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Twelfth Night Antonio Quotes - AllGreatQuotes

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Twelfth Night Antonio Quotes

My stars shine darkly over me.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 2, Scene 1. Sebastian explains to Antonio why he doesn’t want him to go with him. Following his shipwreck and loss of his twin sister Viola he feels he is cursed. As Sebastian likes Antonio, who has cared for him after his bad fortune, he doesn’t want bad things to happen him. In an ironical way, this quote foreshadows what later happens to Sebastian – he is blessed with good fortune when he is mistaken for Cesario by Olivia.

But I perceive in you so excellent a touch of 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.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 2, Scene 1. Sebastian confesses to his new friend Antonio who saved his life that he was fully honest about who he was, lying about his identity and calling himself Roderigo.

Pardon me, sir, your bad entertainment.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 2, Scene 1. Antonio reminds Sebastian – mourning a sister he thinks has drowned – that his sad story makes for bad entertainment.

If you will not murder me for my love, let me be your servant.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 2, Scene 1. Antonio is moved by Sebastian’s story of the loss of his ship and sister at sea, and he pledges his services to him. Has Antonio fallen in love with Sebastian?

But come what may, I do adore thee so
That danger shall seem sport, and I will go.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 2, Scene 1. Viola’s twin brother Sebastian has been washed ashore near the coast of Illyria after a shipwreck and Antonio has been caring for him in his home. Antonio is willing to risk danger by following Sebastian to Duke Orsino’s court, where Antonio has “many enemies.” Because of his strong attachment to Sebastian, he feels he cannot live without him.

I could not stay behind you. My desire,
More sharp than filed steel, did spur me forth.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 3, Scene 3. A good example of love crossing gender lines. Antonio says that his desire for Sebastian is “more sharp than filed steel” – an arrow, sword or spear. There is no denying the closeness and intimacy of the relationship between the two. It is one of the most famous bromances in Shakespeare’s plays, right up there with Hamlet and Horatio (Hamlet), Mercutio and Romeo (Romeo and Juliet), Arcite and Palamon (The Two Noble Kinsmen), and Leontes and Polixenes (The Winter’s Tale). But in this case, it’s a bromance that verges on the romantic – for Antonio, at least. One possible reason for Antonio’s love is that he rescued Sebastian and nursed him back to health.

My willing love,
The rather by these arguments of fear,
Set forth in your pursuit.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 3, Scene 3. Antonio confesses that his love for Sebastian and fears for his safety have driven him to follow him.

I hate ingratitude more in a man
Than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness,
Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption
Inhabits our frail blood.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 3, Scene 4. Cesario (Viola) defends himself against Antonio’s charge of ingratitude.

Out of the jaws of death.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 3, Scene 4. Antonio says Cesario (Viola) is the youth whom he snatched out of the jaws of death. He mistakingly thinks Viola is her twin Sebastian because of her male disguise.

In nature there’s no blemish but the mind;
None can be called deformed but the unkind.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 3, Scene 4. Antonio’s bitter comment on the ingratitude of the handsome boy he thinks is Sebastian – but is Viola dressed as a male.

Prove true, imagination, O, prove true,
That I, dear brother, be now ta’en for you!

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 3, Scene 4. After Antonio accuses her of not knowing him, Viola (Cesario) realizes he thinks she is her twin brother Sebastian.

A very dishonest paltry boy, and more a coward than a hare.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 3, Scene 4. Sir Toby Belch lashes out at Antonio who has said harsh words about Cesario (Viola), mistaking him for Sebastian.

A coward, a most devout coward, religious in it.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 3, Scene 4. Fabian criticizes Antonio for his treatment of Cesario (Viola), whom Antonio mistook for an ungrateful Sebastian.

This is the air; that is the glorious sun.
This pearl she gave me, I do feel ‘t and see ‘t.
And though ’tis wonder that enwraps me thus,
Yet ’tis not madness. Where’s Antonio, then?
I could not find him at the Elephant.
Yet there he was; and there I found this credit,
That he did range the town to seek me out.
His counsel now might do me golden service.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 4, Scene 3. In Sebastian’s monologue, he tries to make sense of Olivia’s love for him. He treasures his new found love as a pearl and assures himself that he is not mad. But he wishes Antonio was around to give him some golden advice about his new girlfriend.

That most ingrateful boy there by your side
From the rude sea’s enraged and foamy mouth
Did I redeem; a wrack past hope he was.
His life I gave him and did thereto add
My love, without retention or restraint,
All his in dedication. For his sake
Did I expose myself, pure for his love,
Into the danger of this adverse town.

– William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, Act 5, Scene 1. Antonio mistakes Cesario (Viola) for Sebastian, attacks Cesario’s treacherous behavior and hurls accusations of cruelty and dishonesty. We know that Cesario is innocent of all this, but Antonio has foolishly pursued Sebastian, who does not reciprocate Antonio’s love for him.