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  • 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)

    14
    The Tempest.
    Ant. Ile be thy Second. Exeunt.
    Gon. All three of them are desperate: their great guilt
    (Like poyson giuen to worke a great time after)
    1645Now gins to bite the spirits: I doe beseech you
    (That are of suppler ioynts) follow them swiftly,
    And hinder them from what this extasie
    May now prouoke them to.
    Ad. Follow, I pray you. Exeunt omnes.


    1650 Actus Quartus. Scena Prima.
    Enter Prospero, Ferdinand, and Miranda.
    Pro. If I haue too austerely punish'd you,
    Your compensation makes amends, for I
    Haue giuen you here, a third of mine owne life,
    1655Or that for which I liue: who, once againe
    I tender to thy hand: All thy vexations
    Were but my trials of thy loue, and thou
    Hast strangely stood the test: here, afore heauen
    I ratifie this my rich guift: O Ferdinand,
    1660Doe not smile at me, that I boast her of,
    For thou shalt finde she will out-strip all praise
    And make it halt, behinde her.
    Fer. I doe beleeue it
    Against an Oracle.
    1665Pro. Then, as my guest, and thine owne acquisition
    Worthily purchas'd, take my daughter: But
    If thou do'st breake her Virgin-knot, before
    All sanctimonious ceremonies may
    With full and holy right, be ministred,
    1670No sweet aspersion shall the heauens let fall
    To make this contract grow; but barraine hate,
    Sower-ey'd disdaine, and discord shall bestrew
    The vnion of your bed, with weedes so loathly
    That you shall hate it both: Therefore take heede,
    1675As Hymens Lamps shall light you.
    Fer. As I hope
    For quiet dayes, faire Issue, and long life,
    With such loue, as 'tis now the murkiest den,
    The most opportune place, the strongst suggestion,
    1680Our worser Genius can, shall neuer melt
    Mine honor into lust, to take away
    The edge of that dayes celebration,
    When I shall thinke, or Phoebus Steeds are founderd,
    Or Night kept chain'd below.
    1685Pro. Fairely spoke;
    Sit then, and talke with her, she is thine owne;
    What Ariell; my industrious seruãt Ariell. Enter Ariell.
    Ar. What would my potent master? here I am.
    Pro. Thou, and thy meaner fellowes, your last seruice
    1690Did worthily performe: and I must vse you
    In such another tricke: goe bring the rabble
    (Ore whom I giue thee powre) here, to this place:
    Incite them to quicke motion, for I must
    Bestow vpon the eyes of this yong couple
    1695Some vanity of mine Art: it is my promise,
    And they expect it from me.
    Ar. Presently?
    Pro. I: with a twincke.
    Ar. Before you can say come, and goe,
    1700And breathe twice; and cry, so, so:
    Each one tripping on his Toe,
    Will be here with mop, and mowe.
    Doe you loue me Master? no?

    Pro. Dearely, my delicate Ariell: doe not approach
    1705Till thou do'st heare me call.
    Ar. Well: I conceiue. Exit.
    Pro. Looke thou be true: doe not giue dalliance
    Too much the raigne: the strongest oathes, are straw
    To th'fire ith' blood: be more abstenious,
    1710Or else good night your vow.
    Fer. I warrant you, Sir,
    The white cold virgin Snow, vpon my heart
    Abates the ardour of my Liuer.
    Pro. Well.
    1715Now come my Ariell, bring a Corolary,
    Rather then want a Spirit; appear, & pertly. Soft musick.
    No tongue: all eyes: be silent. Enter Iris.
    Ir. Ceres, most bounteous Lady, thy rich Leas
    Of Wheate, Rye, Barley, Fetches, Oates and Pease;
    1720Thy Turphie-Mountaines, where liue nibling Sheepe,
    And flat Medes thetchd with Stouer, them to keepe:
    Thy bankes with pioned, and twilled brims
    Which spungie Aprill, at thy hest betrims;
    To make cold Nymphes chast crownes; & thy broome- (groues;
    1725Whose shadow the dismissed Batchelor loues,
    Being lasse-lorne: thy pole-clipt vineyard,
    And thy Sea-marge stirrile, and rockey-hard,
    Where thou thy selfe do'st ayre, the Queene o'th Skie,
    Whose watry Arch, and messenger, am I.
    1730Bids thee leaue these, & with her soueraigne grace, Iuno descends.
    Here on this grasse-plot, in this very place
    To come, and sport: here Peacocks flye amaine:
    Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertaine. Enter Ceres.
    Cer. Haile, many-coloured Messenger, that nere
    1735Do'st disobey the wife of Iup iter:
    Who, with thy saffron wings, vpon my flowres
    Diffusest hony drops, refreshing showres,
    And with each end of thy blew bowe do'st crowne
    My boskie acres, and my vnshrubd downe,
    1740Rich scarph to my proud earth: why hath thy Queene
    Summond me hither, to this short gras'd Greene?
    Ir. A contract of true Loue, to celebrate,
    And some donation freely to estate
    On the bles'd Louers.
    1745Cer. Tell me heauenly Bowe,
    If Venus or her Sonne, as thou do'st know,
    Doe now attend the Queene? since they did plot
    The meanes, that duskie Dis, my daughter got,
    Her, and her blind-Boyes scandald company,
    1750I haue forsworne.
    Ir. Of her societie
    Be not afraid: I met her deitie
    Cutting the clouds towards Paphos: and her Son
    Doue-drawn with her: here thought they to haue done
    1755Some wanton charme, vpon this Man and Maide,
    Whose vowes are, that no bed-right shall be paid
    Till Hymens Torch be lighted: but in vaine,
    Marses hot Minion is returnd againe,
    Her waspish headed sonne, has broke his arrowes,
    1760Swears he will shoote no more, but play with Sparrows,
    And be a Boy right out.
    Cer. Highest Queene of State,
    Great Iuno comes, I know her by her gate.
    Iu. How do's my bounteous sister? goe with me
    1765To blesse this twaine, that they may prosperous be,
    And honourd in their Issue. They Sing.
    Iu. Honor, riches, marriage, blessing,
    Long continuance, and encreasing,
    Hourely ioyes, be still vpon you,
    Iuno
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