rich golden shaft
has touched her heart!" And then he said to Viola, "You know, Cesario, I
have told you all the secrets of my heart; therefore, good youth, go to
Olivia's house. Be not denied access; stand at her doors, and tell her,
there your fixed foot shall grow till you have audience."--"And if I do
speak to her, my lord, what then?" said Viola. "O then;" replied Orsino,
"unfold to her the passion of my love. Make a long discourse to her of
my dear faith. It will well become you to act my woes, for she will
attend more to you than to one of graver aspect."

Away then went Viola; but not willingly did she undertake this
courtship, for she was to woo a lady to become a wife to him she wished
to marry: but having undertaken the affair, she performed it with
fidelity; and Olivia soon heard that a youth was at her door who
insisted upon being admitted to her presence. "I told him," said the
servant, "that you were sick: he said he knew you were, and therefore he
came to speak with you. I told him that you were asleep: he seemed to
have a foreknowledge of that too, and said, that therefore he must speak
with you. What is to be said to him, lady? for he seems fortified
against all denial, and will speak with you, whether you will or no."
Olivia, curious to see who this peremptory messenger might be, desired
he might be admitted; and throwing her veil over her face, she said she
would once more hear Orsino's embassy, not doubting but that he came
from the duke, by his importunity. Viola, entering, put on the most
manly air she could assume, and affecting the fine courtier language of
great men's pages, she said to the veiled lady, "Most radiant,
exquisite, and matchless beauty, I pray you tell me if you are the lady
of the house; for I should be sorry to cast away my speech upon another;
for besides that it is excellently well penned, I have taken great pains
to learn it."--"Whence come you, sir?" said Olivia. "I can say little
more than I have studied," replied Viola; "and that question is out of
my part."--"Are you a comedian?" said Olivia. "No," replied Viola; "and
yet I am not that which I play;" meaning that she, being a woman,
feigned herself to be a man. And again she asked Olivia if she were the
lady of the house. Olivia said she was; and then Viola, having more
curiosity to see her rival's features, than haste to deliver her
master's message, said, "Good madam, let me see your face." With this
bold request Olivi