PERSONS REPRESENTED. Orsino, duke of Illyria. Sebastian, a young gentleman, brother to Viola. A sea-captain, friend to Viola. Valentine, Curio, gentlemen attending on the duke. Sir Toby Belch, uncle of Olivia. Malvolio, steward to Olivia. Lords, priests, sailors, officers, musicians, and other attendants. Scene, a city in Illyria; and the sea-coast near it. TWELFTH-NIGHT; OR, WHAT YOU WILL. ACT I. SCENE I. An apartment in the Duke's palace. Enter Duke, Curio, Lords; musicians attending. O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou ! Cur. Will you go hunt, my lord? Duke. Cur. What, Curio? The hart. Duke. Why, so I do, the noblest that I have: O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first, Methought, she purg'd the air of pestilence ; That instant was I turn'd into a hart; 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, Το 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. Perchance, he is not drown'd:-What think you, sailors? Cap. It is, perchance, that you yourself were saved. Vio. O my poor brother! and so, perchance, may he be. * Heated. 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, Vio. Vio. Who governs here? Cap. As in his name. Vio. Cap. A noble duke, in nature, What is his name? Orsino. Vio. Orsino! I have heard my father name him : He was a bachelor then. Cap. And so is now, Ago I went from hence; and then 'twas fresh The love of fair Olivia. Vio. What's she? Cap. A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count That died some twelvemonth since; then leaving her In the protection of his son, her brother, And sight of men. Vio. O, that I served that lady; And might not be delivered to the world, |