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The Tempest (Modern)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editors: Brent Whitted, Paul Yachnin
Peer Reviewed
THE TEMPEST
1[1.1]
A tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning heard. Enter a Shipmaster and a Boatswain.
Shipmaster 5Boatswain!
Boatswain Here, master. What cheer?
Shipmaster Good. Speak to the mariners. Fall to it yarely or we run ourselves aground. Bestir! Bestir!
Exit [Shipmaster].
10
Enter Mariners.
Boatswain Heigh, my hearts! Cheerly, cheerly, my hearts! Yare, yare. Take in the topsail! Tend to the master's whistle. [To the storm] Blow till thou burst thy wind if room enough!
15
Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Ferdinand, Gonzalo, and others.
Alonso Good boatswain, have care. Where's the master? Play the men.
Boatswain I pray now, keep below.
20Antonio Where is the master, boatswain?
Boatswain Do you not hear him? You mar our labor. Keep your cabins! You do assist the storm.
Gonzalo Nay, good, be patient.
Boatswain When the sea is. Hence! What cares these 25roarers for the name of King? To cabin! Silence: trouble us not.
Gonzalo Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard.
Boatswain None that I more love than myself. You are a counselor -- if you can command these elements to 30silence and work the peace of the present, we will not hand a rope more. Use your authority; if you cannot, give thanks you have lived so long, and make yourself ready in your cabin for the mischance of the hour if it so hap. [To Mariners] Cheerly, good hearts! [To Courtiers] Out of our 35way, I say!
Exit [Boatswain].
Gonzalo I have great comfort from this fellow. Methinks he hath no drowning mark upon him; his complexion is perfect gallows. Stand fast, good Fate, to his hanging. Make the rope of his destiny our cable, for our 40own doth little advantage. If he be not born to be hanged, our case is miserable.
Exit [Sebastian, Antonio, and Gonzalo].
Enter Boatswain.
Boatswain Down with the topmast! Yare: lower, lower. Bring her to try with main-course!
45
A cry within. Enter Sebastian, Antonio, and Gonzalo.
Boatswain A plague upon this howling; they are louder than the weather or our office. Yet again? What do you here? Shall we give over and drown? Have you a mind to sink?
Sebastian A pox on your throat, you bawling, 50blasphemous, uncharitable dog!
Boatswain Work you, then!
Antonio Hang, cur. Hang, you whoreson, insolent noisemaker! We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art.
Gonzalo I'll warrant him for drowning, though the 55ship were no stronger than a nutshell and as leaky as an unstanched wench.
Boatswain Lay her ahold, ahold: set her two courses off to sea again. Lay her off!
Enter Mariners, wet.
60Mariners All lost! To prayers, to prayers! All lost!
Boatswain What, must our mouths be cold?
Gonzalo The King and prince at prayers. Let's assist them, for our case is as theirs.
Sebastian I am out of patience.
65Antonio We are merely cheated of our lives by drunkards. This wide-chopped rascal! [To Boatswain] Would thou mightst lie drowning the washing of ten tides.
Gonzalo He'll be hanged yet,
Though every drop of water swear against it
70And gape at wid'st to glut him.
A confused noise within
Gonzalo
Mercy on us!
Mariners We split, we split! Farewell, my wife and children!
Farewell, brother! We split, we split, we split!
Antonio Let's all sink wi'th' King.
75Sebastian Let's take leave of him.
Exit [Antonio and Sebastian].
Gonzalo Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground -- long heath, brown furze, anything. The wills above be done, but I would fain die a dry death.
Exit.
80[1.2]
Enter Prospero and Miranda.
Miranda If by your art, my dearest father, you have
Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them.
The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch
85But that the sea, mounting to th'welkin's cheek,
Dashes the fire out. Oh! I have suffered
With those that I saw suffer. A brave vessel
(Who had no doubt some noble creature in her)
Dashed all to pieces. Oh, the cry did knock
90Against my very heart. Poor souls, they perished.
Had I been any god of power, I would
Have sunk the sea within the earth, or ere
It should the good ship so have swallowed and
The fraughting souls within her.
95Prospero
Be collected.
No more amazement; tell your piteous heart
There's no harm done.
Miranda
Oh, woe the day!
Prospero
No harm!
100I have done nothing but in care of thee --
Of thee my dear one, thee my daughter -- who
Art ignorant of what thou art, not knowing
Of whence I am, nor that I am more better
Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell,
105And thy no greater father.
Miranda
More to know
Did never meddle with my thoughts.
Prospero
'Tis time
I should inform thee farther. Lend thy hand
110And pluck my magic garment from me. So
Lie there, my art. Wipe thou thine eyes; have comfort.
The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touched
The very virtue of compassion in thee,
I have, with such provision in mine art,
115So safely ordered that there is no soul
(No, not so much perdition as an hair!)
Betide to any creature in the vessel
Which thou heard'st cry, which thou saw'st sink. Sit down,
For thou must now know farther.
120Miranda
You have often
Begun to tell me what I am, but stopped
And left me to a bootless inquisition,
Concluding, "Stay -- not yet."
Prospero
The hour's now come.
125The very minute bids thee ope thine ear:
Obey and be attentive. Canst thou remember
A time before we came unto this cell?
I do not think thou canst, for then thou wast not
Out three years old.
130Miranda
Certainly, sir, I can.
Prospero By what? By any other house or person?
Of anything the image tell me that
Hath kept with thy remembrance.
Miranda
'Tis far off --
135And rather like a dream than an assurance
That my remembrance warrants. Had I not
Four or five women once that tended me?
Prospero Thou had'st, and more, Miranda. But how is it
That this lives in thy mind? What seest thou else
140In the dark backward and abysm of time?
If thou remember'st aught ere thou cam'st here,
How thou cam'st here, thou mayst.
Miranda
But that I do not.
Prospero Twelve years since, Miranda, twelve years since,
145Thy father was the Duke of Milan and
A prince of power.
Miranda
Sir, are not you my father?
Prospero Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and
She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father
150Was Duke of Milan -- and his only heir
And princess no worse issued.
Miranda
Oh, the heavens!
What foul play had we that we came from thence --
Or blessèd was't we did?
155Prospero
Both, both, my girl.
By foul play (as thou say'st) were we heaved thence,
But blessedly holp hither.
Miranda
Oh, my heart bleeds
To think o'th'teen that I have turned you to,
160Which is from my remembrance. Please you, farther.
Prospero My brother and thy uncle, called Antonio --
I pray thee, mark me, that a brother should
Be so perfidious! -- he whom, next thyself,
Of all the world I loved, and to him put
165The manage of my state as, at that time,
Through all the seigniories, it was the first,
And Prospero, the prime duke, being so reputed
In dignity, and for the liberal arts
Without a parallel (those being all my study),
170The government I cast upon my brother,
And to my state grew stranger, being transported
And rapt in secret studies. Thy false uncle --
Dost thou attend me?
Miranda
Sir, most heedfully --
175Prospero Being once perfected how to grant suits
(How to deny them, who t'advance, and who
To trash for over-topping), new created
The creatures that were mine, I say, or changed'em,
Or else new formed them; having both the key
180Of officer and office, set all hearts i'th'state
To what tune pleased his ear, that now he was
The ivy which had hid my princely trunk
And sucked my verdure out on't -- thou attend'st not.
Miranda
O good sir, I do.
185Prospero
I pray thee, mark me!
I (thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated
To closeness and the bettering of my mind
With that which, but by being so retired,
O'er-prized all popular rate) in my false brother
190Awaked an evil nature, and my trust,
Like a good parent, did beget of him
A falsehood in its contrary as great
As my trust was, which had indeed no limit --
A confidence sans bound. He being thus lorded,
195Not only with what my revenue yielded
But what my power might else exact like one
Who, having into truth by telling of it,
Made such a sinner of his memory
To credit his own lie, he did believe
200He was indeed the duke out o'th'substitution
And executing the outward face of royalty
With all prerogative; hence, his ambition growing --
Dost thou hear?
Miranda
Your tale, sir, would cure deafness.
205Prospero To have no screen between this part he played
And him he played it for -- he needs will be
Absolute Milan. Me (poor man), my library
Was dukedom large enough. Of temporal royalties
He thinks me now incapable. Confederates
210(So dry he was for sway) wi'th' King of Naples
To give him annual tribute, do him homage,
Subject his coronet to his crown, and bend
The dukedom, yet unbowed (alas, poor Milan!),
To most ignoble stooping.
215Miranda
Oh, the heavens!
Prospero Mark his condition and th'event, then tell me
If this might be a brother.
Miranda
I should sin
To think but nobly of my grandmother:
220Good wombs have born bad sons.
Prospero
Now the condition:
This King of Naples, being an enemy
To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit,
Which was that he (in lieu o'th'premises
225Of homage and I know not how much tribute)
Should presently extirpate me and mine
Out of the dukedom, and confer fair Milan,
With all the honors, on my brother -- whereon,
A treacherous army levied, one midnight
230Fated to the purpose, did Antonio open
The gates of Milan, and i'th'dead of darkness
The ministers for the purpose hurried thence
Me and thy crying self.
Miranda
Alack, for pity!
