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THE TEMPEST
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
SEBASTIAN his brother. PROSPERO the right Duke of Milan. ANTONIO his brother, the usurping Duke of Milan. FERDINAND son to the King of Naples.
FRANCISCO | CALIBAN a savage and deformed Slave. TRINCULO a Jester. STEPHANO a drunken Butler.
Master of a Ship. (Master:)
Boatswain. (Boatswain:)
Mariners. (Mariners:)
Other Spirits attending on Prospero.
THE TEMPEST
of thunder and lightning heard.
[Enter a Master and a Boatswain]
Boatswain Here, master: what cheer?
[Exit]
[Enter Mariners]
Boatswain Heigh, my hearts! cheerly, cheerly, my hearts!
yare, yare! Take in the topsail. Tend to the
master's whistle. Blow, till thou burst thy wind,
if room enough!
[Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, FERDINAND, GONZALO, and others]
Boatswain I pray now, keep below.
ANTONIO Where is the master, boatswain?
Boatswain Do you not hear him? You mar our labour: keep your
cabins: you do assist the storm.
GONZALO Nay, good, be patient.
Boatswain When the sea is. Hence! What cares these roarers
for the name of king? To cabin: silence! trouble us not.
GONZALO Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard.
Boatswain None that I more love than myself. You are a
counsellor; if you can command these elements to
silence, and work the peace of the present, we will
not hand a rope more; use your authority: if you
cannot, give thanks you have lived so long, and make
yourself ready in your cabin for the mischance of the hour, if it so hap. Cheerly, good hearts! Out of our way, I say.
[Exit]
[Exeunt]
[Re-enter Boatswain]
Boatswain Down with the topmast! yare! lower, lower! Bring
her to try with main-course.
[A cry within]
A plague upon this howling! they are louder than the weather or our office.
[Re-enter SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, and GONZALO]
Yet again! what do you here? Shall we give o'er and drown? Have you a mind to sink?
SEBASTIAN A pox o' your throat, you bawling, blasphemous,
incharitable dog!
Boatswain Work you then.
Boatswain Lay her a-hold, a-hold! set her two courses off to
sea again; lay her off.
[Enter Mariners wet]
Mariners All lost! to prayers, to prayers! all lost! Boatswain What, must our mouths be cold?
SEBASTIAN I'm out of patience.
[A confused noise within: 'Mercy on us!'-- 'We split, we split!'--'Farewell, my wife and children!'--
'Farewell, brother!'--'We split, we split, we split!']
SEBASTIAN Let's take leave of him.
[Exeunt ANTONIO and SEBASTIAN]
[Exeunt]
THE TEMPEST
SCENE II The island. Before PROSPERO'S cell.
[Enter PROSPERO and MIRANDA]
PROSPERO Be collected:
No more amazement: tell your piteous heart
There's no harm done.
MIRANDA O, woe the day!
PROSPERO No harm.
I have done nothing but in care of thee,
Of thee, my dear one, thee, my daughter, who
Art ignorant of what thou art, nought knowing
Of whence I am, nor that I am more better
Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell, And thy no greater father.
PROSPERO 'Tis time
I should inform thee farther. Lend thy hand,
And pluck my magic garment from me. So:
[Lays down his mantle]
Lie there, my art. Wipe thou thine eyes; have comfort. The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touch'd The very virtue of compassion in thee,
I have with such provision in mine art
So safely ordered that there is no soul--
No, not so much perdition as an hair
Betid to any creature in the vessel
Which thou heard'st cry, which thou saw'st sink. Sit down; For thou must now know farther.
PROSPERO The hour's now come;
The very minute bids thee ope thine ear;
Obey and be attentive. Canst thou remember
A time before we came unto this cell?
I do not think thou canst, for then thou wast not
Out three years old.
PROSPERO By what? by any other house or person?
Of any thing the image tell me that
Hath kept with thy remembrance.
PROSPERO Thou hadst, and more, Miranda. But how is it
That this lives in thy mind? What seest thou else
In the dark backward and abysm of time?
If thou remember'st aught ere thou camest here,
How thou camest here thou mayst.
MIRANDA But that I do not.
PROSPERO Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since,
Thy father was the Duke of Milan and
A prince of power.
MIRANDA Sir, are not you my father?
PROSPERO Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and
She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father
Was Duke of Milan; and thou his only heir
And princess no worse issued.
PROSPERO Both, both, my girl:
By foul play, as thou say'st, were we heaved thence,
But blessedly holp hither.
PROSPERO My brother and thy uncle, call'd Antonio--
I pray thee, mark me--that a brother should
Be so perfidious!--he whom next thyself
Of all the world I loved and to him put
The manage of my state; as at that time
Through all the signories it was the first And Prospero the prime duke, being so reputed In dignity, and for the liberal arts
Without a parallel; those being all my study, The government I cast upon my brother
And to my state grew stranger, being transported And rapt in secret studies. Thy false uncle-- Dost thou attend me?
PROSPERO Being once perfected how to grant suits,
How to deny them, who to advance and who
To trash for over-topping, new created
The creatures that were mine, I say, or changed 'em,
Or else new form'd 'em; having both the key
Of officer and office, set all hearts i' the state To what tune pleased his ear; that now he was The ivy which had hid my princely trunk,
And suck'd my verdure out on't. Thou attend'st not.
PROSPERO I pray thee, mark me.
I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated
To closeness and the bettering of my mind
With that which, but by being so retired,
O'er-prized all popular rate, in my false brother
Awaked an evil nature; and my trust,
Like a good parent, did beget of him
A falsehood in its contrary as great
As my trust was; which had indeed no limit, A confidence sans bound. He being thus lorded, Not only with what my revenue yielded,
But what my power might else exact, like one Who having into truth, by telling of it,
Made such a sinner of his memory,
To credit his own lie, he did believe
He was indeed the duke; out o' the substitution And executing the outward face of royalty, With all prerogative: hence his ambition growing-- Dost thou hear?
MIRANDA Your tale, sir, would cure deafness.
PROSPERO To have no screen between this part he play'd
And him he play'd it for, he needs will be
Absolute Milan. Me, poor man, my library
Was dukedom large enough: of temporal royalties
He thinks me now incapable; confederates--
So dry he was for sway--wi' the King of Naples To give him annual tribute, do him homage, Subject his coronet to his crown and bend
The dukedom yet unbow'd--alas, poor Milan!-- To most ignoble stooping.
PROSPERO Mark his condition and the event; then tell me
If this might be a brother.
PROSPERO Now the condition.
The King of Naples, being an enemy
To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit;
Which was, that he, in lieu o' the premises
Of homage and I know not how much tribute,
Should presently extirpate me and mine
Out of the dukedom and confer fair Milan
With all the honours on my brother: whereon, A treacherous army levied, one midnight
Fated to the purpose did Antonio open
The gates of Milan, and, i' the dead of darkness, The ministers for the purpose hurried thence Me and thy crying self.
PROSPERO Hear a little further
And then I'll bring thee to the present business
Which now's upon's; without the which this story
Were most impertinent.
PROSPERO Well demanded, wench:
My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst not,
So dear the love my people bore me, nor set
A mark so bloody on the business, but
With colours fairer painted their foul ends.
In few, they hurried us aboard a bark,
Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepared A rotten carcass of a boat, not rigg'd,
Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats
Instinctively had quit it: there they hoist us, To cry to the sea that roar'd to us, to sigh To the winds whose pity, sighing back again, Did us but loving wrong.
