Act I, Scene ii:
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.]