TN II.iv.5 |
| Of these most briske and giddy-paced times. | Of these most brisk and giddy-paced times. | TN II.iv.6 |
| Come, but one verse. | Come, but one verse. | TN II.iv.7 |
| | | |
| Who was it? | Who was it? | TN II.iv.10 |
| | | |
| Seeke him out, and play the tune the while. | Seek him out, and play the tune the while. | TN II.iv.14 |
| | | |
| 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, | TN II.iv.18 |
| 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 |
| | | |
| Thou dost speake masterly, | Thou dost speak masterly. | 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. | TN II.iv.24 |
| Hath it not boy? | Hath it not, boy? | TN II.iv.25.1 |
| | | |
| What kinde of woman ist? | What kind of woman is't? | TN II.iv.26.1 |
| | | |
| She is not worth thee then. What yeares ifaith? | She is not worth thee, then. What years, i'faith? | TN II.iv.27 |
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| Too old by heauen: Let still the woman take | Too old, by heaven. Let still the woman take | TN II.iv.29 |
| An elder then her selfe, so weares she to him; | An elder than herself; so wears she to him; | TN II.iv.30 |
| So swayes she leuell in her husbands heart: | So sways she level in her husband's heart. | TN II.iv.31 |
| 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, | TN II.iv.33 |
| More longing, wauering, sooner lost and worne, | More longing, wavering, sooner lost and worn, | TN II.iv.34 |
| Then womens are. | Than women's are. | TN II.iv.35.1 |
| | | |
| 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. | TN II.iv.37 |
| 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. | TN II.iv.39 |
| | | |
| 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. | TN II.iv.43 |
| The Spinsters and the Knitters in the Sun, | The spinsters, and the knitters in the sun, | TN II.iv.44 |
| And the free maides that weaue their thred with bones, | And the free maids that weave their thread with bones, | TN II.iv.45 |
| Do vse to chaunt it: it is silly sooth, | Do use to chant it. It is silly sooth, | TN II.iv.46 |
| And dallies with the innocence of loue, | And dallies with the innocence of love | TN II.iv.47 |
| Like the old age. | Like the old age. | TN II.iv.48 |
| | | |
| I prethee sing. | Ay, prithee sing. | TN II.iv.49.2 |
| | | |
| There's for thy paines. | There's for thy pains. | TN II.iv.66 |
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| Ile pay thy pleasure then. | I'll pay thy pleasure, then. | TN II.iv.68 |
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| Giue me now leaue, to leaue thee. | Give me now leave, to leave thee. | TN II.iv.71 |
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| Let all the rest giue place: | Let all the rest give place. | TN II.iv.78.1 |
| | | |
| 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, | 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 | TN II.iv.82 |
| Tell her I hold as giddily as Fortune: | Tell her I hold as giddily as fortune. | 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. | TN II.iv.85 |
| | | |
| It cannot be so answer'd. | It cannot be so answered. | TN II.iv.87.1 |
| | | |
| 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 | 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. | TN II.iv.95 |
| Alas, their loue may be call'd appetite, | Alas, their love may be called appetite, | TN II.iv.96 |
| No motion of the Liuer, but the Pallat, | No motion of the liver, but the palate, | TN II.iv.97 |
| That suffer surfet, cloyment, and reuolt, | That suffer surfeit, cloyment, and revolt. | TN II.iv.98 |
| 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 | 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 |
| | | |
| What dost thou knowe? | What dost thou know? | TN II.iv.103 |
| | | |
| And what's her history? | And what's her history? | TN II.iv.108.2 |
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| But di'de thy sister of her loue my Boy? | But died thy sister of her love, my boy? | TN II.iv.118 |
| | | |
| 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. | TN II.iv.123 |
| | | |
| Belong you to the Lady Oliuia, friends? | Belong you to the Lady Olivia, friends? | TN V.i.7 |
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| I know thee well: how doest thou my good | I know thee well. How dost thou, my good | TN V.i.9 |
| Fellow? | fellow? | TN V.i.10 |
| | | |
| Iust the contrary: the better for thy friends. | Just the contrary: the better for thy friends. | TN V.i.13 |
