SCENE II. The seacoast.

       [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.]