William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Oxford Shakespeare. 1914.
Act III. Scene III.Twelfth-Night; or, What You Will
Seb.I would not by my will have troubled you;
But since you make your pleasure of your pains,
I will no further chide you.
Ant.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.
Seb.My kind Antonio,
I can no other answer make but thanks,
And thanks, and over thanks; for 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 reliques of this town?
Ant.To-morrow, sir: best first go see your lodging.
Seb.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.
Ant.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.
Seb.Belike you slew great number of his people?
Ant.The 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 answer’d 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.
Seb.Do not then walk too open.
Ant.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.
Seb.Why I your purse?
Ant.Haply your eye shall light upon some toy
You have desire to purchase; and your store,
I think, is not for idle markets, sir.
Seb.I’ll be your purse-bearer and leave you for an hour.
Ant.To the Elephant.
Seb.I do remember.[Exeunt.