PROSPERO O, a cherubim
Thou wast that did preserve me. Thou didst smile.
Infused with a fortitude from heaven,
When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt,
Under my burthen groan'd; which raised in me
An undergoing stomach, to bear up
Against what should ensue.
PROSPERO By Providence divine.
Some food we had and some fresh water that
A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo,
Out of his charity, being then appointed
Master of this design, did give us, with
Rich garments, linens, stuffs and necessaries, Which since have steaded much; so, of his gentleness, Knowing I loved my books, he furnish'd me
From mine own library with volumes that
I prize above my dukedom.
PROSPERO Now I arise:
[Resumes his mantle]
Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow. Here in this island we arrived; and here
Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit Than other princesses can that have more time For vainer hours and tutors not so careful.
PROSPERO Know thus far forth.
By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune,
Now my dear lady, hath mine enemies
Brought to this shore; and by my prescience
I find my zenith doth depend upon
A most auspicious star, whose influence
If now I court not but omit, my fortunes
Will ever after droop. Here cease more questions: Thou art inclined to sleep; 'tis a good dulness, And give it way: I know thou canst not choose.
[MIRANDA sleeps]
Come away, servant, come. I am ready now.
Approach, my Ariel, come.
[Enter ARIEL]
PROSPERO Hast thou, spirit,
Perform'd to point the tempest that I bade thee?
PROSPERO My brave spirit!
Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil
Would not infect his reason?
PROSPERO Why that's my spirit!
But was not this nigh shore?
ARIEL Close by, my master.
PROSPERO But are they, Ariel, safe?
PROSPERO Of the king's ship
The mariners say how thou hast disposed
And all the rest o' the fleet.
PROSPERO Ariel, thy charge
Exactly is perform'd: but there's more work.
What is the time o' the day?
ARIEL Past the mid season.
PROSPERO At least two glasses. The time 'twixt six and now
Must by us both be spent most preciously.
PROSPERO How now? moody?
What is't thou canst demand?
ARIEL My liberty.
PROSPERO Before the time be out? no more!
PROSPERO Dost thou forget
From what a torment I did free thee?
ARIEL No.
PROSPERO Thou dost, and think'st it much to tread the ooze
Of the salt deep,
To run upon the sharp wind of the north,
To do me business in the veins o' the earth
When it is baked with frost.
ARIEL I do not, sir.
PROSPERO Thou liest, malignant thing! Hast thou forgot
The foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy
Was grown into a hoop? hast thou forgot her?
ARIEL No, sir.
PROSPERO Thou hast. Where was she born? speak; tell me.
ARIEL Sir, in Argier.
PROSPERO O, was she so? I must
Once in a month recount what thou hast been,
Which thou forget'st. This damn'd witch Sycorax,
For mischiefs manifold and sorceries terrible
To enter human hearing, from Argier,
Thou know'st, was banish'd: for one thing she did They would not take her life. Is not this true?
ARIEL Ay, sir.
PROSPERO This blue-eyed hag was hither brought with child
And here was left by the sailors. Thou, my slave,
As thou report'st thyself, wast then her servant;
And, for thou wast a spirit too delicate
To act her earthy and abhorr'd commands,
Refusing her grand hests, she did confine thee, By help of her more potent ministers
And in her most unmitigable rage,
Into a cloven pine; within which rift
Imprison'd thou didst painfully remain
A dozen years; within which space she died And left thee there; where thou didst vent thy groans As fast as mill-wheels strike. Then was this island-- Save for the son that she did litter here, A freckled whelp hag-born--not honour'd with A human shape.
ARIEL Yes, Caliban her son.
PROSPERO Dull thing, I say so; he, that Caliban
Whom now I keep in service. Thou best know'st
What torment I did find thee in; thy groans
Did make wolves howl and penetrate the breasts
Of ever angry bears: it was a torment
To lay upon the damn'd, which Sycorax
Could not again undo: it was mine art,
When I arrived and heard thee, that made gape The pine and let thee out.
ARIEL I thank thee, master.
PROSPERO If thou more murmur'st, I will rend an oak
And peg thee in his knotty entrails till
Thou hast howl'd away twelve winters.
PROSPERO Do so, and after two days
I will discharge thee.
PROSPERO Go make thyself like a nymph o' the sea: be subject
To no sight but thine and mine, invisible
To every eyeball else. Go take this shape
And hither come in't: go, hence with diligence!
[Exit ARIEL]
Awake, dear heart, awake! thou hast slept well; Awake!
MIRANDA The strangeness of your story put
Heaviness in me.
PROSPERO Shake it off. Come on;
We'll visit Caliban my slave, who never
Yields us kind answer.
PROSPERO But, as 'tis,
We cannot miss him: he does make our fire,
Fetch in our wood and serves in offices
That profit us. What, ho! slave! Caliban!
Thou earth, thou! speak.
CALIBAN [Within] There's wood enough within.
PROSPERO Come forth, I say! there's other business for thee:
Come, thou tortoise! when?
[Re-enter ARIEL like a water-nymph]
Fine apparition! My quaint Ariel,
Hark in thine ear.
ARIEL My lord it shall be done.
[Exit]
PROSPERO Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself
Upon thy wicked dam, come forth!
[Enter CALIBAN]
PROSPERO For this, be sure, to-night thou shalt have cramps,
Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up; urchins
Shall, for that vast of night that they may work,
All exercise on thee; thou shalt be pinch'd
As thick as honeycomb, each pinch more stinging
Than bees that made 'em.
PROSPERO Thou most lying slave,
Whom stripes may move, not kindness! I have used thee,
Filth as thou art, with human care, and lodged thee
In mine own cell, till thou didst seek to violate
The honour of my child.
PROSPERO Abhorred slave,
Which any print of goodness wilt not take,
Being capable of all ill! I pitied thee,
Took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour
One thing or other: when thou didst not, savage,
Know thine own meaning, but wouldst gabble like A thing most brutish, I endow'd thy purposes With words that made them known. But thy vile race, Though thou didst learn, had that in't which good natures
Could not abide to be with; therefore wast thou Deservedly confined into this rock,
Who hadst deserved more than a prison.
PROSPERO Hag-seed, hence!
Fetch us in fuel; and be quick, thou'rt best,
To answer other business. Shrug'st thou, malice?
If thou neglect'st or dost unwillingly
What I command, I'll rack thee with old cramps,
Fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar That beasts shall tremble at thy din.
[Aside]
I must obey: his art is of such power,
It would control my dam's god, Setebos,
and make a vassal of him.
PROSPERO So, slave; hence!
[Exit CALIBAN]
[Re-enter ARIEL, invisible, playing and singing; FERDINAND following]
ARIEL'S song.
Come unto these yellow sands,
And then take hands:
Courtsied when you have and kiss'd
The wild waves whist,
Foot it featly here and there;
And, sweet sprites, the burthen bear.
Hark, hark!
[Burthen [dispersedly, within] Bow-wow]
The watch-dogs bark!
[Burthen Bow-wow]
Hark, hark! I hear
The strain of strutting chanticleer
Cry, Cock-a-diddle-dow.
FERDINAND Where should this music be? i' the air or the earth?
It sounds no more: and sure, it waits upon
Some god o' the island. Sitting on a bank,
Weeping again the king my father's wreck,
This music crept by me upon the waters,
Allaying both their fury and my passion
With its sweet air: thence I have follow'd it, Or it hath drawn me rather. But 'tis gone. No, it begins again.
