The Sea-coast. | |
| |
Enter VIOLA, Captain, and Sailors. | |
| Vio. What country, friends, is this? | |
| Cap. This is Illyria, lady. | 4 |
| Vio. And what should I do in Illyria? | |
| My brother he is in Elysium. | |
| Perchance he is not drown’d: what think you sailors? | |
| Cap. It is perchance that you yourself were sav’d. | 8 |
| Vio. O my poor brother! and so perchance may he be. | |
| Cap. 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 | 12 |
| 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; | 16 |
| Where, like Arion on the dolphin’s back, | |
| I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves | |
| So long as I could see. | |
| Vio. For saying so there’s gold. | 20 |
| Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope, | |
| Whereto thy speech serves for authority, | |
| The like of him. Know’st thou this country? | |
| Cap. Ay, madam, well; for I was bred and born | 24 |
| Not three hours’ travel from this very place. | |
| Vio. Who governs here? | |
| Cap. A noble duke, in nature as in name. | |
| Vio. What is his name? | 28 |
| Cap. Orsino. | |
| Vio. Orsino! I have heard my father name him: | |
| He was a bachelor then. | |
| Cap. And so is now, or was so very late; | 32 |
| 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. | 36 |
| Vio. What’s she? | |
| Cap. A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count | |
| That died some twelvemonth since; then leaving her | |
| In the protection of his son, her brother, | 40 |
| Who shortly also died: for whose dear love, | |
| They say she hath abjur’d the company | |
| And sight of men. | |
| Vio. O! that I serv’d that lady, | 44 |
| And might not be deliver’d to the world, | |
| Till I had made mine own occasion mellow, | |
| What my estate is. | |
| Cap. That were hard to compass, | 48 |
| Because she will admit no kind of suit, | |
| No, not the duke’s. | |
| Vio. There is a fair behaviour in thee, captain; | |
| And though that nature with a beauteous wall | 52 |
| 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 bountously,— | 56 |
| 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 a eunuch to him: | 60 |
| 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; | 64 |
| Only shape thou thy silence to my wit. | |
| Cap. Be you his eunuch, and your mute I’ll be: | |
| When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see. | |
| Vio. I thank thee: lead me on. [Exeunt. | 68 |
