Twelfth Night

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Edited, Introduced and Annotated by Cedric Watts, M.A., Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of English, University of Sussex.

The Wordsworth Classics' Shakespeare's Series presents a newly-edited sequence of William Shakespeare's works. The textual editing takes account of recent scholarship while giving the material a careful reappraisal.

Variously melancholy, lyrical, joyous and farcical, Twelfth Night has long been a popular comedy with Shakespearian audiences. The main plot revolves around mistaken identities and unrequited love. Both Olivia and Orsino are attracted to Viola, who is disguised as a young man; and Viola's brother, Sebastian, finds that he is loved not only by Antonio but also by Olivia.

Meanwhile, in the comic sub-plot, Sir Toby Belch and his companions outwit the vain Malvolio, who is ludicrously humiliated. While offering broad comedy, Twelfth Night teasingly probes gender-roles and sexual ambiguities.

Excerpt provided by Syndetics

[Dramatis Personae Orsino, Duke (sometimes called Count) of Illyria Valentine, gentleman attending on Orsino Curio, gentleman attending on Orsino Viola, a shipwrecked lady, later disguised as Cesario Sebastian, twin brother of Viola Antonio, a sea captain, friend to Sebastian captain of the shipwrecked vessel Olivia, a rich countess of Illyria Maria, gentlewoman in Olivia's household sir Toby belch, Olivia's uncle sir Andrew Aguecheek, a companion of Sir Toby Malvolio, steward of Olivia's household Fabian, a member of Olivia's household Feste, a clown, also called fool, Olivia's jester a priest first officer second officer Lords, Sailors, Musicians, and other Attendants scene: Illyria] 1.1 Location: Orsino's court. 0.1 Illyria Nominally on the east coast of the Adriatic Sea, but with a suggestion also of "illusion" and "delirium." 4 fall cadence 9 quick and fresh keen and hungry 12 validity value.   pitch superiority. (Literally the highest point of a falcon's flight.) 13 abatement depreciation. (The lover's brain entertains innumerable fantasies but soon tires of them all.) 14 shapes imagined forms.   fancy love 15 it . . . fantastical it surpasses everything else in imaginative power. 17 the noblest . . . have i.e., my noblest part, my heart. (Punning on hart.) 21 fell fierce 22 pursue me (Alludes to the story in Ovid of Actaeon, who, having seen Diana bathing, was transformed into a stag and killed by his own hounds.) 1.1  A  Enter Orsino Duke of Illyria, Curio, and other lords [with musicians]. Orsino 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; 4 Oh, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound That breathes upon a bank of violets, Stealing and giving odor. Enough, no more. 'Tis not so sweet now as it was before. O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou, 9 That, notwithstanding thy capacity Receiveth as the sea, naught enters there, Of what validity and pitch Soe'er, 12 But falls into abatement and low price 13 Even in a minute! So full of shapes is fancy 14 That it alone is high fantastical. 15 curio Will you go hunt, my lord? Orsino What, Curio? curio The hart. Orsino Why, so I do, the noblest that I have. 17 Oh, when mine eyes did see Olivia first, Methought she purged the air of pestilence. That instant was I turned into a hart, And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds, 21 E'er since pursue me. Enter Valentine.  How now, what news from her? 22 25 element sky.   seven years' heat seven summers 27 Cloistress nun secluded in a religious community 29 season keep fresh. (Playing on the idea of the salt in her tears.) 30 A brother's dead love her love for her dead brother and the memory of his love for her 32 frame construction 34 golden shaft Cupid's golden-tipped arrow, causing love. (His lead-tipped arrow causes aversion.) 35 affections else other feelings 36-8 when . . . king i.e., when passion, thought, and feeling all sit in majesty in their proper thrones (liver, brain, and heart), and her sweet perfections are brought to completion by her union with a single lord and husband. 1.2 Location: The seacoast. 4 Elysium classical abode of the blessed dead. 5-6 Perchance . . . perchance Perhaps . . . by mere chance 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, 25 Shall not behold her face at ample view; But like a cloistress she will veiled walk, 27 And water once a day her chamber round With eye-offending brine--all this to season 29 A brother's dead love, which she would keep fresh 30 And lasting in her sad remembrance. Orsino Oh, she that hath a heart of that fine frame 32 To pay this debt of love but to a brother, How will she love, when the rich golden shaft 34 Hath killed the flock of all affections else 35 That live in her; when liver, brain, and heart, 36 These sovereign thrones, are all supplied, and filled 37 Her sweet perfections, with one self king! 38 Away before me to sweet beds of flowers. Love-thoughts lie rich when canopied with bowers. Exeunt. 1.2  A  Enter Viola, a 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. 