[ARIEL sings]
Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell
[Burthen Ding-dong]
Hark! now I hear them,--Ding-dong, bell.
FERDINAND The ditty does remember my drown'd father.
This is no mortal business, nor no sound
That the earth owes. I hear it now above me.
PROSPERO The fringed curtains of thine eye advance
And say what thou seest yond.
PROSPERO No, wench; it eats and sleeps and hath such senses
As we have, such. This gallant which thou seest
Was in the wreck; and, but he's something stain'd
With grief that's beauty's canker, thou mightst call him
A goodly person: he hath lost his fellows
And strays about to find 'em.
PROSPERO [Aside] It goes on, I see,
As my soul prompts it. Spirit, fine spirit! I'll free thee
Within two days for this.
FERDINAND Most sure, the goddess
On whom these airs attend! Vouchsafe my prayer
May know if you remain upon this island;
And that you will some good instruction give
How I may bear me here: my prime request,
Which I do last pronounce, is, O you wonder! If you be maid or no?
FERDINAND My language! heavens!
I am the best of them that speak this speech,
Were I but where 'tis spoken.
PROSPERO How? the best?
What wert thou, if the King of Naples heard thee?
FERDINAND A single thing, as I am now, that wonders
To hear thee speak of Naples. He does hear me;
And that he does I weep: myself am Naples,
Who with mine eyes, never since at ebb, beheld
The king my father wreck'd.
MIRANDA Alack, for mercy!
FERDINAND Yes, faith, and all his lords; the Duke of Milan
And his brave son being twain.
PROSPERO [Aside] The Duke of Milan
And his more braver daughter could control thee,
If now 'twere fit to do't. At the first sight
They have changed eyes. Delicate Ariel,
I'll set thee free for this.
[To FERDINAND]
A word, good sir;
I fear you have done yourself some wrong: a word.
FERDINAND O, if a virgin,
And your affection not gone forth, I'll make you
The queen of Naples.
PROSPERO Soft, sir! one word more.
[Aside]
They are both in either's powers; but this swift business I must uneasy make, lest too light winning Make the prize light.
[To FERDINAND]
One word more; I charge thee
That thou attend me: thou dost here usurp
The name thou owest not; and hast put thyself Upon this island as a spy, to win it
From me, the lord on't.
FERDINAND No, as I am a man.
PROSPERO Follow me.
Speak not you for him; he's a traitor. Come;
I'll manacle thy neck and feet together:
Sea-water shalt thou drink; thy food shall be
The fresh-brook muscles, wither'd roots and husks
Wherein the acorn cradled. Follow.
FERDINAND No;
I will resist such entertainment till
Mine enemy has more power.
[Draws, and is charmed from moving]
PROSPERO What? I say,
My foot my tutor? Put thy sword up, traitor;
Who makest a show but darest not strike, thy conscience
Is so possess'd with guilt: come from thy ward,
For I can here disarm thee with this stick
And make thy weapon drop.
PROSPERO Hence! hang not on my garments.
PROSPERO Silence! one word more
Shall make me chide thee, if not hate thee. What!
An advocate for an imposter! hush!
Thou think'st there is no more such shapes as he,
Having seen but him and Caliban: foolish wench!
To the most of men this is a Caliban
And they to him are angels.
PROSPERO Come on; obey:
Thy nerves are in their infancy again
And have no vigour in them.
FERDINAND So they are;
My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up.
My father's loss, the weakness which I feel,
The wreck of all my friends, nor this man's threats,
To whom I am subdued, are but light to me,
Might I but through my prison once a day
Behold this maid: all corners else o' the earth Let liberty make use of; space enough
Have I in such a prison.
PROSPERO [Aside] It works.
[To FERDINAND]
Come on.
Thou hast done well, fine Ariel!
[To FERDINAND]
Follow me.
[To ARIEL]
Hark what thou else shalt do me.
PROSPERO Thou shalt be free
As mountain winds: but then exactly do
All points of my command.
ARIEL To the syllable.
PROSPERO Come, follow. Speak not for him.
[Exeunt]
THE TEMPEST
[Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others]
SEBASTIAN He receives comfort like cold porridge.
ANTONIO The visitor will not give him o'er so.
SEBASTIAN Look he's winding up the watch of his wit;
by and by it will strike.
GONZALO Sir,--
SEBASTIAN One: tell.
SEBASTIAN A dollar.
SEBASTIAN You have taken it wiselier than I meant you should.
SEBASTIAN He will be talking.
SEBASTIAN The old cock. ANTONIO The cockerel. SEBASTIAN Done. The wager? ANTONIO A laughter. SEBASTIAN A match! ADRIAN Though this island seem to be desert,-- SEBASTIAN Ha, ha, ha! So, you're paid. ADRIAN Uninhabitable and almost inaccessible,-- SEBASTIAN Yet,--
SEBASTIAN Ay, and a subtle; as he most learnedly delivered. ADRIAN The air breathes upon us here most sweetly. SEBASTIAN As if it had lungs and rotten ones.
SEBASTIAN Of that there's none, or little.
SEBASTIAN With an eye of green in't. ANTONIO He misses not much. SEBASTIAN No; he doth but mistake the truth totally.
SEBASTIAN As many vouched rarities are.
SEBASTIAN Ay, or very falsely pocket up his report
SEBASTIAN 'Twas a sweet marriage, and we prosper well in our return.
SEBASTIAN What if he had said 'widower AEneas' too? Good Lord,
how you take it!
SEBASTIAN His word is more than the miraculous harp; he hath
raised the wall and houses too.
ANTONIO What impossible matter will he make easy next?
SEBASTIAN I think he will carry this island home in his pocket
and give it his son for an apple.
SEBASTIAN Bate, I beseech you, widow Dido.
FRANCISCO Sir, he may live:
I saw him beat the surges under him,
And ride upon their backs; he trod the water,
Whose enmity he flung aside, and breasted
The surge most swoln that met him; his bold head
'Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oar'd Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke To the shore, that o'er his wave-worn basis bow'd, As stooping to relieve him: I not doubt
He came alive to land.
SEBASTIAN Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss,
That would not bless our Europe with your daughter,
But rather lose her to an African;
Where she at least is banish'd from your eye,
Who hath cause to wet the grief on't.
ALONSO Prithee, peace.
SEBASTIAN You were kneel'd to and importuned otherwise
By all of us, and the fair soul herself
Weigh'd between loathness and obedience, at
Which end o' the beam should bow. We have lost your
son,
I fear, for ever: Milan and Naples have
More widows in them of this business' making Than we bring men to comfort them:
The fault's your own.
SEBASTIAN Very well.
SEBASTIAN Foul weather?
SEBASTIAN Or docks, or mallows. GONZALO And were the king on't, what would I do? SEBASTIAN 'Scape being drunk for want of wine.
SEBASTIAN Yet he would be king on't.
SEBASTIAN No marrying 'mong his subjects?
SEBASTIAN God save his majesty! ANTONIO Long live Gonzalo! GONZALO And,--do you mark me, sir?
SEBASTIAN An it had not fallen flat-long.
[Enter ARIEL, invisible, playing solemn music]
SEBASTIAN We would so, and then go a bat-fowling.
[All sleep except ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, and ANTONIO]
SEBASTIAN Please you, sir,
Do not omit the heavy offer of it:
It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth,
It is a comforter.
