Twelfth Night in modern English, scene by scene

About this translation

Every scene of Twelfth Night is set out twice: William Shakespeare’s words on one side, and on the other a plain modern English rendering of the same lines, in the same order. It is a way to read the original, not a replacement for it — the rendering says what the text says, and the text is the thing you quote.

Line numbers count the verse lines of each scene in the public-domain Project Gutenberg edition these pages are set from, so they may not match the numbering in a printed edition.

1. Act 1, Scene 1 — An Apartment in the Duke’s Palace.If music is the food of love, keep playing. Give me too much of it, so that my appetite…
2. Act 1, Scene 2 — The sea-coast.What country is this, friends?
3. Act 1, Scene 3 — A Room in Olivia’s House.What the plague does my niece mean by taking her brother's death like this? I'm sure…
4. Act 1, Scene 4 — A Room in the Duke’s Palace.If the duke keeps showing you these favours, Cesario, you're likely to be promoted a…
5. Act 1, Scene 5 — A Room in Olivia’s House.No; either tell me where you've been, or I won't open my lips as wide as a bristle could…

1. Act 2, Scene 1 — The sea-coast.Won't you stay any longer? And won't you let me come with you?
2. Act 2, Scene 2 — A street.Weren't you just now with the Countess Olivia?
3. Act 2, Scene 3 — A Room in Olivia’s House.Come here, Sir Andrew. Not being in bed after midnight means being up early; and diluculo…
4. Act 2, Scene 4 — A Room in the Duke’s Palace.Give me some music. Now, good morning, friends. Now, good Cesario, just that bit of song…
5. Act 2, Scene 5 — Olivia’s garden.Come along, Signior Fabian.

1. Act 3, Scene 1 — Olivia’s garden.God save you, friend, and your music too. Do you live by your drum?
2. Act 3, Scene 2 — A Room in Olivia’s House.No, honestly, I won't stay a moment longer.
3. Act 3, Scene 3 — A street.I would not have troubled you if I'd had my way, but since you take pleasure in your…
4. Act 3, Scene 4 — Olivia’s garden.I've sent a messenger after him. He says he'll come. How shall I entertain him? What…

1. Act 4, Scene 1 — The Street before Olivia’s House.Are you going to make me believe I wasn't sent to fetch you?
2. Act 4, Scene 2 — A Room in Olivia’s House.No, please, put on this gown and this beard; make him believe you are Sir Topas the…
3. Act 4, Scene 3 — Olivia’s Garden.This is the air; that is the glorious sun. This is the pearl she gave me — I can feel it…

1. Act 5, Scene 1 — The Street before Olivia’s House.Now, if you love me, let me see his letter.