Twelfth Night
Written:1600-1601; Text: First Folio 1623 (Comedy), no quarto editions
Source: Barnabe Riche (c.1540-1617). Farewell to Militarie Profession (1581) the story of Apolonius and Silla; Bandello, Matteo (1485-1561) Novelle (1554-73)
Characters: Viola, Olivia, Orsino, Sir Toby Belch, Feste, Malvolio, Antonio, Sebastian, Sir Andrew Aguecheek
Setting: Illyria
Time: Time of Shakespeare
Notes on Twelfth Night
You and Thee
Read the NoteIn Henry IV Part 1, in the exchange between Hotspur and Owen Glendower, about calling up devils from the vasty deep, Hotspur deliberately shifts from the word you to thee when he addresses Glendower. You was often used to convey respect while thee was used when speaking to someone of inferior rank,
… continue reading this note
Quotes from Twelfth Night
If music be the food of love
Read the QuoteIf 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 sound
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odor. Enough; no more.
O, it came o’er my ear like the sweet sound
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
… continue reading this quote
Sir Toby Belch! How now, Sir Toby Belch?
Read the QuoteAndrew
Sir Toby Belch! How now, Sir Toby Belch?
Toby
Sweet Sir Andrew!
Andrew, to Maria
Bless you, fair shrew.
Methinks sometimes I have no more wit
than a Christian or an ordinary man has.
Maria
And you too, sir.
Toby
Accost,
… continue reading this quote
On your attendance, my lord, here
Read the QuoteViola
On your attendance, my lord, here.
Orsino, to Curio and Attendants
Stand you awhile aloof.—Cesario,
Thou know’st no less but all. I have unclasped
To thee the book even of my secret soul.
Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her.
Be not denied access. Stand at her doors
And tell them,
… continue reading this quote
Nay, either tell me where thou hast been
Read the QuoteMaria
Nay, either tell me where thou hast been, or I
will not open my lips so wide as a bristle may enter
in way of thy excuse. My lady will hang thee for thy
absence.
Feste
Let her hang me. He that is well hanged in this
world needs to fear no colors.
… continue reading this quote
God bless thee, lady!
Read the QuoteFeste
—God bless thee, lady!
Olivia
Take the Fool away.
Feste
Do you not hear, fellows? Take away the Lady.
Olivia
Go to, you’re a dry Fool. I’ll no more of you.
Besides, you grow dishonest.
Feste
Two faults, madonna, that drink and good counsel
will amend.
… continue reading this quote
Tell me your mind
Read the QuoteOlivia
Tell me your mind.
Viola
I am a messenger.
Olivia
Sure you have some hideous matter to deliver
when the courtesy of it is so fearful. Speak your office.
I see you what you are. You are too proud.
But if you were the devil you are fair.
Viola
It alone concerns your ear.
… continue reading this quote
What is love? ‘Tis not hereafter
Read the QuoteWhat is love? ‘Tis not hereafter;
Present mirth hath present laughter;
What’s to come is still unsure.
In delay there lies no plenty,
Then come kiss me sweet and twenty;
Youth’s a stuff will not endure.
… continue reading this quote
Excellent! Why, this is the best fooling when all is done
Read the QuoteSir Andrew Aguecheek
Excellent! Why, this is the best fooling when
all is done. Now, a song!
Sir Toby Belch, giving money to the Fool
Come on, there is
sixpence for you. Let’s have a song.
Sir Andrew Aguecheek, giving money to the Fool
There’s a testril of
me, too. If one knight give a—
Fool
Would you have a love song or a song of good
life?
… continue reading this quote
My masters, are you mad?
Read the QuoteMalvolio
My masters, are you mad? Or what are you?
Have you no wit, manners, nor honesty but to
gabble like tinkers at this time of night? Do you
make an ale-house of my lady’s house, that you
squeak out your coziers’ catches without any mitigation
or remorse of voice? Is there no respect of
place,
… continue reading this quote
O, fellow, come, the song we had last night
Read the QuoteOrsino
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.
… continue reading this quote