The Tempest

ACT 1

Scene 1

A tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning heard .

Enter a Shipmaster and a Boatswain .

MASTER

Boatswain !

BOATSWAIN

Here , master . What cheer ?

MASTER

Good , speak to th’ mariners . Fall to ’t yarely ,

or we run ourselves aground . Bestir , bestir !

He exits .

Enter Mariners .

BOATSWAIN

Heigh , my hearts ! Cheerly , cheerly , my

hearts ! Yare , yare ! Take in the topsail . Tend to th’

Master’s whistle . — Blow till thou burst thy wind , if

room enough !

Enter Alonso , Sebastian , Antonio , Ferdinand , Gonzalo , and others .

ALONSO

Good boatswain , have care . Where’s the Master ?

Play the men .

BOATSWAIN

I pray now , keep below .

ANTONIO

Where is the Master , boatswain ?

BOATSWAIN

Do you not hear him ? You mar our labor .

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 councillor ; 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 !

He exits .

GONZALO

I have great comfort from this fellow . Methinks

he hath no drowning mark upon him . His

complexion is perfect gallows . Stand fast , good

Fate , to his hanging . Make the rope of his destiny

our cable , for our own doth little advantage . If he be

not born to be hanged , our case is miserable .

He exits with Alonso , Sebastian , and the other courtiers .

Enter Boatswain .

BOATSWAIN

Down with the topmast ! Yare ! Lower , lower !

Bring her to try wi’ th’ main course .

( A cry within . )

A plague upon this howling ! They are

louder than the weather or our office .

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 .

ANTONIO

Hang , cur , hang , you whoreson , insolent

noisemaker ! We are less afraid to be drowned than

thou art .

GONZALO

I’ll warrant him for drowning , though the

ship were no stronger than a nutshell and as leaky

as an unstanched wench .

BOATSWAIN

Lay her ahold , ahold ! Set her two courses .

Off to sea again ! Lay her off !

Enter more Mariners , wet .

MARINERS

All lost ! To prayers , to prayers ! All lost !

Mariners exit .

BOATSWAIN

What , must our mouths be cold ?

GONZALO

The King and Prince at prayers . Let’s assist

them , for our case is as theirs .

SEBASTIAN

I am out of patience .

ANTONIO

We are merely cheated of our lives by drunkards .

This wide-chopped rascal — would thou

mightst lie drowning the washing of ten tides !

Boatswain exits .

GONZALO

He’ll be hanged yet , though every drop of

water swear against it and gape at wid’st to glut him .

A confused noise within :

“ Mercy on us ! ” — “ We split , we

split ! ” — “ Farewell , my wife and children ! ” —

“ Farewell , brother ! ” — “ We split , we split , we

split ! ”

ANTONIO

Let’s all sink wi’ th’ King .

SEBASTIAN

Let’s take leave of him .

He exits with Antonio .

GONZALO

Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea

for an acre of barren ground : long heath , brown

furze , anything . The wills above be done , but I

would fain die a dry death .

He exits .

Scene 2

Enter Prospero and Miranda .

MIRANDA

If by your art , my dearest father , you have

Put the wild waters in this roar , allay them .

The sky , it seems , would pour down stinking pitch ,

But that the sea , mounting to th’ welkin’s cheek ,

Dashes the fire out . O , I have suffered

With those that I saw suffer ! A brave vessel ,

Who had , no doubt , some noble creature in her ,

Dashed all to pieces . O , the cry did knock

Against my very heart ! Poor souls , they perished .

Had I been any god of power , I would

Have sunk the sea within the earth or ere

It should the good ship so have swallowed , and

The fraughting souls within her .

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 , naught knowing

Of whence I am , nor that I am more better

Than Prospero , master of a full poor cell ,

And thy no greater father .

MIRANDA

More to know

Did never meddle with my thoughts .

PROSPERO

’Tis time

I should inform thee farther . Lend thy hand

And pluck my magic garment from me .

Putting aside his cloak .

So ,

Lie there , my art . — Wipe thou thine eyes . Have comfort .

The direful spectacle of the wrack , which touched

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 .

They sit .

