Quote 7
ADRIAN
The air breathes upon us here most sweetly.
SEBASTIAN
As if it had lungs and rotten ones.
ANTONIO
Or as 'twere perfumed by a fen.
GONZALO
Here is everything advantageous to life.
ANTONIO
True, save means to live.
SEBASTIAN
Of that there's none, or little.
GONZALO
How lush and lusty the grass looks! How
green!
ANTONIO
The ground indeed is tawny.
SEBASTIAN
With an eye of green in 't.
ANTONIO
He misses not much.
SEBASTIAN
No, he doth but mistake the truth totally. (2.1.49-60)
Reality reflects the nature of the speaker. This is not because reality is false, but because perspective is paramount.
Quote 8
SEBASTIAN
A living drollery! Now I will believe
That there are unicorns, that in Arabia
There is one tree, the phoenix' throne, one phoenix
At this hour reigning there.
ANTONIO
I'll believe both;
And what does else want credit, come to me
And I'll be sworn 'tis true. Travellers ne'er did lie,
Though fools at home condemn 'em.
GONZALO
If in Naples
I should report this now, would they believe me?
If I should say, I saw such islanders—
For, certes, these are people of the island—
Who, though they are of monstrous shape, yet note
Their manners are more gentle, kind, than of
Our human generation you shall find
Many, nay, almost any. (3.3.26-41)
Once one fantasy is proven true, the seer can no longer trust what he believes to be reality.