Viola, as Cesario, has only been working for the Duke for three days and has already risen in favor. Orisino urges Viola to go to Olivia and woo her for him. Orsino councils Viola not to worry about being polite, the important thing is to just get through the front door. He believes Viola's less than manly appearance might allow Olivia to let her guard down.
Orsino:
"That say thou art a man. Diana's lip
Is not more smooth and rubious; thy small pipe
Is as the maiden's organ, shrill and sound,
And all is semblative a woman's part."
"That say thou art a man. Diana's lip
Is not more smooth and rubious; thy small pipe
Is as the maiden's organ, shrill and sound,
And all is semblative a woman's part."
Feste - the clown - argues with Olivia over who is the bigger fool. He is the only character to question Olivia's drastic measures of isolating herself in mourning for her dead brother. "The more fool, madonna, to mourn for your brother's soul, being in heaven." Malvolio is barely tolerating the fool when Maria enters to tell Olivia that there is a young gentleman at the gate, and Olivia's uncle is speaking with him now. Olivia bids Malvolio to get rid of him through any number of excuses if he is Orisno's man. Sir Toby comes in afterward, drunk as usual, and offers no additional information on the visitor. Olivia bids Feste to look after her uncle and Malvolio returns and reports that the young man will not leave until he has spoken with Olivia. She reluctantly agrees, veiling herself, she invites Viola, as Cesario in. At first, Olivia continues to give Viola a hard time, first refusing to admit that she is the countess and then pretending that Viola wasn't sent by Orsino, but by some great king on an important mission. Finally, Olivia drops all pretense and informs Viola that she does not and cannot love Orsino. Viola makes one final effort, putting herself in her masters place, and so convincingly expresses herself as a true lover that Olivia falls in love with Cesario. After Viola leaves, Olivia sends Malvolio off with a ring to give to Viola, saying that "he" left it behind when, in reality, no rings were exchanged. This is just an excuse to see Cesario again.
Viola:
"If I did love you in my master's flame,With such a suff'ring, such a deadly life,In your denial I would find no sense,I would not understand it."
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