MIRANDA

You have often

Begun to tell me what I am , but stopped

And left me to a bootless inquisition ,

Concluding “ Stay . Not yet . ”

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 .

MIRANDA

Certainly , sir , I can .

PROSPERO

By what ? By any other house or person ?

Of anything the image tell me that

Hath kept with thy remembrance .

MIRANDA

’Tis far off

And rather like a dream than an assurance

That my remembrance warrants . Had I not

Four or five women once that tended me ?

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 rememb’rest aught ere thou cam’st here ,

How thou cam’st 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 his only heir

And princess no worse issued .

MIRANDA

O , the heavens !

What foul play had we that we came from thence ?

Or blessèd was ’t we did ?

PROSPERO

Both , both , my girl .

By foul play , as thou sayst , were we heaved thence ,

But blessedly holp hither .

MIRANDA

O , my heart bleeds

To think o’ th’ teen that I have turned you to ,

Which is from my remembrance . Please you , farther .

PROSPERO

My brother and thy uncle , called 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 ?

MIRANDA

Sir , most heedfully .

PROSPERO

Being once perfected how to grant suits ,

How to deny them , who t’ advance , and who

To trash for overtopping , new created

The creatures that were mine , I say , or changed ’em ,

Or else new formed ’em , having both the key

Of officer and office , set all hearts i’ th’ state

To what tune pleased his ear , that now he was

The ivy which had hid my princely trunk

And sucked my verdure out on ’t . Thou attend’st not .

MIRANDA

O , good sir , I do .

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’erprized 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’ th’ substitution

And executing th’ 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 played

And him he played 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’ th’ King of Naples

To give him annual tribute , do him homage ,

Subject his coronet to his crown , and bend

The dukedom , yet unbowed — alas , poor Milan ! —

To most ignoble stooping .

MIRANDA

O , the heavens !

PROSPERO

Mark his condition and th’ event . Then tell me

If this might be a brother .

MIRANDA

I should sin

To think but nobly of my grandmother .

Good wombs have borne bad sons .

PROSPERO

Now the condition .

This King of Naples , being an enemy

To me inveterate , hearkens my brother’s suit ,

Which was that he , in lieu o’ th’ 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 honors , on my brother ; whereon ,

A treacherous army levied , one midnight

Fated to th’ purpose did Antonio open

The gates of Milan , and i’ th’ dead of darkness

The ministers for th’ purpose hurried thence

Me and thy crying self .

MIRANDA

Alack , for pity !

I , not rememb’ring how I cried out then ,

Will cry it o’er again . It is a hint

That wrings mine eyes to ’t .

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 .

MIRANDA

Wherefore did they not

That hour destroy us ?

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 colors 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 butt , not rigged ,

Nor tackle , sail , nor mast ; the very rats

Instinctively have quit it . There they hoist us

To cry to th’ sea that roared to us , to sigh

To th’ winds , whose pity , sighing back again ,

Did us but loving wrong .

MIRANDA

Alack , what trouble

Was I then to you !

PROSPERO

O , a cherubin

Thou wast that did preserve me . Thou didst smile ,

Infusèd with a fortitude from heaven ,

When I have decked the sea with drops full salt ,

Under my burden groaned , which raised in me

An undergoing stomach to bear up

Against what should ensue .

MIRANDA

How came we ashore ?

PROSPERO

By providence divine .

Some food we had , and some fresh water , that

A noble Neapolitan , Gonzalo ,

Out of his charity , who 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 furnished me

From mine own library with volumes that

I prize above my dukedom .

MIRANDA

Would I might

But ever see that man .

PROSPERO , standing

Now I arise .

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 princes can , that have more time

For vainer hours and tutors not so careful .

MIRANDA

Heavens thank you for ’t . And now I pray you , sir —

For still ’tis beating in my mind — your reason

For raising this sea storm ?

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 dullness ,

And give it way . I know thou canst not choose .

Miranda falls asleep .

Prospero puts on his cloak .

Come away , servant , come . I am ready now .

Approach , my Ariel . Come .

Enter Ariel .

