Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editors: Brent Whitted, Paul Yachnin
Peer Reviewed

The Tempest (Folio 1, 1623)

11
The Tempest.
Hee's safe for these three houres.
Fer. O most deere Mistris,
The Sun will set before I shall discharge
1260What I must striue to do.
Mir. If you'l sit downe
Ile beare your Logges the while: pray giue me that,
Ile carry it to the pile.
Fer. No precious Creature,
1265I had rather cracke my sinewes, breake my backe,
Then you should such dishonor vndergoe,
While I sit lazy by.
Mir. It would become me
As well as it do's you; and I should do it
1270With much more ease: for my good will is to it,
And yours it is against.
Pro. Poore worme thou art infected,
This visitation shewes it.
Mir. You looke wearily.
1275Fer. No, noble Mistris, 'tis fresh morning with me
When y ou are by at night: I do beseech you
Cheefely, that I might set it in my prayers,
What is your name?
Mir. Miranda, O my Father,
1280I haue broke your hest to say so.
Fer. Admir'd Miranda,
Indeede the top of Admiration, worth
What's deerest to the world: full many a Lady
I haue ey'd with best regard, and many a time
1285Th'harmony of their tongues, hath into bondage
Brought my too diligent eare: for seuerall vertues
Haue I lik'd seuerall women, neuer any
With so full soule, but some defect in her
Did quarrell with the noblest grace she ow'd,
1290And put it to the foile. But you, O you,
So perfect, and so peetlesse, are created
Of euerie Creatures best.
Mir. I do not know
One of my sexe; no womans face remember,
1295Saue from my glasse, mine owne: Nor haue I seene
More that I may call men, then you good friend,
And my deere Father: how features are abroad
I am skillesse of; but by my modestie
(The iewell in my dower) I would not wish
1300Any Companion in the world but you:
Nor can imagination forme a shape
Besides your selfe, to like of: but I prattle
Something too wildely, and my Fathers precepts
I therein do forget.
1305Fer. I am, in my condition
A Prince ( Miranda) I do thinke a King
(I would not so) and would no more endure
This wodden slauerie, then to suffer
The flesh-flie blow my mouth: heare my soule speake.
1310The verie instant that I saw you, did
My heart flie to your seruice, there resides
To make me slaue to it, and for your sake
Am I this patient Logge-man.
Mir. Do you loue me?
1315Fer. O heauen; O earth, beare witnes to this sound,
And crowne what I professe with kinde euent
If I speake true: if hollowly, inuert
What best is boaded me, to mischiefe: I,
Beyond all limit of what else i'th world
1320Do loue, prize, honor you.
Mir. I am a foole
To weepe at what I am glad of.

Pro. Faire encounter
Of two most rare affections: heauens raine grace
1325On that which breeds betweene 'em.
Fer. Wherefore weepe you?
Mir. At mine vnworthinesse, that dare not offer
What I desire to giue; and much lesse take
What I shall die to want: But this is trifling,
1330And all the more it seekes to hide it selfe,
The bigger bulke it shewes. Hence bashfull cunning,
And prompt me plaine and holy innocence.
I am your wife, if you will marrie me;
If not, Ile die your maid: to be your fellow
1335You may denie me, but Ile be your seruant
Whether you will or no.
Fer. My Mistris (deerest)
And I thus humble euer.
Mir. My husband then?
1340Fer. I, with a heart as willing
As bondage ere of freedome: heere's my hand.
Mir. And mine, with my heart in't; and now farewel
Till halfe an houre hence.
Fer. A thousand, thousand. Exeunt.
1345Pro. So glad of this as they I cannot be,
Who are surpriz'd with all; but my reioycing
At nothing can be more: Ile to my booke,
For yet ere supper time, must I performe
Much businesse appertaining. Exit.



1350 Scoena Secunda.



Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo.

Ste. Tell not me, when the But is out we will drinke
water, not a drop before; therefore beare vp, & boord
em' Seruant Monster, drinke to me.
1355Trin. Seruant Monster? the folly of this Iland, they
say there's but fiue vpon this Isle; we are three of them,
if th'other two be brain'd like vs, the State totters.
Ste. Drinke seruant Monster when I bid thee, thy
eies are almost set in thy head.
1360Trin. Where should they bee set else? hee were a
braue Monster indeede if they were set in his taile.
Ste. My man-Monster hath drown'd his tongue in
sacke: for my part the Sea cannot drowne mee, I swam
ere I could recouer the shore, fiue and thirtie Leagues
1365off and on, by this light thou shalt bee my Lieutenant
Monster, or my Standard.
Trin. Your Lieutenant if you list, hee's no standard.
Ste. Weel not run Monsieur Monster.
Trin. Nor go neither: but you'l lie like dogs, and yet
1370say nothing neither.
Ste. Moone-calfe, speak once in thy life, if thou beest
a good Moone-calfe.
Cal. How does thy honour? Let me licke thy shooe:
Ile not serue him, he is not valiant.
1375Trin. Thou liest most ignorant Monster, I am in case
to iustle a Constable: why, thou debosh'd Fish thou,
was there euer man a Coward, that hath drunk so much
Sacke as I to day? wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being
but halfe a Fish, and halfe a Monster?
1380Cal. Loe, how he mockes me, wilt thou let him my
Lord?

Cal.