PERSONS REPRESENTED. ORSINO, Duke of Illyria. SEBASTIAN, a young Gentleman, Brother to Viola. ANTONIO, a Sea-Captain, Friend to Sebastian. VALENTINE, CURIO, Gentlemen attending on the Duke. Sir TOBY BELCH, Uncle of Olivia. Sir ANDREW AGUE-CHEEK. MALVOLIO, Steward to Olivia. FABIAN, Servants to Olivia. CLOWN, S OLIVIA, a rich Countess. VIOLA, in love with the Duke. MARIA, Olivia's Woman. Lords, Priests, Sailors, Officers, Musicians, and other Attendants. Scene, a City in Illyria; and the Sea-coast near it. THE TWELFTH NIGHT; OR, WHAT YOU WILL. ACT I. SCENE I.-An Apartment in the DUKE's Palace. Enter DUKE, CURIO, LORDS; Musicians attending. Duke. If music be the food of love, play on, no more; Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there, But falls into abatement and low price, Even in a minute! So full of shapes is fancy, That it alone is high fantastical.† Cur. Will you go hunt, my lord? Duke. What, Curio? Cur. The hart. Duke. Why, so I do, the noblest that I have: O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first, Methought, she purged the air of pestilence; That instant was I turn'd into a hart; • Value. + Fantastical to the height. And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds, her? Enter VALENTINE. Val. So please my lord, I might not be admitted, But from her handmaid do return this answer; The element itself, till seven years heat, * Shall not behold her face at ample view: But, like a cloistress, she will veiled walk, And water once a day her chamber round With eye-offending brine: all this, to season A brother's dead love, which she would keep fresh, And lasting, in her sad remembrance. Duke. O, she that hath a heart of that fine frame, To pay this debt of love but to a brother, How will she love, when the rich golden shaft, Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else That live in her! When liver, brain, and heart, These sovereign thrones, are all supplied, and fill'd, (Her sweet perfections,) with one self king!Away before me to sweet beds of flowers: Love-thoughts lie rich, when canopied with bowers. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The Sea-coast. Enter VIOLA, CAPTAIN, and SAILORS. Vio. What country, friends, is this? Cap. Illyria, lady. Vio. And what should I do in Illyria? My brother he is in Elysium. [sailors? Perchance, he is not drown'd:-What think you, Cap. It is perchance, that you yourself were saved. Vio. O, my poor brother! And so, perchance, may he be. Cap. True, madam: and, to comfort you with chance, Assure yourself, after our ship did split, When you, and that 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) I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves, * Heated. Vio. 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? Vio. Who governs here? Cap. A noble duke in nature, as in his name. Cap. Orsino. Vio. Orsino! I have heard my father name him: He was a bachelor then. Cap. And so is now, Or was so very late; for but a month Ago I went from hence; and then 'twas fresh Vio. What's she? [her Cap. A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count That died some twelve-month since; then leaving 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. Vio. O, that I served that lady; And might not be deliver'd to the world, Cap. That were hard to compass; Because she will admit no kind of suit, No, not the duke's. Vio. There is a fair behaviour 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 pray thee, 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 shalt present me as a 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. |