READ STUDY GUIDE: Act I, scenes i–ii |
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Act I, Scene ii:
The sea-coast.
The sea-coast.
| [Enter VIOLA, a CAPTAIN, and SAILORS.] |
| VIOLA: |
| What country, friends, is this? |
| CAPTAIN: |
| This is Illyria, lady. |
| VIOLA: |
| And what should I do in Illyria? |
| My brother he is in Elysium. |
| Perchance he is not drown'd. What think you, sailors? |
| CAPTAIN: |
| It is perchance that you yourself were sav'd. |
| VIOLA: |
| O my poor brother! and so perchance may he be. |
| CAPTAIN: |
| True, madam: and, to comfort you with chance, |
| Assure yourself, after our ship did split, |
| When you, and those poor number sav'd with you, |
| Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother, |
| Most provident in peril, bind himself, |
| Courage and hope both teaching him the practice, |
| To a strong mast that liv'd upon the sea; |
| Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back, |
| I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves |
| So long as I could see. |
| VIOLA: |
| For saying so, there's gold: |
| Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope, |
| Whereto thy speech serves for authority, |
| The like of him. Know'st thou this country? |
| CAPTAIN: |
| Ay, madam, well; for I was bred and born |
| Not three hours' travel from this very place. |
| VIOLA: |
| Who governs here? |
| CAPTAIN: |
| A noble duke, in nature as in name. |
| VIOLA: |
| What is his name? |
| CAPTAIN: |
| Orsino. |
| VIOLA: |
| Orsino! I have heard my father name him; |
| He was a bachelor then. |
| CAPTAIN: |
| And so is now, or was so very late; |
| For but a month ago I went from hence, |
| And then 'twas fresh in murmur—as, you know, |
| What great ones do the less will prattle of— |
| That he did seek the love of fair Olivia. |
| VIOLA: |
| What's she? |
| CAPTAIN: |
| A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count |
| That died some twelvemonth since, then leaving her |
| In the protection of his son, her brother, |
| Who shortly also died; for whose dear love, |
| They say, she hath abjur'd the company |
| And sight of men. |
| VIOLA: |
| O that I serv'd that lady, |
| And might not be delivered to the world, |
| Till I had made mine own occasion mellow, |
| What my estate is! |
| CAPTAIN: |
| That were hard to compass, |
| Because she will admit no kind of suit, |
| No, not the duke's. |
| VIOLA: |
| There is a fair behaviour in thee, captain; |
| And though that nature with a beauteous wall |
| Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee |
| I will believe thou hast a mind that suits |
| With this thy fair and outward character. |
| I prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously, |
| Conceal me what I am, and be my aid |
| For such disguise as haply shall become |
| The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke: |
| Thou shalt present me as an eunuch to him; |
| It may be worth thy pains, for I can sing |
| And speak to him in many sorts of music |
| That will allow me very worth his service. |
| What else may hap, to time I will commit; |
| Only shape thou silence to my wit. |
| CAPTAIN: |
| Be you his eunuch, and your mute I'll be; |
| When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see. |
| VIOLA: |
| I thank thee; lead me on. |
| [Exeunt.] |
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