ARIEL

All hail , great master ! Grave sir , hail ! I come

To answer thy best pleasure . Be ’t to fly ,

To swim , to dive into the fire , to ride

On the curled clouds , to thy strong bidding task

Ariel and all his quality .

PROSPERO

Hast thou , spirit ,

Performed to point the tempest that I bade thee ?

ARIEL

To every article .

I boarded the King’s ship ; now on the beak ,

Now in the waist , the deck , in every cabin ,

I flamed amazement . Sometimes I’d divide

And burn in many places . On the topmast ,

The yards , and bowsprit would I flame distinctly ,

Then meet and join . Jove’s lightning , the precursors

O’ th’ dreadful thunderclaps , more momentary

And sight-outrunning were not . The fire and cracks

Of sulfurous roaring the most mighty Neptune

Seem to besiege and make his bold waves tremble ,

Yea , his dread trident shake .

PROSPERO

My brave spirit !

Who was so firm , so constant , that this coil

Would not infect his reason ?

ARIEL

Not a soul

But felt a fever of the mad , and played

Some tricks of desperation . All but mariners

Plunged in the foaming brine and quit the vessel ,

Then all afire with me . The King’s son , Ferdinand ,

With hair up-staring — then like reeds , not hair —

Was the first man that leaped ; cried “ Hell is empty ,

And all the devils are here . ”

PROSPERO

Why , that’s my spirit !

But was not this nigh shore ?

ARIEL

Close by , my master .

PROSPERO

But are they , Ariel , safe ?

ARIEL

Not a hair perished .

On their sustaining garments not a blemish ,

But fresher than before ; and , as thou bad’st me ,

In troops I have dispersed them ’bout the isle .

The King’s son have I landed by himself ,

Whom I left cooling of the air with sighs

In an odd angle of the isle , and sitting ,

His arms in this sad knot .

He folds his arms .

PROSPERO

Of the King’s ship ,

The mariners say how thou hast disposed ,

And all the rest o’ th’ fleet .

ARIEL

Safely in harbor

Is the King’s ship . In the deep nook , where once

Thou called’st me up at midnight to fetch dew

From the still-vexed Bermoothes , there she’s hid ;

The mariners all under hatches stowed ,

Who , with a charm joined to their suffered labor ,

I have left asleep . And for the rest o’ th’ fleet ,

Which I dispersed , they all have met again

And are upon the Mediterranean float ,

Bound sadly home for Naples ,

Supposing that they saw the King’s ship wracked

And his great person perish .

PROSPERO

Ariel , thy charge

Exactly is performed . But there’s more work .

What is the time o’ th’ 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 .

ARIEL

Is there more toil ? Since thou dost give me pains ,

Let me remember thee what thou hast promised ,

Which is not yet performed me .

PROSPERO

How now ? Moody ?

What is ’t thou canst demand ?

ARIEL

My liberty .

PROSPERO

Before the time be out ? No more .

ARIEL

I prithee ,

Remember I have done thee worthy service ,

Told thee no lies , made no mistakings , served

Without or grudge or grumblings . Thou did promise

To bate me a full year .

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’ th’ 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 damned witch Sycorax ,

For mischiefs manifold , and sorceries terrible

To enter human hearing , from Argier ,

Thou know’st , was banished . 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 th’ sailors . Thou , my slave ,

As thou report’st thyself , was then her servant ,

And for thou wast a spirit too delicate

To act her earthy and abhorred 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

Imprisoned 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 honored 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 damned , 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 howled away twelve winters .

ARIEL

Pardon , master .

I will be correspondent to command

And do my spriting gently .

PROSPERO

Do so , and after two days

I will discharge thee .

ARIEL

That’s my noble master .

What shall I do ? Say , what ? What shall I do ?

PROSPERO

Go make thyself like a nymph o’ th’ 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 !

Ariel exits .

Awake , dear heart , awake . Thou hast slept well .

Awake .

Miranda wakes .

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 .

MIRANDA , rising

’Tis a villain , sir ,

I do not love to look on .

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 ?

Enter Ariel like a water nymph .

Fine apparition ! My quaint Ariel ,

Hark in thine ear .

He whispers to Ariel .

