ANTONIO       Will you grant with me That Ferdinand is drowned? SEBASTIAN                                        He’s gone. ANTONIO                                                       Then tell me, Who’s the next heir of Naples? SEBASTIAN                                                    Claribel. ANTONIO       She that is Queen of Tunis; she that dwells Ten leagues beyond man’s life; she that from Naples Can have no note unless the sun were post— The […]

SEBASTIAN    Prithee, say on; The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim A matter from thee, and a birth, indeed, Which throes thee much to yield. ANTONIO                                                       Thus, sir: Although this lord of weak remembrance—this Who shall be of as little memory When he is earthed—hath here almost persuaded (For he’s a spirit of persuasion, […]

SEBASTIAN    Well, I am standing water. ANTONIO       I’ll teach you how to flow. SEBASTIAN                                        Do so. To ebb Hereditary sloth instructs me. ANTONIO                                                       O, If you but knew how you the purpose cherish Whiles thus you mock it, how in stripping it You more invest it. Ebbing men, indeed, Most often do so near the […]

SEBASTIAN                            What is it thou didst say? This is a strange repose, to be asleep With eyes wide open—standing, speaking, moving, And yet so fast asleep. ANTONIO                               Noble Sebastian, Thou let’st thy fortune sleep—die rather; wink’st Whiles thou art waking. SEBASTIAN                                        Thou dost snore distinctly. There’s meaning in thy snores. ANTONIO       I am more […]

SEBASTIAN    What a strange drowsiness possesses them! ANTONIO       It is the quality o’th’ climate. SEBASTIAN                                        Why Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find not Myself disposed to sleep. ANTONIO                                           Nor I. My spirits are nimble. They fell together all, as by consent; They dropped, as by a thunderstroke. What might, Worthy Sebastian, O, […]

ANTONIO       Nay, good my lord, be not angry. GONZALO       No, I warrant you, I will not adventure my discretion so weakly. Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy. ANTONIO       Go sleep, and hear us. [All sleep except Alonso, Sebastian and Antonio.] ALONSO         What, all so soon asleep? I wish mine eyes Would, […]

GONZALO       And—do you mark me, sir?— ALONSO                                             Prithee, no more. Thou dost talk nothing to me. GONZALO       I do well believe your highness, and did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen, who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that they always use to laugh at nothing. ANTONIO       ’Twas you we laughed at. GONZALO       […]

GONZALO       All things in common nature should produce Without sweat or endeavour; treason, felony, Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine Would I not have; but nature should bring forth Of its own kind all foison, all abundance, To feed my innocent people. SEBASTIAN    No marrying ’mongst his subjects? ANTONIO       None, man, all […]

GONZALO       Had I plantation of this isle, my lord— ANTONIO       He’d sow’t with nettle-seed. SEBASTIAN                                                    Or docks, or mallows. GONZALO       And were the king on’t, what would I do? SEBASTIAN    ’Scape being drunk, for want of wine. GONZALO       I’th’ commonwealth I would by contraries Execute all things, for no kind of traffic Would I admit; […]

GONZALO                               My lord Sebastian, The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness, And time to speak it in. You rub the sore When you should bring the plaster. SEBASTIAN    Very well. ANTONIO                   And most chirurgeonly! GONZALO       It is foul weather in us all, good sir, When you are cloudy. SEBASTIAN                                        Foul weather? ANTONIO                                                                   Very foul. […]