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Introduction to this scene. Staging. Criticism.
Act 2 scene 1
| Act II Scene I The sea-coast. | ||
| [Enter ANTONIO and SEBASTIAN] | ||
| ANTONIO | Will you stay no longer? nor will you not that I go with you? |
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| 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. |
5 |
| ANTONIO | Let me yet know of you whither you are bound. |
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| SEBASTIAN |
No, sooth, sir: my determinate voyage is mere extravagancy. But I perceive in you so excel- lent 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 my- self. 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. |
10 15 20 |
| ANTONIO | Alas the day! | |
| SEBASTIAN | A lady, sir, though it was said she much resembled me, was yet of many accounted beauti- ful: 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. |
25 30 |
| 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. |
35 |
| 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. |
40 |
| [Exit] | ||
| 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. |
45 |
| [Exit] |
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Act 2 Scene 1 text