Illyria, Italia, Englandia

Abstract

Like an American on a one week tour of all of Europe, when Viola comes ashore in the second scene of Twelfth Night, she wants to know where she is: ‘What country, friends, is this?’ (I,ii,1). And the captain assures her, ‘This is Illyria, lady’ (I,ii,2). Editors dutifully note that Shakespeare takes his place name from a favourite sourcebook, Golding’s Ovid, and that Illyria is located in present-day Yugoslavia. Nevertheless, all would also agree that the feel and ambience of Orsino’s dukedom of music and love is decidedly Italian — like the settings for a goodly number of other Shakespeare plays.

Italy worthily called the Queene of Nations, can never be sufficiently praised, being most happy in the sweete Ayre, the most fruitfull and pleasant fields, warme sunny hils, hurtlesse thickets, shaddowing groves, Havens of the Sea, watering brookes, baths, wine, and oyle for delight, and most safe forts or defenses as well of the Sea as of the Alpes.

Fynes Moryson

It hath a very temperate and wholesome air, fertile fields, pleasant hills, batful pastures, shadowing woods, plenty of all kind of trees and groves, abundance of corn, vines, and olives, good wools, fair cattle, and so many springs, fountains, lakes, rivers, and havens that it is an open lap to receive the trade of all countries; and, as it were to offer all men help, it seemeth willingly to put itself into the sea.

William Thomas

O Italie, the Academie of man-slaughter, the sporting place of murther, the Apothecary-shop of poyson for all Nations: how many kind of weapons hast thou invented for malice?

Thomas Nashe