Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Twelfth Night
    Twelfth Night
    Twelfth Night
    Ebook117 pages1 hour

    Twelfth Night

    By William Shakespeare

    ()

    Switch to audiobook
    Read preview

    About this ebook

    SCENE I. An Apartment in the DUKE'S Palace.

    [Enter DUKE, CURIO, Lords; Musicians attending.]

    DUKE.
    If music be the food of love, play on,
    Give me excess of it; that, surfeiting,
    The appetite may sicken and so die.-
    That strain again;-it had a dying fall;
    O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet south,
    That breathes upon a bank of violets,
    Stealing and giving odour.-Enough; no more;
    'Tis not so sweet now as it was before.
    O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou!
    That, notwithstanding thy capacity
    Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there,
    Of what validity and pitch soever,
    But falls into abatement and low price
    Even in a minute! so full of shapes is fancy,
    That it alone is high fantastical.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBooks on Demand
    Release dateFeb 25, 2019
    ISBN9783749419555
    Author

    William Shakespeare

    William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest playwright the world has seen. He produced an astonishing amount of work; 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and 5 poems. He died on 23rd April 1616, aged 52, and was buried in the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford.

    Read more from William Shakespeare

    Related to Twelfth Night

    Related ebooks

    Classics For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      What Say You?

      Aug 19, 2021

      What Say You?
      5 min read

    • Article

      Roger’s PROFANISAURUS

      Aug 5, 2021

      profanisaurus@viz.co.uk aroma diffuser 1. n. A scientific device that breaks “essential oils” down into smaller molecules, dispersing them into the air for a pleasant or calming effect on the gullible. 2. n. The arsehole. Barbie’s minge sim. Somethin

      8 min read

    • Article

      Wales, Land Of My Fathers

      Feb 8, 2023

      Wales, Land Of My Fathers
      5 min read

    • Article

      Jan Morris

      Jun 15, 2018

      I have always rather envied the poet Ovid, who was banished from Rome by the emperor Augustus, you may remember, to a remote place called Tomis on the shores of the Black Sea. There he died, ten years later, and his exile has gone into legend and int

      17 min read

    • Article

      Werrimull Hotel Vic

      Mar 13, 2019

      Werrimull Hotel Vic
      6 min read

    • Article

      Ghoulies and Ghosties

      Oct 1, 2022

      Ghoulies and Ghosties
      7 min read

    • Article

      From The Front

      Feb 1, 2020

      I am deeply indebted to Ollie of this parish, noted scribbler and good chum also. Why? Because he suggested that we meet up and complain very loudly about absolutely everything in the entire world so we’d feel better and could then go back to our sep

      2 min read

    • Article

      Mrs Simpson Learns A Lesson

      Jul 29, 2021

      Mrs Simpson Learns A Lesson
      4 min read

    • Article

      RIP Old King Coal

      May 3, 2023

      I am looking down out into my north London street at the moment. It's a quiet street, mid-afternooon, and it is chocka with vans. What are they all doing? Delivering groceries, that's what. There is a Waitrose van – we have quite a few toffs in our s

      3 min read

    • Article

      It’s Amore

      Jun 15, 2023

      It’s Amore
      7 min read

    • Article

      Letter From The Founder

      Feb 10, 2022

      Letter From The Founder
      4 min read

    • Article

      A Twitch Upon The Thread

      Oct 17, 2019

      A Twitch Upon The Thread
      6 min read

    • Article

      Overland CORNER HOTEL

      Aug 14, 2019

      Overland CORNER HOTEL
      6 min read

    • Article

      Frank Westworth

      Oct 28, 2019

      A FREE LUNCH IS ALWAYS A GREAT EXCUSE FOR a hefty ride – even if I end up actually paying for that lunch, although I’m not entirely sure how it happens. Just got back. All aglow after a considerably bracing October Sunday rasping around the almost de

      3 min read

    • Article

      A New Beginning

      May 27, 2021

      THE JOURNEYING MOON Shortly after the war I married and tried to settle down to a life in London. Like most of my generation, though, I was infected by restlessness. Early in our lives we had been given a taste for the world of action, and too much a