ARIEL

My lord , it shall be done .

He exits .

PROSPERO , to Caliban

Thou poisonous slave , got by the devil himself

Upon thy wicked dam , come forth !

Enter Caliban .

CALIBAN

As wicked dew as e’er my mother brushed

With raven’s feather from unwholesome fen

Drop on you both . A southwest blow on you

And blister you all o’er .

PROSPERO

For this , be sure , tonight thou shalt have cramps ,

Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up . Urchins

Shall forth at vast of night that they may work

All exercise on thee . Thou shalt be pinched

As thick as honeycomb , each pinch more stinging

Than bees that made ’em .

CALIBAN

I must eat my dinner .

This island’s mine by Sycorax , my mother ,

Which thou tak’st from me . When thou cam’st first ,

Thou strok’st me and made much of me , wouldst give me

Water with berries in ’t , and teach me how

To name the bigger light and how the less ,

That burn by day and night . And then I loved thee ,

And showed thee all the qualities o’ th’ isle ,

The fresh springs , brine pits , barren place and fertile .

Cursed be I that did so ! All the charms

Of Sycorax , toads , beetles , bats , light on you ,

For I am all the subjects that you have ,

Which first was mine own king ; and here you sty me

In this hard rock , whiles you do keep from me

The rest o’ th’ island .

PROSPERO

Thou most lying slave ,

Whom stripes may move , not kindness , I have used thee ,

Filth as thou art , with humane care , and lodged thee

In mine own cell , till thou didst seek to violate

The honor of my child .

CALIBAN

O ho , O ho ! Would ’t had been done !

Thou didst prevent me . I had peopled else

This isle with Calibans .

MIRANDA

Abhorrèd 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 endowed 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 .

CALIBAN

You taught me language , and my profit on ’t

Is I know how to curse . The red plague rid you

For learning me your language !

PROSPERO

Hagseed , hence !

Fetch us in fuel ; and be quick , thou ’rt best ,

To answer other business . Shrugg’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 .

CALIBAN

No , pray thee .

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 .

Caliban exits .

Enter Ferdinand ; and Ariel , invisible , playing and singing .

Song .

ARIEL

Come unto these yellow sands ,

And then take hands .

Curtsied when you have , and kissed

The wild waves whist .

Foot it featly here and there ,

And sweet sprites bear

The burden . Hark , hark !

Burden dispersedly , within :

Bow-wow .

The watchdogs bark .

Burden dispersedly , within :

Bow-wow .

Hark , hark ! I hear

The strain of strutting chanticleer

Cry cock-a-diddle-dow .

FERDINAND

Where should this music be ? I’ th’ air , or th’ earth ?

It sounds no more ; and sure it waits upon

Some god o’ th’ island . Sitting on a bank ,

Weeping again the King my father’s wrack ,

This music crept by me upon the waters ,

Allaying both their fury and my passion

With its sweet air . Thence I have followed it ,

Or it hath drawn me rather . But ’tis gone .

No , it begins again .

Song .

ARIEL

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 .

Burden , within :

Ding dong .

Hark , now I hear them : ding dong bell .

FERDINAND

The ditty does remember my drowned father .

This is no mortal business , nor no sound

That the Earth owes . I hear it now above me .

PROSPERO , to Miranda

The fringèd curtains of thine eye advance

And say what thou seest yond .

MIRANDA

What is ’t ? A spirit ?

Lord , how it looks about ! Believe me , sir ,

It carries a brave form . But ’tis a spirit .

PROSPERO

No , wench , it eats and sleeps and hath such senses

As we have , such . This gallant which thou seest

Was in the wrack ; and , but he’s something stained

With grief — that’s beauty’s canker — thou might’st call him

A goodly person . He hath lost his fellows

And strays about to find ’em .

MIRANDA

I might call him

A thing divine , for nothing natural

I ever saw so noble .

PROSPERO , aside

It goes on , I see ,

As my soul prompts it .

To Ariel .

Spirit , fine spirit , I’ll free thee

Within two days for this .

FERDINAND , seeing Miranda

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 .

MIRANDA

No wonder , sir ,

But certainly a maid .

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 wracked .

