Act I, Scene 2

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? 50
  My brother he is in Elysium.
  Perchance he is not drown'd: what think you, sailors?

• Captain. It is perchance that you yourself were saved.

• Viola. O my poor brother! and so perchance may he be.

• Captain. True, madam: and, to comfort you with chance, 55
  Assure yourself, after our ship did split,
  When you and those poor number saved with you
  Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother,
  Most provident in peril, bind himself,
  Courage and hope both teaching him the practise, 60
  To a strong mast that lived 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: 65
  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. 70

• Viola. Who governs here?

• Captain. A noble duke, in nature as in name.

• Viola. What is the name?

• Captain. Orsino.

• Viola. Orsino! I have heard my father name him: 75
  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,— 80
  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, 85
  Who shortly also died: for whose dear love,
  They say, she hath abjured the company
  And sight of men.

• Viola. O that I served that lady
  And might not be delivered to the world, 90
  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. 95

• Viola. There is a fair behavior 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. 100
  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 shall present me as an eunuch to him: 105
  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 thy silence to my wit. 110

• 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]