A Room in the DUKE’S Palace. | |
| |
Enter VALENTINE, and VIOLA in man’s attire. | |
| Val. 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. | |
| Vio. You either fear his humour or my negligence, that you call in question the continuance of his love. Is he inconstant, sir, in his favours? | 4 |
| Val. No, believe me. | |
| Vio. I thank you. Here comes the count. | |
| |
Enter DUKE, CURIO, and Attendants. | |
| Duke. Who saw Cesario? ho! | 8 |
| Vio. On your attendance, my lord; here. | |
| Duke. Stand you awhile aloof. Cesario, | |
| Thou know’st no less but all; I have unclasp’d | |
| To thee the book even of my secret soul: | 12 |
| Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her, | |
| Be not denied access, stand at her doors, | |
| And tell them, there thy fixed foot shall grow | |
| Till thou have audience. | 16 |
| Vio. Sure, my noble lord, | |
| If she be so abandon’d to her sorrow | |
| As it is spoke, she never will admit me. | |
| Duke. Be clamorous and leap all civil bounds | 20 |
| Rather than make unprofited return. | |
| Vio. Say I do speak with her, my lord, what then? | |
| Duke. O! then unfold the passion of my love; | |
| Surprise her with discourse of my dear faith: | 24 |
| It shall become thee well to act my woes; | |
| She will attend it better in thy youth | |
| Than in a nuncio of more grave aspect. | |
| Vio. I think not so, my lord. | 28 |
| Duke. 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 | 32 |
| Is as the maiden’s organ, shrill and sound; | |
| And all is semblative a woman’s part. | |
| I know thy constellation is right apt | |
| For this affair. Some four or five attend him; | 36 |
| All, if you will; for I myself am best | |
| When least in company. Prosper well in this, | |
| And thou shalt live as freely as thy lord, | |
| To call his fortunes thine. | 40 |
| Vio. I’ll do my best | |
| To woo your lady: [Aside] yet, a barful strife! | |
| Whoe’er I woo, myself would be his wife. [Exeunt. | |