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The Tempest (Modern)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editors: Brent Whitted, Paul Yachnin
Peer Reviewed
[2.1]
Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Adrian, Francisco, and others.
675Gonzalo [To Alonso] Beseech you, sir: be merry. You have cause --
So have we all -- of joy, for our escape
Is much beyond our loss. Our hint of woe
Is common: every day, some sailor's wife,
The masters of some merchant, and the merchant
680Have just our theme of woe -- but for the miracle
(I mean our preservation), few in millions
Can speak like us. Then wisely, good sir, weigh
Our sorrow with our comfort.
Alonso
Prithee, peace.
685Sebastian [To Antonio] He receives comfort like cold porridge.
Antonio The visitor will not give him o'er so.
Sebastian Look, he's winding up the watch of his wit;
By and by it will strike.
Gonzalo
Sir --
690Sebastian
One. Tell.
Gonzalo
When every grief is entertained
That's offered, comes to th'entertainer --
Sebastian
A dollar.
Gonzalo Dolor comes to him indeed -- you have spoken 695truer than you purposed.
Sebastian You have taken it wiselier than I meant you should.
Gonzalo Therefore, my Lord --
Antonio Fie, what a spendthrift is he of his tongue.
700Alonso [To Gonzalo] I prithee, spare.
Gonzalo Well, I have done. But yet --
Sebastian He will be talking.
Antonio Which of he or Adrian, for a good wager, first begins to crow?
705Sebastian The old cock.
Antonio The cockerel.
Sebastian Done. The wager?
Antonio A laughter.
Sebastian A match!
710Adrian Though this island seem to be desert --
Antonio Ha, ha, ha!
Sebastian [To Antonio] So, you're paid.
Adrian Uninhabitable and almost inaccessible --
Sebastian Yet --
715Adrian Yet --
Antonio He could not miss it.
Adrian It must needs be of subtle, tender, and delicate temperance.
Antonio Temperance was a delicate wench.
720Sebastian Ay, and a subtle, as he most learnedly delivered.
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.
725Antonio 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.
730Sebastian With an eye of green in it.
Antonio He misses not much.
Sebastian No, he doth but mistake the truth totally.
Gonzalo But the rarity of it is, which is indeed almost beyond credit.
735Sebastian As many vouched rarities are.
Gonzalo That our garments, being as they were drenched in the sea, hold notwithstanding their freshness and glosses, being rather new-dyed than stained with salt water.
740Antonio If but one of his pockets could speak, would it not say he lies?
Sebastian Ay, or very falsely pocket up his report.
Gonzalo Methinks our garments are now as fresh as when we put them on first in Africa at the marriage 745of the King's fair daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis.
Sebastian 'Twas a sweet marriage, and we prosper well in our return.
Adrian Tunis was never graced before with such a paragon to their queen.
750Gonzalo Not since widow Dido's time.
Antonio Widow? A pox on that! How came that widow in? Widow Dido!
Sebastian What if he had said "widower Aeneas", too? Good Lord, how you take it!
755Adrian "Widow Dido", said you? You make me study of that: she was of Carthage, not of Tunis.
Gonzalo This Tunis, sir, was Carthage.
Adrian Carthage?
Gonzalo I assure you -- Carthage.
Antonio His word is more than the miraculous harp.
760Sebastian He hath raised the wall and houses too.
Antonio What impossible matter will he make easy next?
Sebastian I think he will carry this island home in his pocket and give it his son for an apple.
Antonio And sowing the kernels of it in the sea, bring 765forth more islands.
Gonzalo Ay --
Antonio Why, in good time.
Gonzalo [To Alonso] Sir, we were talking that our garments seem now as fresh as when we were at Tunis at the marriage of your daughter, who is now queen.
770Antonio And the rarest that e'er came there.
Sebastian Bate, I beseech you, widow Dido.
Antonio Oh, widow Dido? Ay, widow Dido!
Gonzalo [To Alonso] Is not, sir, my doublet as fresh as the first day I wore it -- I mean, in a sort?
775Antonio That sort was well fished for.
Gonzalo When I wore it at your daughter's marriage?
Alonso You cram these words into mine ears against
The stomach of my sense. Would I had never
Married my daughter there, for coming thence
780My son is lost; and, in my rate, she too,
Who is so far from Italy removed,
I ne'er again shall see her. O thou mine heir
Of Naples and of Milan, what strange fish
Hath made his meal on thee?
785Francisco
Sir, he may live.
I saw him beat the surges under him
And ride upon their backs; he trod the water,
Whose enmity he flung aside, and brested
The surge most swoll'n that met him. His bold head
790'Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oared
Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke
To th'shore that o'er his wave-worn basis bowed
As stooping to relieve him -- I not doubt
He came alive to land.
795Alonso
No, no, he's gone!
