Twelfth Night, or What You Will: Act 2, Scene 2 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 2, Scene 2 of Twelfth Night, or What You Will from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Viola and Malvolio, at several doors. MALVOLIO Were not you even now with the Countess Olivia? VIOLA Even now, sir. On a moderate pace I have since arrived but hither. MALVOLIO She returns this ring to you, sir. You might 5 have saved me my pains to have taken it away yourself. She adds, moreover, that you should put your lord into a desperate assurance she will none of him. And one thing more, that you be never so hardy to come again in his affairs unless it be to 10 report your lord’s taking of this. Receive it so. VIOLA She took the ring of me. I’ll none of it. MALVOLIO Come, sir, you peevishly threw it to her, and her will is it should be so returned. He throws down the ring. If it be worth stooping for, there it 15 lies in your eye; if not, be it his that finds it. He exits.	On a street outside Olivia's place, Malvolio catches up with Viola ("Cesario") and asks "him" if he was the brat that was just at Olivia's place chatting her up about the Duke. Malvolio is all snobby and haughty when he whines about having to run after "Cesario" to give him back the Duke's ring—Olivia doesn't want it. (Remember when Olivia lied to Malvolio and claimed that "Cesario" gave her the little trinket on behalf of the Duke?) Then Malvolio says to "Cesario" that Olivia wants nothing to do with Duke Orsino. And another thing, she doesn't want you back at her house unless you return to say that the Duke took his ring back. Viola ("Cesario") goes along with this in front of Malvolio and says something like: "I'm not taking back the ring—Olivia took it from me so it's hers." Malvolio gets huffy (huffier) and throws the ring on the ground. Someone will pick it up.
VIOLA I left no ring with her. What means this lady? She picks up the ring. Fortune forbid my outside have not charmed her! She made good view of me, indeed so much That methought her eyes had lost her tongue, 20 For she did speak in starts distractedly. She loves me, sure! The cunning of her passion Invites me in this churlish messenger. None of my lord’s ring? Why, he sent her none! I am the man. If it be so, as ’tis, 25 Poor lady, she were better love a dream. Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness Wherein the pregnant enemy does much. How easy is it for the proper false In women’s waxen hearts to set their forms! 30 Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we, For such as we are made of, such we be. How will this fadge? My master loves her dearly, And I, poor monster, fond as much on him, And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me. 35 What will become of this? As I am man, My state is desperate for my master’s love. As I am woman (now, alas the day!), What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe! O Time, thou must untangle this, not I. 40 It is too hard a knot for me t’ untie. She exits.	Left alone on the street, Viola ("Cesario") wonders what the heck Olivia is up to since she never gave Olivia a ring from the Duke. Then she realizes that Olivia has a crush on her—or rather, "Cesario." That's why Olivia seemed distracted and stuttered a lot when they spoke. Viola ("Cesario") launches into a monologue about how she really feels sorry for poor Olivia, because women are weak and "frail." Oh dear, what will happen now that Olivia's in love with Viola/"Cesario," who's in love with Orsino, whose in love with Olivia?

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Viola and Malvolio, at several doors.

MALVOLIO Were not you even now with the Countess
Olivia?

VIOLA Even now, sir. On a moderate pace I have since
arrived but hither.

MALVOLIO She returns this ring to you, sir. You might 5
have saved me my pains to have taken it away
yourself. She adds, moreover, that you should put
your lord into a desperate assurance she will none
of him. And one thing more, that you be never so
hardy to come again in his affairs unless it be to 10
report your lord’s taking of this. Receive it so.

VIOLA She took the ring of me. I’ll none of it.

MALVOLIO Come, sir, you peevishly threw it to her, and
her will is it should be so returned.

He throws down the ring.

If it be worth stooping for, there it 15
lies in your eye; if not, be it his that finds it.

He exits.

On a street outside Olivia's place, Malvolio catches up with Viola ("Cesario") and asks "him" if he was the brat that was just at Olivia's place chatting her up about the Duke.

Malvolio is all snobby and haughty when he whines about having to run after "Cesario" to give him back the Duke's ring—Olivia doesn't want it. (Remember when Olivia lied to Malvolio and claimed that "Cesario" gave her the little trinket on behalf of the Duke?)

Then Malvolio says to "Cesario" that Olivia wants nothing to do with Duke Orsino. And another thing, she doesn't want you back at her house unless you return to say that the Duke took his ring back.

Viola ("Cesario") goes along with this in front of Malvolio and says something like: "I'm not taking back the ring—Olivia took it from me so it's hers." Malvolio gets huffy (huffier) and throws the ring on the ground. Someone will pick it up.

VIOLA
I left no ring with her. What means this lady?

She picks up the ring.

Fortune forbid my outside have not charmed her!
She made good view of me, indeed so much
That methought her eyes had lost her tongue, 20
For she did speak in starts distractedly.
She loves me, sure! The cunning of her passion
Invites me in this churlish messenger.
None of my lord’s ring? Why, he sent her none!
I am the man. If it be so, as ’tis, 25
Poor lady, she were better love a dream.
Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness
Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.
How easy is it for the proper false
In women’s waxen hearts to set their forms! 30
Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we,
For such as we are made of, such we be.
How will this fadge? My master loves her dearly,
And I, poor monster, fond as much on him,
And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me. 35
What will become of this? As I am man,
My state is desperate for my master’s love.
As I am woman (now, alas the day!),
What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe!
O Time, thou must untangle this, not I. 40
It is too hard a knot for me t’ untie.

She exits.

Left alone on the street, Viola ("Cesario") wonders what the heck Olivia is up to since she never gave Olivia a ring from the Duke. Then she realizes that Olivia has a crush on her—or rather, "Cesario." That's why Olivia seemed distracted and stuttered a lot when they spoke.

Viola ("Cesario") launches into a monologue about how she really feels sorry for poor Olivia, because women are weak and "frail."

Oh dear, what will happen now that Olivia's in love with Viola/"Cesario," who's in love with Orsino, whose in love with Olivia?

Twelfth Night, or What You Will: Act 2, Scene 2 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 2, Scene 2 of Twelfth Night, or What You Will from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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