Toolbox



Textual Analysis

[ Go ]

Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
More Performances…
‌

The Tempest (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editors: Brent Whitted, Paul Yachnin
Peer Reviewed
1650
Actus Quartus. Scena Prima.
Enter Prospero, Ferdinand, and Miranda.
Pro. If I haue too austerely punish'd you,
Your compensation makes amends, for I
Haue giuen you here, a third of mine owne life,
1655Or that for which I liue: who, once againe
I tender to thy hand: All thy vexations
Were but my trials of thy loue, and thou
Hast strangely stood the test: here, afore heauen
I ratifie this my rich guift: O Ferdinand,
1660Doe not smile at me, that I boast her of,
For thou shalt finde she will out-strip all praise
And make it halt, behinde her.
Fer. I doe beleeue it
Against an Oracle.
1665Pro. Then, as my guest, and thine owne acquisition
Worthily purchas'd, take my daughter: But
If thou do'st breake her Virgin-knot, before
All sanctimonious ceremonies may
With full and holy right, be ministred,
1670No sweet aspersion shall the heauens let fall
To make this contract grow; but barraine hate,
Sower-ey'd disdaine, and discord shall bestrew
The vnion of your bed, with weedes so loathly
That you shall hate it both: Therefore take heede,
1675As Hymens Lamps shall light you.
Fer. As I hope
For quiet dayes, faire Issue, and long life,
With such loue, as 'tis now the murkiest den,
The most opportune place, the strongst suggestion,
1680Our worser Genius can, shall neuer melt
Mine honor into lust, to take away
The edge of that dayes celebration,
When I shall thinke, or Phœbus Steeds are founderd,
Or Night kept chain'd below.
1685Pro. Fairely spoke;
Sit then, and talke with her, she is thine owne;
What Ariell; my industrious seruãt Ariell.
Enter Ariell.
Ar. What would my potent master? here I am.
Pro. Thou, and thy meaner fellowes, your last seruice
1690Did worthily performe: and I must vse you
In such another tricke: goe bring the rabble
(Ore whom I giue thee powre) here, to this place:
Incite them to quicke motion, for I must
Bestow vpon the eyes of this yong couple
1695Some vanity of mine Art: it is my promise,
And they expect it from me.
Ar. Presently?
Pro. I: with a twincke.
Ar. Before you can say come, and goe,
1700And breathe twice; and cry, so, so:
Each one tripping on his Toe,
Will be here with mop, and mowe.
Doe you loue me Master? no?
Pro. Dearely, my delicate Ariell: doe not approach
1705Till thou do'st heare me call.
Ar. Well: I conceiue.
Exit.
Pro. Looke thou be true: doe not giue dalliance
Too much the raigne: the strongest oathes, are straw
To th'fire ith' blood: be more abstenious,
1710Or else good night your vow.
Fer. I warrant you, Sir,
The white cold virgin Snow, vpon my heart
Abates the ardour of my Liuer.
Pro. Well.
1715Now come my Ariell, bring a Corolary,
Rather then want a Spirit; appear, & pertly.
Soft musick.Enter Iris..
No tongue: all eyes: be silent.
Ir. Ceres, most bounteous Lady, thy rich Leas
Of Wheate, Rye, Barley, Fetches, Oates and Pease;
1720Thy Turphie-Mountaines, where liue nibling Sheepe,
And flat Medes thetchd with Stouer, them to keepe:
Thy bankes with pioned, and twilled brims
Which spungie Aprill, at thy hest betrims;
To make cold Nymphes chast crownes; & thy broome-
1725Whose shadow the dismissed Batchelor loues,
Being lasse-lorne: thy pole-clipt vineyard,
And thy Sea-marge stirrile, and rockey-hard,
Where thou thy selfe do'st ayre, the Queene o'th Skie,
Whose watry Arch, and messenger, am I.
1730Bids thee leaue these, & with her soueraigne grace,
Iuno descends.
Here on this grasse-plot, in this very place
To come, and sport: here Peacocks flye amaine:
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertaine.
Enter Ceres.
Cer. Haile, many-coloured Messenger, that nere
1735Do'st disobey the wife of Iup iter:
Who, with thy saffron wings, vpon my flowres
Diffusest hony drops, refreshing showres,
And with each end of thy blew bowe do'st crowne
My boskie acres, and my vnshrubd downe,
1740Rich scarph to my proud earth: why hath thy Queene
Summond me hither, to this short gras'd Greene?
Ir. A contract of true Loue, to celebrate,
And some donation freely to estate
On the bles'd Louers.
