''You might do much,' said Olivia: 'what is your parentage?' Viola replied: 'Above my fortunes, yet my state is well. I am a gentleman.' Olivia now halfhearted, dismissed Viola, saying 'Go to your master, and tell him, I cannot love him. Let him send no more, unless per chance you come again to tell me how he takes it.' And Viola departed, bidding the lady farewell by the name of Fair Cruelty.

She was determined to send a servant to Cesario with a diamond ring, with the intention of making it look like he left the ring that he was supposed to present her as a gift from the Duke. She hoped that her actions would serve as a hint of her exhaustive love for the man, who was but a messenger of yet another lover. Viola was indeed surprised for she knew Orsino had sent no ring. She was gradually getting the hint. Olivia's looks and glances added fuel to the thought. 'Alas,' said she, 'the poor lady might as well love a dream. Disguise I see is wicked, for it has caused Olivia to breathe as fruitless sighs for me as I do for Orsino.'

Viola returned to her master to narrate the incidents of her failure to convince the woman. The narration included the command of Olivia that the Duke should trouble her no more. The Duke persisted, with the sole hope that someday, he would win the lady's love and hence, expected Cesario to go back to her the next day with the same request. In the meantime, the Duke sung a song, 'My good Cesario, when I heard that song last night, me thought it did relieve my passion much. Mark it Cesario, it is old and plain. The spinsters and the knitters when they sit in the sun, and the young maids that weave their thread with bone, chant this song. It is silly, yet I love it, for it tells of the innocence of love in the old times.

Viola heard the song. She couldn't miss it. It portrayed the pain that he bore, the pangs of unrequited love for the woman. Orsino couldn't help noticing her expressions. He said, "My life upon it, Cesario, though you are so young, your eye has looked upon some face that it loves, has it not, boy?'

'A little, with your leave,' replied Viola. 'And what kind of woman, and of what age is she?' said Orsino. 'Of your age and of your complexion, my lord,' said Viola. The Duke smiled. He was amused to find someone in love with a person much older, precisely his own age. Little did he know that Viola meant the Duke himself.

Viola visited Olivia for the second time, this time without much difficulty. Its so easy for the servants to understand whom their masters enjoy being with. Viola once again mentioned that she was there to plead her on behalf of the Duke. 'I desired you never to speak of him again, but if you would undertake another suit, I had rather hear you solicit, than music from the spheres,' said Olivia.

Olivia soon found herself expressing more openly than ever. She said: 'O what a deal of scorn looks beautiful in the contempt and anger of his lip! Cesario, by the roses of the spring, by maidhood, honour, and by truth, I love you so, that, in spite of your pride, I have neither wit nor reason to conceal my passion.' Viola was determined never to appear before Olivia again pleading on behalf of the Duke.

This was a gamble. Olivia had given away her heart to a man who was actually a woman and who loved the Duke, who secretly gave his heart to Olivia. It was a circle, yet not complete. She thought of confessing but was relieved at once from her terror, and the shame of such a discovery, by a stranger that was passing by, who made up to them, and as if he had been long known to her, and were her dearest friend, said to her opponent: 'If this young gentleman has done offence, I will take the fault on me; and if you offend him, I will for his sake defy you.'

Viola wanted to thank him but had less time in hand. Her new friend met with an enemy where his bravery was of no use to him; for the officers of justice coming up in that instant, apprehended the stranger in the duke's name, to answer for an offence he had committed some years before. He said to Viola: 'This comes with seeking you' and then he asked her for a purse, saying, 'Now my necessity makes me ask for my purse, and it grieves me much more for what I cannot do for you, than for what befalls myself. You stand amazed, but be of comfort.'

His words did indeed surprise Viola, and she protested she knew him not, nor had ever received a purse from him, but for the kindness he had just shown her, she offered him a small sum of money, being nearly the whole she possessed. And now the stranger spoke severe things, charging her with ingratitude and unkindness.