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 .

MIRANDA

Why speaks my father so ungently ? This

Is the third man that e’er I saw , the first

That e’er I sighed for . Pity move my father

To be inclined my way .

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 ow’st 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 !

MIRANDA

There’s nothing ill can dwell in such a temple .

If the ill spirit have so fair a house ,

Good things will strive to dwell with ’t .

PROSPERO , to Ferdinand

Follow me .

To Miranda .

Speak not you for him . He’s a traitor .

To Ferdinand .

Come ,

I’ll manacle thy neck and feet together .

Sea water shalt thou drink . Thy food shall be

The fresh-brook mussels , withered roots , and husks

Wherein the acorn cradled . Follow .

FERDINAND

No ,

I will resist such entertainment till

Mine enemy has more power .

He draws , and is charmed from moving .

MIRANDA

O dear father ,

Make not too rash a trial of him , for

He’s gentle and not fearful .

PROSPERO

What , I say ,

My foot my tutor ? — Put thy sword up , traitor ,

Who mak’st a show , but dar’st not strike , thy conscience

Is so possessed with guilt . Come from thy ward ,

For I can here disarm thee with this stick

And make thy weapon drop .

MIRANDA

Beseech you , father —

PROSPERO

Hence ! Hang not on my garments .

MIRANDA

Sir , have pity .

I’ll be his surety .

PROSPERO

Silence ! One word more

Shall make me chide thee , if not hate thee . What ,

An advocate for an impostor ? Hush .

Thou think’st there is no more such shapes as he ,

Having seen but him and Caliban . Foolish wench ,

To th’ most of men this is a Caliban ,

And they to him are angels .

MIRANDA

My affections

Are then most humble . I have no ambition

To see a goodlier man .

PROSPERO , to Ferdinand

Come on , obey .

Thy nerves are in their infancy again

And have no vigor 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 wrack 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’ th’ Earth

Let liberty make use of . Space enough

Have I in such a prison .

PROSPERO , aside

It works . — Come on . —

Thou hast done well , fine Ariel . — Follow me .

To Ariel .

Hark what thou else shalt do me .

MIRANDA , to Ferdinand

Be of comfort .

My father’s of a better nature , sir ,

Than he appears by speech . This is unwonted

Which now came from him .

PROSPERO , to Ariel

Thou shalt be as free

As mountain winds ; but then exactly do

All points of my command .

ARIEL

To th’ syllable .

PROSPERO , to Ferdinand

Come follow .

To Miranda .

Speak not for him .

They exit .

ACT 2

Scene 1

Enter Alonso , Sebastian , Antonio , Gonzalo , Adrian , Francisco , and others .

GONZALO , to Alonso

Beseech you , sir , be merry . You have cause —

So have we all — of joy , for our escape

Is much beyond our loss . Our hint of woe

Is common ; every day some sailor’s wife ,

The masters of some merchant , and the merchant

Have just our theme of woe . But for the miracle —

I mean our preservation — few in millions

Can speak like us . Then wisely , good sir , weigh

Our sorrow with our comfort .

ALONSO

Prithee , peace .

SEBASTIAN , aside to Antonio

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 , to Alonso

Sir —

SEBASTIAN

One . Tell .

GONZALO

When every grief is entertained that’s offered ,

comes to th’ entertainer —

SEBASTIAN

A dollar .

GONZALO

Dolor comes to him indeed . You have spoken

truer than you purposed .

SEBASTIAN

You have taken it wiselier than I meant you

should .

GONZALO , to Alonso

Therefore , my lord —

ANTONIO

Fie , what a spendthrift is he of his tongue .

ALONSO , to Gonzalo

I prithee , spare .

GONZALO

Well , I have done . But yet —

SEBASTIAN , aside to Antonio

He will be talking .

ANTONIO , aside to Sebastian

Which , of he or Adrian ,

for a good wager , first begins to crow ?

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 —

ANTONIO

Ha , ha , ha .

SEBASTIAN

So . You’re paid .

ADRIAN

Uninhabitable and almost inaccessible —

SEBASTIAN

Yet —

ADRIAN

Yet —

ANTONIO

He could not miss ’t .

