Twelfth Night: Act 1, Scene 2

    comedy

    The sea-coast.

    Scene Summary

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    Viola is washed ashore in Illyria after a shipwreck. She fears her twin brother Sebastian has drowned. A sea captain tells her about Orsino and Olivia. Viola decides to disguise herself as a young man named Cesario and get herself hired as a servant to Orsino. The captain agrees to help.

    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 saved.
    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 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,
    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:
    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 the 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 abjured the company
    And sight of men.
    VIOLA
    O that I served 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 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.
    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:
    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.
    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