Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Through Line Number
Help on texts
About this text
Print this page

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)

    17
    The Tempest.
    Did thou Alonso, vse me, and my daughter:
    Thy brother was a furtherer in the Act,
    2030Thou art pinch'd for't now Sebastian. Flesh, and bloud,
    You, brother mine, that entertaine ambition,
    Expelld remorse, and nature, whom, with Sebastian
    (Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong)
    Would heere haue kill'd your King: I do forgiue thee,
    2035Vnnaturall though thou art: Their vnderstanding
    Begins to swell, and the approching tide
    Will shortly fill the reasonable shore
    That now ly foule, and muddy: not one of them
    That yet lookes on me, or would know me: Ariell,
    2040Fetch me the Hat, and Rapier in my Cell,
    I will discase me, and my selfe present
    As I was sometime Millaine: quickly Spirit,
    Thou shalt ere long be free.
    Ariell sings, and helps to attire him.
    2045Where the Bee sucks, there suck I,
    In a Cowslips bell, I lie,
    There I cowch when Owles doe crie,
    On the Batts backe I doe flie
    after Sommer merrily.
    2050Merrily, merrily, shall I liue now,
    Vnder the blossom that hangs on the Bow.
    Pro. Why that's my dainty Ariell: I shall misse
    Thee, but yet thou shalt haue freedome: so, so, so.
    To the Kings ship, inuisible as thou art,
    2055There shalt thou finde the Marriners asleepe
    Vnder the Hatches: the Master and the Boat-swaine
    Being awake, enforce them to this place;
    And presently, I pre'thee.
    Ar. I drinke the aire before me, and returne
    2060Or ere your pulse twice beate. Exit.
    Gon. All torment, trouble, wonder, and amazement
    Inhabits heere: some heauenly power guide vs
    Out of this fearefull Country.
    Pro. Behold Sir King
    2065The wronged Duke of Millaine, Prospero:
    For more assurance that a liuing Prince
    Do's now speake to thee, I embrace thy body,
    And to thee, and thy Company, I bid
    A hearty welcome.
    2070Alo. Where thou bee'st he or no,
    Or some inchanted triflle to abuse me,
    (As late I haue beene) I not know: thy Pulse
    Beats as of flesh, and blood: and since I saw thee,
    Th'affliction of my minde amends, with which
    2075I feare a madnesse held me: this must craue
    (And if this be at all) a most strange story.
    Thy Dukedome I resigne, and doe entreat
    Thou pardon me my wrongs: But how shold Prospero
    Be liuing, and be heere?
    2080Pro. First, noble Frend,
    Let me embrace thine age, whose honor cannot
    Be measur'd, or confin'd.
    Gonz. Whether this be,
    Or be not, I'le not sweare.
    2085Pro. You doe yet taste
    Some subtleties o'th'Isle, that will not let you
    Beleeue things certaine: Wellcome, my friends all,
    But you, my brace of Lords, were I so minded
    I heere could plucke his Highnesse frowne vpon you
    2090And iustifie you Traitors: at this time
    I will tell no tales.
    Seb. The Diuell speakes in him:
    Pro. No:

    For you (most wicked Sir) whom to call brother
    2095Would euen infect my mouth, I do forgiue
    Thy rankest fault; all of them: and require
    My Dukedome of thee, which, perforce I know
    Thou must restore.
    Alo. If thou beest Prospero
    2100Giue vs particulars of thy preseruation,
    How thou hast met vs heere, whom three howres since
    Were wrackt vpon this shore? where I haue lost
    (How sharp the point of this remembrance is)
    My deere sonne Ferdinand.
    2105Pro. I am woe for't, Sir.
    Alo. Irreparable is the losse, and patience
    Saies, it is past her cure.
    Pro. I rather thinke
    You haue not sought her helpe, of whose soft grace
    2110For the like losse, I haue her soueraigne aid,
    And rest my selfe content.
    Alo. You the like losse?
    Pro. As great to me, as late, and supportable
    To make the deere losse, haue I meanes much weaker
    2115Then you may call to comfort you; for I
    Haue lost my daughter.
    Alo. A daughter?
    Oh heauens, that they were liuing both in Nalpes
    The King and Queene there, that they were, I wish
    2120My selfe were mudded in that oo-zie bed
    Where my sonne lies: when did you lose your daughter?
    Pro. In this last Tempest. I perceiue these Lords
    At this encounter doe so much admire,
    That they deuoure their reason, and scarce thinke
    2125Their eies doe offices of Truth: Their words
    Are naturall breath: but howsoeu'r you haue
    Beene iustled from your sences, know for certain
    That I am Prospero, and that very Duke
    Which was thrust forth of Millaine, who most strangely
    2130Vpon this shore (where you were wrackt) 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 break-fast, nor
    Befitting this first meeting: Welcome, Sir;
    2135This Cell's my Court: heere haue I few attendants,
    And Subiects none abroad: pray you looke in:
    My Dukedome since you haue giuen me againe,
    I will requite you with as good a thing,
    At least bring forth a wonder, to content ye
    2140As much, as me my Dukedome.
    Here Prospero discouers Ferdinand and Miranda, play-
    ing at Chesse.
    Mir. Sweet Lord, you play me false.
    Fer. No my dearest loue,
    2145I would not for the world.
    Mir. Yes, for a score of Kingdomes, you should (wrangle,
    And I would call it faire play.
    Alo. If this proue
    A vision of the Island, one deere Sonne
    2150Shall I twice loose.
    Seb. A most high miracle.
    Fer. Though the Seas threaten they are mercifull,
    I haue curs'd them without cause.
    Alo. Now all the blessings
    2155Of a glad father, compasse thee about:
    Arise, and say how thou cam'st heere.
    Mir. O wonder!
    How many goodly creatures are there heere?
    How beauteous mankinde is? O braue new world
    That
    B 3
    About
    Contact us
    Content quality
    Site guide
    © Internet Shakespeare Editions
    Copyright details
    Privacy policy
    This site is supported by:
    University of Victoria
    Friends of the ISE
    SSHRC