      4 min read

    • Article

      The Peasants Are Not Revolting

      Mar 13, 2024

      WE couldn’t afford to live in St John’s Wood—think of the taxi fares’ (overheard in Claridge’s). ‘Are you going home with him?’ ‘I might as well: I am pregnant, anyway’ (overheard outside a Mayfair nightclub). ‘How do you take your coffee, madam?’ ‘L

      2 min read

    • Article

      Roger’s PROFANISAURUS

      Apr 14, 2022

      Roger’s PROFANISAURUS
      9 min read

    • Article

      Return Of A Prodigal Pal

      Feb 22, 2024

      Return Of A Prodigal Pal
      4 min read

    • Article

      Tessa Castro

      Jun 1, 2022

      IN COMPETITION No 280 you were invited to write a poem called Cutting. My cue was a 19th-century Norwegian painting I’d seen of a woman cutting bread. You widened it to cutting hair and grass, being cut down to size and cutting people dead in the str

      2 min read

    • Article

      Aussie Essential

      Jan 4, 2024

      Aussie Essential
      2 min read

    • Article

      Are You Lonesome Tonight?

      Oct 14, 2019

      Are You Lonesome Tonight?
      7 min read

    • Article

      Readers’ Letters

      Jun 28, 2023

      Readers’ Letters
      6 min read

    • Article

      Dawn Neesom Mind Of My Own

      Apr 5, 2022

      Dawn Neesom Mind Of My Own
      4 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Twelfth Night

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Twelfth Night - William Shakespeare

      Twelfth Night

      Twelfth Night

      PERSONS REPRESENTED

      ACT I.

      ACT II.

      ACT III.

      ACT IV.

      ACT V.

      Copyright

      Twelfth Night

      William Shakespeare

      PERSONS REPRESENTED

      ORSINO, Duke of Illyria.

      SEBASTIAN, a young Gentleman, brother to Viola.

      ANTONIO, a Sea Captain, friend to Sebastian.

      A SEA CAPTAIN, friend to Viola

      VALENTINE, Gentleman attending on the Duke

      CURIO, Gentleman attending on the Duke

      SIR TOBY BELCH, Uncle of Olivia.

      SIR ANDREW AGUE-CHEEK.

      MALVOLIO, Steward to Olivia.

      FABIAN, Servant to Olivia.

      CLOWN, Servant to Olivia.

      OLIVIA, a rich Countess.

      VIOLA, in love with the Duke.

      MARIA, Olivia's Woman.

      Lords, Priests, Sailors, Officers, Musicians, and other

      Attendants.

      SCENE: A City in Illyria; and the Sea-coast near it.

      ACT I.

      SCENE I. An Apartment in the DUKE'S Palace.

      [Enter DUKE, CURIO, Lords; Musicians attending.]

      DUKE.

      If music be the food of love, play on,

      Give me excess of it; that, surfeiting,

      The appetite may sicken and so die.—

      That strain again;—it had a dying fall;

      O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet south,

      That breathes upon a bank of violets,

      Stealing and giving odour.—Enough; no more;

      'Tis not so sweet now as it was before.

      O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou!

      That, notwithstanding thy capacity

      Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there,

      Of what validity and pitch soever,

      But falls into abatement and low price

      Even in a minute! so full of shapes is fancy,

      That it alone is high fantastical.

      CURIO.

      Will you go hunt, my lord?

      DUKE.

      What, Curio?

      CURIO.

      The hart.

      DUKE.

      Why, so I do, the noblest that I have:

      O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first,

      Methought she purg'd the air of pestilence;

      That instant was I turn'd into a hart;

      And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,

      E'er since pursue me.—How now! what news from her?

      [Enter VALENTINE.]

      VALENTINE.