ANTONIO We two, my lord,
Will guard your person while you take your rest,
And watch your safety.
ALONSO Thank you. Wondrous heavy.
[ALONSO sleeps. Exit ARIEL]
SEBASTIAN What a strange drowsiness possesses them!
ANTONIO It is the quality o' the climate.
SEBASTIAN Why
Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find not
Myself disposed to sleep.
SEBASTIAN What, art thou waking?
ANTONIO Do you not hear me speak?
SEBASTIAN I do; and surely
It is a sleepy language and thou speak'st
Out of thy sleep. What is it thou didst say?
This is a strange repose, to be asleep
With eyes wide open; standing, speaking, moving,
And yet so fast asleep.
SEBASTIAN Thou dost snore distinctly;
There's meaning in thy snores.
SEBASTIAN Well, I am standing water.
ANTONIO I'll teach you how to flow.
SEBASTIAN Do so: to ebb
Hereditary sloth instructs me.
SEBASTIAN Prithee, say on:
The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim
A matter from thee, and a birth indeed
Which throes thee much to yield.
SEBASTIAN I have no hope
That he's undrown'd.
SEBASTIAN He's gone.
SEBASTIAN Claribel.
SEBASTIAN What stuff is this! how say you?
'Tis true, my brother's daughter's queen of Tunis;
So is she heir of Naples; 'twixt which regions
There is some space.
SEBASTIAN Methinks I do.
ANTONIO And how does your content
Tender your own good fortune?
SEBASTIAN I remember
You did supplant your brother Prospero.
SEBASTIAN But, for your conscience?
SEBASTIAN Thy case, dear friend,
Shall be my precedent; as thou got'st Milan,
I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke
Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest;
And I the king shall love thee.
SEBASTIAN O, but one word.
[They talk apart]
[Re-enter ARIEL, invisible]
[Sings in GONZALO's ear]
While you here do snoring lie,
Open-eyed conspiracy
His time doth take.
If of life you keep a care,
Shake off slumber, and beware:
Awake, awake!
[They wake]
SEBASTIAN Whiles we stood here securing your repose,
Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing
Like bulls, or rather lions: did't not wake you?
It struck mine ear most terribly.
ALONSO I heard nothing.
[Exeunt]
THE TEMPEST
SCENE II Another part of the island.
[Enter CALIBAN with a burden of wood. A noise of thunder heard]
[Enter TRINCULO]
Lo, now, lo!
Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment me For bringing wood in slowly. I'll fall flat; Perchance he will not mind me.
TRINCULO Here's neither bush nor shrub, to bear off
any weather at all, and another storm brewing;
I hear it sing i' the wind: yond same black
cloud, yond huge one, looks like a foul
bombard that would shed his liquor. If it
should thunder as it did before, I know not where to hide my head: yond same cloud cannot choose but fall by pailfuls. What have we
here? a man or a fish? dead or alive? A fish: he smells like a fish; a very ancient and fish- like smell; a kind of not of the newest Poor- John. A strange fish! Were I in England now, as once I was, and had but this fish painted, not a holiday fool there but would give a piece of silver: there would this monster make a man; any strange beast there makes a man:
when they will not give a doit to relieve a lame beggar, they will lazy out ten to see a dead Indian. Legged like a man and his fins like arms! Warm o' my troth! I do now let loose my opinion; hold it no longer: this is no fish, but an islander, that hath lately suffered by a thunderbolt.
[Thunder]
Alas, the storm is come again! my best way is to creep under his gaberdine; there is no other shelter hereabouts: misery acquaints a man with strange bed-fellows. I will here shroud till the dregs of the storm be past.
[Enter STEPHANO, singing: a bottle in his hand]
STEPHANO I shall no more to sea, to sea,
Here shall I die ashore--
This is a very scurvy tune to sing at a man's funeral: well, here's my comfort. [Drinks]
[Sings]
The master, the swabber, the boatswain and I, The gunner and his mate
Loved Mall, Meg and Marian and Margery,
But none of us cared for Kate;
For she had a tongue with a tang,
Would cry to a sailor, Go hang!
She loved not the savour of tar nor of pitch, Yet a tailor might scratch her where'er she did itch: Then to sea, boys, and let her go hang!
This is a scurvy tune too: but here's my comfort. [Drinks]
STEPHANO What's the matter? Have we devils here? Do you put
tricks upon's with savages and men of Ind, ha? I
have not scaped drowning to be afeard now of your
four legs; for it hath been said, As proper a man as
ever went on four legs cannot make him give ground;
and it shall be said so again while Stephano breathes at's nostrils.
STEPHANO This is some monster of the isle with four legs, who
hath got, as I take it, an ague. Where the devil
should he learn our language? I will give him some
relief, if it be but for that. if I can recover him
and keep him tame and get to Naples with him, he's a
present for any emperor that ever trod on neat's leather.
STEPHANO He's in his fit now and does not talk after the
wisest. He shall taste of my bottle: if he have
never drunk wine afore will go near to remove his
fit. If I can recover him and keep him tame, I will
not take too much for him; he shall pay for him that
hath him, and that soundly.
STEPHANO Come on your ways; open your mouth; here is that
which will give language to you, cat: open your
mouth; this will shake your shaking, I can tell you,
and that soundly: you cannot tell who's your friend:
open your chaps again.
TRINCULO I should know that voice: it should be--but he is
drowned; and these are devils: O defend me!
STEPHANO Four legs and two voices: a most delicate monster!
His forward voice now is to speak well of his
friend; his backward voice is to utter foul speeches
and to detract. If all the wine in my bottle will
recover him, I will help his ague. Come. Amen! I
will pour some in thy other mouth.
TRINCULO Stephano!
STEPHANO Doth thy other mouth call me? Mercy, mercy! This is
a devil, and no monster: I will leave him; I have no
long spoon.
TRINCULO Stephano! If thou beest Stephano, touch me and
speak to me: for I am Trinculo--be not afeard--thy
good friend Trinculo.
STEPHANO If thou beest Trinculo, come forth: I'll pull thee
by the lesser legs: if any be Trinculo's legs,
these are they. Thou art very Trinculo indeed! How
camest thou to be the siege of this moon-calf? can
he vent Trinculos?
TRINCULO I took him to be killed with a thunder-stroke. But
art thou not drowned, Stephano? I hope now thou art
not drowned. Is the storm overblown? I hid me
under the dead moon-calf's gaberdine for fear of
the storm. And art thou living, Stephano? O
Stephano, two Neapolitans 'scaped!
STEPHANO Prithee, do not turn me about; my stomach is not constant.
STEPHANO How didst thou 'scape? How camest thou hither?
swear by this bottle how thou camest hither. I
escaped upon a butt of sack which the sailors
heaved o'erboard, by this bottle; which I made of
the bark of a tree with mine own hands since I was
cast ashore.
STEPHANO Here; swear then how thou escapedst.
TRINCULO Swum ashore. man, like a duck: I can swim like a
duck, I'll be sworn.
STEPHANO Here, kiss the book. Though thou canst swim like a
duck, thou art made like a goose.
TRINCULO O Stephano. hast any more of this?
STEPHANO The whole butt, man: my cellar is in a rock by the
sea-side where my wine is hid. How now, moon-calf!
how does thine ague?
CALIBAN Hast thou not dropp'd from heaven?
STEPHANO Out o' the moon, I do assure thee: I was the man i'
the moon when time was.
STEPHANO Come, swear to that; kiss the book: I will furnish
it anon with new contents swear.