4 Perchance he is not drowned. What think you, sailors? 5 captain It is perchance that you yourself were saved. 6 Viola Oh, my poor brother! And so perchance may he be. 8 chance i.e., what one may hope that chance will bring about 11 driving drifting, driven by the seas 14 lived i.e., kept afloat 15 Arion a Greek poet who so charmed the dolphins with his lyre that they saved him when he leaped into the sea to escape murderous sailors 19-21 unfoldeth . . . him offers a hopeful example that he may have escaped similarily, to which hope your speech provides support. 30 late lately 32 murmur rumor 33 less social inferiors captain True, madam, and to comfort you with chance, 8 Assure yourself, after our ship did split, When you and those poor number saved with you Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother, 11 Most provident in peril, bind himself, Courage and hope both teaching him the practice, To a strong mast that lived upon the sea; 14 Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back, 15 I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves So long as I could see. viola  For saying so, there's gold. [She gives money.] Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope, 19 Whereto thy speech serves for authority, 20 The like of him. Know'st thou this country? 21 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; 30 For but a month ago I went from hence, And then 'twas fresh in murmur--as, you know, 32 What great ones do the less will prattle of-- 33 That he did seek the love of fair Olivia. viola  What's she? captain A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count 42 delivered revealed, made known. (With suggestion of "born.") 43 Till . . . mellow until the time is ripe for my purpose 44 estate social rank.   compass encompass, bring about 46 not not even 48 though that though 51 character face or features as indicating moral qualities. 54-5 as haply . . . intent as may suit the nature of my purpose. 56 eunuch castrato, high-voiced singer 59 allow prove 61 wit plan, invention. 62 mute silent attendant. (Sometimes used of nonspeaking actors.) 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 sight And company of men. viola Oh, that I served that lady, And might not be delivered to the world 42 Till I had made mine own occasion mellow, 43 What my estate is! captain That were hard to compass, 44 Because she will admit no kind of suit, No, not the Duke's. 46 viola There is a fair behavior in thee, Captain, And though that nature with a beauteous wall 48 Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee I will believe thou hast a mind that suits With this thy fair and outward character. 51 I prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously, Conceal me what I am, and be my aid For such disguise as haply shall become 54 The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke. 55 Thou shalt present me as an eunuch to him. 56 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. 59 What else may hap, to time I will commit; Only shape thou thy silence to my wit. 61 captain Be you his eunuch, and your mute I'll be; 62 When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see. viola  I thank thee. Lead me on. Exeunt. 1.3 Location: Olivia's house. 5 cousin kinswoman 7 let . . . excepted i.e., let her take exception to my conduct all she wants; I don't care. (Plays on the legal phrase exceptis excipiendis, "with the exceptions before named.") 9 modest moderate 10 I'll . . . finer (1) I'll constrain myself no more rigorously (2) I'll dress myself no more finely 12 An If 20 tall brave. (But Maria pretends to take the word in the common sense.) 22 ducats coins worth about four or five shillings 23 he'll . . . ducats he'll spend all his money within a year. 25-6 viol-de-gamboys viola da gamba, leg-viol, bass viol 27 without book by heart 29 natural (With a play on the sense "born idiot.") 31 gift natural ability. (But shifted to mean "present" in line 33.)   allay the gust moderate the taste 1.3  A  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  5 to your ill hours. sir Toby  Why, let her except before excepted. 7 Maria  Ay, but you must confine yourself within the modest limits of order. 9 sir Toby  Confine? I'll confine myself no finer than I am.  10 These clothes are good enough to drink in, and so be these boots too. An they be not, let them hang them-  12 selves in their own straps. Maria  That quaffing and drinking will undo you. I heard my lady talk of it yesterday, and of a foolish knight that you brought in one night here to be her wooer. sir Toby  Who, Sir Andrew Aguecheek? Maria  Ay, he. sir Toby  He's as tall a man as any's in Illyria. 20 Maria  What's that to the purpose? sir Toby  Why, he has three thousand ducats a year. 22 Maria  Ay, but he'll have but a year in all these ducats.  