Sebastian Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss,
That would not bless our Europe with your daughter,
But rather loose her to an African,
Where she at least is banished from your eye,
800Who hath cause to wet the grief on't.
Alonso
Prithee, peace.
Sebastian You were kneeled to and importuned otherwise
By all of us, and the fair soul herself
Weighed between loathness and obedience, at
805Which end o'th'beam should bow. We have lost your son,
I fear, forever; Milan and Naples have
More widows in them of this business' making
Than we bring men to comfort them --
The fault's your own.
810Alonso
So is the dear'st o'th'loss.
Gonzalo My Lord Sebastian,
The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness
And time to speak it in; you rub the sore
When you should bring the plaster.
815Sebastian
Very well.
Antonio And most chirurgeonly.
Gonzalo [To Alonso] It is foul weather in us all, good sir,
When you are cloudy.
Sebastian
Foul weather?
Antonio
Very foul.
Gonzalo Had I plantation of this isle, my Lord --
820Antonio
He'd sow't with nettle-seed.
Sebastian
Or docks or mallows.
Gonzalo And were the King on't, what would I do?
Sebastian 'Scape being drunk for want of wine.
Gonzalo I'th'commonwealth I would by contraries
825Execute all things, for no kind of traffic
Would I admit: no name of magistrate;
Letters should not be known; riches, poverty,
And use of service, none; contract, succession,
Bourne, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none;
830No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil;
No occupation -- all men idle all,
And women too, but innocent and pure;
No sovereignty --
Sebastian
Yet he would be King on't!
835Antonio The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the beginning.
Gonzalo All things in common nature should produce
Without sweat or endeavor. Treason, felony,
Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine
840Would I not have; but nature should bring forth
Of its own kind all foison, all abundance,
To feed my innocent people.
Sebastian No marrying 'mong his subjects?
Antonio None, man, all idle -- whores and knaves.
845Gonzalo I would, with such perfection, govern, sir,
T'excel the Golden Age.
Sebastian
'Save his majesty.
Antonio
Long live Gonzalo!
Gonzalo
[To Alonso] And -- do you mark me, sir?
Alonso Prithee, no more: thou dost talk nothing to me.
850Gonzalo I do well believe your highness, and did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen, who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that they always use to laugh at nothing.
Antonio 'Twas you we laughed at.
855Gonzalo Who, in this kind of merry fooling, am nothing to you; so you may continue and laugh at nothing still!
Antonio What a blow was there given!
Sebastian And it had not fallen flat-long.
Gonzalo You are gentlemen of brave metal; you would 860lift the moon out of her sphere if she would continue in it five weeks without changing.
Enter Ariel [invisible], playing solemn music.
Sebastian We would so, and then go a-bat-fowling.
Antonio Nay, good my lord, be not angry.
865Gonzalo No, I warrant you; I will not adventure my discretion so weakly. Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy?
Antonio Go sleep, and hear us.
[All sleep, except Alonso, Sebastian, and Antonio.]
Alonso What, all so soon asleep? I wish mine eyes
870Would with themselves shut up my thoughts;
I find they are inclined to do so.
Sebastian Please you, sir,
Do not omit the heavy offer of it.
It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth, it is a comforter.
875Antonio We two, my Lord, will guard your person
While you take your rest, and watch your safety.
Alonso Thank you -- wondrous heavy --
[Alonso sleeps. Exit Ariel.]
Sebastian What a strange drowsiness possesses them.
Antonio
It is the quality o'th'climate.
880Sebastian
Why
Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find
Not myself disposed to sleep.
Antonio Nor I. My spirits are nimble.
They fell together all, as by consent.
885They dropped as by a thunder-stroke. What might,
Worthy Sebastian? Oh, what might -- ? No more --
And yet methinks I see it in thy face,
What thou shouldst be -- th'occasion speaks thee, and
My strong imagination sees a crown
890Dropping upon thy head.
Sebastian
What, art thou waking?
Antonio
Do you not hear me speak?
Sebastian
I do, and surely
It is a sleepy language, and thou speak'st
895Out of thy sleep. What is it thou didst say?
This is a strange repose, to be asleep
With eyes wide open -- standing, speaking, moving,
And yet so fast asleep.
Antonio
Noble Sebastian,
900Thou let'st thy fortune sleep (die rather); wink'st
Whiles thou art waking.
Sebastian
Thou dost snore distinctly --
There's meaning in thy snores.
Antonio I am more serious than my custom; you
905Must be so too, if heed me, which to do
Trebles thee o'er.
Sebastian
Well, I am standing water.
Antonio
I'll teach you how to flow.
Sebastian
Do so; to ebb
910Hereditary sloth instructs me.
Antonio
Oh,
If you but knew how you the purpose cherish
Whiles thus you mock it, how in stripping it
You more invest it! Ebbing men indeed
915Most often do so near the bottom run
By their own fear or sloth.
