Peer Reviewed
The Tempest (Modern)
672[2.1]
[To Alonso] Beseech you, sir: be merry. You have cause --
684Alonso
Prithee, peace.
[To Antonio] He receives comfort like cold porridge.
The visitor will not give him o'er so.
Look, he's winding up the watch of his wit;
Sir --
690Sebastian
One. Tell.
691Gonzalo
When every grief is entertained
693Sebastian
A dollar.
Dolor comes to him indeed -- you have spoken 695truer than you purposed.
You have taken it wiselier than I meant you 697should.
Therefore, my Lord --
Fie, what a spendthrift is he of his tongue.
[To Gonzalo] I prithee, spare.
Well, I have done. But yet --
He will be talking.
Which of he or Adrian, for a good wager, 704first begins to crow?
The old cock.
The cockerel.
Done. The wager?
A laughter.
A match!
Though this island seem to be desert --
Ha, ha, ha!
[To Antonio] So, you're paid.
Uninhabitable and almost inaccessible --
Yet --
Yet --
He could not miss it.
It must needs be of subtle, tender, and delicate 718temperance.
Temperance was a delicate wench.
Ay, and a subtle, as he most learnedly delivered.
The air breathes upon us here most sweetly.
As if it had lungs -- and rotten ones.
Or as 'twere perfumed by a fen.
Here is everything advantageous to life.
True, save means to live.
Of that there's none or little.
How lush and lusty the grass looks. 728How green!
The ground indeed is tawny.
With an eye of green in it.
He misses not much.
No, he doth but mistake the truth totally.
But the rarity of it is, which is indeed almost 734beyond credit.
As many vouched rarities are.
That our garments, being as they were drenched 737in the sea, hold notwithstanding their freshness and 738glosses, being rather new-dyed than stained with salt 739water.
If but one of his pockets could speak, would 741it not say he lies?
Ay, or very falsely pocket up his report.
Methinks our garments are now as fresh as 744when we put them on first in Africa at the marriage 745of the King's fair daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis.
'Twas a sweet marriage, and we prosper well in 747our return.
Tunis was never graced before with such a 749paragon to their queen.
Not since widow Dido's time.
Widow? A pox on that! How came that 752widow in? Widow Dido!
What if he had said "widower Aeneas", too? 754Good Lord, how you take it!
"Widow Dido", said you? You make me study 756of that: she was of Carthage, not of Tunis.
This Tunis, sir, was Carthage.
Carthage?
2.1.65Gonzalo
I assure you -- Carthage.
His word is more than the miraculous harp.
He hath raised the wall and houses too.
What impossible matter will he make easy next?
I think he will carry this island home in his 763pocket and give it his son for an apple.
And sowing the kernels of it in the sea, bring 765forth more islands.
Ay --
2.1.72Antonio
Why, in good time.
[To Alonso] Sir, we were talking that our garments seem 768now as fresh as when we were at Tunis at the marriage 769of your daughter, who is now queen.
And the rarest that e'er came there.
Bate, I beseech you, widow Dido.
Oh, widow Dido? Ay, widow Dido!
[To Alonso] Is not, sir, my doublet as fresh as the first day I 774wore it -- I mean, in a sort?
That sort was well fished for.
When I wore it at your daughter's marriage?
You cram these words into mine ears against
785Francisco
Sir, he may live.
795Alonso
No, no, he's gone!
Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss,
801Alonso
Prithee, peace.
You were kneeled to and importuned otherwise
810Alonso
So is the dear'st o'th'loss.
My Lord Sebastian,
815Sebastian
Very well.
2.1.114Antonio
And most chirurgeonly.
[To Alonso] It is foul weather in us all, good sir,
818Sebastian
Foul weather?
Antonio
Very foul.
Had I plantation of this isle, my Lord --
He'd sow't with nettle-seed.
821Sebastian
Or docks or mallows.
And were the King on't, what would I do?
'Scape being drunk for want of wine.
I'th'commonwealth I would by contraries
834Sebastian
Yet he would be King on't!
The latter end of his commonwealth forgets 836the beginning.
All things in common nature should produce
No marrying 'mong his subjects?
None, man, all idle -- whores and knaves.
I would, with such perfection, govern, sir,
847Sebastian
'Save his majesty.
2.1.142Antonio
Long live Gonzalo!
848Gonzalo
[To Alonso] And -- do you mark me, sir?
Prithee, no more: thou dost talk nothing to me.
I do well believe your highness, and did it 851to minister occasion to these gentlemen, who are of 852such sensible and nimble lungs that they always use 853to laugh at nothing.
'Twas you we laughed at.
Who, in this kind of merry fooling, am nothing 856to you; so you may continue and laugh at nothing still!
What a blow was there given!
And it had not fallen flat-long.
You are gentlemen of brave metal; you would 860lift the moon out of her sphere if she would continue 861in it five weeks without changing.
We would so, and then go a-bat-fowling.
Nay, good my lord, be not angry.
No, I warrant you; I will not adventure my 866discretion so weakly. Will you laugh me asleep, for I 867am very heavy?
Go sleep, and hear us.
2.1.155[All sleep, except Alonso, Sebastian, and Antonio.]
What, all so soon asleep? I wish mine eyes
Please you, sir,
We two, my Lord, will guard your person
Thank you -- wondrous heavy --
2.1.165[Alonso sleeps. Exit Ariel.]
What a strange drowsiness possesses them.
It is the quality o'th'climate.
880Sebastian
Why
Nor I. My spirits are nimble.
891Sebastian
What, art thou waking?
Do you not hear me speak?
893Sebastian
I do, and surely
899Antonio
Noble Sebastian,
902Sebastian
Thou dost snore distinctly --
I am more serious than my custom; you
907Sebastian
Well, I am standing water.
I'll teach you how to flow.
909Sebastian
Do so; to ebb
911Antonio
Oh,
917Sebastian
Prithee, say on --
Thus, Sir,
929Sebastian
I have no hope
931Antonio
Oh, out of that "no hope"
He's gone.
Then tell me, who's the next heir of Naples?
Claribel.
She that is Queen of Tunis, she that dwells
What stuff is this? How say you?
953Antonio
A space whose every cubit
Methinks I do.
966Antonio
And how does your content
968Sebastian
I remember
970Antonio
True,
But for your conscience?
Ay, sir, where lies that? If 'twere a kibe,
990Sebastian
Thy case, dear friend,
995Antonio
Draw together,
998Sebastian
Oh, but one word --
My master, through his art, foresees the danger
While you here do snoring lie,
Then let us both be sudden.
Now, good angels, preserve the King!
Why, how now, ho! Awake! Why are you drawn?
1014Gonzalo
What's the matter?
Whiles we stood here securing your repose,
1019Alonso
I heard nothing.
Oh, 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear,
1023Alonso
Heard you this, Gonzalo?
Upon mine honor, sir, I heard a humming,
Lead off this ground, and let's make further search
1032Gonzalo
Heavens keep him from these beasts,
1034Alonso
Lead away.
Prospero my Lord shall know what I have done:
2.1.303Exeunt.