TRINCULO By this good light, this is a very shallow monster!
I afeard of him! A very weak monster! The man i'
the moon! A most poor credulous monster! Well
drawn, monster, in good sooth!
TRINCULO By this light, a most perfidious and drunken
monster! when 's god's asleep, he'll rob his bottle.
CALIBAN I'll kiss thy foot; I'll swear myself thy subject.
STEPHANO Come on then; down, and swear.
TRINCULO I shall laugh myself to death at this puppy-headed
monster. A most scurvy monster! I could find in my
heart to beat him,--
STEPHANO Come, kiss.
TRINCULO But that the poor monster's in drink: an abominable monster!
TRINCULO A most ridiculous monster, to make a wonder of a
Poor drunkard!
STEPHANO I prithee now, lead the way without any more
talking. Trinculo, the king and all our company
else being drowned, we will inherit here: here;
bear my bottle: fellow Trinculo, we'll fill him by
and by again.
TRINCULO A howling monster: a drunken monster!
Nor fetch in firing
At requiring;
Nor scrape trencher, nor wash dish
'Ban, 'Ban, Cacaliban
Has a new master: get a new man.
Freedom, hey-day! hey-day, freedom! freedom, hey-day, freedom!
STEPHANO O brave monster! Lead the way.
[Exeunt]
THE TEMPEST
[Enter FERDINAND, bearing a log]
FERDINAND There be some sports are painful, and their labour
Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness
Are nobly undergone and most poor matters
Point to rich ends. This my mean task
Would be as heavy to me as odious, but
The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is
Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed, And he's composed of harshness. I must remove Some thousands of these logs and pile them up, Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress
Weeps when she sees me work, and says, such baseness Had never like executor. I forget:
But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours, Most busy lest, when I do it.
[Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO at a distance, unseen]
FERDINAND O most dear mistress,
The sun will set before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.
FERDINAND No, precious creature;
I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,
Than you should such dishonour undergo,
While I sit lazy by.
PROSPERO Poor worm, thou art infected!
This visitation shows it.
MIRANDA You look wearily.
FERDINAND No, noble mistress;'tis fresh morning with me
When you are by at night. I do beseech you--
Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers--
What is your name?
MIRANDA Miranda.--O my father,
I have broke your hest to say so!
FERDINAND Admired Miranda!
Indeed the top of admiration! worth
What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady
I have eyed with best regard and many a time
The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues Have I liked several women; never any
With so fun soul, but some defect in her
Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed And put it to the foil: but you, O you,
So perfect and so peerless, are created
Of every creature's best!
FERDINAND I am in my condition
A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king;
I would, not so!--and would no more endure
This wooden slavery than to suffer
The flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak:
The very instant that I saw you, did
My heart fly to your service; there resides, To make me slave to it; and for your sake
Am I this patient log--man.
FERDINAND O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound
And crown what I profess with kind event
If I speak true! if hollowly, invert
What best is boded me to mischief! I
Beyond all limit of what else i' the world
Do love, prize, honour you.
PROSPERO Fair encounter
Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace
On that which breeds between 'em!
FERDINAND Wherefore weep you?
FERDINAND My mistress, dearest;
And I thus humble ever.
MIRANDA My husband, then?
FERDINAND Ay, with a heart as willing
As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.
FERDINAND A thousand thousand!
[Exeunt FERDINAND and MIRANDA severally]
PROSPERO So glad of this as they I cannot be,
Who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing
At nothing can be more. I'll to my book,
For yet ere supper-time must I perform
Much business appertaining.
[Exit]
THE TEMPEST
SCENE II Another part of the island.
[Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO]
STEPHANO Tell not me; when the butt is out, we will drink
water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and
board 'em. Servant-monster, drink to me.
TRINCULO Servant-monster! the folly of this island! They
say there's but five upon this isle: we are three
of them; if th' other two be brained like us, the
state totters.
STEPHANO Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee: thy eyes
are almost set in thy head.
TRINCULO Where should they be set else? he were a brave
monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.
STEPHANO My man-monster hath drown'd his tongue in sack:
for my part, the sea cannot drown me; I swam, ere I
could recover the shore, five and thirty leagues off
and on. By this light, thou shalt be my lieutenant,
monster, or my standard.
TRINCULO Your lieutenant, if you list; he's no standard.
STEPHANO We'll not run, Monsieur Monster.
TRINCULO Nor go neither; but you'll lie like dogs and yet say
nothing neither.
STEPHANO Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a
good moon-calf.
TRINCULO Thou liest, most ignorant monster: I am in case to
justle a constable. Why, thou deboshed fish thou,
was there ever man a coward that hath drunk so much
sack as I to-day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie,
being but half a fish and half a monster?
CALIBAN Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?
TRINCULO 'Lord' quoth he! That a monster should be such a natural!
CALIBAN Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I prithee.
STEPHANO Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head: if you
prove a mutineer,--the next tree! The poor monster's
my subject and he shall not suffer indignity.
STEPHANO Marry, will I kneel and repeat it; I will stand,
and so shall Trinculo.
[Enter ARIEL, invisible]
STEPHANO Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in's tale, by
this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.
TRINCULO Why, I said nothing.
STEPHANO Mum, then, and no more. Proceed.
STEPHANO That's most certain.
CALIBAN Thou shalt be lord of it and I'll serve thee.
STEPHANO How now shall this be compassed?
Canst thou bring me to the party?
STEPHANO Trinculo, run into no further danger:
interrupt the monster one word further, and,
by this hand, I'll turn my mercy out o' doors
and make a stock-fish of thee.
TRINCULO Why, what did I? I did nothing. I'll go farther
off.
STEPHANO Didst thou not say he lied?
ARIEL Thou liest.
STEPHANO Do I so? take thou that.
[Beats TRINCULO]
As you like this, give me the lie another time.
TRINCULO I did not give the lie. Out o' your
wits and bearing too? A pox o' your bottle!
this can sack and drinking do. A murrain on
your monster, and the devil take your fingers!
CALIBAN Ha, ha, ha!
STEPHANO Now, forward with your tale. Prithee, stand farther
off.
STEPHANO Stand farther. Come, proceed.
STEPHANO Is it so brave a lass?
STEPHANO Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter and I
will be king and queen--save our graces!--and
Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys. Dost thou
like the plot, Trinculo?
TRINCULO Excellent.
STEPHANO Give me thy hand: I am sorry I beat thee; but,
while thou livest, keep a good tongue in thy head.
STEPHANO Ay, on mine honour.
STEPHANO At thy request, monster, I will do reason, any
reason. Come on, Trinculo, let us sing.
[Sings]
Flout 'em and scout 'em
And scout 'em and flout 'em
Thought is free.
[Ariel plays the tune on a tabour and pipe]
STEPHANO What is this same?
TRINCULO This is the tune of our catch, played by the picture
of Nobody.
STEPHANO If thou beest a man, show thyself in thy likeness:
if thou beest a devil, take't as thou list.
TRINCULO O, forgive me my sins!
STEPHANO He that dies pays all debts: I defy thee. Mercy upon us!
CALIBAN Art thou afeard?
STEPHANO No, monster, not I.
STEPHANO This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where I shall
have my music for nothing.
CALIBAN When Prospero is destroyed.
STEPHANO That shall be by and by: I remember the story.
TRINCULO The sound is going away; let's follow it, and
after do our work.