235I, not remembering how I cried out then,
Will cry it o'er again; it is a hint
That wrings mine eyes to't.
Prospero
Hear a little further,
And then I'll bring thee to the present business
240Which now's upon's, without the which this story
Were most impertinent.
Miranda
Wherefore did they not
That hour destroy us?
Prospero
Well demanded, wench.
245My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst not,
So dear the love my people bore me, nor set
A mark so bloody on the business, but
With colors fairer, painted their foul ends.
In few, they hurried us aboard a bark,
250Bore us some leagues to sea, where they prepared
A rotten carcass of a butt: not rigged,
Nor tackle, sail, nor mast. The very rats
Instinctively have quit it. There they hoist us
To cry to th'sea that roared to us, to sigh
255To th'winds, whose pity, sighing back again,
Did us but loving wrong.
Miranda
Alack, what trouble
Was I then to you?
Prospero
Oh, a cherubin
260Thou wast that did preserve me. Thou didst smile,
Infusèd with a fortitude from heaven
(When I have decked the sea with drops full salt
Under my burden groaned), which raised in me
An undergoing stomach to bear up
265Against what should ensue.
Miranda
How came we ashore?
Prospero
By providence divine.
Some food we had and some fresh water that
A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo,
270Out of his charity (who being then appointed
Master of this design) did give us, with
Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries,
Which since have steaded much. So of his gentleness,
Knowing I loved my books, he furnished me
275From mine own library with volumes that
I prize above my dukedom.
Miranda
Would I might
But ever see that man.
Prospero
Now I arise.
280Sit still and hear the last of our sea-sorrow.
Here in this island we arrived, and here
Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit
Than other princes can that have more time
For vainer hours, and tutors not so careful.
285Miranda Heavens thank you for't! And now I pray you, sir,
For still 'tis beating in my mind: your reason
For raising this sea-storm?
Prospero
Know thus far forth:
By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune
290(Now, my dear lady!) hath mine enemies
Brought to this shore, and by my prescience
I find my zenith doth depend upon
A most auspicious star, whose influence
If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes
295Will ever after droop. Here cease more questions.
Thou art inclined to sleep; 'tis a good dullness,
And give it way. I know thou canst not choose.
Come away, servant, come, I am ready now.
Approach, my Ariel, come.
Enter Ariel.
300Ariel All hail, great master! Grave sir, hail! I come
To answer thy best pleasure, be't to fly,
To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride
On the curled clouds. To thy strong bidding, task
Ariel and all his quality!
305Prospero
Hast thou, spirit,
Performed to point the tempest that I bade thee?
Ariel To every article.
I boarded the King's ship -- now on the beak,
Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin,
310I flamed amazement. Sometime I'ld divide
And burn in many places. On the topmast,
The yards and bowsprit would I flame distinctly,
Then meet and join. Jove's lightning, the precursors
O'th'dreadful thunderclaps, more momentary
315And sight out-running were not. The fire and cracks
Of sulphurous roaring, the most mighty Neptune
Seemed to besiege and made his bold waves tremble --
Yea, his dread trident shake!
Prospero
My brave spirit,
320Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil
Would not infect his reason?
Ariel
Not a soul
But felt a fever of the mad, and played
Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners
325Plunged in the foaming brine and quit the vessel;
Then all afire with me, the King's son, Ferdinand,
With hair up-staring (then like reeds, not hair!)
Was the first man that leapt, cried, "Hell is empty,
And all the devils are here!"
330Prospero
Why, that's my spirit!
But was not this nigh shore?
Ariel
Close by, my master.
Prospero
But are they, Ariel, safe?
Ariel
Not a hair perished;
335On their sustaining garments, not a blemish,
But fresher than before. And as thou bad'st me,
In troops I have dispersed them 'bout the isle.
The King's son have I landed by himself,
Whom I left cooling of the air with sighs
340In an odd angle of the isle, and sitting,
His arms in this sad knot.
Prospero
Of the King's ship,
The mariners -- say how thou hast disposed,
And all the rest o'th'fleet.
345Ariel
Safely in harbor
Is the King's ship, in the deep nook, where once
Thou called me up at midnight to fetch dew
From the still-vexed Bermudas, there she's hid.
The mariners all under hatches stowed,
350Who, with a charm joined to their suffered labor,
I have left asleep; and for the rest o'th'fleet,
Which I dispersed, they all have met again
And are upon the Mediterranean float,
Bound sadly home for Naples,
355Supposing that they saw the King's ship wracked
And his great person perish.
Prospero
Ariel, thy charge
Exactly is performed -- but there's more work.
What is the time o'th'day?
360Ariel
Past the mid season.
Prospero At least two glasses -- the time 'twixt six and now --
Must by us both be spent most preciously.
Ariel Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains,
Let me remember thee what thou hast promised,
365Which is not yet performed me.
Prospero
How now? Moody?
What is't thou canst demand?
Ariel
My liberty.
Prospero
Before the time be out? No more!
370Ariel
I prithee,
Remember I have done thee worthy service,
Told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings, served
Without or grudge or grumblings. Thou did promise
To bate me a full year.
375Prospero
Dost thou forget
From what a torment I did free thee?
Ariel
No.
Prospero Thou dost, and think'st it much to tread the ooze
Of the salt deep,
To run upon the sharp wind of the north,
380To do me business in the veins o'th'earth
When it is baked with frost.
Ariel
I do not, sir.
Prospero Thou liest, malignant thing! Hast thou forgot
The foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy
385Was grown into a hoop? Hast thou forgot her?
Ariel No, sir.
Prospero Thou hast. Where was she born? Speak: tell me.
Ariel
Sir, in Algiers.
Prospero
Oh, was she so? I must
390Once in a month recount what thou hast been,
Which thou forget'st. This damned witch Sycorax,
For mischiefs manifold and sorceries terrible
To enter human hearing, from Algiers
Thou know'st was banished. For one thing she did,
395They would not take her life. Is not this true?
Ariel Ay, sir.
Prospero This blue-eyed hag was hither brought, with child,
And here was left by th'sailors. Thou, my slave,
As thou report'st thyself, was then her servant;
And, for thou wast a spirit too delicate
400To act her earthy and abhorred commands,
Refusing her grand hests, she did confine thee,
By help of her more potent ministers
And her most unmitigable rage,
Into a cloven pine, within which rift
405Imprisoned, thou didst painfully remain
A dozen years, within which space she died
And left thee there, where thou didst vent thy groans
As fast as millwheels strike. Then was this island
(Save for the son that she did litter here,
410A freckled whelp, hag-born) not honored with
A human shape.
Ariel
Yes -- Caliban, her son.
Prospero Dull thing, I say so -- he, that Caliban,
Whom now I keep in service. Thou best know'st
415What torment I did find thee in: thy groans
Did make wolves howl, and penetrate the breasts
Of ever-angry bears; it was a torment
To lay upon the damned, which Sycorax
Could not again undo. It was mine art,
420When I arrived and heard thee, that made gape
The pine and let thee out.
Ariel
I thank thee, master.
Prospero If thou more murmur'st, I will rend an oak
And peg thee in his knotty entrails till
425Thou hast howled away twelve winters.
Ariel
Pardon, master.
I will be correspondent to command
And do my spriting gently.
Prospero
Do so, and after two days
430I will discharge thee.
Ariel
That's my noble master!
What shall I do? Say what. What shall I do?
Prospero Go make thyself like a nymph o'th'sea.
Be subject to no sight but thine and mine, invisible
435To every eyeball else. Go take this shape
And hither come in't. Go hence
With diligence.
Exit [Ariel].
Awake, dear heart, awake, thou hast slept well,
Awake.
440Miranda
The strangeness of your story put
Heaviness in me.
Prospero
Shake it off. Come on,
We'll visit Caliban, my slave, who never
Yields us kind answer.
445Miranda 'Tis a villain, sir, I do not love to look on.
Prospero But as 'tis,
We cannot miss him; he does make our fire,
Fetch in our wood, and serves in offices
That profit us. What ho! Slave Caliban!
450Thou earth, thou, speak!
Caliban
(within) There's wood enough within.
Prospero Come forth, I say, there's other business for thee.
Come, thou tortoise, when! Enter Ariel like a water nymph.
Fine apparition, my quaint Ariel:
455Hark in thine ear.
Ariel
My Lord, it shall be done.
Exit [Ariel].
Prospero Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself
Upon thy wicked dam, come forth!
Enter Caliban.
Caliban As wicked dew as e'er my mother brushed
460With raven's feather from unwholesome fen
Drop on you both! A southwest blow on ye
And blister you all over.
Prospero For this be sure: tonight thou shalt have cramps,
Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up; urchins
465Shall, for that vast of night that they may work,
All exercise on thee. Thou shalt be pinched
As thick as honeycomb, each pinch more stinging
Than bees that made them.
Caliban
I must eat my dinner.
470This island's mine by Sycorax, my mother,
Which thou tak'st from me. When thou cam'st first,
Thou strok'st me and made much of me, wouldst give me
Water with berries in't, and teach me how
To name the bigger light and how the less
475That burn by day and night. And then I loved thee
And showed thee all the qualities o'th'isle:
The fresh springs, brine-pits, barren place and fertile.
