Original: M, O, A, I; this simulation is not as the former: and yet, to crush this a little, it would bow to me, for every one of these letters are in my name.
Modern: M, O, A, I; this riddle isn’t like the last one, but if I think about it hard enough, it makes sense to me because all of these letters are in my name.

Original: Soft! here follows prose.
Modern: Wait! here comes some written text.

Original: ‘If this fall into thy hand, revolve.
Modern: ‘If this letter comes to you, think it over.

Original: In my stars I am above thee; but be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ‘em.
Modern: By birth and fate I am above you in rank; but don’t be afraid of becoming great: some people are born into greatness, some earn greatness, and some have greatness forced on them.

Original: Thy Fates open their hands; let thy blood and spirit embrace them; and, to inure thyself to what thou art like to be, cast thy humble slough and appear fresh.
Modern: Destiny is offering you opportunities; let your noble nature and courage accept them; and to prepare yourself for what you’re meant to become, shed your humble manner and present yourself as a new person.

Original: Be opposite with a kinsman, surly with servants; let thy tongue tang arguments of state; put thyself into the trick of singularity: she thus advises thee that sighs for thee.
Modern: Be argumentative with relatives, rude to servants; let your speech ring with talk of politics; make yourself stand out as unique: this is the advice from her who yearns for you.

Original: Remember who commended thy yellow stockings, and wished to see thee ever cross-gartered: I say, remember.
Modern: Remember who praised your yellow stockings and wanted to always see you wearing cross-garters: I’m telling you, remember this.

Original: Go to, thou art made, if thou desirest to be so; if not, let me see thee a steward still, the fellow of servants, and not worthy to touch Fortune’s fingers.
Modern: Come on, your fortune is made if you want it to be; if not, then stay a steward forever, just another servant, and unworthy of good luck.

Original: Farewell. She that would alter services with thee, THE FORTUNATE-UNHAPPY.’
Modern: Goodbye. From her who would change places with you, THE FORTUNATE-UNHAPPY.’

Original: Daylight and champaign discovers not more: this is open.
Modern: Daylight and open countryside couldn’t be clearer: this message is obvious.

Original: I will be proud, I will read politic authors, I will baffle Sir Toby, I will wash off gross acquaintance, I will be point-devise the very man.
Modern: I will be arrogant, I will read books about politics, I will confuse Sir Toby, I will get rid of my crude friends, I will become exactly the perfect gentleman.

Original: I do not now fool myself, to let imagination jade me; for every reason excites to this, that my lady loves me.
Modern: I’m not deceiving myself or letting my imagination trick me; every piece of evidence points to this: that my lady loves me.

Original: She did commend my yellow stockings of late, she did praise my leg being cross-gartered; and in this she manifests herself to my love, and with a kind of injunction drives me to these habits of her liking.
Modern: She recently complimented my yellow stockings, she praised how my leg looked in cross-garters; and by doing this she reveals her love to me, and sort of commands me to dress in the way she likes.

Original: I thank my stars I am happy.
Modern: I thank my lucky stars that I am so fortunate.

Original: I will be strange, stout, in yellow stockings, and cross-gartered, even with the swiftness of putting on.
Modern: I will be aloof, bold, wearing yellow stockings and cross-garters, and I’ll put them on as quickly as possible.

Original: Jove and my stars be praised! Here is yet a postscript.
Modern: Thank God and my good fortune! Here’s even more writing.

Original: ‘Thou canst not choose but know who I am.
Modern: ‘You can’t help but know who I am.

Original: If thou entertainest my love, let it appear in thy smiling; thy smiles become thee well; therefore in my presence still smile, dear my sweet, I prithee.’
Modern: If you return my love, show it by smiling; your smiles look good on you; so please always smile when I’m around, my dear sweet one.’

Original: Jove, I thank thee: I will smile; I will do everything that thou wilt have me.
Modern: God, I thank you: I will smile; I will do everything that you want me to do.

In Act II, Scene 5 of “Twelfth Night,” Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and Fabian hide in Olivia’s garden to observe Malvolio, who has been set up by their forged letter scheme. Maria has planted a love letter, supposedly from Olivia, where Malvolio will find it during his regular garden walk. The three conspirators conceal themselves and watch as Malvolio enters, already fantasizing about his potential marriage to his mistress Olivia and the elevated social status it would bring him. He imagines himself as “Count Malvolio” and envisions how he would treat Sir Toby as his subordinate.

Malvolio discovers the letter and, convinced it is from Olivia’s hand, reads it aloud while the hidden observers struggle to contain their laughter. The letter, crafted by Maria, contains cryptic references that Malvolio interprets as signs of Olivia’s secret love for him, including the famous riddle about the letters M.O.A.I. which he believes spell out his name. The letter instructs him to appear before Olivia wearing yellow stockings, cross-gartered, and to smile constantly, behaviors that will actually displease her greatly. Malvolio exits, completely convinced of Olivia’s affection and determined to follow the letter’s instructions, while the conspirators emerge from hiding, delighted with the success of their practical joke and eagerly anticipating the amusing consequences of his transformed behavior.

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.