STEPHANO Lead, monster; we'll follow. I would I could see
this tabourer; he lays it on.
TRINCULO Wilt come? I'll follow, Stephano.
[Exeunt]
THE TEMPEST
SCENE III Another part of the island.
[Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others]
SEBASTIAN [Aside to ANTONIO] The next advantage
Will we take throughly.
SEBASTIAN [Aside to ANTONIO] I say, to-night: no more.
[Solemn and strange music]
[Enter PROSPERO above, invisible. Enter several strange Shapes, bringing in a banquet;
they dance about it with gentle actions of salutation; and, inviting the King, &c. to eat, they depart]
SEBASTIAN A living drollery. Now I will believe
That there are unicorns, that in Arabia
There is one tree, the phoenix' throne, one phoenix
At this hour reigning there.
PROSPERO [Aside] Honest lord,
Thou hast said well; for some of you there present
Are worse than devils.
PROSPERO [Aside] Praise in departing.
FRANCISCO They vanish'd strangely.
SEBASTIAN No matter, since
They have left their viands behind; for we have stomachs.
Will't please you taste of what is here?
ALONSO Not I.
ALONSO I will stand to and feed,
Although my last: no matter, since I feel
The best is past. Brother, my lord the duke,
Stand to and do as we.
[Thunder and lightning. Enter ARIEL, like a harpy; claps his wings upon the table; and, with a quaint device, the banquet vanishes]
[ALONSO, SEBASTIAN &c. draw their swords]
You fools! I and my fellows
Are ministers of Fate: the elements,
Of whom your swords are temper'd, may as well Wound the loud winds, or with bemock'd-at stabs Kill the still-closing waters, as diminish One dowle that's in my plume: my fellow-ministers Are like invulnerable. If you could hurt,
Your swords are now too massy for your strengths And will not be uplifted. But remember--
For that's my business to you--that you three From Milan did supplant good Prospero;
Exposed unto the sea, which hath requit it, Him and his innocent child: for which foul deed The powers, delaying, not forgetting, have Incensed the seas and shores, yea, all the creatures, Against your peace. Thee of thy son, Alonso, They have bereft; and do pronounce by me:
Lingering perdition, worse than any death
Can be at once, shall step by step attend
You and your ways; whose wraths to guard you from-- Which here, in this most desolate isle, else falls Upon your heads--is nothing but heart-sorrow And a clear life ensuing.
[He vanishes in thunder; then, to soft music enter the Shapes again, and dance, with
mocks and mows, and carrying out the table]
PROSPERO Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou
Perform'd, my Ariel; a grace it had, devouring:
Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated
In what thou hadst to say: so, with good life
And observation strange, my meaner ministers
Their several kinds have done. My high charms work And these mine enemies are all knit up
In their distractions; they now are in my power; And in these fits I leave them, while I visit Young Ferdinand, whom they suppose is drown'd, And his and mine loved darling.
[Exit above]
SEBASTIAN But one fiend at a time,
I'll fight their legions o'er.
ANTONIO I'll be thy second.
[Exeunt SEBASTIAN, and ANTONIO]
[Exeunt]
THE TEMPEST
[Enter PROSPERO, FERDINAND, and MIRANDA]
PROSPERO If I have too austerely punish'd you,
Your compensation makes amends, for I
Have given you here a third of mine own life,
Or that for which I live; who once again
I tender to thy hand: all thy vexations
Were but my trials of thy love and thou
Hast strangely stood the test here, afore Heaven, I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand,
Do not smile at me that I boast her off,
For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise And make it halt behind her.
FERDINAND I do believe it
Against an oracle.
PROSPERO Then, as my gift and thine own acquisition
Worthily purchased take my daughter: but
If thou dost break her virgin-knot before
All sanctimonious ceremonies may
With full and holy rite be minister'd,
No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall To make this contract grow: but barren hate, Sour-eyed disdain and discord shall bestrew The union of your bed with weeds so loathly That you shall hate it both: therefore take heed, As Hymen's lamps shall light you.
FERDINAND As I hope
For quiet days, fair issue and long life,
With such love as 'tis now, the murkiest den,
The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion.
Our worser genius can, shall never melt
Mine honour into lust, to take away
The edge of that day's celebration
When I shall think: or Phoebus' steeds are founder'd, Or Night kept chain'd below.
PROSPERO Fairly spoke.
Sit then and talk with her; she is thine own.
What, Ariel! my industrious servant, Ariel!
[Enter ARIEL]
ARIEL What would my potent master? here I am.
PROSPERO Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service
Did worthily perform; and I must use you
In such another trick. Go bring the rabble,
O'er whom I give thee power, here to this place:
Incite them to quick motion; for I must
Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple
Some vanity of mine art: it is my promise, And they expect it from me.
ARIEL Presently?
PROSPERO Ay, with a twink.
ARIEL Before you can say 'come' and 'go,'
And breathe twice and cry 'so, so,'
Each one, tripping on his toe,
Will be here with mop and mow.
Do you love me, master? no?
PROSPERO Dearly my delicate Ariel. Do not approach
Till thou dost hear me call.
ARIEL Well, I conceive.
[Exit]
PROSPERO Look thou be true; do not give dalliance
Too much the rein: the strongest oaths are straw
To the fire i' the blood: be more abstemious,
Or else, good night your vow!
FERDINAND I warrant you sir;
The white cold virgin snow upon my heart
Abates the ardour of my liver.
PROSPERO Well.
Now come, my Ariel! bring a corollary,
Rather than want a spirit: appear and pertly!
No tongue! all eyes! be silent.
[Soft music]
[Enter IRIS]
[Enter CERES]
IRIS Of her society
Be not afraid: I met her deity
Cutting the clouds towards Paphos and her son
Dove-drawn with her. Here thought they to have done
Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,
Whose vows are, that no bed-right shall be paid Till Hymen's torch be lighted: but vain;
Mars's hot minion is returned again;
Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows, Swears he will shoot no more but play with sparrows And be a boy right out.
[Enter JUNO]
[They sing:]
JUNO Honour, riches, marriage-blessing,
Long continuance, and increasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you!
Juno sings her blessings upon you.
CERES Earth's increase, foison plenty,
Barns and garners never empty,
Vines and clustering bunches growing,
Plants with goodly burthen bowing;
Spring come to you at the farthest
In the very end of harvest!
Scarcity and want shall shun you;
Ceres' blessing so is on you.
FERDINAND This is a most majestic vision, and
Harmoniously charmingly. May I be bold
To think these spirits?
PROSPERO Spirits, which by mine art
I have from their confines call'd to enact
My present fancies.
FERDINAND Let me live here ever;
So rare a wonder'd father and a wife
Makes this place Paradise.
[Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on
employment]
PROSPERO Sweet, now, silence!
Juno and Ceres whisper seriously;
There's something else to do: hush, and be mute,
Or else our spell is marr'd.
[Enter certain Nymphs]
You sunburnt sicklemen, of August weary,
Come hither from the furrow and be merry:
Make holiday; your rye-straw hats put on
And these fresh nymphs encounter every one In country footing.
[Enter certain Reapers, properly habited: they join with the Nymphs in a graceful dance;
towards the end whereof PROSPERO starts
suddenly, and speaks; after which, to a
strange, hollow, and confused noise, they
heavily vanish]
PROSPERO [Aside] I had forgot that foul conspiracy
Of the beast Caliban and his confederates
Against my life: the minute of their plot
Is almost come.
[To the Spirits]
Well done! avoid; no more!