Cursed be I that did so! All the charms
Of Sycorax -- toads, beetles, bats light on you!
480For I am all the subjects that you have,
Which first was mine own King; and here you sty me
In this hard rock whiles you do keep from me
The rest o'th'island.
Prospero
Thou most lying slave,
485Whom stripes may move, not kindness -- I have used thee
(Filth as thou art) with human care, and lodged thee
In mine own cell till thou didst seek to violate
The honor of my child.
Caliban Oh ho! Oh ho! Would't had been done!
490Thou didst prevent me. I had peopled else
This isle with Calibans.
Miranda
Abhorrèd slave,
Which any print of goodness wilt not take,
Being capable of all ill! I pitied thee,
495Took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour
One thing or other when thou didst not, savage,
Know thine own meaning, but wouldst gabble like
A thing most brutish. I endowed thy purposes
With words that made them known, but thy wild race
500(Though thou didst learn) had that in't which good natures
Could not abide to be with; therefore wast thou
Deservedly confined into this rock,
Who hadst deserved more than a prison.
Caliban You taught me language, and my profit on't
505Is -- I know how to curse. The red plague rid you
For learning me your language.
Prospero
Hag-seed, hence!
Fetch us in fuel, and be quick. Thou'rt best
To answer other business. Shrug'st thou, malice?
510If thou neglect'st or dost unwillingly
What I command, I'll rack thee with old cramps,
Fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar
That beasts shall tremble at thy din.
Caliban
No, pray thee.
515[Aside] I must obey; his art is of such power
It would control my dam's god Setebos
And make a vassal of him.
Prospero
So, slave, hence.
Exit Caliban.
Enter Ferdinand, and Ariel invisible, playing [music] and singing.
520Ariel Song.
Come unto these yellow sands,
And then take hands;
Curtsied when you have, and kissed,
The wild waves whist;
Foot it featly here and there,
And, sweet sprites, 525bear the burden.
Hark, hark!
Burden, dispersedly[, within]. Bow-wow.
The watchdogs bark!
[Burden, dispersedly, within.] Bow-wow.
Hark, hark! I hear
The strain of strutting chanticleer:
Cry [within]. Cock-a-diddle-dow!
530Ferdinand Where should this music be? I'th'air or th'earth?
It sounds no more, and sure it waits upon
Some god o'th'island. Sitting on a bank,
Weeping again the King my father's wrack,
This music crept by me upon the waters,
535Allaying both their fury and my passion
With its sweet air; thence I have followed it
(Or it hath drawn me, rather), but 'tis gone.
No, it begins again!
Ariel Song.
Full fathom five thy father lies,
540Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes.
Nothing of him that doth fade
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
545Sea nymphs hourly ring his knell.
Burden.
Hark, now I hear them, ding-dong bell!
Ferdinand The ditty does remember my drowned father.
This is no mortal business, nor no sound
550That the earth owes. I hear it now above me.
Prospero [To Miranda] The fringèd curtains of thine eye advance,
And say what thou seest yond.
Miranda
What is't, a spirit?
Lord, how it looks about. Believe me, sir,
555It carries a brave form, but 'tis a spirit.
Prospero No, wench, it eats and sleeps, and hath such senses
As we have such. This gallant which thou seest
Was in the wrack, and but he's something stained
With grief (that's beauty's canker), thou mightst call him
560A goodly person. He hath lost his fellows,
And strays about to find'em.
Miranda
I might call him
A thing divine, for nothing natural
I ever saw so noble.
565Prospero
[Aside] It goes on, I see,
As my soul prompts it. [To Ariel] Spirit, fine spirit, I'll free thee
Within two days for this.
Ferdinand
Most sure, the goddess
On whom these airs attend. [To Miranda] Vouchsafe my prayer
570May know if you remain upon this island,
And that you will some good instruction give
How I may bear me here. My prime request,
Which I do last pronounce, is (O you wonder!)
If you be maid or no?
575Miranda
No wonder, sir,
But certainly a maid.
Ferdinand
My language! Heavens!
I am the best of them that speak this speech,
Were I but where 'tis spoken.
580Prospero
How? The best?
What wert thou if the King of Naples heard thee?
Ferdinand A single thing, as I am now, that wonders
To hear thee speak of Naples; he does hear me,
And that he does, I weep. Myself am Naples,
585Who with mine eyes (never since at ebb) beheld
The King my father wracked.
Miranda
Alack, for mercy!
Ferdinand Yes, faith, and all his lords, the Duke of Milan
And his brave son being twain.
590Prospero
[Aside] The Duke of Milan
And his more braver daughter could control thee
If now 'twere fit to do't. At the first sight
They have changed eyes. [To Ariel] Delicate Ariel,
I'll set thee free for this. [To Ferdinand] A word good, sir --
595I fear you have done yourself some wrong. A word.
Miranda [Aside] Why speaks my father so ungently? This
Is the third man that e'er I saw, the first
That e'er I sighed for; pity move my father
To be inclined my way.
600Ferdinand
Oh, if a virgin
And your affection not gone forth, I'll make you
The Queen of Naples!
Prospero
Soft, sir, one word more.
[Aside] They are both in either's powers, but this swift business
605I must uneasy make, lest too light winning
Make the prize light. [To Ferdinand] One word more: I charge thee
That thou attend me. Thou dost here usurp
The name thou ow'st not, and hast put thyself
Upon this island as a spy to win it
610From me, the Lord on't.
Ferdinand
No, as I am a man.
Miranda There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple.
If the ill spirit have so fair a house,
Good things will strive to dwell with't.
615Prospero
[To Ferdinand] Follow me.
[To Miranda] Speak not you for him; he's a traitor. [To Ferdinand] Come,
I'll manacle thy neck and feet together;
Sea water shalt thou drink; thy food shall be
The fresh-brook mussels, withered roots, and husks
620Wherein the acorn cradled. Follow.
Ferdinand
No.
I will resist such entertainment till
Mine enemy has more power.
He draws [a sword], and is charmed from moving.
625Miranda
O dear father,
Make not too rash a trial of him, for
He's gentle and not fearful.
Prospero
What, I say?
My foot, my tutor? [To Ferdinand] Put thy sword up, traitor,
630Who mak'st a show, but dar'st not strike. Thy conscience
Is so possessed with guilt. Come from thy ward,
For I can here disarm thee with this stick
And make thy weapon drop.
Miranda
Beseech you, father!
635Prospero
Hence! Hang not on my garments.
Miranda
Sir, have pity --
I'll be his surety.
Prospero
Silence! One word more
Shall make me chide thee if not hate thee. What,
640An advocate for an impostor? Hush.
Thou think'st there is no more such shapes as he,
Having seen but him and Caliban. Foolish wench,
To th'most of men this is a Caliban,
And they to him are angels.
645Miranda
My affections
Are then most humble; I have no ambition
To see a goodlier man.
Prospero
[To Ferdinand] Come on, obey!
Thy nerves are in their infancy again
650And have no vigor in them.
Ferdinand
So they are.
My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up:
My father's loss, the weakness which I feel,
The wrack of all my friends, nor this man's threats
655To whom I am subdued, are but light to me.
Might I, but through my prison, once a day
Behold this maid, all corners else o'th'earth
Let liberty make use of -- space enough
Have I in such a prison.
660Prospero
[Aside] It works! [To Ferdinand] Come on!
[To Ariel] Thou hast done well, fine Ariel; follow me:
Hark what thou else shalt do me.
Miranda
[To Ferdinand] Be of comfort --
My father's of a better nature, sir,
665Than he appears by speech. This is unwonted
Which now came from him.
Prospero
[To Ariel] Thou shalt be as free
As mountain winds, but then exactly do
All points of my command.
670Ariel
To th'syllable.
Prospero [To Ferdinand] Come, follow. [To Miranda] Speak not for him!
Exeunt.
[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.
[2.2]
Enter Caliban with a burden of wood; a noise of thunder heard.
1040Caliban All the infections that the sun sucks up
From bogs, fens, flats on Prosper fall and make him
By inchmeal a disease! His spirits hear me,
And yet I needs must curse. But they'll nor pinch,
Fright me with urchin-shows, pitch me i'th'mire,
1045Nor lead me like a firebrand in the dark
Out of my way, unless he bid 'em; but
For every trifle are they set upon me --
Sometimes like apes that mow and chatter at me
And after bite me; then like hedgehogs, which
1050Lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount
Their pricks at my foot-fall. Sometime am I
All wound with adders, who with cloven tongues
Do hiss me into madness. Lo, now lo --
Enter Trinculo.
Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment me
1055For bringing wood in slowly. I'll fall flat;
Perchance he will not mind me.
