Twelfth Night: Act 2, Scene 1

    comedy

    The sea-coast.

    Scene Summary

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    Sebastian, Viola's twin brother, is alive. He has been rescued from the sea by a man named Antonio, a sea captain who is a wanted man in Illyria due to a past military action against Orsino. Sebastian is heading for Orsino's court. Antonio decides to follow him despite the danger.

    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.
    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.
    Exit