Here is the line-by-line paraphrase of this monologue from Olivia in Twelfth Night:

Original: O, what a deal of scorn looks beautiful
Modern: Oh, how beautiful all that scorn looks

Original: In the contempt and anger of his lip!
Modern: In the contempt and anger on his lips!

Original: A murderous guilt shows not itself more soon
Modern: A murderer’s guilt doesn’t reveal itself any faster

Original: Than love that would seem hid: love’s night is noon.
Modern: Than love that tries to stay hidden: love’s darkness is as bright as daylight.

Original: Cesario, by the roses of the spring,
Modern: Cesario, I swear by the roses of spring,

Original: By maidhood, honour, truth and every thing,
Modern: By my virginity, honor, truth and everything,

Original: I love thee so, that, maugre all thy pride,
Modern: I love you so much that, despite all your pride,

Original: Nor wit nor reason can my passion hide.
Modern: Neither cleverness nor logic can hide my passion.

Original: Do not extort thy reasons from this clause,
Modern: Don’t twist your arguments from this fact,

Original: For that I woo, thou therefore hast no cause,
Modern: That just because I’m pursuing you, you have no reason to love me,

Original: But rather reason thus with reason fetter,
Modern: But instead, chain up that reasoning with this logic:

Original: Love sought is good, but given unsought better.
Modern: Love that is pursued is good, but love given freely without being asked for is even better.

In Act III, Scene 1 of “Twelfth Night,” Viola (disguised as Cesario) arrives at Olivia’s house and engages in witty wordplay with Feste, the clown, who demonstrates his cleverness through puns and philosophical observations about language and meaning. Sir Toby and Sir Andrew then appear, with Sir Andrew attempting to impress with his own wordplay but failing to match the wit of Cesario. After they exit, Olivia enters and dismisses her attendants so she can speak privately with Cesario, whom she believes to be a young man.

Olivia proceeds to make increasingly direct declarations of love to Cesario, abandoning the pretense that brought the disguised Viola to court her on Duke Orsino’s behalf. Despite Olivia’s passionate pleas and offers of wealth and status, Cesario gently but firmly rejects her advances, insisting that no woman could ever hold his heart in the way Olivia desires. Olivia refuses to accept this rejection and begs Cesario to return, asking him not to give her reason to despair. The scene ends with Olivia’s continued pursuit of the disguised Viola, who remains trapped between her loyalty to Orsino and her inability to reveal her true identity to resolve the romantic confusion.

Twelfth Night, Or What You Will opens with Viola and her twin brother Sebastian being separated in a shipwreck off the coast of Illyria. Believing Sebastian to be dead, Viola disguises herself as a young man named Cesario and enters the service of Duke Orsino, who is desperately in love with the Countess Olivia. Olivia, however, is in mourning for her dead brother and refuses to receive Orsino’s advances. When Orsino sends Cesario (Viola) to woo Olivia on his behalf, Olivia instead falls in love with the disguised messenger.

Meanwhile, in Olivia’s household, her uncle Sir Toby Belch lives as a disruptive houseguest alongside his drinking companion Sir Andrew Aguecheek, who foolishly hopes to win Olivia’s hand. Olivia’s clever waiting-woman Maria, the witty Fool Feste, and these two knights conspire against Malvolio, Olivia’s pompous steward. They forge a letter supposedly from Olivia declaring her love for Malvolio and instructing him to wear yellow stockings, cross-gartered, and to smile constantly. Malvolio follows these instructions, leading Olivia to believe he has gone mad.

The confusion deepens when Sebastian, who has survived the shipwreck and arrived in Illyria with the sea captain Antonio, is mistaken for Cesario by various characters. Sir Andrew challenges Cesario to a duel, but when Antonio intervenes believing Sebastian to be Viola, he is arrested by officers who recognize him as a wanted man. The climax occurs when Sebastian encounters Olivia, who mistakes him for Cesario and persuades him to marry her immediately.

All confusions are resolved when Viola and Sebastian are finally reunited, revealing their true identities. Orsino, realizing that Viola loves him, proposes marriage to her. Sebastian and Olivia remain married despite the mistaken identity that led to their union. Malvolio is released from imprisonment but storms off angrily when the trick played on him is revealed, while the other characters celebrate the multiple unions and the restoration of order.