Trinculo Here's neither bush nor shrub to bear off any weather at all -- and another storm brewing! I hear it sing in the wind. Yon same black cloud, yon huge 1060one, looks like a foul bombard that would shed his liquor. If it should thunder as it did before, I know not where to hide my head; yon same cloud cannot choose but fall by pailfuls. What have we here -- a man or a fish? Dead or alive? A fish. He smells like a fish -- a 1065very ancient and fish-like smell, a kind of not-of-the-newest poor-John. A strange fish. Were I in England now, as once I was, and had but this fish painted, not a holiday-fool there but would give a piece of silver. There would this monster make a man. Any strange 1070beast there makes a man. When they will not give a doit to relieve a lame beggar, they will lay out ten to see a dead Indian. Legged like a man, and his fins like arms. Warm o'my troth -- I do now let loose my opinion, hold it no longer: this is no fish but an 1075islander that hath lately suffered by a thunderbolt. Alas, the storm is come again -- my best way is to creep under his gaberdine; there is no other shelter hereabout. Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows. I will here shroud till the dregs of the storm 1080be past.
[TRICULO crawls under Caliban's cloak.] Enter Stephano, singing [and drinking].
Stephano I shall no more to sea, to sea; here shall I die ashore. This is a very scurvy tune to sing at a man's funeral. Well, here's my comfort.
Drinks
1085
Sings
The master, the swabber, the boatswain, and I,
The gunner, and his mate,
Loved Mall, Meg, and Marian, and Margery,
But none of us cared for Kate;
For she had a tongue with a tang,
1090Would cry to a sailor, "go hang!"
She loved not the savor of tar nor of pitch,
Yet a tailor might scratch her where'er she did itch:
Then to sea, boys, and let her go hang!
This is a scurvy tune too, 1095but here's my comfort.
Drinks
Caliban [To Stephano] Do not torment me, oh!
Stephano What's the matter? Have we devils here? Do you put tricks upon us with savages and men of 1100Ind? Ha! I have not escaped drowning to be afeard now of your four legs, for it hath been said, "As proper a man as ever went on four legs cannot make him give ground", and it shall be said so again while Stephano breathes at' nostrils.
1105Caliban The spirit torments me, oh!
Stephano This is some monster of the isle with four legs, who hath got, as I take it, an ague. Where the devil should he learn our language? I will give him some relief if it be but for that. If I can recover him, and keep 1110him tame, and get to Naples with him, he's a present for any emperor that ever trod on neat's-leather.
Caliban Do not torment me, prithee. I'll bring my wood home faster!
1115Stephano He's in his fit now and does not talk after the wisest. He shall taste of my bottle; if he have never drunk wine afore, it will go near to remove his fit. If I can recover him and keep him tame, I will not take too much for him -- he shall pay for him that hath him, 1120and that soundly.
Caliban Thou dost me yet but little hurt; thou wilt anon -- I know it by thy trembling. Now Prosper works upon thee.
Stephano Come on your ways. Open your mouth -- here 1125is that which will give language to you, cat. Open your mouth -- this will shake your shaking, I can tell you, and that soundly. You cannot tell who's your friend. Open your chops again.
[Caliban drinks.]
Trinculo I should know that voice. 1130It should be -- but he is drowned, and these are devils. O defend me!
Stephano Four legs and two voices? -- a most delicate monster! His forward voice now is to speak well of 1135his friend; his backward voice is to utter foul speeches and to detract. If all the wine in my bottle will recover him, I will help his ague. Come: amen, I will pour some in thy other mouth.
Trinculo Stephano?
1140Stephano Doth thy other mouth call me? Mercy, mercy! This is a devil and no monster! I will leave him -- I have no long spoon.
Trinculo Stephano, if thou be'st Stephano, touch me and speak to me, for I am Trinculo. Be not afeard, thy 1145good friend Trinculo.
Stephano If thou be'st Trinculo, come forth. I'll pull thee by the lesser legs. If any be Trinculo's legs, these are they. Thou art very Trinculo indeed! How cam'st thou to be the siege of this mooncalf? Can 1150he vent Trinculos?
Trinculo I took him to be killed with a thunderstroke -- but art thou not drowned, Stephano? I hope now thou art not drowned. Is the storm overblown? I hid me under the dead mooncalf's gaberdine for fear of 1155the storm. And art thou living, Stephano? O Stephano, two Neapolitans 'scaped!
Stephano Prithee, do not turn me about; my stomach is not constant.
Caliban [Aside] These be fine things, an if they be not sprites. 1160That's a brave god, and bears celestial liquor. I will kneel to him.
Stephano How didst thou 'scape? How cam'st thou hither? Swear by this bottle how thou cam'st hither -- I escaped 1165upon a butt of sack which the sailors heaved o'erboard -- by this bottle, which I made of the bark of a tree with mine own hands since I was cast ashore.
Caliban I'll swear upon that bottle to be thy true 1170subject, for the liquor is not earthly.
Stephano Here: swear then how thou escaped.
Trinculo Swam ashore, man, like a duck; I can swim like a duck, I'll be sworn.
Stephano Here, kiss the book. 1175Though thou canst swim like a duck, thou art made like a goose.
Trinculo O Stephano, hast any more of this?
Stephano The whole butt, man! My cellar is in a rock by the seaside, where my wine is hid. 1180[To Caliban] How now mooncalf? How does thine ague?
Caliban Hast thou not dropped from heaven?
Stephano Out of the moon, I do assure thee. I was the man in the moon when time was.
Caliban I have seen thee in her, and I do adore thee! 1185My mistress showed me thee, and thy dog and thy bush.
Stephano Come, swear to that: kiss the book. I will furnish it anon with new contents. Swear!
Trinculo [To Stephano] By this good light, this is a very shallow monster. I afeared of him? A very weak monster. 1190The man in the moon? A most poor, credulous monster. [To Caliban, who is drinking] Well drawn, monster, in good sooth.
Caliban [To Stephano]I'll show thee every fertile inch of the island, and I will kiss thy foot. I prithee be my god.
1195Trinculo By this light, a most perfidious and drunken monster -- when his god's asleep, he'll rob his bottle.
Caliban I'll kiss thy foot; I'll swear myself thy subject.
Stephano Come on then: down and swear.
Trinculo I shall laugh myself to death at this 1200puppy-headed monster, a most scurvy monster. I could find in my heart to beat him.
Stephano Come, kiss.
Trinculo But that the poor monster's in drink. An abominable monster.
1205Caliban I'll show thee the best springs, I'll pluck thee berries, I'll fish for thee and get thee wood enough! A plague upon the tyrant that I serve! I'll bear him no more sticks, but follow thee, thou wondrous man.
1210Trinculo A most ridiculous monster, to make a wonder of a poor drunkard.
Caliban I prithee let me bring thee where crabs grow, and I with my long nails will dig thee pignuts, show thee a jay's nest, and instruct thee how to snare 1215the nimble marmoset. I'll bring thee to clustering filberts, and sometimes I'll get thee young scamels from the rock. Wilt thou go with me?
Stephano Ay prithee now lead the way without any more talking. Trinculo, the King and all our company else 1220being drowned, we will inherit here. Here, bear my bottle, fellow Trinculo; we'll fill him by and by again.
Caliban sings drunkenly.
Caliban Farewell, master, farewell, farewell!
1225Trinculo A howling monster, a drunken monster!
Caliban
No more dams I'll make for fish,
Nor fetch in firing at requiring,
Nor scrape trenchering, nor wash dish:
'Ban 'Ban Ca-Caliban
1230Has a new master. Get a new man!
Freedom, high-day, high-day, freedom, freedom, high-day, freedom!
Stephano O brave monster, lead the way!
Exeunt.
[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.
1350[3.2]
Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo.
Stephano [To Trinculo] Tell not me! When the butt is out, we will drink water, not a drop before: therefore bear up and board 'em. [To Caliban] Servant monster, drink to me!
1355Trinculo Servant monster? The folly of this island! They say there's but five upon this isle; we are three of them. If the other two be brained like us, the state totters.
Stephano Drink, servant monster, when I bid thee; thy eyes are almost set in thy head.
1360Trinculo Where should they be set else? He were a brave monster indeed if they were set in his tail.
Stephano My man-monster hath drowned his tongue in sack. For my part, the sea cannot drown me. I swam, ere I could recover the shore, five and thirty leagues 1365off and on. By this light, thou shalt be my lieutenant monster -- or my standard.
Trinculo Your lieutenant, if you list; he's no standard.
Stephano We'll not run, Monsieur Monster.
Trinculo Nor go, neither -- but you'll lie like dogs and yet 1370say nothing, neither.
Stephano Mooncalf: speak once in thy life, if thou be'st a good mooncalf.
Caliban How does thy honor? Let me lick thy shoe. I'll not serve him; he is not valiant.
1375Trinculo Thou liest, most ignorant monster. I am in case to jostle a constable. Why, thou deboshed fish thou, was there ever man a coward that hath drunk so much sack as I today? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish and half a monster?
1380Caliban Lo, how he mocks me! Wilt thou let him, my Lord?
Trinculo "Lord," quoth he! -- that a monster should be such a natural.
Caliban Lo, lo, again! Bite him to death, I prithee.
1385Stephano Trinculo: keep a good tongue in your head. If you prove a mutineer, the next tree! The poor monster's my subject, and he shall not suffer indignity.
Caliban I thank my noble Lord. Wilt thou be pleased to hearken once again to the suit I made to thee?
1390Stephano Marry will I: kneel and repeat it. I will stand and so shall Trinculo.
Enter Ariel, invisible.
