Act 2, Scene 4
SCENE IV. DUKE ORSINO's palace.
Enter DUKE ORSINO, VIOLA, CURIO, and others
D.N.: Big chair is set up in the middle of the stage. Karkat is gonna sit in it. Nepeta, you're leaning on the left armrest of the chair. Jane, wait on the right side of the chair. Aradia, you're with your xylophone stage right.)
DUKE ORSINO
GIVE ME SOME MUSIC. NOW, GOOD MORROW, FRIENDS. NOW, GOOD CESARIO, BUT THAT PIECE OF SONG, THAT OLD AND ANTIQUE SONG WE HEARD LAST NIGHT: METHOUGHT IT DID RELIEVE MY PASSION MUCH, MORE THAN LIGHT AIRS AND RECOLLECTED TERMS OF THESE MOST BRISK AND GIDDY-PACED TIMES: COME, BUT ONE VERSE.
CURIO
XOO < he is not here so please your lordship that should sing it.
DUKE ORSINO
WHO WAS IT?
CURIO
:33 < feste the jester my lord, a fool that the lady olivia's father took much delight in. he is about the house.
DUKE ORSINO
SEEK HIM OUT, AND PLAY THE TUNE THE WHILE.
(Exit CURIO. Music plays.)
(DN: Nepeta, go stage left. Aradia, you know what to do.)
COME HITHER, BOY: IF EVER THOU SHALT LOVE, IN THE SWEET PANGS OF IT REMEMBER ME; FOR SUCH AS I AM ALL TRUE LOVERS ARE, UNSTAID AND SKITTISH IN ALL MOTIONS ELSE, SAVE IN THE CONSTANT IMAGE OF THE CREATURE THAT IS BELOVED. HOW DOST THOU LIKE THIS TUNE?
VIOLA
It gives a very echo to the seat Where Love is throned.
DUKE ORSINO
THOU DOST SPEAK MASTERLY: MY LIFE UPON'T, YOUNG THOUGH THOU ART, THINE EYE HATH STAY'D UPON SOME FAVOUR THAT IT LOVES: HATH IT NOT, BOY?
VIOLA
A little, by your favour.
DUKE ORSINO
WHAT KIND OF WOMAN IS'T?
VIOLA
Of your complexion.
DUKE ORSINO
SHE IS NOT WORTH THEE, THEN. WHAT YEARS, I' FAITH?
VIOLA
About your years, my lord.
DUKE ORSINO
TOO OLD BY HEAVEN: LET STILL THE WOMAN TAKE AN ELDER THAN HERSELF: SO WEARS SHE TO HIM, SO SWAYS SHE LEVEL IN HER HUSBAND'S HEART: FOR, BOY, HOWEVER WE DO PRAISE OURSELVES, OUR FANCIES ARE MORE GIDDY AND UNFIRM, MORE LONGING, WAVERING, SOONER LOST AND WORN, THAN WOMEN'S ARE.
VIOLA
I think it well, my lord.
DUKE ORSINO
THEN LET THY LOVE BE YOUNGER THAN THYSELF, OR THY AFFECTION CANNOT HOLD THE BENT; FOR WOMEN ARE AS ROSES, WHOSE FAIR FLOWER BEING ONCE DISPLAY'D, DOTH FALL THAT VERY HOUR.
VIOLA
And so they are: alas, that they are so; To die, even when they to perfection grow!
(Re-enter CURIO and FESTE.)
(DN: From stage right. Nepeta, cross behind the big chair to lean on the left armrest again. Dave, set up next to Aradia. Jane, cross to the left side of the chair and sit upstage to watch.)
DUKE ORSINO
O, FELLOW, COME, THE SONG WE HAD LAST NIGHT. MARK IT, CESARIO, IT IS OLD AND PLAIN; THE SPINSTERS AND THE KNITTERS IN THE SUN AND THE FREE MAIDS THAT WEAVE THEIR THREAD WITH BONES DO USE TO CHANT IT: IT IS SILLY SOOTH, AND DALLIES WITH THE INNOCENCE OF LOVE, LIKE THE OLD AGE.
FESTE
are you ready sir
DUKE ORSINO
AY; PRITHEE, SING.
(Music.)
