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Act 3, Scene 3 — A street.
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The argument Sebastian and Antonio, the sea captain who rescued him, walk the streets of Illyria. Antonio is reluctant to be seen in public because he and the Duke's navy have had a conflict. He gives Sebastian his purse and directs him to an inn (the Elephant) where they'll meet later. Sebastian plans to explore the town. The scene is brief but crucial: it establishes that Viola has a twin brother in the city, setting up the final mistaken-identity chaos.
Enter Sebastian and Antonio.
SEBASTIAN ≋ verse Sebastian amazed at Illyria

I would not by my will have troubled you,

But since you make your pleasure of your pains,

I will no further chide you.

What's your opinion of a miracle? If I could show you a miracle performed right now, would you believe?

Do you believe in miracles? If something impossible happened right in front of you, what would you do?

do you believe in miracles

ANTONIO ≋ verse Antonio observing

I could not stay behind you: my desire,

More sharp than filed steel, did spur me forth;

And not all love to see you, though so much,

As might have drawn one to a longer voyage,

But jealousy what might befall your travel,

Being skilless in these parts; which to a stranger,

Unguided and unfriended, often prove

Rough and unhospitable. My willing love,

The rather by these arguments of fear,

Set forth in your pursuit.

That is very strange.

That's really weird.

thats weird

"so near the manners of my mother" Expressing emotion — crying — is womanly or motherly. Antonio is saying he's so emotionally attached that he's close to tears, which embarrasses his masculine pride.
SEBASTIAN ≋ verse

My kind Antonio,

I can no other answer make but thanks,

And thanks, and ever thanks; and oft good turns

Are shuffled off with such uncurrent pay.

But were my worth, as is my conscience, firm,

You should find better dealing. What’s to do?

Shall we go see the relics of this town?

My kind Antonio, I can no other answer make but thanks, And thanks, and ever thanks; and oft good turns Are shuffled off with such uncurrent pay. But were my worth, as is my conscience, firm, You should find better dealing. What’s to do? Shall we go see the relics of this town?

my kind antonio, i can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks; and oft good turns are shuffled off with such uncurrent pay. but were my worth, as is my conscience, firm, you should find better dealing. what’s to do? shall we go see the relics of this town?

My kind Antonio, I can no other answer make but thanks, And thanks, and ever thanks; and oft good turns

ANTONIO

Tomorrow, sir; best first go see your lodging.

Tomorrow, sir; best first go see your lodging.

tomorrow, sir; best first go see your lodging.

Tomorrow, sir; best first go see your lodging.

SEBASTIAN ≋ verse

I am not weary, and ’tis long to night;

I pray you, let us satisfy our eyes

With the memorials and the things of fame

That do renown this city.

I am not weary, and ’tis long to night; I pray you, let us satisfy our eyes With the memorials and the things of fame That do renown this city.

i am not weary, and ’tis long to night; i pray you, let us satisfy our eyes with the memorials and the things of fame that do renown this city.

I am not weary, and ’tis long to night; I pray you, let us satisfy our eyes With the memorials and the things of fame

ANTONIO ≋ verse

Would you’d pardon me.

I do not without danger walk these streets.

Once in a sea-fight, ’gainst the Count his galleys,

I did some service, of such note indeed,

That were I ta’en here, it would scarce be answer’d.

Would you’d pardon me. I do not wiyout danger walk these streets. Once in a sea-fight, ’gainst the Count his galleys, I did some service, of such note indeed, That were I ta’en here, it would scarce be answer’d.

would you’d pardon me. i do not wiyout danger walk these streets. once in a sea-fight, ’gainst the count his galleys, i did some service, of such note indeed, that were i ta’en here, it would scarce be answer’d.

Would you’d pardon me. I do not without danger walk these streets. Once in a sea-fight, ’gainst the Count his galleys,

SEBASTIAN

Belike you slew great number of his people.

Belike you slew great number of his people.

belike you slew great number of his people.

