Twelfth Night

Act 2, Scene I

Enter ANTONIO and SEBASTIAN

ANTONIO

Will you stay no longer? nor will you not that I go with you?

SEBASTIAN

By your patience, no. My stars shine darkly over

me: the malignancy of my fate might perhaps

distemper yours; therefore I shall crave of you your

leave that I may bear my evils alone: it were a bad

recompense for your love, to lay any of them on you.

ANTONIO: Let me yet know of you whither you are bound.

SEBASTIAN

No, sooth, sir: my determinate voyage is mere

extravagancy. But I perceive in you so excellent a

touch of modesty, that you will not extort from me

what I am willing to keep in; therefore it charges

me in manners the rather to express myself. You

must know of me then, Antonio, my name is Sebastian,

which I called Roderigo. My father was that

Sebastian of Messaline, whom I know you have heard

of. He left behind him myself and a sister, both

born in an hour: if the heavens had been pleased,

would we had so ended! but you, sir, altered that;

for some hour before you took me from the breach of

the sea was my sister drowned.

ANTONIO

Alas the day!

SEBASTIAN

A lady, sir, though it was said she much resembled

me, was yet of many accounted beautiful: but,

though I could not with such estimable wonder

overfar believe that, yet thus far I will boldly

publish her; she bore a mind that envy could not but

call fair. She is drowned already, sir, with salt

water, though I seem to drown her remembrance again with more.

ANTONIO

Pardon me, sir, your bad entertainment.

SEBASTIAN

O good Antonio, forgive me your trouble.

ANTONIO

If you will not murder me for my love, let me be

your servant.

SEBASTIAN

If you will not undo what you have done, that is,

kill him whom you have recovered, desire it not.

Fare ye well at once: my bosom is full of kindness,

and I am yet so near the manners of my mother, that

upon the least occasion more mine eyes will tell

tales of me. I am bound to the Count Orsino's court: farewell.

ANTONIO

The gentleness of all the gods go with thee!

I have many enemies in Orsino's court,

Else would I very shortly see thee there.

But, come what may, I do adore thee so,

That danger shall seem sport, and I will go.