1745Cer. Tell me heauenly Bowe,
If Venus or her Sonne, as thou do'st know,
Doe now attend the Queene? since they did plot
The meanes, that duskie Dis, my daughter got,
Her, and her blind-Boyes scandald company,
1750I haue forsworne.
Ir. Of her societie
Be not afraid: I met her deitie
Cutting the clouds towards Paphos: and her Son
Doue-drawn with her: here thought they to haue done
1755Some wanton charme, vpon this Man and Maide,
Whose vowes are, that no bed-right shall be paid
Till Hymens Torch be lighted: but in vaine,
Marses hot Minion is returnd againe,
Her waspish headed sonne, has broke his arrowes,
1760Swears he will shoote no more, but play with Sparrows,
And be a Boy right out.
Cer. Highest Queene of State,
Great Iuno comes, I know her by her gate.
Iu. How do's my bounteous sister? goe with me
1765To blesse this twaine, that they may prosperous be,
And honourd in their Issue.
They Sing.
Iu. Honor, riches, marriage, blessing,
Long continuance, and encreasing,
Hourely ioyes, be still vpon you,
1770
Iuno sings her blessings on you.
Earths increase, foyzon plentie,
Barnes, and Garners, neuer empty.
Vines, with clustring bunches growing,
Plants, wtth goodly burthen bowing:
1775Spring come to you at the farthest,
In the very end of Haruest.
Scarcity and want shall shun you,
Ceres blessing so is on you.
Fer. This is a most maiesticke vision, and
1780Harmonious charmingly: may I be bold
To thinke these spirits?
Pro. Spirits, which by mine Art
I haue from their confines call'd to enact
My present fancies.
1785Fer. Let me liue here euer,
So rare a wondred Father, and a wife
Makes this place Paradise.
Pro. Sweet now, silence:
Iuno and Ceres whisper seriously,
1790There's something else to doe: hush, and be mute
Or else our spell is mar'd.
Iuno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on employment.
Iris. You Nimphs cald Nayades of ye windring brooks,
With your sedg'd crownes, and euer-harmelesse lookes,
1795Leaue your crispe channels, and on this green-Land
Answere your summons, Iuno do's command.
Come temperate Nimphes, and helpe to celebrate
A Contract of true Loue: be not too late.
Enter Certaine Nimphes.
1800You Sun-burn'd Sicklemen of August weary,
Come hether from the furrow, and be merry,
Make holly day: your Rye-straw hats put on,
And these fresh Nimphes encounter euery one
In Country footing.
1805
Enter certaine Reapers (properly habited:) they ioyne with
the Nimphes, in a gracefull dance, towards the end where-
of, Prospero starts sodainly and speakes, after which to a
strange hollow and confused noyse, they heauily vanish.
Pro. I had forgot that foule conspiracy
1810Of the beast Calliban, and his confederates
Against my life: the minute of their plot
Is almost come: Well done, auoid: no more.
Fer. This is strange: your fathers in some passion
That workes him strongly.
1815Mir. Neuer till this day
Saw I him touch'd with anger, so distemper'd.
Pro. You doe looke (my son) in a mou'd sort,
As if you were dismaid: be cheerefull Sir,
Our Reuels now are ended: These our actors,
1820(As I foretold you) were all Spirits, and
Are melted into Ayre, into thin Ayre,
And like the baselesse fabricke of this vision
The Clowd-capt Towres, the gorgeous Pallaces,
The solemne Temples, the great Globe it selfe,
1825Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolue,
And like this insubstantiall Pageant faded
Leaue not a racke behinde: we are such stuffe
As dreames are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleepe: Sir, I am vext,
1830Beare with my weakenesse, my old braine is troubled:
Be not disturb'd with my infirmitie,
If you be pleas'd, retire into my Cell,
And there repose, a turne or two, Ile walke
To still my beating minde.
1835Fer. Mir. We wish your peace.
Exit.
Pro. Come with a thought; I thank thee Ariell: come.
Enter Ariell.
Ar. Thy thoughts I cleaue to, what's thy pleasure?
Pro. Spirit: We must prepare to meet with Caliban.
1840Ar. I my Commander, when I presented Ceres
I thought to haue told thee of it, but I fear'd
Least I might anger thee.
Pro. Say again, where didst thou leaue these varlots?
