
Viola, disguised as the page Cesario, arrives at Olivia's estate to deliver a message of love from Duke Orsino. The two engage in a witty battle of words as Olivia remains unimpressed by the rehearsed speech, eventually leading to Olivia unveiling her face.
VIOLA: Most radiant, exquisite and unmatchable beauty—I pray you, tell me if this be the lady of the house, for I never saw her.
OLIVIA: Whence came you, sir?
VIOLA: I can say little more than I have studied, and that question's out of my part. Good gentle one, give me modest assurance if you be the
Create a free account to explore more
Upgrade to Pro for full access — £6.99/month
Director's Notes
Want expert coaching on this scene?
Browse our curated list of acting coaches, dialect specialists, and more.
Need representation?
Browse verified agents and casting directors in our directory.
How well does this scene match you?
Save your casting profile to see match scores on every scene.
Try Headshot AnalyserGo Pro
£6.99/mo
- ✓ Unlimited scene reading
- ✓ PDF downloads
- ✓ Director's Notes
- ✓ Headshot Analyser
- ✓ Cover Letter Generator
- ✓ Practice Mode
- ✓ Agent Connect
- + 1,000+ scenes
More from Twelfth Night
Act II, Scene 1 — Sebastian's Revelation
from Twelfth Night
Antonio tries to convince Sebastian to let him accompany him, but Sebastian insists on traveling alone, fearing his bad luck will affect Antonio. Sebastian then reveals his true identity and the tragic loss of his twin sister, Viola, to Antonio.
Act II, Scene 2 — Viola's Soliloquy
from Twelfth Night
Viola, disguised as Cesario, receives a ring from Malvolio, sent by Olivia. Viola realizes Olivia has fallen in love with 'Cesario' and is distraught by the complicated love triangle that has emerged, as she loves Orsino, who loves Olivia.
Act II, Scene 2 — Viola's Confusion of Love
from Twelfth Night
Viola realizes that Olivia has fallen in love with her male disguise, Cesario, after being sent a ring under false pretenses. She reflects on the complications of her deception and the messy love triangle involving herself, Olivia, and Duke Orsino.
Act IV, Scene 3 — Sebastian's Soliloquy
from Twelfth Night
Sebastian reels from a whirlwind encounter with Olivia, who has mistaken him for his twin sister Viola in disguise. He attempts to rationalize his sudden good fortune and the lady's apparent sanity despite her erratic behavior toward him.
Similar Scenes
Act I, Scene 1 — The Course of True Love
from A Midsummer Night's Dream
Hermia and Lysander lament the difficulties of their forbidden love before Lysander proposes a plan to flee Athens and marry in secret at his aunt's house. They exchange vows of loyalty and agree to meet in the woods the following night.
Act I, Scene 1 — Helena's Soliloquy
from A Midsummer Night's Dream
Helena laments the unrequited nature of her love for Demetrius and his obsession with Hermia. She reflects on the irrationality of love before deciding to betray Hermia's secret flight to Demetrius in hopes of gaining his attention.
The Fake Sex Plan
from Easy A
Olive Penderghast proposes a deceptive plan to help her friend Brandon improve his social standing by faking a sexual encounter. They discuss the mechanics of high school popularity and the power of rumors to reshape one's identity. Brandon eventually agrees to the scheme, setting the stage for a complicated social experiment.
Act II — The Engagement Diary
from The Importance of Being Earnest
Algernon, posing as the fictional 'Ernest', attempts to woo Cecily in the garden. He is bewildered to discover that Cecily has already documented their entire romance and engagement in her diary long before they actually met.