Shakespeare Portal

Act 1, Scene 2

The sea-coast.

  1. [Enter VIOLA, CAPTAIN, and Sailors.]
  2. Viola
  3. 43 What country, friends, is this?
  4. Captain
  5. 44 This is Illyria, lady.
  6. Viola
  7. 45 And what should I do in Illyria?
  8. 46 My brother he is in Elysium.
  9. 47 Perchance he is not drown'd—What think you, sailors?
  10. Captain
  11. 48 It is perchance that you yourself were sav'd.
  12. Viola
  13. 49 O my poor brother! and so perchance may he be.
  14. Captain
  15. 50 True, madam; and, to comfort you with chance,
  16. 51 Assure yourself, after our ship did split,
  17. 52 When you, and those poor number sav'd with you,
  18. 53 Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother,
  19. 54 Most provident in peril, bind himself,—
  20. 55 Courage and hope both teaching him the practice,—
  21. 56 To a strong mast that liv'd upon the sea;
  22. 57 Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back,
  23. 58 I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves
  24. 59 So long as I could see.
  25. Viola
  26. 60 For saying so, there's gold!
  27. 61 Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope,
  28. 62 Whereto thy speech serves for authority,
  29. 63 The like of him. Know'st thou this country?
  30. Captain
  31. 64 Ay, madam, well; for I was bred and born
  32. 65 Not three hours' travel from this very place.
  33. Viola
  34. 66 Who governs here?
  35. Captain
  36. 67 A noble duke, in nature
  37. 68 As in name.
  38. Viola
  39. 69 What is his name?
  40. Captain
  41. 70 Orsino.
  42. Viola
  43. 71 Orsino! I have heard my father name him.
  44. 72 He was a bachelor then.
  45. Captain
  46. 73 And so is now,
  47. 74 Or was so very late; for but a month
  48. 75 Ago I went from hence; and then 'twas fresh
  49. 76 In murmur,—as, you know, what great ones do,
  50. 77 The less will prattle of,—that he did seek
  51. 78 The love of fair Olivia.
  52. Viola
  53. 79 What's she?
  54. Captain
  55. 80 A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count
  56. 81 That died some twelvemonth since; then leaving her
  57. 82 In the protection of his son, her brother,
  58. 83 Who shortly also died; for whose dear love,
  59. 84 They say, she hath abjured the company
  60. 85 And sight of men.
  61. Viola
  62. 86 O that I served that lady!
  63. 87 And might not be delivered to the world,
  64. 88 Till I had made mine own occasion mellow,
  65. 89 What my estate is.
  66. Captain
  67. 90 That were hard to compass:
  68. 91 Because she will admit no kind of suit,
  69. 92 No, not the duke's.
  70. Viola
  71. 93 There is a fair behaviour in thee, captain;
  72. 94 And though that nature with a beauteous wall
  73. 95 Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee
  74. 96 I will believe thou hast a mind that suits
  75. 97 With this thy fair and outward character.
  76. 98 I pray thee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,
  77. 99 Conceal me what I am; and be my aid
  78. 100 For such disguise as, haply, shall become
  79. 101 The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke;
  80. 102 Thou shalt present me as an eunuch to him;
  81. 103 It may be worth thy pains, for I can sing,
  82. 104 And speak to him in many sorts of music,
  83. 105 That will allow me very worth his service.
  84. 106 What else may hap to time I will commit;
  85. 107 Only shape thou silence to my wit.
  86. Captain
  87. 108 Be you his eunuch and your mute I'll be;
  88. 109 When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see.
  89. Viola
  90. 110 I thank thee. Lead me on.
  91. [Exeunt.]