Ar. I told you Sir, they were red-hot with drinking,
1845So full of valour, that they smote the ayre
For breathing in their faces: beate the ground
For kissing of their feete; yet alwaies bending
Towards their proiect: then I beate my Tabor,
At which like vnback't colts they prickt their eares,
1850Aduanc'd their eye-lids, lifted vp their noses
As they smelt musicke, so I charm'd their eares
That Calfe-like, they my lowing follow'd, through
Tooth'd briars, sharpe firzes, pricking gosse, & thorns,
Which entred their fraile shins: at last I left them
1855I'th' filthy mantled poole beyond your Cell,
There dancing vp to th'chins, that the fowle Lake
Ore-stunck their feet.
Pro. This was well done (my bird)
Thy shape inuisible retaine thou still:
1860The trumpery in my house, goe bring it hither
For stale to catch these theeues.
Ar. I go, I goe. Exit.
Pro. A Deuill, a borne-Deuill, on whose nature
Nurture can neuer sticke: on whom my paines
Humanely taken, all, all lost, quite lost,
1865And, as with age, his body ouglier growes,
So his minde cankers: I will plague them all,
Euen to roaring: Come, hang on them this line.
Enter Ariell, loaden with glistering apparell, &c. Enter
Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo, all wet.
1870Cal. Pray you tread softly, that the blinde Mole may
not heare a foot fall: we now are neere his Cell.
St. Monster, your Fairy, wc you say is a harmles Fairy,
Has done little better then plaid the Iacke with vs.
Trin. Monster, I do smell all horse-pisse, at which
1875My nose is in great indignation.
Ste. So is mine. Do you heare Monster: If I should
Take a displeasure against you: Looke you.
Trin. Thou wert but a lost Monster.
Cal. Good my Lord, giue me thy fauour stil,
1880Be patient, for the prize Ile bring thee too
Shall hudwinke this mischance: therefore speake softly,
All's husht as midnight yet.
Trin. I, but to loose our bottles in the Poole.
Ste. There is not onely disgrace and dishonor in that
1885Monster, but an infinite losse.
Tr. That's more to me then my wetting:
Yet this is your harmlesse Fairy, Monster.
Ste. I will fetch off my bottle,
Though I be o're eares for my labour.
1890Cal. Pre-thee (my King) be quiet. Seest thou heere
This is the mouth o'th Cell: no noise, and enter:
Do that good mischeefe, which may make this Island
Thine owne for euer, and I thy Caliban
For aye thy foot-licker.
1895Ste. Giue me thy hand,
I do begin to haue bloody thoughts.
Trin. O King Stephano, O Peere: O worthy Stephano,
Looke what a wardrobe heere is for thee.
Cal. Let it alone thou foole, it is but trash.
1900Tri. Oh, ho, Monster: wee know what belongs to a
frippery, O King Stephano.
Ste. Put off that gowne (Trinculo) by this hand Ile
haue that gowne.
Tri. Thy grace shall haue it.
1905Cal. The dropsie drowne this foole, what doe you
To doate thus on such luggage? let's alone
And doe the murther first: if he awake,
From toe to crowne hee'l fill our skins with pinches,
Make vs strange stuffe.
1910Ste. Be you quiet (Monster) Mistris line, is not this
my Ierkin? now is the Ierkin vnder the line: now Ier-
kin you are like to lose your haire, & proue a bald Ierkin.
Trin. Doe, doe; we steale by lyne and leuell, and't
like your grace.
1915Ste. I thank thee for that iest; heer's a garment for't:
Wit shall not goe vn-rewarded while I am King of this
Country: Steale by line and leuell, is an excellent passe
of pate: there's another garment for't.
Tri. Monster, come put some Lime vpon your fin-
1920gers, and away with the rest.
Cal. I will haue none on't: we shall loose our time,
And all be turn'd to Barnacles, or to Apes
With foreheads villanous low.
Ste. Monster, lay to your fingers: helpe to beare this
1925away, where my hogshead of wine is, or Ile turne you
out of my kingdome: goe to, carry this.
Tri. And this.
Ste. I, and this.
A noyse of Hunters heard. Enter diuers Spirits in shape
1930of Dogs and Hounds, hunting them about: Prospero
and Ariel setting them on.
Pro. Hey Mountaine, hey.
Ari. Siluer: there it goes, Siluer.
Pro. Fury, Fury: there Tyrant, there: harke, harke.
1935Goe, charge my Goblins that they grinde their ioynts
With dry Convultions, shorten vp their sinewes
With aged Cramps, & more pinch-spotted make them,
Then Pard, or Cat o' Mountaine.
Ari. Harke, they rore.
1940Pro. Let them be hunted soundly: At this houre
Lies at my mercy all mine enemies:
Shortly shall all my labours end, and thou
Shalt haue the ayre at freedome: for a little
Follow, and doe me seruice.
Exeunt.