1    What country, friends, is this?

2    This is Illyria, lady.

3    And what should I do in Illyria?
4    My brother he is in Elysium.
5    Perchance he is not drown'd: what think you, sailors?

6    It is perchance that you yourself were saved.

7    O my poor brother! and so perchance may he be.

8    True, madam: and, to comfort you with chance,
9    Assure yourself, after our ship did split,
10   When you and those poor number saved with you
11   Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother,
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;
15   Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back,
16   I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves
17   So long as I could see.

18   For saying so, there's gold:
19   Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope,
20   Whereto thy speech serves for authority,
21   The like of him. Know'st thou this country?

22   Ay, madam, well; for I was bred and born
23   Not three hours' travel from this very place.

24   Who governs here?

25   A noble duke, in nature as in name.

26   What is the name?

27   Orsino.

28   Orsino! I have heard my father name him:
29   He was a bachelor then.

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,
33   What great ones do the less will prattle of,--
34   That he did seek the love of fair Olivia.

35   What's she?

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.

42   O that I served that lady
43   And might not be delivered to the world,
44   Till I had made mine own occasion mellow,
45   What my estate is!

46   That were hard to compass;
47   Because she will admit no kind of suit,
48   No, not the duke's.

49   There is a fair behavior in thee, captain;
50   And though that nature with a beauteous wall
51   Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee
52   I will believe thou hast a mind that suits
53   With this thy fair and outward character.
54   I prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,
55   Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
56   For such disguise as haply shall become
57   The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke:
58   Thou shall present me as an eunuch to him:
59   It may be worth thy pains; for I can sing
60   And speak to him in many sorts of music
61   That will allow me very worth his service.
62   What else may hap to time I will commit;
63   Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.

64   Be you his eunuch, and your mute I'll be:
65   When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see.

66   I thank thee: lead me on.