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| How can that be? | How can that be? | TN V.i.15 |
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| Why this is excellent. | Why, this is excellent. | TN V.i.23 |
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| Thou shalt not be the worse for me, there's gold. | Thou shalt not be the worse for me: there's gold. | TN V.i.26 |
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| O you giue me ill counsell. | O, you give me ill counsel! | TN V.i.29 |
| | | |
| Well, I will be so much a sinner to be a double dealer: | Well, I will be so much a sinner to be a double-dealer; | TN V.i.32 |
| there's another. | there's another. | TN V.i.33 |
| | | |
| You can foole no more money out of mee at this | You can fool no more money out of me at this | TN V.i.38 |
| throw: if you will let your Lady know I am here to speak | throw. If you will let your lady know I am here to speak | TN V.i.39 |
| with her, and bring her along with you, it may awake my | with her, and bring her along with you, it may awake my | TN V.i.40 |
| bounty further. | bounty further. | TN V.i.41 |
| | | |
| That face of his I do remember well, | That face of his I do remember well. | TN V.i.48 |
| yet when I saw it last, it was besmear'd | Yet when I saw it last, it was besmeared | TN V.i.49 |
| As blacke as Vulcan, in the smoake of warre: | As black as Vulcan in the smoke of war. | TN V.i.50 |
| A bawbling Vessell was he Captaine of, | A baubling vessel was he captain of, | TN V.i.51 |
| For shallow draught and bulke vnprizable, | For shallow draught and bulk, unprizable; | TN V.i.52 |
| With which such scathfull grapple did he make, | With which, such scatheful grapple did he make | TN V.i.53 |
| With the most noble bottome of our Fleete, | With the most noble bottom of our fleet, | TN V.i.54 |
| That very enuy, and the tongue of losse | That very envy and the tongue of loss | TN V.i.55 |
| Cride fame and honor on him: What's the matter? | Cried fame and honour on him. What's the matter? | TN V.i.56 |
| | | |
| Notable Pyrate, thou salt-water Theefe, | Notable pirate, thou salt-water thief, | TN V.i.66 |
| What foolish boldnesse brought thee to their mercies, | What foolish boldness brought thee to their mercies | TN V.i.67 |
| Whom thou in termes so bloudie, and so deere | Whom thou, in terms so bloody and so dear, | TN V.i.68 |
| Hast made thine enemies? | Hast made thine enemies? | TN V.i.69 |
| | | |
| When came he to this Towne? | When came he to this town? | TN V.i.91 |
| | | |
| Heere comes the Countesse, now heauen walkes on earth: | Here comes the Countess; now heaven walks on earth! | TN V.i.95 |
| But for thee fellow, fellow thy words are madnesse, | But for thee, fellow – fellow, thy words are madness. | TN V.i.96 |
| Three monthes this youth hath tended vpon mee, | Three months this youth hath tended upon me. | TN V.i.97 |
| But more of that anon. Take him aside. | But more of that anon. Take him aside. | TN V.i.98 |
| | | |
| Gracious Oliuia. | Gracious Olivia – | TN V.i.103 |
| | | |
| Still so cruell? | Still so cruel? | TN V.i.109.1 |
| | | |
| What to peruersenesse? you vnciuill Ladie | What, to perverseness? You uncivil lady, | TN V.i.110 |
| To whose ingrate, and vnauspicious Altars | To whose ingrate and unauspicious altars | TN V.i.111 |
| My soule the faithfull'st offrings haue breath'd out | My soul the faithfull'st offerings hath breathed out | TN V.i.112 |
| That ere deuotion tender'd. What shall I do? | That e'er devotion tendered! What shall I do? | TN V.i.113 |
| | | |
| Why should I not, (had I the heart to do it) | Why should I not – had I the heart to do it – | TN V.i.115 |
| Like to th'Egyptian theefe, at point of death | Like to th' Egyptian thief at point of death | TN V.i.116 |
| Kill what I loue: (a sauage iealousie, | Kill what I love – a savage jealousy | TN V.i.117 |
| That sometime sauours nobly) but heare me this: | That sometime savours nobly? But hear me this: | TN V.i.118 |
| Since you to non-regardance cast my faith, | Since you to non-regardance cast my faith, | TN V.i.119 |
| And that I partly know the instrument | And that I partly know the instrument | TN V.i.120 |
| That screwes me from my true place in your fauour: | That screws me from my true place in your favour, | TN V.i.121 |
| Liue you the Marble-brested Tirant still. | Live you the marble-breasted tyrant still. | TN V.i.122 |
| But this your Minion, whom I know you loue, | But this your minion, whom I know you love, | TN V.i.123 |
