ACT 1
[Enter VIOLA, a Captain, and Sailors]
VIOLA
What country, friends, is this?
What country, friends, is this?
CAPTAIN
This is Illyria, lady.
This is Illyria, lady.
VIOLA
And what should I do in Illyria?
Illyria? What am I doing here?
My brother he is in Elysium.
My brother’s in Elysium, our heaven.
Perchance he is not drowned: what think you, sailors?
Perhaps he hasn’t drowned. What do you think, crew?
CAPTAIN
It is perchance that you yourself were saved.
It was just down to luck that you were saved.
VIOLA
O my poor brother! And so perchance may he be.
Oh, my poor brother! There’s a chance he lived.
CAPTAIN
True, madam: and, to comfort you with chance,
That’s true, and drawing comfort from that chance,
Assure yourself, after our ship did split,
You must know, once our ship disintegrated,
When you and those poor number saved with you
When you and those few others that survived
Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother,
Clung to our drifting raft, I saw your brother,
Most provident in peril, bind himself,
With foresight in the danger, tie himself—
Courage and hope both teaching him the practise,
As bravery and optimism taught him—
To a strong mast that lived upon the sea;
To a strong mast that floated on the sea,
Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back,
Where, like Arion rode the dolphin’s back,
I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves
He held his own, buoyant above the waves,
So long as I could see.
As long as I could see.
VIOLA
For saying so, there's gold:
For saying that, here’s money.
Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope,
That I survived gives hope that he did too,
Whereto thy speech serves for authority,
And what you said affirms this could be true
The like of him. Know'st thou this country?
And he survived. Do you know of this country?
CAPTAIN
Ay, madam, well; for I was bred and born
I know it well, for I was born and raised
Not three hours' travel from this very place.
Less than three hours journey-time from here.
VIOLA
Who governs here?
Who governs here?
CAPTAIN
A noble duke, in nature as in name.
A noble duke, in nature and in name.
VIOLA
What is the name?
What is his name?
CAPTAIN
Orsino.
Orsino.
VIOLA
Orsino! I have heard my father name him:
Orsino? Hmm. My father mentioned him.
He was a bachelor then.
He used to be a bachelor back then.
CAPTAIN
And so is now, or was so very late;
And still he is, at least last time I checked;
For but a month ago I went from hence,
But, just a month ago when leaving here,
And then 'twas fresh in murmur,--as, you know,
I heard a rumour—people like to gossip
What great ones do the less will prattle of,--
About the goings-on of royalty—
That he did seek the love of fair Olivia.
That he desired to win Olivia’s heart.
VIOLA
What's she?
Who’s she?
CAPTAIN
A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count
A pristine maid, the daughter of a count
That died some twelvemonth since, then leaving her
Who died a year ago, thus leaving her
In the protection of his son, her brother,
To be protected by his son, her brother,
Who shortly also died: for whose dear love,
But he soon died as well, and for his love,
They say, she hath abjured the company
They say, she has forgone the sight of men
And sight of men.
And won’t be seen with them.
VIOLA
O that I served that lady
Oh, how I’d like to be that lady’s maid,
And might not be delivered to the world,
And not reveal my status to the world—
Till I had made mine own occasion mellow,
Until my own position has matured—
What my estate is!
To show them who I am.
CAPTAIN
That were hard to compass;
That will be tough
Because she will admit no kind of suit,
For she will not hear any such request,
No, not the duke's.
Not even from the Duke.
VIOLA
There is a fair behaviour in thee, captain;
You seem to be a decent person, captain,
And though that nature with a beauteous wall
And though in nature things that look delightful
Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee
Can often hide a nasty trait, but you
I will believe thou hast a mind that suits
Possess, I think, a disposition matched with
With this thy fair and outward character.
Your kind and generous outward character.
I prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,
I beg you—and I’ll pay you handsomely—
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
Help me conceal myself and help me find
For such disguise as haply shall become
A suitable disguise to match the will
The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke:
Of whom I want to be. I’ll serve this duke.
Thou shall present me as an eunuch to him:
You’ll introduce me as a eunuch to him.
It may be worth thy pains; for I can sing
It will be worth your while, for I can sing
And speak to him in many sorts of music
And play to him all different kinds of music
That will allow me very worth his service.
And thereby justify my service to him.
What else may hap to time I will commit;
Whatever else may happen, time will tell,
Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.
But you must keep my secret safe as well.
CAPTAIN
Be you his eunuch, and your mute I'll be:
You’ll be his eunuch; I won’t say word.
When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see.
Let me go blind if from my mouth it’s heard.
VIOLA
I thank thee: lead me on.
I thank you. Lead me on.
[Exeunt]
