Twelfth Night
Text Circles Dramatis Personae Synopsis All Definitions

Share
All
text
First folio
Modern text
Definitions
Key line
Enter Viola, a Captaine, and Saylors.Enter Viola, a Captain, and sailors TN I.ii.1
Vio. VIOLA 
What Country (Friends) is this?What country, friends, is this? TN I.ii.1
Cap. CAPTAIN 
This is Illyria Ladie.This is Illyria, lady.Illyria (n.)
E seaboard of the Adriatic and its hinterland (Dalmatia); in modern Croatia		TN I.ii.2
Vio. VIOLA 
And what should I do in Illyria?And what should I do in Illyria? TN I.ii.3
My brother he is in Elizium,My brother, he is in Elysium.Elysium
mythological location of heaven		TN I.ii.4
Perchance he is not drown'd: What thinke you saylors?Perchance he is not drowned. What think you, sailors?perchance (adv.)
perhaps, maybe		TN I.ii.5
Cap. CAPTAIN 
It is perchance that you your selfe were saued.It is perchance that you yourself were saved.perchance (adv.)
by good fortune, by chance		TN I.ii.6
Vio. VIOLA 
O my poore brother, and so perchance may he be.O, my poor brother! and so perchance may he be. TN I.ii.7
Cap. CAPTAIN 
True Madam, and to comfort you with chance,True, madam, and to comfort you with chance,chance (n.)
what may have happened, conceivability, possibility		TN I.ii.8
Assure your selfe, after our ship did split,Assure yourself, after our ship did split,split (v.)
break up, split in two		TN I.ii.9
When you, and those poore number saued with you,When you and those poor number saved with you TN I.ii.10
Hung on our driuing boate: I saw your brotherHung on our driving boat, I saw your brother,driving (adj.)

old form: driuing
drifting, driven by the storm		TN I.ii.11
Most prouident in perill, binde himselfe,Most provident in peril, bind himself –  TN I.ii.12
(Courage and hope both teaching him the practise)Courage and hope both teaching him the practice –  TN I.ii.13
To a strong Maste, that liu'd vpon the sea:To a strong mast, that lived upon the sea;live (v.)

old form: liu'd
stay afloat, avoid destruction		TN I.ii.14
Where like Orion on the Dolphines backe,Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back,Arion (n.)
[a'riyon] legendary Greek musician; about to be robbed and killed by a ship’s crew, he was allowed to sing one last song; dolphins then appeared, Arion leapt overboard, and was carried by one of them to safety		TN I.ii.15
I saw him hold acquaintance with the waues,I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves TN I.ii.16
So long as I could see.So long as I could see. TN I.ii.17
Vio. VIOLA 
For saying so, there's Gold:For saying so, there's gold. TN I.ii.18
Mine owne escape vnfoldeth to my hope,Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope, TN I.ii.19
Whereto thy speech serues for authoritieWhereto thy speech serves for authority, TN I.ii.20
The like of him. Know'st thou this Countrey?The like of him. Knowest thou this country?like, the
the same		TN I.ii.21
Cap. CAPTAIN 
I Madam well, for I was bred and borneAy, madam, well, for I was bred and born TN I.ii.22
Not three houres trauaile from this very place: Not three hours' travel from this very place. TN I.ii.23
Vio. VIOLA 
Who gouernes heere?Who governs here? TN I.ii.24
Cap. CAPTAIN 
A noble Duke in nature, as in name.A noble Duke, in nature as in name. TN I.ii.25
Vio. VIOLA 
What is his name?What is his name? TN I.ii.26
Cap. CAPTAIN 
Orsino.Orsino. TN I.ii.27
Vio, VIOLA 
Orsino: I haue heard my father name him.Orsino . . . I have heard my father name him. TN I.ii.28
He was a Batchellor then.He was a bachelor then. TN I.ii.29
Cap. CAPTAIN 
And so is now, or was so very late:And so is now, or was so, very late; TN I.ii.30
For but a month ago I went from hence,For but a month ago I went from hence, TN I.ii.31
And then 'twas fresh in murmure (as you knowAnd then 'twas fresh in murmur – as you know,murmur (n.)

