Vio.
What country, friends, is this?

Cap.
This is ^note Illyria, lady.

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 saved.

Vio.
O my poor brother! and so ^note perchance may he be.

Cap.
True, madam: and, to comfort you with chance,
Assure yourself, after our ship did split,
When you and those ^note poor number saved with you
Hung on our ^note driving ^note boat, I saw your brother,
Most provident in peril, bind himself,
Courage and hope both teaching him the practice,
To a strong mast that lived upon the sea;
Where, like Arion ^note 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 ^note:
Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope,
Whereto thy speech serves for authority,
The like of him. Know'st ^note thou this country?

Cap.
Ay, madam, well; for I was bred and born
Not three hours' travel from this very place.

Vio.
Who governs here?

Cap.
A noble Duke, in nature as in name ^note.

Vio.
What is his name?

Cap.
Orsino. ^note

Vio.
Orsino! I have heard my father name him:
He was a bachelor then.

Cap.
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.

Vio.
What's she? ^note

Cap.
A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count
That died some twelvemonth ^note since; then leaving her
In the protection of his son, her brother,
Who shortly also died: for whose dear love ^note,
They say, she hath ^note abjured the company
And sight ^note of men.

Vio.
O that I served that lady,
And ^note might not be delivered ^note to the world,
Till I had made mine own occasion mellow, ^note
What my estate is!

Cap.
That were hard to compass;
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
Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee
I will ^note 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 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.

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