23 He's a very fool and a prodigal. sir Toby  Fie, that you'll say so! He plays o'th' viol-de-  25 gamboys, and speaks three or four languages word  26 for word without book, and hath all the good gifts of  27 nature. Maria  He hath indeed, almost natural, for, besides that  29 he's a fool, he's a great quarreler, and but that he hath the gift of a coward to allay the gust he hath in quar-  31 34-5 substractors detractors 40 coistrel horsegroom, base fellow 42 parish top a large top provided by the parish to be spun by whipping, apparently for exercise.   Castiliano vulgo! (Of uncertain meaning. Possibly Sir Toby is saying "Speak of the devil!" Castiliano is the name adopted by a devil in Haughton's Grim the Collier of Croydon.) 43 Agueface (Like Aguecheek, this name betokens the thin, pale countenance of one suffering from an ague or fever.) 46 shrew i.e., diminutive creature. (But with probably unintended suggestion of shrewishness.) 48 Accost Go alongside (a nautical term), i.e., greet her, address her 50 chambermaid lady-in-waiting (a gentlewoman, not one who would do menial tasks). 55 front confront, come alongside 56 board greet, approach (as though preparing to board in a naval encounter) 57 undertake have to do with. (Here with unintended sexual suggestion, to which Maria mirthfully replies with her jokes about dry jests, barren, and buttery-bar.) 60 An . . . part If you let her leave reling, 'tis thought among the prudent he would quickly have the gift of a grave. sir Toby  By this hand, they are scoundrels and sub-  34 stractors that say so of him. Who are they? 35 Maria  They that add, moreover, he's drunk nightly in your company. sir Toby  With drinking healths to my niece. I'll drink to her as long as there is a passage in my throat and drink in Illyria. He's a coward and a coistrel that will  40 not drink to my niece till his brains turn o'th' toe like a parish top. What, wench? Castiliano vulgo! For here  42 comes Sir Andrew Agueface. 43 Enter Sir Andrew [Aguecheek]. sir Andrew  Sir Toby Belch! How now, Sir Toby Belch? sir Toby  Sweet Sir Andrew! sir Andrew [to Maria]  Bless you, fair shrew. 46 Maria  And you too, sir. sir Toby  Accost, Sir Andrew, accost. 48 sir Andrew  What's that? sir Toby  My niece's chambermaid. 50 sir Andrew  Good Mistress Accost, I desire better acquaintance. Maria  My name is Mary, sir. sir Andrew  Good Mistress Mary Accost-- sir Toby  You mistake, knight. "Accost" is front her,  55 board her, woo her, assail her. 56 sir Andrew  By my troth, I would not undertake her in  57 this company. Is that the meaning of "accost"? Maria  Fare you well, gentlemen. [Going.] sir Toby  An thou let part so, Sir Andrew, would thou  60 mightst never draw sword again. sir Andrew  An you part so, mistress, I would I might 64 have . . . hand i.e., have to deal with fools. (But Maria puns on the literal sense.) 66 Marry i.e., Indeed. (Originally, "By the Virgin Mary.") 68 thought is free i.e., I may think what I like. (Proverbial; replying to do you think . . . in hand, above.) 69 buttery-bar ledge on top of the half-door to the buttery or the wine cellar. (Maria's language is sexually suggestive, though Sir Andrew seems oblivious to that.) 72 dry thirsty; also dried up, a sign of age and sexual debility 75 dry (1) ironic (2) dull, barren. (Referring to Sir Andrew.) 77 at my fingers' ends (1) at the ready (2) by the hand. 78 barren i.e., empty of jests and of Sir Andrew's hand. 79 thou . . . canary i.e., you look as if you need a drink. (Canary is a sweet wine from the Canary Islands.) 82 put me down (1) baffle my wits (2) lay me out flat. 89 Pourquoi Why 91 tongues languages. (Sir Toby then puns on "tongs," curling irons.) 92 bearbaiting the sport of setting dogs on a chained bear. 93 the arts the liberal arts, learning. (But Sir Toby plays on the phrase as meaning "artifice," the antithesis of nature.) never draw sword again. Fair lady, do you think you have fools in hand?  64 Maria  Sir, I have not you by the hand. sir Andrew  Marry, but you shall have, and here's my  66 hand. [He gives her his hand.] Maria  Now, sir, thought is free. I pray you, bring your  68 hand to th' buttery-bar, and let it drink. 69 sir Andrew  Wherefore, sweetheart? What's your metaphor? Maria  It's dry, sir. 72 sir Andrew  Why, I think so. I am not such an ass but I can keep my hand dry. But what's your jest? Maria  A dry jest, sir. 75 sir Andrew  Are you full of them? Maria  Ay, sir, I have them at my fingers' ends. Marry,  77 now I let go your hand, I am barren. 78 [She lets go his hand.] Exit Maria. sir Toby  Oh, knight, thou lack'st a cup of canary! When  79 did I see thee so put down? Excerpted from Twelfth Night by David Bevington, William Shakespeare All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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Horn Book Review

Featuring abridged versions of the Shakespearian texts, with abundant illustrations and frequent, but unobtrusive, descriptions of action and setting, these volumes present six of Shakespeare's best-known tales in an accessible format, while maintaining much of their original impact and style. Each book includes a brief introduction to Shakespeare's life and theater. Based on the cable television series. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.