For youth is bought more oft than begg'd or borrow'd Olivia's statement shows her desperation. "Better to buy than beg or borrow" was a common saying, expressing the idea that only buying lets you keep your integrity and independence. But when the thing bought is love, the saying doesn't apply; bought love is prostitution. Olivia doesn't care. She has already tried to beg love from Cesario, and that hasn't worked. She has also, in a sense, borrowed love; Cesario/Viola keeps coming back to see Olivia only for the sake of his/her master, whom he/she loves. So, since begging and borrowing haven't worked, Olivia is thinking of feasts and gifts to buy the love she so desperately wants.