      So please my lord, I might not be admitted,

      But from her handmaid do return this answer:

      The element itself, till seven years' heat,

      Shall not behold her face at ample view;

      But like a cloistress she will veiled walk,

      And water once a-day her chamber round

      With eye-offending brine: all this to season

      A brother's dead love, which she would keep fresh

      And lasting in her sad remembrance.

      DUKE.

      O, she that hath a heart of that fine frame

      To pay this debt of love but to a brother,

      How will she love when the rich golden shaft

      Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else

      That live in her; when liver, brain, and heart,

      These sovereign thrones, are all supplied and fill'd,—

      Her sweet perfections,—with one self king!—

      Away before me to sweet beds of flowers:

      Love-thoughts lie rich when canopied with bowers.

      [Exeunt.]

      SCENE II. The sea-coast.

      [Enter VIOLA, CAPTAIN, and Sailors.]

      VIOLA.

      What country, friends, is this?

      CAPTAIN.

      This is Illyria, lady.

      VIOLA.

      And what should I do in Illyria?

      My brother he is in Elysium.

      Perchance he is not drown'd—What think you, sailors?

      CAPTAIN.

      It is perchance that you yourself were sav'd.

      VIOLA.

      O my poor brother! and so perchance may he be.

      CAPTAIN.

      True, madam; and, to comfort you with chance,

      Assure yourself, after our ship did split,

      When you, and those poor number sav'd with you,

      Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother,

      Most provident in peril, bind himself,—-

      Courage and hope both teaching him the practice,—

      To a strong mast that liv'd upon the sea;

      Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back,

      I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves

      So long as I could see.

      VIOLA.

      For saying so, there's gold!

      Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope,

      Whereto thy speech serves for authority,

      The like of him. Know'st thou this country?

      CAPTAIN.

      Ay, madam, well; for I was bred and born

      Not three hours' travel from this very place.

      VIOLA.

      Who governs here?

      CAPTAIN.

      A noble duke, in nature

      As in name.

      VIOLA.

      What is his name?

      CAPTAIN.

      Orsino.

      VIOLA.

      Orsino! I have heard my father name him.

      He was a bachelor then.

      CAPTAIN.

      And so is now,

      Or was so very late; for but a month

      Ago I went from hence; and then 'twas fresh

      In murmur,—as, you know, what great ones do,

      The less will prattle of,—that he did seek

      The love of fair Olivia.

      VIOLA.

      What's she?

      CAPTAIN.

      A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count

      That died some twelvemonth since; then leaving her

      In the protection of his son, her brother,

      Who shortly also died; for whose dear love,

      They say, she hath abjured the company

      And sight of men.

      VIOLA.

      O that I served that lady!

      And might not be delivered to the world,

      Till I had made mine own occasion mellow,

      What my estate is.

      CAPTAIN.

      That were hard to compass:

      Because she will admit no kind of suit,

      No, not the duke's.

      VIOLA.

      There is a fair behaviour in thee, captain;

      And though that nature with a beauteous wall

      Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee

      I will believe thou hast a mind that suits

      With this thy fair and outward character.

      I pray thee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,

      Conceal me what I am; and be my aid

      For such disguise as, haply, shall become

      The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke;

      Thou shalt present me as an eunuch to him;

      It may be worth thy pains, for I can sing,

      And speak to him in many sorts of music,

      That will allow me very worth his service.

      What else may hap to time I will commit;

      Only shape thou silence to my wit.

      CAPTAIN.

      Be you his eunuch and your mute I'll be;

      When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see.

      VIOLA.

      I thank thee. Lead me on.

      [Exeunt.]

      SCENE III. A Room in OLIVIA'S House.

      [Enter SIR TOBY BELCH and MARIA.]

      SIR TOBY. What a plague means my niece, to take the death of her brother thus? I am sure care's an enemy to life.

      MARIA. By my troth, Sir Toby, you must come in earlier o' nights; your cousin, my lady, takes great exceptions to your ill hours.

      SIR TOBY.

      Why, let her except, before excepted.

      MARIA. Ay, but you must confine yourself within the modest limits of order.

      SIR TOBY. Confine?

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1