FESTE
come away come away death and in sad cypress let me be laid; fly away fly away breath; i am slain by a fair cruel maid. my shroud of white stuck all with yew o prepare it my part of death no one so true did share it not a flower not a flower sweet on my black coffin let there be strown; not a friend not a friend greet my poor corpse where my bones shall be thrown: a thousand thousand sighs to save lay me o where sad true lover never find my grave to weep there
(DN: Dave, when you're done, bow and kneel before the right side of the chair. Jane, go back to stand by Nepeta.)
DUKE ORSINO
THERE'S FOR THY PAINS.
FESTE
no pains sir: i take pleasure in singing sir
DUKE ORSINO
I'LL PAY THY PLEASURE THEN.
FESTE
truly sir and pleasure will be paid one time or another
DUKE ORSINO
GIVE ME NOW LEAVE TO LEAVE THEE.
FESTE
now the melancholy god protect thee; and the tailor make thy doublet of changeable taffeta for thy mind is a very opal. i would have men of such constancy put to sea that their business might be every thing and their intent every where; for thats it that always makes a good voyage of nothing. farewell
(Exit)
DUKE ORSINO
LET ALL THE REST GIVE PLACE.
(CURIO and Attendants retire.)
(DN: Nepeta, exit stage left. Jane, take her place, but do not touch the chair. Aradia, wheel your xylophone offstage right.)
ONCE MORE, CESARIO, GET THEE TO YOND SAME SOVEREIGN CRUELTY: TELL HER, MY LOVE, MORE NOBLE THAN THE WORLD, PRIZES NOT QUANTITY OF DIRTY LANDS; THE PARTS THAT FORTUNE HATH BESTOW'D UPON HER, TELL HER, I HOLD AS GIDDILY AS FORTUNE; BUT 'TIS THAT MIRACLE AND QUEEN OF GEMS THAT NATURE PRANKS HER IN ATTRACTS MY SOUL.
VIOLA
But if she cannot love you, sir?
DUKE ORSINO
I CANNOT BE SO ANSWER'D.
VIOLA
Sooth, but you must. Say that some lady, as perhaps there is, Hath for your love a great a pang of heart As you have for Olivia: you cannot love her; You tell her so; must she not then be answer'd?
DUKE ORSINO
THERE IS NO WOMAN'S SIDES CAN BIDE THE BEATING OF SO STRONG A PASSION AS LOVE DOTH GIVE MY HEART; NO WOMAN'S HEART SO BIG, TO HOLD SO MUCH; THEY LACK RETENTION ALAS, THEIR LOVE MAY BE CALL'D APPETITE, NO MOTION OF THE LIVER, BUT THE PALATE, THAT SUFFER SURFEIT, CLOYMENT AND REVOLT; BUT MINE IS ALL AS HUNGRY AS THE SEA, AND CAN DIGEST AS MUCH: MAKE NO COMPARE BETWEEN THAT LOVE A WOMAN CAN BEAR ME AND THAT I OWE OLIVIA.
VIOLA
Ay, but I know--
DUKE ORSINO
WHAT DOST THOU KNOW?
VIOLA
Too well what love women to men may owe: In faith, they are as true of heart as we. My father had a daughter loved a man, As it might be, perhaps, were I a woman, I should your lordship.
DUKE ORSINO
AND WHAT'S HER HISTORY?
VIOLA
A blank, my lord. She never told her love, But let concealment, like a worm i' the bud, Feed on her damask cheek: she pined in thought, And with a green and yellow melancholy She sat like patience on a monument, Smiling at grief. Was not this love indeed? We men may say more, swear more: but indeed Our shows are more than will; for still we prove Much in our vows, but little in our love.
DUKE ORSINO
BUT DIED THY SISTER OF HER LOVE, MY BOY?
VIOLA
I am all the daughters of my father's house, And all the brothers too: and yet I know not. Sir, shall I to this lady?
DUKE ORSINO
AY, THAT'S THE THEME. TO HER IN HASTE; GIVE HER THIS JEWEL; SAY, MY LOVE CAN GIVE NO PLACE, BIDE NO DENAY.
(Exeunt.)
(DN: Jane, leave stage left. As soon as the lights come down, Karkat, hop out of the chair. Equius and Nepeta, grab the chair and take it away.)
