Orsino, the noble Duke of Illyria, expresses his love for Olivia, a noblewoman who Orsino is badly in love with.
"Will you go hunt, my lord?" (1.1.16).
"Why, so I do, the noblest that I have. O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first, Methought she purged the air of pestilence." (1.1.19-21).
A shipwreck occurs near the coastline of Illyria, where Viola was separated from her twin brother Sebastian. Viola believes that her brother is dead, but the Captain unveils that he last saw Sebastian tie himself to a mast, so he should be able to make it out safely.
Oh my poor brother, perhaps he was saved by chance!
Rest assured madam. The last time I saw him he had tied himself to the mast, floating safely in the waves.
Viola enters Illyria as the captain accompanies her and tells her about Illyria. The captain explains everything about the Duke and Olivia. He mentions how Olivia's brother had passed away and she has been hiding her face ever since, wearing a veil like a nun.
"Orsino! I have heard my father name him. He was a bachelor then." (1.2.28-29).
And he still is a bachelor! When I left Illyria a month ago, rumors were saying that Orsino was courting the fair Olivia.
She is the daughter of a count that died a year ago. The count left her in the arms of her brother when he had died, but the brother passed away soon after. She has hid her face from the public ever since.