_Vio._ What country, friends, is this? _Cap._ This is 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? 5 _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 those poor number saved with you 10 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, 15 I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves So long as I could see. _Vio._ For saying so, there's gold: Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope, Whereto thy speech serves for authority, 20 The like of him. Know'st thou this country? _Cap._ Ay, madam, well; for I was bred and born Not three hours' travel from this very place. _Vio._ Who governs here? _Cap._ A noble Duke, in nature as in name. 25 _Vio._ What is 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; 30 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. _Vio._ What's she? 35 _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, Who shortly also died: for whose dear love, They say, she hath abjured the company 40 And sight of men. _Vio._ O 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! _Cap._ That were hard to compass; Because she will admit no kind of suit, 45 No, not the Duke's.