Twelfth Night

William Shakespeare
No Fear Act 2 Scene 4
No Fear Act 2 Scene 4 Page 1

Original Text

Modern Text
Enter ORSINO, VIOLA, CURIO, and others
ORSINO, VIOLA, CURIO, and others enter.

ORSINO

Give me some music. (music plays)
Now, good morrow, friends.—
Now, good Cesario, but that piece of song,
That old and antique song we heard last night.
5Methought 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.

ORSINO

Play me some music. (music plays) Good morning, my friends.—Have them sing me that song again, Cesario, that old-fashioned song someone sang last night. It made me feel better and took my mind off my troubles much better than the silly songs they sing nowadays. Please, have them sing just one verse.

CURIO

He is not here, so please your lordship, that should sing it.

CURIO

Sir, the person who should sing that song isn’t here.

ORSINO

10Who was it?

ORSINO

Who was it?

CURIO

Feste, the jester, my lord, a fool that the lady Olivia’s father took much delight in. He is about the house.

CURIO

Feste, the jester, my lord. Olivia’s father used to like him. He’s somewhere else in the house.

ORSINO

Seek him out, and play the tune the while.

ORSINO

Then go find him. Meanwhile, play the tune.
Exit CURIO. Music plays
CURIO exits. Music plays.
(to VIOLA) Come hither, boy. If ever thou shalt love,
15In 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?
(to VIOLA) Come here, boy. If you ever fall in love and feel the bittersweet pain it brings, think of me. Because the way I am now, moody and unable to focus on anything except the face of the woman I love, is exactly how all true lovers are. What do you think of this song?

VIOLA

20It gives a very echo to the seat
Where Love is throned.

VIOLA

It really makes you feel what a lover feels.
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