Caliban As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant --a sorcerer -- that by his cunning hath cheated me 1395of the island.
Ariel Thou liest.
Caliban [To Trinculo] Thou liest, thou jesting monkey thou! I would my valiant master would destroy thee. I do not lie.
1400Stephano Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in's tale, by this hand I will supplant some of your teeth.
Trinculo Why, I said nothing.
Stephano Mum, then, and no more. Proceed.
Caliban I say by sorcery he got this isle.
1405From me he got it! If thy greatness will
Revenge it on him -- for I know thou dar'st,
But this thing dare not.
Stephano That's most certain.
Caliban Thou shalt be lord of it, and I'll serve thee.
1410Stephano How now shall this be compassed? Canst thou bring me to the party?
Caliban Yea, yea, my Lord; I'll yield him thee asleep, where thou mayst knock a nail into his head.
Ariel Thou liest: thou canst not.
1415Caliban What a pied ninny's this! Thou scurvy patch!
I do beseech thy greatness, give him blows
And take his bottle from him. When that's gone,
He shall drink nought but brine, for I'll not show him
Where the quick freshes are.
1420Stephano Trinculo, run into no further danger. Interrupt the monster one word further, and by this hand I'll turn my mercy out of doors and make a stockfish of thee.
Trinculo Why, what did I? I did nothing. 1425I'll go farther off.
Stephano Didst thou not say he lied?
Ariel Thou liest.
Stephano Do I so? Take thou that! As you like this, give me the lie another time!
1430Trinculo I did not give the lie! Out of your wits and hearing too? A pox on your bottle -- this can sack and drinking do. A murrain on your monster, and the devil take your fingers!
1435Caliban Ha ha ha!
Stephano Now, forward with your tale. [To Trinculo] Prithee, stand further off!
Caliban Beat him enough! After a little time, I'll beat him too.
1440Stephano Stand farther. Come, proceed.
Caliban Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with him
I'th'afternoon to sleep: there thou mayst brain him,
Having first seized his books, or with a log
Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake,
1445Or cut his weasand with thy knife. Remember
First to possess his books, for without them
He's but a sot, as I am, nor hath not
One spirit to command; they all do hate him
As rootedly as I. Burn but his books;
1450He has brave utensils, for so he calls them,
Which, when he has a house, he'll deck withal.
And that most deeply to consider is
The beauty of his daughter -- he himself
Calls her a nonpareil. I never saw a woman
1455But only Sycorax, my dam, and she,
But she as far surpasseth Sycorax
As great'st does least.
Stephano
Is it so brave a lass?
Caliban Ay, Lord, she will become thy bed, I warrant,
1460And bring thee forth brave brood.
Stephano Monster, I will kill this man. His daughter and I will be King and Queen, save our graces, and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys.
Dost thou like the plot, Trinculo?
1465Trinculo Excellent.
Stephano Give me thy hand. I am sorry I beat thee; but while thou liv'st, keep a good tongue in thy head.
Caliban Within this half hour will he be asleep.
Wilt thou destroy him then?
1470Stephano
Ay, on mine honor.
Ariel [Aside] This will I tell my master.
Caliban Thou mak'st me merry; I am full of pleasure.
Let us be jocund! Will you troll the catch
You taught me but whilere?
1475Stephano At thy request, monster, I will do reason,
Any reason. Come on, Trinculo, let us sing.
Sings
Flout'em and cout'em; and skout'em and flout'em:
Thought is free.
1480Caliban That's not the tune!
Ariel plays the tune on a tabor and pipe.
Stephano What is this same?
Trinculo This is the tune of our catch, played by the picture of Nobody.
1485Stephano If thou be'st a man, show thyself in thy likeness;
If thou be'st a devil, take't as thou list.
Trinculo O forgive me my sins!
Stephano He that dies pays all debts. I defy thee! Mercy upon us!
1490Caliban Art thou afeard?
Stephano No, monster, not I.
Caliban Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet ayres that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
1495Will hum about mine ears, and sometimes voices --
That if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again -- and then, in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that when I waked
1500I cried to dream again.
Stephano This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where I shall have my music for nothing!
Caliban When Prospero is destroyed.
Stephano That shall be by and by; 1505I remember the story.
Trinculo The sound is going away. Let's follow it, and after do our work.
Stephano Lead, monster: we'll follow. I would I could see this taborer; 1510he lays it on.
Trinculo [To Caliban] Wilt come? [To Stephano] I'll follow, Stephano.
Exeunt.
[3.3]
Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, 1515Adrian, Francisco, and others.
Gonzalo By'r lakin, I can go no further, sir;
My old bones aches. Here's a maze trod indeed
Through fourth-rights and meanders. By your patience,
I needs must rest me.
1520Alonso
Old lord, I cannot blame thee,
Who am myself attached with weariness
To th'dulling of my spirits. Sit down and rest.
Even here I will put off my hope and keep it
No longer for my flatterer. He is drowned
1525Whom thus we stray to find, and the sea mocks
Our frustrate search on land. Well, let him go.
Antonio [Aside to Sebastian] I am right glad that he's so out of hope.
Do not for one repulse forgo the purpose
That you resolved t'effect.
1530Sebastian
[Aside to Antonio] The next advantage
Will we take throughly.
Antonio
[Aside to Sebastian] Let it be tonight,
For now they are oppressed with travail; they
Will not nor cannot use such vigilance
As when they are fresh.
Sebastian
[Aside to Antonio] I say tonight. No more.
1535
Solemn and strange music, and Prospero on the top [i.e., on the upper stage], invisible. Enter several strange shapes bringing in a banquet, and dance about it with gentle actions of salutations, and, inviting the King [and others] to eat, they depart.
1540Alonso What harmony is this, my good friends? Hark!
Gonzalo Marvelous sweet music!
Alonso Give us kind keepers, heavens! What were these?
Sebastian A living drollery! Now I will believe
That there are unicorns, that in Arabia
1545There 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. Travelers ne'er did lie,
1550Though 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),
1555Who, 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.
Prospero
[Aside] Honest Lord,
1560Thou hast said well, for some of you there present
Are worse than devils.
Alonso
I cannot too much muse
Such shapes, such gesture, and such sound expressing
(Although they want the use of tongue) a kind
1565Of excellent dumb discourse.
Prospero
[Aside] Praise in departing.
Francisco
They vanished strangely.
Sebastian
No matter, since
They have left their viands behind, for we have stomachs.
1570Will't please you taste of what is here?
Alonso
Not I.
Gonzalo Faith, sir, you need not fear. When we were boys,
Who would believe that there were mountaineers
Dewlapped like bulls, whose throats had hanging at 'em
1575Wallets of flesh? Or that there were such men
Whose heads stood in their breasts, which now we find
Each putter-out of five for one will bring us
Good warrant of?
Alonso
I will stand to and feed,
1580Although my last. No matter, since I feel
The best is past. Brother, my Lord the Duke:
Stand to and do as we.
Thunder and lightning. Enter Ariel like a harpy, claps his wings upon the table, and with a quaint device, the 1585banquet vanishes.
Ariel You are three men of sin, whom Destiny
(That hath to instrument this lower world,
And what is in't) the never surfeited sea
Hath caused to belch up you; and on this island,
1590Where man doth not inhabit, you 'mongst men,
Being most unfit to live, I have made you mad.
And even with such-like valor, men hang and drown
Their proper selves. [Alonso, Sebastian, and others draw their swords.]
You fools! I and my fellows
Are ministers of Fate. The elements
1595Of whom your swords are tempered may as well
Wound the loud winds, or with bemocked-at stabs
Kill the still-closing waters, as diminish
One dowl that's in my plume. My fellow ministers
Are like invulnerable; if you could hurt,
1600Your swords are now too massy for your strengths
And will not be uplifted. But remember,
For that's my business to you, that you three
From Milan did supplant good Prospero,
Exposed unto the sea (which hath requite it)
1605Him and his innocent child, for which foul deed
The powers (delaying, not forgetting) have
Incensed the seas and shores (yea, all the creatures!)
Against your peace. Thee of thy son, Alonso,
They have bereft, and do pronounce by me:
1610Ling'ring perdition, worse than any death
Can be at once, shall step by step attend
You and your ways; whose wraths to guard you from
(Which here, in this most desolate isle, else falls
Upon your heads) is nothing but heart's sorrow
1615And a clear life ensuing.
He vanishes in thunder; then, to soft music, enter the shapes again and dance with mocks and mows and carrying out the table.
Prospero Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou
1620Performed, my Ariel. A grace it had, devouring!
Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated
In what thou hadst to say; so with good life
And observation strange, my meaner ministers
Their several kinds have done. My high charms' work,
1625And these, mine enemies, are all knit up
In their distractions. They now are in my power,
And in these fits I leave them while I visit
Young Ferdinand (whom they suppose is drowned)
And his and mine loved darling.
1630Gonzalo I'th'name of something holy, sir, why stand you
In this strange stare?
Alonso
Oh, it is monstrous, monstrous!
Methought the billows spoke and told me of it;
The winds did sing it to me, and the thunder,
1635That deep and dreadful organ pipe, pronounced
The name of Prosper -- it did bass my trespass.
