Twelfth Night: Act 1, Scene 2
Enter VIOLA, a Captain, and Sailors.
VIOLA
1
What country, friends, is this?
Captain
2
This is Illyria, lady.
2. Illyria: A region on the east coast of the Adriatic Sea.
VIOLA
3
And what should I do in Illyria?
4
My brother he is in Elysium.
4. Elysium: The abode of the blessed dead.
5
Perchance he is not drown'd: what think you, sailors?
5. Perchance: Perhaps.
Captain
6
It is perchance that you yourself were saved.
6. perchance: by chance.
VIOLA
7
O my poor brother! and so perchance may he be.
Captain
8
True, madam: and, to comfort you with chance,
8. chance: possible good luck.
9
Assure yourself, after our ship did split,
10
When you and those poor number saved with you
10. poor number: few people.
11
Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother,
11. driving: driven by, at the mercy of, the sea.
12
Most provident in peril, bind himself,
13
Courage and hope both teaching him the practise,
14
To a strong mast that lived upon the sea;
14. lived: floated.
15
Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back,
15. like Arion on the dolphin's back:
According to Herodotus

16
I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves
17
So long as I could see.
VIOLA
18
For saying so, there's gold:
18. there's gold: Viola gives the Captain money.
19
Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope,
19. unfoldeth: reveals.
20
Whereto thy speech serves for authority,
20. authority: precedent, evidence.
21
The like of him. Know'st thou this country?
21. The like of him: the possibility that her brother escaped as she did.
Captain
22
Ay, madam, well; for I was bred and born
23
Not three hours' travel from this very place.
VIOLA
24
Who governs here?
Captain
25
A noble duke, in nature as in name.
VIOLA
26
What is the name?
Captain
27
Orsino.
VIOLA
28
Orsino! I have heard my father name him:
29
He was a bachelor then.
Captain
30
And so is now, or was so very late;
31
For but a month ago I went from hence,
32
And then 'twas fresh in murmur,--as, you know,
32. murmur: rumor.
33
What great ones do the less will prattle of,--
33. great ones: nobles. the less: commoners.
34
That he did seek the love of fair Olivia.
VIOLA
35
What's she?
Captain
36
A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count
37
That died some twelvemonth since, then leaving her
38
In the protection of his son, her brother,
39
Who shortly also died: for whose dear love,
40
They say, she hath abjured the company
41
And sight of men.
VIOLA
41
O that I served that lady
42
And might not be delivered to the world,
42. delivered: revealed.
43. mellow: ripe.
44. estate: position in life.

44. estate: position in life.
43
Till I had made mine own occasion mellow,
44
What my estate is!
Captain
44
That were hard to compass;
45
Because she will admit no kind of suit,
45. she will admit no kind of suit: she will not listen to any kind of request.
46
No, not the duke's.
VIOLA
47
There is a fair behavior in thee, captain;
47. fair behavior: good appearance.
48
And though that nature with a beauteous wall
49
Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee
50
I will believe thou hast a mind that suits
51
With this thy fair and outward character.
50-51. suits / With: matches.
52
I prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,
52. prithee: pray you, earnestly request of you.
53
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
54
For such disguise as haply shall become
54. haply shall become: perhaps be suited to.
55
The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke:
55. form of my intent: nature of my purpose.
56
Thou shall present me as an eunuch to him:
56. eunuch: boy neutered to preserve his soprano singing voice.
57
It may be worth thy pains; for I can sing
58
And speak to him in many sorts of music
59
That will allow me very worth his service.
59. allow: prove.
60
What else may hap to time I will commit;
60. hap: happen, chance to occur.
61
Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.
61. shape thou thy silence to my wit: fit your silence to my plan.
Captain
62
Be you his eunuch, and your mute I'll be:
62. mute: silent servant.
63
When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see.
VIOLA
64
I thank thee: lead me on.
Exeunt.