ACT I. SCENE II.
The sea-coast
Enter VIOLA, a CAPTAIN, and SAILORS
| VIOLA. | What country, friends, is this?
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| CAPTAIN. | This is Illyria, lady.
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| VIOLA. | And what should I do in Illyria?
My brother he is in Elysium.
Perchance he is not drown'd- what think you, sailors?
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| CAPTAIN. | It is perchance that you yourself were saved.
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| VIOLA. | O my poor brother! and so perchance may he be.
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| CAPTAIN. | True, madam, and, to comfort you with chance,
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 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.
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| 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?
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| CAPTAIN. | Ay, madam, well; for I was bred and born
Not three hours' travel from this very place.
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| VIOLA. | Who governs here?
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| CAPTAIN. | A noble duke, in nature as in name.
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| VIOLA. | What is his name?
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| CAPTAIN. | Orsino.
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| VIOLA. | Orsino! I have heard my father name him.
He was a bachelor then.
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| 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.
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| VIOLA. | What's she?
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| CAPTAIN. | That were hard to compass,
Because she will admit no kind of suit-
No, not the Duke's.
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| 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.
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| CAPTAIN. | Be you his eunuch and your mute I'll be;
When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see.
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| VIOLA. | I thank thee. Lead me on
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Exeunt
Next
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ACT I. SCENE II.