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Twelfth Night,
Act 5, Scene 1, line 271.

Note to Twelfth Night, 5.1.271, "orbed continent"

An "orbed continent" is a spherical container. It was believed that there was an "orbed continent" for the sun and for each of the planets. Thus Viola's metaphor means that her vow of love will always be contained by her soul as surely as the sun is contained by its "orbed continent."

Copernicus Solar System
Copernicus Solar System