FERDINAND This is strange: your father's in some passion
That works him strongly.
PROSPERO You do look, my son, in a moved sort,
As if you were dismay'd: be cheerful, sir.
Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Ye all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff As dreams are made on, and our little life Is rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vex'd;
Bear with my weakness; my, brain is troubled: Be not disturb'd with my infirmity:
If you be pleased, retire into my cell
And there repose: a turn or two I'll walk, To still my beating mind.
FERDINAND |
| We wish your peace.
MIRANDA |
[Exeunt]
PROSPERO Come with a thought I thank thee, Ariel: come.
[Enter ARIEL]
ARIEL Thy thoughts I cleave to. What's thy pleasure?
PROSPERO Spirit,
We must prepare to meet with Caliban.
PROSPERO Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets?
PROSPERO This was well done, my bird.
Thy shape invisible retain thou still:
The trumpery in my house, go bring it hither,
For stale to catch these thieves.
ARIEL I go, I go.
[Exit]
PROSPERO A devil, a born devil, on whose nature
Nurture can never stick; on whom my pains,
Humanely taken, all, all lost, quite lost;
And as with age his body uglier grows,
So his mind cankers. I will plague them all,
Even to roaring.
[Re-enter ARIEL, loaden with glistering apparel, &c]
Come, hang them on this line.
[PROSPERO and ARIEL remain invisible. Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, all wet]
STEPHANO Monster, your fairy, which you say is
a harmless fairy, has done little better than
played the Jack with us.
TRINCULO Monster, I do smell all horse-piss; at
which my nose is in great indignation.
STEPHANO So is mine. Do you hear, monster? If I should take
a displeasure against you, look you,--
TRINCULO Thou wert but a lost monster.
TRINCULO Ay, but to lose our bottles in the pool,--
STEPHANO There is not only disgrace and dishonour in that,
monster, but an infinite loss.
TRINCULO That's more to me than my wetting: yet this is your
harmless fairy, monster.
STEPHANO I will fetch off my bottle, though I be o'er ears
for my labour.
STEPHANO Give me thy hand. I do begin to have bloody thoughts.
TRINCULO O king Stephano! O peer! O worthy Stephano! look
what a wardrobe here is for thee!
CALIBAN Let it alone, thou fool; it is but trash.
TRINCULO O, ho, monster! we know what belongs to a frippery.
O king Stephano!
STEPHANO Put off that gown, Trinculo; by this hand, I'll have
that gown.
TRINCULO Thy grace shall have it.
STEPHANO Be you quiet, monster. Mistress line,
is not this my jerkin? Now is the jerkin under
the line: now, jerkin, you are like to lose your
hair and prove a bald jerkin.
TRINCULO Do, do: we steal by line and level, an't like your grace.
STEPHANO I thank thee for that jest; here's a garment for't:
wit shall not go unrewarded while I am king of this
country. 'Steal by line and level' is an excellent
pass of pate; there's another garment for't.
TRINCULO Monster, come, put some lime upon your fingers, and
away with the rest.
STEPHANO Monster, lay-to your fingers: help to bear this
away where my hogshead of wine is, or I'll turn you
out of my kingdom: go to, carry this.
TRINCULO And this.
STEPHANO Ay, and this.
[A noise of hunters heard. Enter divers Spirits, in shape of dogs and hounds, and hunt them about, PROSPERO and ARIEL setting them on]
PROSPERO Hey, Mountain, hey! ARIEL Silver I there it goes, Silver! PROSPERO Fury, Fury! there, Tyrant, there! hark! hark!
[CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, are
driven out]
Go charge my goblins that they grind their joints With dry convulsions, shorten up their sinews With aged cramps, and more pinch-spotted make them Than pard or cat o' mountain.
ARIEL Hark, they roar!
PROSPERO Let them be hunted soundly. At this hour
Lie at my mercy all mine enemies:
Shortly shall all my labours end, and thou
Shalt have the air at freedom: for a little
Follow, and do me service.
[Exeunt]
THE TEMPEST
[Enter PROSPERO in his magic robes, and ARIEL]
PROSPERO Now does my project gather to a head:
My charms crack not; my spirits obey; and time
Goes upright with his carriage. How's the day?
PROSPERO I did say so,
When first I raised the tempest. Say, my spirit,
How fares the king and's followers?
PROSPERO Dost thou think so, spirit?
ARIEL Mine would, sir, were I human.
PROSPERO And mine shall.
Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling
Of their afflictions, and shall not myself,
One of their kind, that relish all as sharply,
Passion as they, be kindlier moved than thou art?
Though with their high wrongs I am struck to the quick, Yet with my nobler reason 'gaitist my fury Do I take part: the rarer action is
In virtue than in vengeance: they being penitent, The sole drift of my purpose doth extend
Not a frown further. Go release them, Ariel: My charms I'll break, their senses I'll restore, And they shall be themselves.
[Exit]
PROSPERO Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes and groves,
And ye that on the sands with printless foot
Do chase the ebbing Neptune and do fly him
When he comes back; you demi-puppets that
By moonshine do the green sour ringlets make,
Whereof the ewe not bites, and you whose pastime Is to make midnight mushrooms, that rejoice To hear the solemn curfew; by whose aid,
Weak masters though ye be, I have bedimm'd The noontide sun, call'd forth the mutinous winds, And 'twixt the green sea and the azured vault Set roaring war: to the dread rattling thunder Have I given fire and rifted Jove's stout oak With his own bolt; the strong-based promontory Have I made shake and by the spurs pluck'd up The pine and cedar: graves at my command
Have waked their sleepers, oped, and let 'em forth By my so potent art. But this rough magic
I here abjure, and, when I have required
Some heavenly music, which even now I do,
To work mine end upon their senses that
This airy charm is for, I'll break my staff, Bury it certain fathoms in the earth,
And deeper than did ever plummet sound
I'll drown my book.
[Solemn music]
[Re-enter ARIEL before: then ALONSO, with a frantic gesture, attended by GONZALO;
SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO in like manner,
attended by ADRIAN and FRANCISCO they all enter the circle which PROSPERO had made,
and there stand charmed; which PROSPERO
observing, speaks:]
A solemn air and the best comforter
To an unsettled fancy cure thy brains,
Now useless, boil'd within thy skull! There stand, For you are spell-stopp'd.
Holy Gonzalo, honourable man,
Mine eyes, even sociable to the show of thine, Fall fellowly drops. The charm dissolves apace, And as the morning steals upon the night,
Melting the darkness, so their rising senses Begin to chase the ignorant fumes that mantle Their clearer reason. O good Gonzalo,
My true preserver, and a loyal sir
To him you follow'st! I will pay thy graces Home both in word and deed. Most cruelly
Didst thou, Alonso, use me and my daughter: Thy brother was a furtherer in the act.
Thou art pinch'd fort now, Sebastian. Flesh and blood, You, brother mine, that entertain'd ambition, Expell'd remorse and nature; who, with Sebastian, Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong, Would here have kill'd your king; I do forgive thee, Unnatural though thou art. Their understanding Begins to swell, and the approaching tide
Will shortly fill the reasonable shore
That now lies foul and muddy. Not one of them That yet looks on me, or would know me Ariel, Fetch me the hat and rapier in my cell:
I will discase me, and myself present
As I was sometime Milan: quickly, spirit;
Thou shalt ere long be free.
