Diary entries from Olivia and Viola/Cesario after their initialmeeting (Act 1 Scene 5) Olivia's Diary.

Authors Avatar

Helen Hayes

Diary entries from Olivia and Viola/Cesario after their initial

meeting (Act 1 Scene 5)

Olivia’s Diary

Dear Diary,

Today I met such a fine gentleman who was sent from the court of Orsino. He was youthful and had a wonderful character. In all my years, I have never and doubt I will ever, meet a finer man.

Upon his arrival, I must admit that I did not give him the necessary chance for his character to blossom and shine. To me he was just another messenger from Orsino’s court. Yet after he spoke from his heart and not from a pre-prepared speech, I was captivated by his every word because they were filled with passion. I now know “I cannot love” another man but him.

I had better explain how it is possible for me to fall in love with someone below my station and of how quickly I caught “the plague”. I asked him to “speak [his] office”, which only  “concern[d] [my] ear” as he rightly pointed out, so I thought it best for Maria to “give us the place alone”. He intrigued me and I was more interested in Cesario the messenger, than Orsino. Cesario even said my face was “excellently done”, so clearly he found me attractive, perhaps even beautiful.

When he was due to depart, I thanked him “for [his] pains” and offered him money but he would not accept it. His refusal, made me feel even more drawn to him as a person. I felt it showed he was a true romantic, not wanting payment for his speeches of love and declarations of passion.

He must be trustworthy, as Orsino selected him specially to deliver what was said in “Orsino’s bosom”. Cesario said he was “a gentleman” not just in character but also in his “parentage.”

Join now!

Cesario spoke to me first from memorised words, but when he realised that this did not impress me, he spoke from the heart as “if he did love me in [his] masters flame.” He told me that he would  “make … a willow cabin at [my] gate and call upon” me. So I think he might genuinely have feelings for me, but he is understandably anxious because I am above his station.

I have made my feelings clear by sending Cesario a ring. This is a token of my love and affection. He will have to “come ...

This is a preview of the whole essay