Original: This is the air; that is the glorious sun;
Modern: This is real air I’m breathing; that’s the actual sun shining;

Original: This pearl she gave me, I do feel’t and see’t;
Modern: This pearl she gave me—I can touch it and see it;

Original: And though ‘tis wonder that enwraps me thus,
Modern: And even though I’m completely amazed by all this,

Original: Yet ‘tis not madness. Where’s Antonio, then?
Modern: I know I’m not going crazy. But where is Antonio?

Original: I could not find him at the Elephant:
Modern: I couldn’t find him at the Elephant inn:

Original: Yet there he was; and there I found this credit,
Modern: But he had been there, and I learned from reliable sources

Original: That he did range the town to seek me out.
Modern: That he searched all over town looking for me.

Original: His counsel now might do me golden service;
Modern: His advice right now would be incredibly valuable;

Original: For though my soul disputes well with my sense,
Modern: Because even though my heart argues convincingly with my mind

Original: That this may be some error, but no madness,
Modern: That this might be some mistake, but I’m definitely not insane,

Original: Yet doth this accident and flood of fortune
Modern: Still, this strange turn of events and rush of good luck

Original: So far exceed all instance, all discourse,
Modern: Goes so far beyond anything I’ve ever experienced or heard about

Original: That I am ready to distrust mine eyes
Modern: That I’m ready to doubt what I’m seeing

Original: And wrangle with my reason that persuades me
Modern: And argue with my logical mind that’s trying to convince me

Original: To any other trust but that I am mad
Modern: To believe anything other than that I’ve lost my mind

Original: Or else the lady’s mad; yet, if ‘twere so,
Modern: Or that the lady has lost hers; but if that were true,

Original: She could not sway her house, command her followers,
Modern: She couldn’t run her household or give orders to her servants,

Original: Take and give back affairs and their dispatch
Modern: Handle business matters and delegate responsibilities

Original: With such a smooth, discreet and stable bearing
Modern: With such calm, wise, and steady behavior

Original: As I perceive she does: there’s something in’t
Modern: As I can see she does: there’s something about this situation

Original: That is deceiveable. But here the lady comes.
Modern: That’s deceptive or confusing. But look, here she comes now.

In Act IV, scene iii of “Twelfth Night,” Sebastian enters alone, marveling at the strange turn his fortunes have taken. He reflects on how he has been showered with gifts and gold by Olivia, who believes him to be Cesario (Viola in disguise). Sebastian is bewildered by this sudden wealth and attention from a noblewoman he has never met before, yet he cannot deny the reality of the pearls and money in his possession. He wonders if he is dreaming or if Olivia is mad, but concludes that her household runs too efficiently for her to be truly insane.

Olivia enters with a priest, eager to formalize her relationship with the man she believes to be Cesario. She asks Sebastian to accompany her to a nearby chapel where they can be married in a private ceremony, with the priest as witness. Though Sebastian is still confused about the circumstances, he is captivated by Olivia’s beauty and readily agrees to the proposal. The scene ends with Sebastian, Olivia, and the priest departing together to perform the marriage ceremony, setting up the complications that will unfold when the true identities are revealed in the final act.

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.