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Act 1, Scene 5
Twelfth Night Translation Act 2, Scene 1
Enter ANTONIO and SEBASTIAN
ANTONIO
Will you stay no longer, nor will you not that I go with you?
ANTONIO
Won't you stay longer? And don't you want me to 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.
SEBASTIAN
If you'll allow it, no. My luck is bad, and my doomed fate might disturb your own destiny. Therefore I will say farewell, and face the evils of my fate alone. It would be a bad way of thanking you if I burdened you with any of my troubles.
ANTONIO
Let me yet know of you whither you are bound.
ANTONIO
At least let me know where you're headed to.
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SEBASTIAN
No, sooth, sir. My determinate voyage is mere extravagancy. But I perceive in you so excellent a touchof 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.
SEBASTIAN
Truly, I can't, sir. The voyage I am determined to make is merely wandering without a destination. But I can tell that you're polite enough to not force me to tell you something I want to keep to myself—so it's only good manners for me to tell you what I can, Antonio. My name is Sebastian, though I called myself Roderigo. My father was Sebastian of Messaline, whom I know you've heard of. He is dead now, but he left behind myself and my twin sister, who was born the same hour as me. If only God had allowed us to die in the same hour as well! But you, sir, kept that from happening, for my sister drowned an hour before you pulled me from the breaking waves.
ANTONIO
Alas the day!
ANTONIO
What a tragic 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, yetthus 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.
SEBASTIAN
She was a lady who many people said looked just like me, but she was also considered beautiful. But though I can't believe all that was said about her beauty, I will publicly declare this much about her: she had a beautiful mind. Even people who were jealous of her would have to admit that. She has already been drowned in the salt water of the sea, sir, and now I seem to be drowning her memory with the salt water of my tears.
ANTONIO
Pardon me, sir, your bad entertainment.
ANTONIO
Forgive me, sir, for not being a better host.
SEBASTIAN
O good Antonio, forgive me your trouble.
SEBASTIAN
Oh good Antonio, forgive me for causing you trouble.
ANTONIO
If you will not murder me for my love, let me be your servant.
ANTONIO
Let me be your servant and go with you—if you won't return my devotion, you'll be killing me.
SEBASTIAN
If you will not undo what you have done—that is, kill him whom you have recovered—desire it not. Fare you wellat 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.
SEBASTIAN
And if you won't undo what you have done—that is, if you don't want to kill the man whose life you saved—then you won't come with me. Say goodbye at once. My heart is full of affection for you, and I'm feeling so effeminate that I'm about to cry. My destination is Duke 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.
ANTONIO
May the blessings of the gods go with you! I have many enemies in Orsino's court, or else I would join you there soon. But I don't care—my adoration for you is too strong, and the danger seems trivial to me. I'll go.
Exit
