Twelfth Night Act 1

Front 1

If music be the food of love, play on...

Back 1

(Deeper meaning?)

Orsino to audience/attendants

Front 2

But like a cloistress she will veiled walk, and water once a day her chamber round with eye-offending brine.

Back 2

She dresses like a nun and cries at least once a day

Valentine to Orsino

Front 3

Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back, I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves

Back 3

He stayed above the waves like the Greek bard who rode on dolphins

Captain to Viola

Front 4

What great ones do the less will prattle of

Back 4

Commoners gossip about important people

Captain to Viola

Front 5

And though that nature with a beauteous wall doth oft close in pollution

Back 5

Good people are often corrupted

Viola to Captain

Front 6

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

Back 6

Work for Orsino, and I'll help you quietly

Captain to Violet

Front 7

I am sure care's an enemy to life

Back 7

Being careful means having no fun

Toby to Maria

Front 8

He's as tall a man as any's in Illyria

Back 8

He is tall and/or brave (joking)

Toby to Maria

Front 9

You mistake, knight. "Accost" is front her, board her, woo her, assail her.

Back 9

"accost" means have sex with her

Toby to Andrew

Front 10

O knight, thou lack'st a cup of canary! When did I see thee so put down?

Back 10

You have no happiness (from wine (from the Canary Islands) ) and are sad.

Toby to Andrew

Front 11

I would I had bestowed the time in the tongues that I have in fencing, dancing, and bearbaiting. O, had I but followed the arts!

Back 11

I wish I had learned French instead of other useless stuff.

Andrew to Toby

Front 12

Excellent. It hangs like flax on a distaff; and I hope to see a housewife take thee between her legs and spin it off

Back 12

Your hair is great. I hope you get some, thus getting a STD that makes it fall off.

Toby to Andrew

Front 13

Wherefore are these things hid? ...

Back 13

Why don't you dance around all the time, since you're so talented?

Toby to Andrew

Front 14

Diana's lip ... woman's part

Back 14

You have the body parts of a woman

Orsino to Viola

Front 15

Yet a barful strife! Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife.

Back 15

This is a difficult conflict. I have to woo for someone I want to marry.

Viola to audience

Front 16

Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage.

Back 16

Death is sometimes preferable to marriage

Feste to Maria

Front 17

If Sir Toby would leave drinking, thou wert as witty a piece of Eve's flesh as any in Illyria.

Back 17

You'd have to be a genius to get Toby to stop drinking.

Feste to Maria

Front 18

For what says Quinapalus? "Better a witty Fool that a foolish wit."

Back 18

I am better than many non-fools. (clown spouting his own made-up nonsense)

Feste to Olivia

Front 19

Misprision in the highest degree. Lady, **cucullus non facit monachum.** That's as much to say as, I wear not motley in my brain.

Back 19

You have erred. Just because I'm dressed as a fool doesn't make me an idiot.

Feste to Olivia

Front 20

I marvel your ladyship takes delight in such a barren rascal.

Back 20

I am surprised you find this piece of crap entertaining.

Malvolio to Olivia

Front 21

O, you are sick of self-love, Malvolio, and taste with a distempered appetite.

Back 21

You love yourself too much to appreciate anything that is unlike you.

Olivia to Malvolio

Front 22

A plague o' these pickle-herring! How now, sot?

Back 22

I feel ill from the herring. Hello, drunkard!

Toby to Olivia/Feste

Front 23

Lechery? I defy lechery.

Back 23

I am no sex addict. (misheard "lethargy")

Toby to Olivia

Front 24

He's fortified against any denial.

Back 24

He will not go away without seeing you.

Malvolio to Olivia

Front 25

Not yet old enough for a man...

Back 25

This man seems like a teenager, not a full man.

Malvolio to Olivia

Front 26

I would be loath to cast away my speech; for, besides that it is excellently well penned, I have taken great pains to con it.

Back 26

I don't want to waste a very good memorized speech.

Viola to Olivia

Front 27

What I am, and what I would, are as secret as maidenhead; to your ears divinity; to any other's, profanation.

Back 27

I have news only for you. Others have nothing to gain from it. (Also, I'm not what it looks like).

Viola to Olivia

Front 28

O, I have read it; it is heresy.

Back 28

Orsino has already told me he loves me. I am not impressed.

Olivia to Viola

Front 29

Excellently done, if God did all.

Back 29

Your face is beautiful, if it really does naturally look like that.

Viola to Olivia

Front 30

Lady, you are the cruel'st she alive if you will lead these graces to the grave, and leave the world no copy.

Back 30

You do the world wrong to not pass on your beauty by having kids with Orsino before dying.

Viola to Olivia

Front 31

I see you what you are; you are too proud.

Back 31

I can tell how narcissistic you are.

Viola to Olivia

Front 32

He might have took his answer long ago.

Back 32

I told Orsino I can't love him, so he should just believe me.

Olivia to Viola

Front 33

Make me a willow cabin at your gate...

Back 33

(?????)

Viola to Olivia

Front 34

You might do much. What is your parentage?

Back 34

You are committed. What class are you from?

Olivia to Viola

Front 35

I am no fee'd post, lady. Keep your purse.

Back 35

Don't pay me.

Viola to Olivia

Front 36

Fairwell, fair cruelty.

Back 36

Goodbye, you beautiful mean person.

Viola to Olivia

Front 37

Even so quickly may one catch the plague?

Back 37

Can you fall in love this quickly?

Olivia to herself

Front 38

Fate, show thy force; ourselves we do not owe. What is decreed must be - and be this so!

Back 38

Fate controls my life. I must follow my destiny by being in love with Cesario, and I'm looking forward to it.

Olivia to audience