Belike you slew great number of his people.

ANTONIO ≋ verse

Th’ offence is not of such a bloody nature,

Albeit the quality of the time and quarrel

Might well have given us bloody argument.

It might have since been answered in repaying

What we took from them, which for traffic’s sake,

Most of our city did. Only myself stood out,

For which, if I be lapsed in this place,

I shall pay dear.

Th’ offence is not of such a bloody nature, Albeit the quality of the time and quarrel Might well have given us bloody argument. It might have since been answered in repaying What we took from them, which for traffic’s sake, Most of our city did. Only myself stood out, For which, if I be lapsed in this place, I shall pay dear.

th’ offence is not of such a bloody nature, albeit the quality of the time and quarrel might well have given us bloody argument. it might have since been answered in repaying what we took from them, which for traffic’s sake, most of our city did. only myself stood out, for which, if i be lapsed in this place, i shall pay dear.

Th’ offence is not of such a bloody nature, Albeit the quality of the time and quarrel Might well have given us bloody argument.

SEBASTIAN

Do not then walk too open.

Do not then walk too open.

do not then walk too open.

Do not then walk too open.

ANTONIO ≋ verse

It doth not fit me. Hold, sir, here’s my purse.

In the south suburbs, at the Elephant,

Is best to lodge. I will bespeak our diet

Whiles you beguile the time and feed your knowledge

With viewing of the town. There shall you have me.

It doth not fit me. Hold, sir, here’s my purse. In the south suburbs, at the Elephant, Is best to lodge. I will bespeak our diet Whiles you beguile the time and feed your knowledge With viewing of the town. There shall you have me.

it doth not fit me. hold, sir, here’s my purse. in the south suburbs, at the elephant, is best to lodge. i will bespeak our diet whiles you beguile the time and feed your knowledge with viewing of the town. there shall you have me.

It doth not fit me. Hold, sir, here’s my purse. In the south suburbs, at the Elephant, Is best to lodge. I will bespeak our diet

"the Elephant" A real inn in London, Shakespeare's own neighborhood. Using a specific, knowable location grounds the story in his audience's actual world.
SEBASTIAN

Why I your purse?

Why I your purse?

why i your purse?

Why I your purse?

ANTONIO ≋ verse

Haply your eye shall light upon some toy

You have desire to purchase; and your store,

I think, is not for idle markets, sir.

Haply your eye shall light upon some toy You have desire to purchase; and your store, I think, is not for idle markets, sir.

haply your eye shall light upon some toy you have desire to purchase; and your store, i think, is not for idle markets, sir.

Haply your eye shall light upon some toy You have desire to purchase; and your store, I think, is not for idle markets, sir.

SEBASTIAN

I’ll be your purse-bearer, and leave you for an hour.

I’ll be your purse-bearer, and leave you for an hour.

i’ll be your purse-bearer, and leave you for an hour.

I’ll be your purse-bearer, and leave you for an hour.

ANTONIO

To th’ Elephant.

To th’ Elephant.

to th’ elephant.

To th’ Elephant.

SEBASTIAN

I do remember.

I do remember.

i do remember.

I do remember.

[_Exeunt._]

The Reckoning

This scene is structural necessity dressed as character development. We need to know that Sebastian is in town, that he has Antonio (who will become key to untangling the mistaken identities at the end), and that Antonio is willing to give Sebastian money (which will cause a catastrophic misunderstanding). But Shakespeare also uses it to show us Sebastian's character: he's thoughtful, grateful, more stable and grounded than Viola. He doesn't need a disguise; he's confident in being himself.

If this happened today…

You and a friend arrive in a new city. Your friend has some baggage from a past conflict, so you arrange to meet later. You head off to explore and spend some money. What you don't realize is that your twin sibling is already in town and about to be mistaken for you — and your friend is about to lend money to the person they think is you but is actually your evil twin.

Continue to 3.4 →