Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • Title: The Tempest (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editors: Brent Whitted, Paul Yachnin
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-370-0

    Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    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.