SCENE II.

_A Room in_ DUKE ORSINO'S _Palace_.

_The Duke discovered, seated, and attended by_ CURIO, _and Gentlemen_.

_Duke._ [_Music._] If music be the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it; that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die.---- [_Music._] That strain again;--it had a dying fall: O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet south, That breathes upon a bank of violets, Stealing, and giving odours.-- [_Music._] Enough; no more; [_He rises._ 'Tis not so sweet now, as it was before.

_Cur._ Will you go hunt, my lord?

_Duke._ What, Curio?

_Cur._ The hart.

_Duke._ Why, so I do, the noblest that I have: O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first, Methought, she purged the air of pestilence; That instant was I turn'd into a hart; And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds, E'er since pursue me.

_Enter_ VALENTINE.

How now? what news from my Olivia?--speak.

_Val._ So please my lord, I might not be admitted; But from her handmaid do return this answer; The element itself, till seven years heat, Shall not behold her face at ample view; But, like a cloistress, she will veiled walk, And water once a day her chamber round With eye-offending brine: all this, to season A brother's dead love, which she would keep fresh, And lasting, in her sad remembrance.

_Duke._ O, she, that hath a heart of that fine frame, To pay this debt of love but to a brother, How will she love, when the rich golden shaft Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else That live in her!-- Away before me to sweet beds of flowers; Love-thoughts lie rich, when canopied with bowers. [_Exeunt._