Therefore, my son i'th'ooze is bedded; and
I'll seek him deeper than e'er plummet sounded,
And with him there lie mudded.
Exit [Alonso].
1640Sebastian But one fiend at a time,
I'll fight their legions o'er.
Antonio
I'll be thy second.
Exit [Sebastian, Antonio, and Francisco].
Gonzalo All three of them are desperate. Their great guilt
(Like poison given to work a great time after)
1645Now 'gins to bite the spirits. I do beseech you,
That are of suppler joints, follow them swiftly,
And hinder them from what this ecstasy
May now provoke them to.
Adrian
[To remaining others] Follow, I pray you.
Exeunt omnes.
1650[4.1]
Enter Prospero, Ferdinand, and Miranda.
Prospero If I have too austerely punished you,
Your compensation makes amends, for I
Have given you here a third of mine own life,
1655Or that for which I live, who once again
I tender to thy hand. All thy vexations
Were but my trials of thy love, and thou
Hast strangely stood the test. Here, afore heaven,
I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand,
1660Do not smile at me that I boast of her,
For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise
And make it halt behind her.
Ferdinand
I do believe it
Against an oracle.
1665Prospero Then as my gift, and thine own acquisition
Worthily purchased, take my daughter. But
If thou dost break her virgin knot before
All sanctimonious ceremonies may
With full and holy rite be ministered,
1670No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall
To make this contract grow; but barren hate,
Sour-eyed disdain, and discord shall bestrew
The union of your bed with weeds so loathly
That you shall hate it both. Therefore take heed
1675As Hymen's lamp shall light you.
Ferdinand
As I hope
For quiet days, fair issue, and long life
With such love as 'tis now, the murkiest den,
The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion
1680Our worser genius can, shall never melt
Mine honor into lust to take away
The edge of that day's celebration
When I shall think or Phoebus' steeds are foundered,
Or night kept chained below.
1685Prospero
Fairly spoke.
Sit then and talk with her; she is thine own.
What, Ariel! My industrious servant Ariel!
Enter Ariel.
Ariel What would my potent master? Here I am.
Prospero Thou and thy meaner fellows, your last service
1690Did worthily perform, and I must use you
In such another trick: go bring the rabble
(O'er whom I give thee power) here to this place.
Incite them to quick motion, for I must
Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple
1695Some vanity of mine art; it is my promise,
And they expect it from me.
Ariel
Presently?
Prospero Ay, with a twink.
Ariel Before you can say "come" and "go",
1700And breathe twice and cry "so, so",
Each one, tripping on his toe,
Will be here with mop and mow.
Do you love me, master, no?
Prospero Dearly, my delicate Ariel. Do not approach
1705Till thou dost hear me call.
Ariel
Well I conceive.
Exit [Ariel].
Prospero [To Ferdinand] Look thou be true: do not give dalliance
Too much the rein. The strongest oaths are straw
To th'fire i'th'blood. Be more abstemious,
1710Or else good night your vow.
Ferdinand
I warrant you, sir,
The white-cold virgin snow upon my heart
Abates the ardor of my liver.
Prospero
Well.
1715Now come, my Ariel. Bring a corollary
Rather than want a spirit: appear, and pertly! Soft music
No tongue -- all eyes -- be silent!
Enter Iris.
Iris Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas
Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and peas;
1720Thy turfy mountains where live nibbling sheep,
And flat meads thatched with stover, them to keep;
Thy banks with pionèd and twillèd brims,
Which spongy April at thy hest betrims
To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broomgroves,
1725Whose shadow the dismissèd bachelor loves,
Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipped vineyard
And thy sea-marge, sterile and rocky-hard,
Where thou thyself dost air: the Queen o'th'sky,
Whose watry arch and messenger am I,
1730Bids thee leave these, and with her sovereign grace Juno descends [slowly in her chariot].
Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,
To come and sport. Here peacocks fly amain.
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.
Enter [Ariel as] Ceres.
Ceres Hail, many-colored messenger, that ne'er
1735Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter;
Who, with thy saffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffusest honey-drops, refreshing showers,
And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown
My bosky acres and my unshrubbed down,
1740Rich scarf to my proud earth: why hath thy queen
Summoned me hither to this short-grassed green?
Iris A contract of true love to celebrate,
And some donation freely to estate
On the blessed lovers.
1745Ceres
Tell me, heavenly bow,
If Venus or her son, as thou dost know,
Do now attend the queen? Since they did plot
The means that dusky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's scandaled company
1750I have forsworn.
Iris
Of her society
Be not afraid -- I met her deity
Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her son
Dove-drawn with her. Here thought they to have done
1755Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,
Whose vows are that no bed-right shall be paid
Till Hymen's torch be lighted; but in vain,
Mars's hot minion is returned again;
Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows,
1760Swears he will shoot no more but play with sparrows
And be a boy right out.
[Juno alights.]
Ceres
Highest Queen of state,
Great Juno comes; I know her by her gait.
Juno How does my bounteous sister? Go with me
1765To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be
And honored in their issue.
They sing.
Juno and Ceres Honor, riches, marriage-blessing,
Long continuance and increasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you!
1770Juno sings her blessings on you.
Earth's increase, foison plenty,
Barns and garners never empty,
Vines with clustering bunches growing,
Plants with goodly burthen bowing;
1775Spring come to you at the farthest
In the very end of harvest!
Scarcity and want shall shun you;
Ceres' blessing so is on you.
Ferdinand This is a most majestic vision, and
1780Harmonious charmingly -- may I be bold
To think these spirits?
Prospero
Spirits, which by mine art
I have from their confines called to enact
My present fancies.
1785Ferdinand
Let me live here ever --
So rare a wondered father and a wise
Makes this place paradise.
Prospero
Sweet, now silence;
Juno and Ceres whisper seriously.
1790There's something else to do: hush and be mute
Or else our spell is marred.
Juno and Ceres whisper and send Iris on employment.
Iris You nymphs called naiads of the windering brooks,
With your sedged crowns and ever-harmless looks:
1795Leave your crisp channels, and on this green land
Answer your summons, Juno does command.
Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate
A contract of true love -- be not too late. Enter certain nymphs.
1800You sunburned sicklemen, of August weary:
Come hither from the furrow and be merry --
Make holiday! Your rye-straw hats put on,
And these fresh nymphs encounter every one
In country footing.
1805
Enter certain reapers, properly habited; they join with the nymphs in a graceful dance, towards the end whereof Prospero starts suddenly and speaks, after which, to a strange, hollow, and confused noise, they heavily vanish.
Prospero [Aside] I had forgot that foul conspiracy
1810Of the beast Caliban and his confederates
Against my life; the minute of their plot
Is almost come. [To the spirits] Well done: avoid. No more.
Ferdinand This is strange -- your father's in some passion
That works him strongly.
1815Miranda
Never till this day
Saw I him touched with anger so distempered.
Prospero You do look, my son, in a moved sort,
As if you were dismayed. Be cheerful, sir.
Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
1820As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air -- into thin air --
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
1825Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vexed,
1830Bear with my weakness; my old brain is troubled.
Be not disturbed with my infirmity.
If you be pleased, retire into my cell
And there repose. A turn or two I'll walk
To still my beating mind.
1835Ferdinand and Miranda
We wish your peace.
Prospero
[To Ariel] Come with a thought. [To Ferdinand and Miranda] I thank thee. Exit [Ferdinand and Miranda].
Ariel: come.
Enter Ariel.
Ariel Thy thoughts I cleave to; what's thy pleasure?
Prospero Spirit, we must prepare to meet with Caliban.
1840Ariel Ay, my commander. When I presented Ceres
I thought to have told thee of it, but I feared
Lest I might anger thee.
Prospero Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets?
Ariel I told you, sir; they were red-hot with drinking,
1845So full of valor that they smote the air
For breathing in their faces, beat the ground
For kissing of their feet, yet always bending
Towards their project. Then I beat my tabor,
At which like unbacked colts they pricked their ears,
1850Advanced their eyelids, lifted up their noses
As they smelt music -- so I charmed their ears
That calf-like they my lowing followed through
Toothèd briars, sharp furze, pricking gorse and thorns,
Which entered their frail shins. At last I left them
1855I'th'filthy-mantled pool beyond your cell,
There dancing up to th'chins that the foul lake
O'erstunk their feet.
Prospero
This was well done, my bird.
Thy shape invisible retain thou still.
1860The trumpery in my house, go bring it hither
For stale to catch these thieves.
Ariel
I go, I go.
Exit.
Prospero A devil -- a born devil, on whose nature
Nurture can never stick; on whom my pains
Humanely taken, all, all lost, quite lost!
1865And as with age his body uglier grows,
So his mind cankers. I will plague them all
Even to roaring. Come: hang them on this line.
Enter Ariel, loaden with glistering apparel, etc. Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo, all wet.
1870Caliban Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole may not hear a footfall; we now are near his cell.
Stephano Monster, your fairy, which you say is a harmless fairy, has done little better than played the jack with us.
Trinculo Monster, I do smell all horse-piss, at which 1875my nose is in great indignation.
