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Enter VIOLA, a CAPTAIN, and sailors |
VIOLA, a CAPTAIN, and sailors enter. |
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VIOLA
What country, friends, is this? |
VIOLA
What country is this, friends? |
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CAPTAIN
This is Illyria, lady. |
CAPTAIN
This is Illyria, lady. |
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VIOLA
And what should I do in Illyria? My brother he is in Elysium. Perchance he is not drown’d.—What think you, sailors? |
VIOLA
And what am I supposed to do in Illyria? My brother is in heaven. Or maybe there’s a chance he didn’t drown.—What do you think, sailors? |
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CAPTAIN
It is perchance that you yourself were saved. |
CAPTAIN
It was a total fluke that you yourself were saved. |
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VIOLA
O, my poor brother! And so perchance may he be. |
VIOLA
Oh, my poor brother! But maybe by some fluke he was saved too. |
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CAPTAIN
True, madam. And, to comfort you with chance, Assure yourself, after our ship did split, When you and those poor number saved 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 lived upon the sea, Where, like Arion on the dolphin’s back, I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves So long as I could see. |
CAPTAIN
It’s possible, ma’am. Don’t give up yet. When our ship was wrecked and you and a few other survivors were clinging onto our lifeboat, I saw your brother tie himself to a big mast floating in the sea. He was acting resourcefully and courageously in a dangerous situation. For as long as I could see him, he stayed afloat on the waves like Arion on the dolphin’s back. |
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VIOLA
(giving him money) For saying so, there’s gold. Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope, Whereto thy speech serves for authority, The like of him. Know’st thou this country? |
VIOLA
(giving him money) Thank you for saying that—here’s some money to express my gratitude. Since I survived, it’s easier for me to imagine he survived too, and what you say gives me a reason to hope for the best. Do you know this area we’re in? |
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CAPTAIN
Ay, madam, well, for I was bred and born Not three hours’ travel from this very place. |
CAPTAIN
Yes, ma’am, I know it well. I was born and raised less than three hours from here. |
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VIOLA
Who governs here? |
VIOLA
Who’s the ruler here? |
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CAPTAIN
A noble duke, in nature As in name. |
CAPTAIN
A duke who is noble in name and character. |
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VIOLA
What is his name? |
VIOLA
What’s his name? |
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CAPTAIN
Orsino. |
CAPTAIN
Orsino. |
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VIOLA
Orsino. I have heard my father name him. He was a bachelor then. |
VIOLA
Orsino. I’ve heard my father mention him. When I first heard about him, he was still a bachelor. |
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CAPTAIN
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. |
CAPTAIN
He’s still a bachelor, or at least he was a month ago, when I left. But there was a rumor—you know, people always gossip about royalty—that he was in love with the beautiful Olivia. |
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VIOLA
What’s she? |
VIOLA
Who’s she? |
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CAPTAIN
A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count That died some twelvemonth since, then leaving her In the protection of his son, her brother, Who shortly also died, for whose dear love, They say, she hath abjured the company And sight of men. |
CAPTAIN
A virtuous young woman, the daughter of a count who died last year. Her brother had custody of her for a while, but then he died too. They say she’s totally sworn off men now, in memory of her brother. |
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VIOLA
Oh, that I served that lady And might not be delivered to the world, Till I had made mine own occasion mellow, What my estate is. |
VIOLA
I wish I could work for that lady! It’d be a good way to hide from the world until the time was right to identify myself. |
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CAPTAIN
That were hard to compass, Because she will admit no kind of suit, No, not the duke’s. |
CAPTAIN
That would be hard to do. She won’t allow anyone in to see her, not even the duke’s messengers. |
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VIOLA
There is a fair behavior 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 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 shall 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. |
VIOLA
You seem to be a good person, captain, and although people who look beautiful are often corrupt inside, I believe that you have a beautiful mind to go with your good looks and manners. Please—and I’ll pay you plenty for this—help me conceal my identity, and find me the right disguise so I can look the way I want. I want to be this Duke’s servant. You’ll introduce me to him as a eunuch. You won’t be wasting your time, because I really can sing and talk to him about many different kinds of music, so he’ll be happy to have me in his service. Only time will tell what will happen after that—just please keep quiet about what I’m trying to do. |
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CAPTAIN
Be you his eunuch, and your mute I’ll be. When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see. |
CAPTAIN
I won’t say a word. You can be a eunuch, but I’ll be mute. I swear on my life I won’t tell your secret. |
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VIOLA
I thank thee. Lead me on. |
VIOLA
Thank you. Show me the way. |
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Exeunt |
They exit. |