The Tempest (Modern)
Peer Reviewed
¶[3.1]
1235
Enter Ferdinand, bearing a log.
¶Ferdinand There be some sports are painful, and their labor
¶Delight in them set off. Some kinds of baseness
¶Are nobly undergone, and most poor matters
¶Point to rich ends; this, my mean task,
1240Would be as heavy to me, as odious, but
¶The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead
¶And makes my labors pleasures. Oh, she is
¶Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed,
¶And he's composed of harshness. I must remove
1245Some thousands of these logs and pile them up
¶Upon a sore injunction. My sweet mistress
¶Weeps when she sees me work, and says such baseness
¶Had never like executor. I forget --
¶But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labors
| 1250Most busiliest when I do it. | |
Enter Miranda and Prospero[, he, at a distance, unseen]. | |
| ¶Miranda | |
| Alas, now pray you, | |
¶Work not so hard. I would the lightning had
¶Burnt up those logs that you are enjoined to pile.
¶Pray, set it down and rest you -- when this burns,
1255'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father
¶Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself.
| ¶He's safe for these three hours. | |
| ¶Ferdinand | |
| O most dear mistress, | |
¶The sun will set before I shall discharge
| 1260What I must strive to do. | |
| ¶Miranda | |
| If you'll sit down, | |
¶I'll bear your logs the while. Pray, give me that;
| ¶I'll carry it to the pile. | |
| ¶Ferdinand | |
| No, precious creature; | |
1265I had rather crack my sinews, break my back
¶Than you should such dishonor undergo
| ¶While I sit lazy by. | |
| ¶Miranda | |
| It would become me | |
¶As well as it does you, and I should do it
1270With much more ease, for my good will is to it,
| ¶And yours it is against. | |
| ¶Prospero | |
| [Aside] Poor worm, thou art infected; | |
| ¶This visitation shows it. | |
| ¶Miranda | |
| You look wearily. | |
1275Ferdinand No, noble mistress, 'tis fresh morning with me
¶When you are by at night. I do beseech you
¶(Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers),
| ¶What is your name? | |
| ¶Miranda | |
| Miranda. [Aside] O my father, | |
| 1280I have broke your hest to say so! | |
| ¶Ferdinand | |
| Admired Miranda, | |
¶Indeed the top of admiration, worth
¶What's dearest to the world: full many a lady
¶I have eyed with best regard, and many a time
1285Th'harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
¶Brought my too diligent ear. For several virtues
¶Have I liked several women -- never any
¶With so full soul, but some defect in her
¶Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed
1290And put it to the foil. But you, O you
¶So perfect and so peerless, are created
| ¶Of every creature's best. | |
| ¶Miranda | |
| I do not know | |
¶One of my sex, no woman's face remember --
1295Save, from my glass, mine own. Nor have I seen
¶More that I may call men than you, good friend,
¶And my dear father. How features are abroad
¶I am skilless of, but by my modesty
¶(The jewel in my dower), I would not wish
1300Any companion in the world but you,
¶Nor can imagination form a shape,
¶Besides yourself, to like of -- but I prattle
¶Something too wildly, and my father's precepts
| ¶I therein do forget. | |
| 1305Ferdinand | |
| I am, in my condition, | |
¶A prince, Miranda, I do think a King
¶(I would not so), and would no more endure
¶This wooden slavery than to suffer
¶The flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak:
1310The very instant that I saw you did
¶My heart fly to your service, there resides
¶To make me slave to it, and for your sake
| ¶Am I this patient log man. | |
| ¶Miranda | |
| Do you love me? | |
1315Ferdinand O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound,
¶And crown what I profess with kind event
¶If I speak true; if hollowly, invert
¶What best is boaded me to mischief. I,
¶Beyond all limit of what else i'th'world,
| 1320Do love, prize, honor you. | |
| ¶Miranda | |
| I am a fool | |
| ¶To weep at what I am glad of. | |
| ¶Prospero | |
| [Aside] Fair encounter | |
¶Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace
| 1325On that which breeds between 'em. | |
| ¶Ferdinand | |
| Wherefore weep you? | |
¶Miranda At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer
¶What I desire to give, and much less take
¶What I shall die to want. But this is trifling,
1330And all the more it seeks to hide itself,
¶The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning,
¶And prompt me, plain and holy innocence:
¶I am your wife if you will marry me --
¶If not, I'll die your maid. To be your fellow
1335You may deny me, but I'll be your servant
| ¶Whether you will or no. | |
| ¶Ferdinand | |
| My mistress dearest, | |
| ¶And I thus humble ever. | |
| ¶Miranda | |
| My husband then? | |
1340Ferdinand Ay, with a heart as willing
¶As bondage ere of freedom: here's my hand.
¶Miranda And mine, with my heart in't; and now, farewell
| ¶Till half an hour hence. | |
| ¶Ferdinand | |
| A thousand, thousand. | |
Exit [Miranda and Ferdinand].
1345Prospero So glad of this as they I cannot be,
¶Who are surprised with all, but my rejoicing
¶At nothing can be more. I'll to my book,
¶For yet ere suppertime must I perform
¶Much business appertaining.
Exit.