Vio.
What country, friends, is this?

Cap.
This is Illyria, lady.

Vio.
And what should I do in Illyria?
My brother he is in Elyzium.
Perchance, he is not drown'd:—What think you, sailors?

Cap.
It is perchance, that you yourself were sav'd.

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 this poor ^note 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 ^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 &dagger2; gold:
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
Not three hours travel from this very place.

Vio.
Who governs here?

Cap.
A noble duke in nature,
As in his name.

Vio.
What is his name?

Cap.
Orsino.

Vio.
Orsino! I have heard my father name him:
He was a batchelor 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?

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

Vio.
o, that ^note I serv'd that lady;
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;
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 believe, thou hast a mind that suits
With this thy fair and outward character.
I pray thee, 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 musick,
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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