| And whom, by heauen I sweare, I tender deerely, | And whom, by heaven, I swear, I tender dearly, | TN V.i.124 |
| Him will I teare out of that cruell eye, | Him will I tear out of that cruel eye | TN V.i.125 |
| Where he sits crowned in his masters spight. | Where he sits crowned in his master's spite. | TN V.i.126 |
| Come boy with me, my thoughts are ripe in mischiefe: | Come, boy, with me, my thoughts are ripe in mischief. | TN V.i.127 |
| Ile sacrifice the Lambe that I do loue, | I'll sacrifice the lamb that I do love | TN V.i.128 |
| To spight a Rauens heart within a Doue. | To spite a raven's heart within a dove. | TN V.i.129 |
| | | |
| Come, away. | Come, away! | TN V.i.140.2 |
| | | |
| Husband? | Husband? | TN V.i.142.1 |
| | | |
| Her husband, sirrah? | Her husband, sirrah? | TN V.i.143.1 |
| | | |
| O thou dissembling Cub: what wilt thou be | O thou dissembling cub! What wilt thou be | TN V.i.162 |
| When time hath sow'd a grizzle on thy case? | When time hath sowed a grizzle on thy case? | TN V.i.163 |
| Or will not else thy craft so quickely grow, | Or will not else thy craft so quickly grow | TN V.i.164 |
| That thine owne trip shall be thine ouerthrow: | That thine own trip shall be thine overthrow? | TN V.i.165 |
| Farewell, and take her, but direct thy feete, | Farewell, and take her; but direct thy feet | TN V.i.166 |
| Where thou, and I (henceforth) may neuer meet. | Where thou and I henceforth may never meet. | TN V.i.167 |
| | | |
| My Gentleman Cesario? | My gentleman, Cesario? | TN V.i.180 |
| | | |
| How now Gentleman? how ist with you? | How now, gentleman? How is't with you? | TN V.i.192 |
| | | |
| One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons, | One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons! | TN V.i.213 |
| A naturall Perspectiue, that is, and is not. | A natural perspective, that is and is not. | TN V.i.214 |
| | | |
| Be not amaz'd, right noble is his blood: | Be not amazed; right noble is his blood. | TN V.i.261 |
| If this be so, as yet the glasse seemes true, | If this be so, as yet the glass seems true, | TN V.i.262 |
| I shall haue share in this most happy wracke, | I shall have share in this most happy wrack. | TN V.i.263 |
| | | |
| Boy, thou hast saide to me a thousand times, | (To Viola) Boy, thou hast said to me a thousand times | TN V.i.264 |
| Thou neuer should'st loue woman like to me. | Thou never shouldst love woman like to me. | TN V.i.265 |
| | | |
| Giue me thy hand, | Give me thy hand, | TN V.i.269.2 |
| And let me see thee in thy womans weedes. | And let me see thee in thy woman's weeds. | TN V.i.270 |
| | | |
| This sauours not much of distraction. | This savours not much of distraction. | TN V.i.311 |
| | | |
| Madam, I am most apt t'embrace your offer: | Madam, I am most apt t' embrace your offer. | TN V.i.317 |
| | | |
| Your Master quits you: and for your seruice done him, | (To Viola) Your master quits you; and for your service done him | TN V.i.318 |
| So much against the mettle of your sex, | So much against the mettle of your sex, | TN V.i.319 |
| So farre beneath your soft and tender breeding, | So far beneath your soft and tender breeding, | TN V.i.320 |
| And since you call'd me Master, for so long: | And since you called me master for so long, | TN V.i.321 |
| Heere is my hand, you shall from this time bee | Here is my hand; you shall from this time be | TN V.i.322 |
| Your Masters Mistris. | Your master's mistress. | TN V.i.323.1 |
| | | |
| Is this the Madman? | Is this the madman? | TN V.i.324.1 |
| | | |
| Pursue him, and entreate him to a peace: | Pursue him and entreat him to a peace. | TN V.i.377 |
| He hath not told vs of the Captaine yet, | He hath not told us of the Captain yet. | TN V.i.378 |
| When that is knowne, and golden time conuents | When that is known, and golden time convents, | TN V.i.379 |
| A solemne Combination shall be made | A solemn combination shall be made | TN V.i.380 |
| Of our deere soules. Meane time sweet sister, | Of our dear souls. Meantime, sweet sister, | TN V.i.381 |
| We will not part from hence. Cesario come | We will not part from hence. Cesario, come; | TN V.i.382 |
| (For so you shall be while you are a man:) | For so you shall be, while you are a man. | TN V.i.383 |
| But when in other habites you are seene, | But when in other habits you are seen – | TN V.i.384 |
| Orsino's Mistris, and his fancies Queene. | Orsino's mistress, and his fancy's queen! | TN V.i.385 |