Stephano So is mine. Do you hear, monster? If I should take a displeasure against you, look you --
Trinculo Thou wert but a lost monster.
Caliban Good my Lord, give me thy favor still.
1880Be patient, for the prize I'll bring thee to
Shall hoodwink this mischance; therefore speak softly --
All's hushed as midnight yet.
Trinculo Ay, but to lose our bottles in the pool!
Stephano There is not only disgrace and dishonor in that, 1885monster, but an infinite loss.
Trinculo That's more to me than my wetting, yet this is your harmless fairy, monster.
Stephano I will fetch off my bottle, though I be o'er ears for my labor.
1890Caliban Prithee, my King, be quiet. Seest thou here;
This is the mouth o'th'cell -- no noise, and enter.
Do that good mischief which may make this island
Thine own for ever and I, thy Caliban,
For aye thy foot-licker.
1895Stephano
Give me thy hand --
I do begin to have bloody thoughts.
Trinculo O King Stephano! O peer! O worthy Stephano, look what a wardrobe here is for thee!
Caliban Let it alone, thou fool; it is but trash.
1900Trinculo Oh ho, monster! We know what belongs to a frippery. O King Stephano!
Stephano Put off that gown, Trinculo! By this hand, I'll have that gown.
Trinculo Thy grace shall have it.
1905Caliban The dropsy drown this fool. What do you mean
To dote thus on such luggage? Let's alone
And do the murder first -- if he awake,
From toe to crown he'll fill our skins with pinches,
Make us strange stuff.
1910Stephano Be you quiet, monster. Mistress Line, is not this my jerkin? Now is the jerkin under the line. Now, jerkin, you are like to lose your hair and prove a bald jerkin.
Trinculo Do, do! We steal by line and level, an't like your grace.
1915Stephano I thank thee for that jest; here's a garment for't. Wit shall not go unrewarded while I am king of this country. "Steal by line and level" is an excellent pass of pate -- there's another garment for't.
Trinculo Monster, come put some lime upon your 1920fingers, and away with the rest.
Caliban I will have none on't -- we shall lose our time
And all be turned to barnacles or to apes
With foreheads villainous low.
Stephano Monster, lay to your fingers: help to bear this 1925away where my hogshead of wine is, or I'll turn you out of my kingdom. Go to; carry this.
Trinculo And this.
Stephano Ay, and this.
A noise of hunters heard. Enter divers spirits in shape 1930of dogs and hounds hunting them about, Prospero and Ariel setting them on.
Prospero
Hey, Mountain, hey!
Ariel
Silver -- there it goes -- Silver!
Prospero Fury, Fury! There, Tyrant, there! Hark, hark!
1935Go charge my goblins that they grind their joints
With dry convulsions, shorten up their sinews
With aged cramps, and more pinch-spotted make them
Than pard or cat o'mountain.
Ariel
Hark, they roar!
1940Prospero Let them be hunted soundly. At this hour
Lies at my mercy all mine enemies.
Shortly shall all my labors end, and thou
Shalt have the air at freedom: for a little,
Follow, and do me service.
Exeunt.
1945[5.1]
Enter Prospero, in his magic robes, and Ariel.
Prospero Now does my project gather to a head:
My charms crack not, my spirits obey, and time
Goes upright with his carriage. [To Ariel] How's the day?
1950Ariel On the sixth hour -- at which time, my Lord,
You said our work should cease.
Prospero
I did say so
When first I raised the tempest. Say, my spirit,
How fares the King and's followers?
1955Ariel
Confined together
In the same fashion as you gave in charge,
Just as you left them -- all prisoners, sir,
In the lime-grove which weather-fends your cell;
They cannot budge till your release. The King,
1960His brother, and yours abide, all three distracted,
And the remainder mourning over them,
Brimful of sorrow and dismay -- but chiefly
Him that you termed, sir, the good old lord Gonzalo:
His tears runs down his beard like winter's drops
1965From eaves of reeds. Your charm so strongly works 'em
That if you now beheld them, your affections
Would become tender.
Prospero
Dost thou think so, spirit?
Ariel
Mine would, sir, were I human.
1970Prospero
And mine shall.
Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling
Of their afflictions, and shall not myself,
One of their kind, that relish all as sharply
Passion as they, be kindlier moved than thou art?
1975Though with their high wrongs I am struck to th'quick,
Yet with my nobler reason 'gainst my fury
Do I take part. The rarer action is
In virtue than in vengeance; they being penitent,
The sole drift of my purpose doth extend
1980Not a frown further. Go, release them, Ariel:
My charms I'll break, their senses I'll restore,
And they shall be themselves.
Ariel
I'll fetch them, sir.
Exit [Ariel while Prospero traces a magic circle on the stage].
Prospero Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes, and groves,
1985And ye that on the sands with printless foot
Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly him
When he comes back; you demi-puppets that
By moonshine do the green sour ringlets make
Whereof the ewe not bites; and you whose pastime
1990Is to make midnight-mushrooms that rejoice
To hear the solemn curfew, by whose aid --
Weak masters though ye be -- I have bedimmed
The noontide sun, called forth the mutinous winds,
And 'twixt the green sea and the azured vault
1995Set roaring war; to the dread-rattling thunder
Have I given fire, and rifted Jove's stout oak
With his own bolt! The strong-based promontory
Have I made shake, and by the spurs plucked up
The pine and cedar. Graves at my command
2000Have waked their sleepers, ope'd, and let 'em forth
By my so potent art. But this rough magic
I here abjure, and when I have required
Some heavenly music, which even now I do,
To work mine end upon their senses that
2005This ayrie charm is for, I'll break my staff,
Bury it certain fathoms in the earth;
And deeper than did ever plummet sound,
I'll drown my book.
Solemn music. Here enters Ariel before, then Alonso with a frantic 2010gesture, attended by Gonzalo. Sebastian and Antonio enter in like manner, attended by Adrian and Francisco. They all enter the circle that Prospero has made, and there stand charmed. Prospero, observing, speaks.
[Aside to Gonzalo] A solemn ayre -- and the best comforter
2015To an unsettled fancy -- cure thy brains
(Now useless) boiled within thy skull. [To courtiers] There stand,
For you are spell-stopped.
[Aside to Gonzalo] Holy Gonzalo, honorable man,
Mine eyes, ev'n sociable to the show of thine,
2020Fall fellowly drops. [Aside] The charm dissolves apace,
And as the morning steals upon the night,
Melting the darkness, so their rising senses
Begin to chase the ignorant fumes that mantle
Their clearer reason. [Aside to each character, in turn] O good Gonzalo,
2025My true preserver, and a loyal sir
To him thou follow'st, I will pay thy graces
Home both in word and deed. Most cruelly
Did thou, Alonso, use me and my daughter.
Thy brother was a furtherer in the act --
2030Thou art pinched for't now, Sebastian. Flesh and blood,
You, brother mine, that entertained ambition,
Expelled remorse and nature, whom, with Sebastian
(Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong)
Would here have killed your King, I do forgive thee,
2035Unnatural though thou art. [Aside] Their understanding
Begins to swell, and the approaching tide
Will shortly fill the reasonable shore
That now lies foul and muddy. Not one of them
That yet looks on me or would know me. Ariel,
2040Fetch me the hat and rapier in my cell;
I will discase me, and myself present
As I was sometime Milan. Quickly, spirit --
Thou shalt ere long be free.
Ariel [fetches the items, returns, then sings as he] helps to attire him.
2045Ariel Where the bee sucks, there suck I;
In a cowslip's bell I lie --
There I couch when owls do cry.
On the bat's back I do fly
After summer merrily.
2050Merrily, merrily shall I live now
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.
Prospero Why, that's my dainty Ariel! I shall miss thee
But yet thou shalt have freedom. [Arranging his clothing.] So, so, so.
To the King's ship, invisible as thou art:
2055There shalt thou find the mariners asleep
Under the hatches. The master and the boatswain
Being awake, enforce them to this place
And presently, I prithee.
Ariel I drink the air before me and return
2060Or ere your pulse twice beat!
Exit [Ariel].
Gonzalo All torment, trouble, wonder, and amazement
Inhabits here! Some heavenly power guide us
Out of this fearful country!
Prospero
[To Alonso] Behold, Sir King,
2065The wrongèd Duke of Milan, Prospero.
For more assurance that a living prince
Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body, [Embraces Alonso.]
And to thee and thy company I bid
A hearty welcome.
2070Alonso
Whe'er thou be'st he or no,
Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me
(As late I have been) I not know. Thy pulse
Beats as of flesh and blood, and since I saw thee,
Th'affliction of my mind amends, with which
2075I fear a madness held me. This must crave
(And if this be at all) a most strange story.
Thy dukedom I resign, and do entreat
Thou pardon me my wrongs. But how should Prospero
Be living, and be here?
2080Prospero
[To Gonzalo] First, noble friend,
Let me embrace thine age, whose honor cannot
Be measured or confined.
Gonzalo
Whether this be
Or be not, I'll not swear.
2085Prospero
You do yet taste
Some subtleties o'th'isle that will not let you
Believe things certain. Welcome, my friends all!
[Aside to Sebastian and Antonio] But you, my brace of Lords, were I so minded,
I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you
2090And justify you traitors. At this time
I will tell no tales.
