The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]Shakespeare, William
General
The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]
Shakespeare, William
English drama
_Seb._ I am sorry, madam, I have hurt your kinsman;
But, had it been the brother of my blood,
I must have done no less with wit and safety.
You throw a strange regard upon me, and by that
I do perceive it hath offended you: 205
Pardon me, sweet one, even for the vows
We made each other but so late ago.
_Duke._ One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons,
A natural perspective, that is and is not!
_Seb._ Antonio, O my dear Antonio! 210
How have the hours rack'd and tortured me,
Since I have lost thee!
_Ant._ Sebastian are you?
_Seb._ Fear'st thou that, Antonio?
_Ant._ How have you made division of yourself?
An apple, cleft in two, is not more twin 215
Than these two creatures. Which is Sebastian?
_Oli._ Most wonderful!
_Seb._ Do I stand there? I never had a brother;
Nor can there be that deity in my nature,
Of here and every where. I had a sister, 220
Whom the blind waves and surges have devour'd.
Of charity, what kin are you to me?
What countryman? what name? what parentage?
_Vio._ Of Messaline: Sebastian was my father;
Such a Sebastian was my brother too, 225
So went he suited to his watery tomb:
If spirits can assume both form and suit
You come to fright us.
_Seb._ A spirit I am indeed;
But am in that dimension grossly clad
Which from the womb I did participate. 230
Were you a woman, as the rest goes even,
I should my tears let fall upon your cheek,
And say 'Thrice-welcome, drowned Viola!'
_Vio._ My father had a mole upon his brow.
_Seb._ And so had mine. 235
_Vio._ And died that day when Viola from her birth
Had number'd thirteen years.
_Seb._ O, that record is lively in my soul!
He finished indeed his mortal act
That day that made my sister thirteen years. 240
_Vio._ If nothing lets to make us happy both
But this my masculine usurp'd attire,
Do not embrace me till each circumstance
Of place, time, fortune, do cohere and jump
That I am Viola: which to confirm, 245
I'll bring you to a captain in this town,
Where lie my maiden weeds; by whose gentle help
I was preserved to serve this noble count.
All the occurrence of my fortune since
Hath been between this lady and this lord. 250
_Seb._ [_To Olivia_] So comes it, lady, you have been mistook:
But nature to her bias drew in that.
You would have been contracted to a maid;
Nor are you therein, by my life, deceived,
You are betroth'd both to a maid and man. 255
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