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The Great Gatsby
Hamlet

Free Literature Study Guides
The Great Gatsby
Hamlet

Twelfth Night The Captain Quotes

This is Illyria, lady.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 1, Scene 2. The Captain to Viola, when she asks what country she is in.

Where, like Arion on the dolphin’s back,
I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves
So long as I could see.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 1, Scene 2. The Captain shares his belief that Viola’s twin brother Sebastian, who has been lost at sea, might still be alive. He tells how he saw Sebastian swimming away, foreshadowing his later arrival.

What great ones do, the less will prattle of.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 1, Scene 2. The Captain saying that common people will gossip about the nobility, in this case about Duke Orsino’s pursuit of the love of Lady Olivia.

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.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 1, Scene 2. Viola is hiding not just her gender, but her “estate” as well. Following her shipwreck, she is looking for a safe haven to stay until she feels it’s safe to reveal her true identity as a orhaned and wealthy noble woman. But the Captain warns her that she will not be admitted into Lady Olivia’s household, as she is in mourning and shunning all company.

There is a fair behaviour in thee, captain,
And though that nature with a beauteous wall
Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee
I will believe thou hast a mind that suits
With this thy fair and outward character.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 1, Scene 2. Viola praises the Captain for being both handsome and honorable, as she decides to disguise herself as Cesario, a man, to gain work with the Duke. Not all who are physically attractive are good on the inside, she says, touching on the play’s theme of appearance vs reality.

Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I’ll serve this duke.
Thou shalt present me as an eunuch to him.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 1, Scene 2. Viola, to overcome her high-pitched woman’s voice while disguised as a man as a servant to Duke Orsino, comes up with the clever double deception of pretending to be his eunuch – a man who has been castrated. She asks the Captain to help her.

Be you his eunuch, and your mute I’ll be.
When my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 1, Scene 2. The Captain promises Viola that he will keep the secret of her disguise as Orsino’s eunuch, on pain that he will go blind.