Sebastian
Prithee, say on --
The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim
A matter from thee and a birth indeed,
920Which throws thee much to yield.
Antonio Thus, Sir,
Although this Lord of weak remembrance, this
Who shall be of as little memory
When he is earthed, hath here almost persuaded
925(For he's a spirit of persuasion, only
Professes to persuade) the King his son's alive,
'Tis as impossible that he's undrowned
As he that sleeps here, swims.
Sebastian
I have no hope
930That he's undrowned.
Antonio
Oh, out of that "no hope"
What great hope have you! No hope that way is,
Another way, so high a hope that even
Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond
935But doubt discovery there. Will you grant with me
That Ferdinand is drowned?
Sebastian He's gone.
Antonio Then tell me, who's the next heir of Naples?
Sebastian Claribel.
940Antonio She that is Queen of Tunis, she that dwells
Ten leagues beyond man's life, she that from Naples
Can have no note unless the sun were post
(The man i'th'moon's too slow) till newborn chins
Be rough and razorable; she that from whom
945We all were sea-swallowed, though some cast again,
And by that destiny to perform an act
Whereof what's past is prologue, what to come
In yours and my discharge.
Sebastian What stuff is this? How say you?
950'Tis true my brother's daughter's Queen of Tunis;
So is she heir of Naples, 'twixt which regions
There is some space.
Antonio
A space whose every cubit
Seems to cry out, "how shall that Claribel
955Measure us back to Naples? Keep in Tunis,
And let Sebastian wake." Say this were death
That now hath seized them -- why, they were no worse
Than now they are. There be that can rule Naples
As well as he that sleeps, lords that can prate
960As amply and unnecessarily
As this Gonzalo. I myself could make
A chough of as deep chat. Oh, that you bore
The mind that I do -- what a sleep were this
For your advancement. Do you understand me?
965Sebastian
Methinks I do.
Antonio
And how does your content
Tender your own good fortune?
Sebastian
I remember
You did supplant your brother Prospero.
970Antonio
True,
And look how well my garments sit upon me
Much feater than before. My brother's servants
Were then my fellows, now they are my men.
Sebastian But for your conscience?
975Antonio Ay, sir, where lies that? If 'twere a kibe,
'Twould put me to my slipper. But I feel not
This deity in my bosom. Twenty consciences
That stand 'twixt me and Milan, candied be they
And melt ere they molest. Here lies your brother,
980No better than the earth he lies upon.
If he were that which now he's like, that's dead
(Whom I, with this obedient steel, three inches of it,
Can lay to bed forever), whiles you, doing thus,
To the perpetual wink for aye, might put
985This ancient morsel, this Sir Prudence, who
Should not upbraid our course. For all the rest,
They'll take suggestion as a cat laps milk;
They'll tell the clock to any business that
We say befits the hour.
990Sebastian
Thy case, dear friend,
Shall be my precedent. As thou got'st Milan,
I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke
Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest,
And I, the King, shall love thee.
995Antonio
Draw together,
And when I rear my hand, do you the like
To fall it on Gonzalo.
Sebastian
Oh, but one word --
[They talk apart.] Enter Ariel, invisible, with music and song.
1000Ariel My master, through his art, foresees the danger
That you, his friend, are in, and sends me forth
(For else his project dies) to keep them living.
Sings in Gonzalo's ear
While you here do snoring lie,
1005Open-eyed conspiracy
His time doth take.
If of life you keep a care,
Shake off slumber, and beware:
Awake, awake!
1010Antonio Then let us both be sudden.
Gonzalo Now, good angels, preserve the King!
Alonso Why, how now, ho! Awake! Why are you drawn?
Wherefore this ghastly looking?
Gonzalo
What's the matter?
1015Sebastian Whiles we stood here securing your repose,
Even now we heard a hollow burst of bellowing
Like bulls, or rather lions -- did't not wake you?
It struck mine ear most terribly.
Alonso
I heard nothing.
1020Antonio Oh, 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear,
To make an earthquake! Sure it was the roar
Of a whole herd of lions.
Alonso
Heard you this, Gonzalo?
Gonzalo Upon mine honor, sir, I heard a humming,
1025And that a strange one too, which did awake me.
I shook you, sir, and cried. As mine eyes opened,
I saw their weapons drawn. There was a noise,
That's verily. 'Tis best we stand upon our guard
Or that we quit this place. Let's draw our weapons.
1030Alonso Lead off this ground, and let's make further search
For my poor son.
Gonzalo
Heavens keep him from these beasts,
For he is sure i'th'island.
Alonso
Lead away.
1035Ariel Prospero my Lord shall know what I have done:
So, King, go safely on to seek thy son.
Exeunt.