Sebastian
The devil speaks in him.
Prospero No!
[To Antonio] For you, most wicked sir -- whom to call brother
2095Would even infect my mouth -- I do forgive
Thy rankest fault (all of them), and require
My dukedom of thee, which perforce I know
Thou must restore.
Alonso
If thou be'st Prospero,
2100Give us particulars of thy preservation,
How thou hast met us here, whom three hours since
Were wracked upon this shore, where I have lost
(How sharp the point of this remembrance is!)
My dear son Ferdinand.
2105Prospero
I am woe for't, sir.
Alonso Irreparable is the loss, and patience
Says it is past her cure.
Prospero
I rather think
You have not sought her help, of whose soft grace
2110For the like loss I have her sovereign aid,
And rest myself content.
Alonso
You the like loss?
Prospero As great to me, as late; and supportable
To make the dear loss have I means much weaker
2115Than you may call to comfort you; for I
Have lost my daughter.
Alonso A daughter?
O heavens, that they were living both in Naples,
The King and Queen there! That they were, I wish
2120Myself were mudded in that oozy bed
Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter?
Prospero In this last tempest. [Aside] I perceive these Lords
At this encounter do so much admire,
That they devour their reason, and scarce think
2125Their eyes do offices of truth, their words
Are natural breath. [To courtiers] But howsoe'er you have
Been jostled from your senses, know for certain
That I am Prospero and that very Duke
Which was thrust forth of Milan, who most strangely
2130Upon this shore, where you were wracked, was landed
To be the Lord on't. No more yet of this,
For 'tis a chronicle of day by day,
Not a relation for a breakfast, nor
Befitting this first meeting. [To Alonso] Welcome, sir.
2135This cell's my court; here have I few attendants --
And subjects none abroad. Pray you, look in.
My dukedom, since you have given me again,
I will requite you with as good a thing,
At least bring forth a wonder to content ye
2140As much as me my dukedom.
Here Prospero discovers Ferdinand and Miranda playing at chess.
Miranda
Sweet Lord, you play me false!
Ferdinand
No, my dearest love,
2145I would not for the world.
Miranda Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle,
And I would call it fair play.
Alonso
If this prove
A vision of the island, one dear son
2150Shall I twice lose.
Sebastian
A most high miracle!
[Ferdinand sees Alonso and the others.]
Ferdinand Though the seas threaten, they are merciful;
I have cursed them without cause.
Alonso
Now all the blessings
2155Of a glad father compass thee about:
Arise, and say how thou cam'st here.
Miranda
O wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world
2160That has such people in't!
Prospero
'Tis new to thee.
Alonso What is this maid with whom thou wast at play?
Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours.
Is she the goddess that hath severed us
2165And brought us thus together?
Ferdinand
Sir, she is mortal,
But by immortal providence, she's mine.
I chose her when I could not ask my father
For his advice, nor thought I had one. She
2170Is daughter to this famous Duke of Milan,
Of whom so often I have heard renown,
But never saw before, of whom I have
Received a second life, and second father
This lady makes him to me.
2175Alonso
I am hers.
But oh, how oddly will it sound that I
Must ask my child forgiveness.
Prospero
There, sir, stop.
Let us not burden our remembrances with
2180A heaviness that's gone.
Gonzalo
I have inly wept,
Or should have spoke ere this: look down, you gods,
And on this couple drop a blessèd crown,
For it is you that have chalked forth the way
2185Which brought us hither.
Alonso
I say amen, Gonzalo.
Gonzalo Was Milan thrust from Milan that his issue
Should become kings of Naples? O rejoice
Beyond a common joy, and set it down
2190With gold on lasting pillars! In one voyage
Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis;
And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife
Where he himself was lost; Prospero, his dukedom
In a poor isle; and all of us, ourselves,
2195When no man was his own.
Alonso
[To Ferdinand and Miranda] Give me your hands:
Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart
That doth not wish you joy.
Gonzalo
Be it so, amen.
2200
Enter Ariel, with the [Ship]master and Boatswain amazedly following.
O look, sir, look, sir, here is more of us!
I prophesied if a gallows were on land,
This fellow could not drown. [To Boatswain] Now, blasphemy,
2205That swear'st grace o'erboard -- not an oath on shore?
Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news?
Boatswain The best news is that we have safely found
Our King and company; the next, our ship,
2210Which but three glasses since we gave out split,
Is tight and yare and bravely rigged as when
We first put out to sea.
Ariel
[Aside to Prospero] Sir, all this service
Have I done since I went.
2215Prospero
My tricksy spirit!
Alonso These are not natural events; they strengthen
From strange to stranger: say, how came you hither?
Boatswain If I did think, sir, I were well awake,
I'd strive to tell you: we were dead of sleep
2220And (how we know not) all clapped under hatches,
Where, but even now -- with strange and several noises
Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains,
And more diversity of sounds, all horrible! --
We were awaked, straightway at liberty,
2225Where we, in all our trim, freshly beheld
Our royal, good, and gallant ship, our master
Cap'ring to eye her. On a trice, so please you,
Even in a dream, were we divided from them
And were brought moping hither.
2230Ariel
Wast well done?
Prospero Bravely, my diligence; thou shalt be free.
Alonso This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod,
And there is in this business more than nature
Was ever conduct of; some oracle
2235Must rectify our knowledge.
Prospero
Sir, my liege,
Do not infest your mind with beating on
The strangeness of this business. At picked leisure,
Which shall be shortly single, I'll resolve you,
2240Which to you shall seem probable, of every
These happened accidents. Till when, be cheerful
And think of each thing well. [To Ariel] Come hither, spirit:
Set Caliban and his companions free;
Untie the spell. [To Alonso] How fares my gracious sir?
2245There are yet missing of your company
Some few odd lads that you remember not.
Enter Ariel, driving in Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo in their stolen apparel.
Stephano [To Trinculo and Caliban] Every man shift for all the rest, and let
2250No man take care for himself, for all is
But fortune. Coraggio, bully-monster, corragio!
Trinculo [Sees Prospero and the others.] If these be true spies which I wear in my head, here's a goodly sight!
Caliban O Setebos, these be brave spirits indeed!
2255How fine my master is; I am afraid
He will chastise me.
Sebastian Ha, ha!
What things are these, my Lord Antonio?
Will money buy 'em?
2260Antonio
Very like -- one of them
Is a plain fish and no doubt marketable.
Prospero Mark but the badges of these men, my Lords,
Then say if they be true. This misshapen knave --
His mother was a witch, and one so strong
2265That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs,
And deal in her command without her power.
These three have robbed me, and this demi-devil
(For he's a bastard one) had plotted with them
To take my life. [To Alonso] Two of these fellows you
2270Must know and own; this thing of darkness I
Acknowledge mine.
Caliban
I shall be pinched to death!
Alonso Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler?
Sebastian He is drunk now -- 2275where had he wine?
Alonso And Trinculo is reeling ripe -- where should they
Find this grand liquor that hath gilded 'em?
[To Trinculo] How cam'st thou in this pickle?
Trinculo I have been in such a pickle since I saw you last
2280That I fear me will never out of my bones.
I shall not fear flyblowing.
Sebastian
Why, how now, Stephano?
Stephano O touch me not; I am not Stephano, but a cramp.
Prospero You'd be king o'the isle, sirrah?
2285Stephano I should have been a sore one then.
Alonso This is a strange thing as e'er I looked on.
Prospero He is as disproportioned in his manners
As in his shape. [To Caliban] Go, sirrah, to my cell:
Take with you your companions. As you look
2290To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.
Caliban Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter
And seek for grace. [Aside] What a thrice-double ass
Was I to take this drunkard for a god
And worship this dull fool!
2295Prospero
Go to: away!
Alonso [To Stephano and Trinculo] Hence, and bestow your luggage where you found it.
Sebastian Or stole it rather.
[Exeunt Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo.]
Prospero Sir, I invite your highness and your train
To my poor cell, where you shall take your rest
2300For this one night, which part of it I'll waste
With such discourse as, I not doubt, shall make it
Go quick away -- the story of my life
And the particular accidents gone by
Since I came to this isle. And in the morn
2305I'll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples,
Where I have hope to see the nuptial
Of these, our dear-belovèd, solemnized;
And thence retire me to my Milan, where
Every third thought shall be my grave.
2310Alonso
I long
To hear the story of your life, which must
Take the ear strangely.
Prospero
I'll deliver all,
And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales,
2315And sail so expeditious that shall catch
Your royal fleet far off. [Aside to Ariel] My Ariel, chick,
That is thy charge: then to the elements
Be free, and fare thou well. [To courtiers] Please you, draw near.
Exeunt omnes.
2320
Epilogue, spoken by Prospero
Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own,
Which is most faint. Now, 'tis true
2325I must be here confined by you
Or sent to Naples; let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got
And pardoned the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island by your spell,
2330But release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands.
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please. Now I want
2335Spirits to enforce, art to enchant;
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be relieved by prayer,
Which pierces so that it assaults
Mercy itself, and frees all faults.
2340As you from crimes would pardoned be,
Let your indulgence set me free.
Exit.