Page 515 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

The Sea-coast

Enter Viola, a Captain, and Sailors.

VIOLA
What country, friends, is this?

CAPTAIN
This is Illyria, lady.

VIOLA
And what should I do in Illyria?
My brother he is in Elysium.

Perchance he is not drown’d: what think you, sailors? [5]

CAPTAIN
It is perchance that you yourself were sav’d.

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

CAPTAIN
True, madam, and to comfort you with chance,
Assure yourself, after our ship did split,
When you and those poor number sav’d 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 liv’d 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.

VIOLA
For saying so, there’s gold:

Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope,
Whereto thy speech serves for authority, [20]