Twelfth Night

Act 1 Scene 2

Original Text	Modern Text
Enter VIOLA, a CAPTAIN, and sailors	VIOLA, a CAPTAIN, and sailors enter.
VIOLA What country, friends, is this?	VIOLA What country is this, friends?
CAPTAIN This is Illyria, lady.	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?	VIOLA And what am I supposed to do in Illyria? My brother is in heaven. Or maybe there’s a chance he didn’t drown.—What do you think, sailors?
CAPTAIN 5It is perchance that you yourself were saved.	CAPTAIN It was a total fluke that you yourself were saved.
VIOLA O, my poor brother! And so perchance may he be.	VIOLA Oh, my poor brother! But maybe by some fluke he was saved too.
CAPTAIN True, madam. And, to comfort you with chance, Assure yourself, after our ship did split, When you and those poor number saved with you 10Hung 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, 15I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves So long as I could see.	CAPTAIN It’s possible, ma'am. Don’t give up yet. When our ship was wrecked and you and a few other survivors were clinging onto our lifeboat, I saw your brother tie himself to a big mast floating in the sea. He was acting resourcefully and courageously in a dangerous situation. For as long as I could see him, he stayed afloat on the waves like Arion Arion was a Greek poet who was saved from drowning by a dolphin. Arion on the dolphin’s back.
VIOLA (giving him money) For saying so, there’s gold. Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope, Whereto thy speech serves for authority, 20The like of him. Know’st thou this country?	VIOLA (giving him money) Thank you for saying that—here’s some money to express my gratitude. Since I survived, it’s easier for me to imagine he survived too, and what you say gives me a reason to hope for the best. Do you know this area we’re in?
CAPTAIN Ay, madam, well, for I was bred and born Not three hours' travel from this very place.	CAPTAIN Yes, ma'am, I know it well. I was born and raised less than three hours from here.