old form: murmure
rumour, hearsay, gossip		TN I.ii.32
What great ones do, the lesse will prattle of,)What great ones do, the less will prattle of –  TN I.ii.33
That he did seeke the loue of faire Oliuia.That he did seek the love of fair Olivia. TN I.ii.34
Vio. VIOLA 
What's shee?What's she? TN I.ii.35
Cap. CAPTAIN 
A vertuous maid, the daughter of a CountA virtuous maid, the daughter of a count TN I.ii.36
That dide some tweluemonth since, then leauing herThat died some twelvemonth since, then leaving her TN I.ii.37
In the protection of his sonne, her brother,In the protection of his son, her brother, TN I.ii.38
Who shortly also dide: for whose deere loueWho shortly also died; for whose dear love, TN I.ii.39
(They say) she hath abiur'd the sightThey say, she hath abjured the sightabjure (v.)

old form: abiur'd
swear to abandon, solemnly reject		TN I.ii.40
And company of men.And company of men. TN I.ii.41
Vio. VIOLA 
O that I seru'd that Lady,O, that I served that lady, TN I.ii.42
And might not be deliuered to the worldAnd might not be delivered to the world – deliver (v.)

old form: deliuered
present, show, display		TN I.ii.43
Till I had made mine owne occasion mellowTill I had made mine own occasion mellow – occasion (n.)
circumstance, opportunity		TN I.ii.44
What my estate is.What my estate is.estate (n.)
state, situation, circumstances		TN I.ii.45.1
Cap. CAPTAIN 
That were hard to compasse,That were hard to compass,compass (v.)
accomplish, fulfil, achieve, bring about		TN I.ii.45.2
Because she will admit no kinde of suite,Because she will admit no kind of suit,suit (n.)

old form: suite
wooing, courtship		TN I.ii.46
admit (v.)
permit, allow, grant
No, not the Dukes.No, not the Duke's. TN I.ii.47
Vio. VIOLA 
There is a faire behauiour in thee Captaine,There is a fair behaviour in thee, Captain, TN I.ii.48
And though that nature, with a beauteous wallAnd though that nature with a beauteous wall TN I.ii.49
Doth oft close in pollution: yet of theeDoth oft close in pollution, yet of theeoft (adv.)
often		TN I.ii.50
I will beleeue thou hast a minde that suitesI will believe thou hast a mind that suitssuit (v.)

old form: suites
match, compare, equate		TN I.ii.51
With this thy faire and outward charracter.With this thy fair and outward character.character (n.)

old form: charracter
personal appearance, demeanour		TN I.ii.52
I prethee (and Ile pay thee bounteously)I prithee – and I'll pay thee bounteously – bounteously (adv.)
very well, liberally, generously		TN I.ii.53
Conceale me what I am, and be my ayde,Conceal me what I am, and be my aid TN I.ii.54
For such disguise as haply shall becomeFor such disguise as haply shall becomehaply (adv.)
perhaps, maybe, by chance, with luck		TN I.ii.55
become (v.)
be fitting, befit, be appropriate to
The forme of my intent. Ile serue this Duke,The form of my intent. I'll serve this Duke.intent (n.)
intention, purpose, aim		TN I.ii.56
form (n.)

old form: forme
physical appearance, outward appearance
Thou shalt present me as an Eunuch to him,Thou shalt present me as an eunuch to him. TN I.ii.57
It may be worth thy paines: for I can sing,It may be worth thy pains, for I can sing TN I.ii.58
And speake to him in many sorts of Musicke,And speak to him in many sorts of music TN I.ii.59
That will allow me very worth his seruice.That will allow me very worth his service.allow (v.)
acknowledge, grant, admit		TN I.ii.60
What else may hap, to time I will commit,What else may hap to time I will commit.hap (v.)
happen, take place, come to pass		TN I.ii.61
Onely shape thou thy silence to my wit.Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.wit (n.)
cunning plan, ingenious design		TN I.ii.62
Cap. CAPTAIN 
Be you his Eunuch, and your Mute Ile bee,Be you his eunuch, and your mute I'll be.mute (n.)
dumb servant [as in a Turkish court]		TN I.ii.63
When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see.When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see.blab (v.)
talk indiscreetly, betray secrets		TN I.ii.64
Vio. VIOLA 
I thanke thee: Lead me on. I thank thee. Lead me on. TN I.ii.65
ExeuntExeunt TN I.ii.65
 Previous Act I, Scene II Next  
x

Jump directly to