[ARIEL sings and helps to attire him]
Where the bee sucks. there suck I:
In a cowslip's bell I lie;
There I couch when owls do cry.
On the bat's back I do fly
After summer merrily.
Merrily, merrily shall I live now
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.
PROSPERO Why, that's my dainty Ariel! I shall miss thee:
But yet thou shalt have freedom: so, so, so.
To the king's ship, invisible as thou art:
There shalt thou find the mariners asleep
Under the hatches; the master and the boatswain
Being awake, enforce them to this place,
And presently, I prithee.
[Exit]
PROSPERO Behold, sir king,
The wronged Duke of Milan, Prospero:
For more assurance that a living prince
Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body;
And to thee and thy company I bid
A hearty welcome.
ALONSO Whether thou best he or no,
Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me,
As late I have been, I not know: thy pulse
Beats as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee,
The affliction of my mind amends, with which,
I fear, a madness held me: this must crave, An if this be at all, a most strange story. Thy dukedom I resign and do entreat
Thou pardon me my wrongs. But how should Prospero Be living and be here?
PROSPERO First, noble friend,
Let me embrace thine age, whose honour cannot
Be measured or confined.
PROSPERO You do yet taste
Some subtilties o' the isle, that will not let you
Believe things certain. Welcome, my friends all!
[Aside to SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO]
But you, my brace of lords, were I so minded, I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you And justify you traitors: at this time
I will tell no tales.
SEBASTIAN [Aside] The devil speaks in him.
PROSPERO No.
For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother
Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive
Thy rankest fault; all of them; and require
My dukedom of thee, which perforce, I know,
Thou must restore.
ALONSO If thou be'st Prospero,
Give us particulars of thy preservation;
How thou hast met us here, who three hours since
Were wreck'd upon this shore; where I have lost--
How sharp the point of this remembrance is!--
My dear son Ferdinand.
PROSPERO I am woe for't, sir.
PROSPERO I rather think
You have not sought her help, of whose soft grace
For the like loss I have her sovereign aid
And rest myself content.
ALONSO You the like loss!
PROSPERO As great to me as late; and, supportable
To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker
Than you may call to comfort you, for I
Have lost my daughter.
PROSPERO In this last tempest. I perceive these lords
At this encounter do so much admire
That they devour their reason and scarce think
Their eyes do offices of truth, their words
Are natural breath: but, howsoe'er you have
Been justled from your senses, know for certain That I am Prospero and that very duke
Which was thrust forth of Milan, who most strangely Upon this shore, where you were wreck'd, 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 breakfast nor
Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir; This cell's my court: here have I few attendants And subjects none abroad: pray you, look in. My dukedom since you have given me again,
I will requite you with as good a thing;
At least bring forth a wonder, to content ye As much as me my dukedom.
[Here PROSPERO discovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA playing at chess]
FERDINAND No, my dear'st love,
I would not for the world.
SEBASTIAN A most high miracle!
FERDINAND Though the seas threaten, they are merciful;
I have cursed them without cause.
[Kneels]
PROSPERO 'Tis new to thee.
FERDINAND Sir, she is mortal;
But by immortal Providence she's mine:
I chose her when I could not ask my father
For his advice, nor thought I had one. She
Is daughter to this famous Duke of Milan,
Of whom so often I have heard renown,
But never saw before; of whom I have
Received a second life; and second father
This lady makes him to me.
PROSPERO There, sir, stop:
Let us not burthen our remembrance with
A heaviness that's gone.
[Re-enter ARIEL, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following]
O, look, sir, look, sir! here is more of us: I prophesied, if a gallows were on land,
This fellow could not drown. Now, blasphemy, That swear'st grace o'erboard, not an oath on shore? Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news?
Boatswain The best news is, that we have safely found
Our king and company; the next, our ship--
Which, but three glasses since, we gave out split--
Is tight and yare and bravely rigg'd as when
We first put out to sea.
PROSPERO [Aside to ARIEL] My tricksy spirit!
Boatswain If I did think, sir, I were well awake,
I'ld strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep,
And--how we know not--all clapp'd under hatches;
Where but even now with strange and several noises
Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains,
And more diversity of sounds, all horrible, We were awaked; straightway, at liberty;
Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld
Our royal, good and gallant ship, our master Capering to eye her: on a trice, so please you, Even in a dream, were we divided from them And were brought moping hither.
ARIEL [Aside to PROSPERO] Was't well done? PROSPERO [Aside to ARIEL] Bravely, my diligence. Thou shalt be free.
PROSPERO Sir, my liege,
Do not infest your mind with beating on
The strangeness of this business; at pick'd leisure
Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you,
Which to you shall seem probable, of every
These happen'd accidents; till when, be cheerful And think of each thing well.
[Aside to ARIEL]
Come hither, spirit:
Set Caliban and his companions free;
Untie the spell.
[Exit ARIEL]
How fares my gracious sir?
There are yet missing of your company
Some few odd lads that you remember not.
[Re-enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO and TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel]
STEPHANO Every man shift for all the rest, and
let no man take care for himself; for all is
but fortune. Coragio, bully-monster, coragio!
TRINCULO If these be true spies which I wear in my head,
here's a goodly sight.
SEBASTIAN Ha, ha!
What things are these, my lord Antonio?
Will money buy 'em?
PROSPERO Mark but the badges of these men, my lords,
Then say if they be true. This mis-shapen knave,
His mother was a witch, and one so strong
That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs,
And deal in her command without her power.
These three have robb'd me; and this demi-devil-- For he's a bastard one--had plotted with them To take my life. Two of these fellows you
Must know and own; this thing of darkness! Acknowledge mine.
CALIBAN I shall be pinch'd to death. ALONSO Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler? SEBASTIAN He is drunk now: where had he wine?
TRINCULO I have been in such a pickle since I
saw you last that, I fear me, will never out of
my bones: I shall not fear fly-blowing.
SEBASTIAN Why, how now, Stephano!
STEPHANO O, touch me not; I am not Stephano, but a cramp.
PROSPERO You'ld be king o' the isle, sirrah?
STEPHANO I should have been a sore one then.
[Pointing to Caliban]
PROSPERO He is as disproportion'd in his manners
As in his shape. Go, sirrah, to my cell;
Take with you your companions; as you look
To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.
PROSPERO Go to; away! ALONSO Hence, and bestow your luggage where you found it. SEBASTIAN Or stole it, rather.
[Exeunt CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO]
PROSPERO Sir, I invite your highness and your train
To my poor cell, where you shall take your rest
For this one night; which, part of it, I'll waste
With such discourse as, I not doubt, shall make it
Go quick away; the story of my life
And the particular accidents gone by
Since I came to this isle: and in the morn I'll bring you to your ship and so to Naples, Where I have hope to see the nuptial
Of these our dear-beloved solemnized;
And thence retire me to my Milan, where
Every third thought shall be my grave.
PROSPERO I'll deliver all;
And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales
And sail so expeditious that shall catch
Your royal fleet far off.
[Aside to ARIEL]
My Ariel, chick,
That is thy charge: then to the elements
Be free, and fare thou well! Please you, draw near.
[Exeunt]
THE TEMPEST
EPILOGUE
SPOKEN BY PROSPERO
Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own,
Which is most faint: now, 'tis true,
I must be here confined by you,
Or sent to Naples. Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got
And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island by your spell;
But release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands:
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please. Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be relieved by prayer,
Which pierces so that it assaults
Mercy itself and frees all faults.
As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
Let your indulgence set me free.