Act 1
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OLIVIA Come to what is important in ’t. I forgive you the praise.
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OLIVIA Get to the point now. I’ll let you get away with skipping the praise.
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VIOLA
175Alas, I took great pains to study it, and ’tis poetical.
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VIOLA That’s too bad, because I spent a long time memorizing it, and it’s poetic.
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OLIVIA It is the more like to be feigned. I pray you, keep it in. I
heard you were saucy at my gates and allowed your
approach rather to wonder at you than to hear you. If you
be not mad, be gone. If you have reason, be brief. 'Tis not
that time of moon with me to make one in so skipping a
dialogue.
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OLIVIA That means it’s more likely to be fake. Please, keep it to yourself. I heard you were rude when you were standing outside my gate, and that’s the only reason I let you in. I was curious. But I don’t necessarily want to listen to you. If you’re just insane, then get out of here. If you’re in your right mind, get to the point. I’ve got no patience for lunacy at the moment, and I don’t want to waste my time on ridiculous conversations.
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MARIA Will you hoist sail, sir? Here lies your way.
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MARIA Ready to set sail, sir? The door’s right here.
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VIOLA No, good swabber, I am to hull here a little longer. Some
mollification for your giant, sweet lady.
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VIOLA No, this boat’s docking here a bit longer, little sailor.—My lady, would you mind asking your giant here to back off a bit?
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OLIVIA
185Tell me your mind.
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OLIVIA Tell me what you want.
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VIOLA I am a messenger.
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VIOLA I have a message to deliver.
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OLIVIA Sure, you have some hideous matter to deliver, when the
courtesy of it is so fearful. Speak your office.
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OLIVIA It must be a message about something horrible, since you deliver it so rudely. Tell me what it’s about.
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VIOLA It alone concerns your ear. I bring no overture of war, no
taxation of homage. I hold the olive in my hand. My words
are as full of peace as matter.
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VIOLA It’s about you. I’m not bringing any declarations of war or demands for cash. I’m coming in peace.
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OLIVIA Yet you began rudely. What are you? What would you?
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OLIVIA But you began so rudely. Who are you? What do you want?
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More Help
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Character List
CHARACTERS -
Viola: Character Analysis
CHARACTERS -
Plot Analysis
MAIN IDEAS -
Sex and Gender in Twelfth Night
MAIN IDEAS -
Quotes by Theme
QUOTES -
Themes
MAIN IDEAS -
Review Quiz
FURTHER STUDY
