a was not averse to comply; for this haughty beauty,
whom the Duke Orsino had loved so long in vain, at first sight conceived
a passion for the supposed page, the humble Cesario.

When Viola asked to see her face, Olivia said, "Have you any commission
from your lord and master to negotiate with my face?" And then,
forgetting her determination to go veiled for seven long years, she drew
aside her veil, saying, "But I will draw the curtain and show the
picture. Is it not well done?" Viola replied, "It is beauty truly mixed;
the red and white upon your cheeks is by Nature's own cunning hand laid
on. You are the most cruel lady living, if you will lead these graces to
the grave, and leave the world no copy."--"O, sir," replied Olivia, "I
will not be so cruel. The world may have an inventory of my beauty. As,
_item_, two lips, indifferent red; _item_, two grey eyes, with lids to
them; one neck; one chin; and so forth. Were you sent here to praise
me?" Viola replied, "I see what you are: you are too proud, but you are
fair. My lord and master loves you. O such a love could but be
recompensed, though you were crowned the queen of beauty: for Orsino
loves you with adoration and with tears, with groans that thunder love,
and sighs of fire."--"Your lord," said Olivia, "knows well my mind. I
cannot love him; yet I doubt not he is virtuous; I know him to be noble
and of high estate, of fresh and spotless youth. All voices proclaim
him learned, courteous, and valiant; yet I cannot love him, he might
have taken his answer long ago."--"If I did love you as my master does,"
said Viola, "I would make me a willow cabin at your gates, and call upon
your name, I would write complaining sonnets on Olivia, and sing them in
the dead of the night; your name should sound among the hills, and I
would make Echo, the babbling gossip of the air, cry out _Olivia_. O you
should not rest between the elements of earth and air, but you should
pity me."--"You might do much," said Olivia: "what is your parentage?"
Viola replied, "Above my fortunes, yet my state is well. I am a
gentleman." Olivia now reluctantly dismissed Viola, saying, "Go to your
master, and tell him, I cannot love him. Let him send no more, unless
perchance you come again to tell me how he takes it." And Viola
departed, bidding the lady farewell by the name of Fair Cruelty. When
she was gone, Olivia repeated the words, _Above my fortunes, yet my
state is well. I am a gentleman._ And she