ADRIAN

It must needs be of subtle , tender , and delicate

temperance .

ANTONIO

Temperance was a delicate wench .

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 .

ANTONIO

Or as ’twere perfumed by a fen .

GONZALO

Here is everything advantageous to life .

ANTONIO

True , save means to live .

SEBASTIAN

Of that there’s none , or little .

GONZALO

How lush and lusty the grass looks ! How

green !

ANTONIO

The ground indeed is tawny .

SEBASTIAN

With an eye of green in ’t .

ANTONIO

He misses not much .

SEBASTIAN

No , he doth but mistake the truth totally .

GONZALO

But the rarity of it is , which is indeed almost

beyond credit —

SEBASTIAN

As many vouched rarities are .

GONZALO

That our garments , being , as they were ,

drenched in the sea , hold notwithstanding their

freshness and gloss , being rather new-dyed than

stained with salt water .

ANTONIO

If but one of his pockets could speak , would

it not say he lies ?

SEBASTIAN

Ay , or very falsely pocket up his report .

GONZALO

Methinks our garments are now as fresh as

when we put them on first in Afric , at the marriage

of the King’s fair daughter Claribel to the King of

Tunis .

SEBASTIAN

’Twas a sweet marriage , and we prosper

well in our return .

ADRIAN

Tunis was never graced before with such a

paragon to their queen .

GONZALO

Not since widow Dido’s time .

ANTONIO

Widow ? A pox o’ that ! How came that “ widow ”

in ? Widow Dido !

SEBASTIAN

What if he had said “ widower Aeneas ” too ?

Good Lord , how you take it !

ADRIAN , to Gonzalo

“ Widow Dido , ” said you ? You

make me study of that . She was of Carthage , not of

Tunis .

GONZALO

This Tunis , sir , was Carthage .

ADRIAN

Carthage ?

GONZALO

I assure you , Carthage .

ANTONIO

His word is more than the miraculous harp .

SEBASTIAN

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 .

ANTONIO

And sowing the kernels of it in the sea , bring

forth more islands .

GONZALO

Ay .

ANTONIO

Why , in good time .

GONZALO , to Alonso

Sir , we were talking that our

garments seem now as fresh as when we were at

Tunis at the marriage of your daughter , who is now

queen .

ANTONIO

And the rarest that e’er came there .

SEBASTIAN

Bate , I beseech you , widow Dido .

ANTONIO

O , widow Dido ? Ay , widow Dido .

GONZALO , to Alonso

Is not , sir , my doublet as fresh as

the first day I wore it ? I mean , in a sort .

ANTONIO

That “ sort ” was well fished for .

GONZALO , to Alonso

When I wore it at your daughter’s

marriage .

ALONSO

You cram these words into mine ears against

The stomach of my sense . Would I had never

Married my daughter there , for coming thence

My son is lost , and , in my rate , she too ,

Who is so far from Italy removed

I ne’er again shall see her . — O , thou mine heir

Of Naples and of Milan , what strange fish

Hath made his meal on thee ?

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 swoll’n that met him . His bold head

’Bove the contentious waves he kept , and oared

Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke

To th’ shore , that o’er his wave-worn basis bowed ,

As stooping to relieve him . I not doubt

He came alive to land .

ALONSO

No , no , he’s gone .

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 banished from your eye ,

Who hath cause to wet the grief on ’t .

ALONSO

Prithee , peace .

SEBASTIAN

You were kneeled to and importuned otherwise

By all of us ; and the fair soul herself

Weighed between loathness and obedience at

Which end o’ th’ beam should bow . We have lost your son ,

I fear , forever . Milan and Naples have

More widows in them of this business’ making

Than we bring men to comfort them .

The fault’s your own .

ALONSO

So is the dear’st o’ th’ loss .

GONZALO

My lord Sebastian ,

The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness

And time to speak it in . You rub the sore

When you should bring the plaster .

SEBASTIAN

Very well .

ANTONIO

And most chirurgeonly .

GONZALO , to Alonso

It is foul weather in us all , good sir ,

When you are cloudy .

SEBASTIAN

Foul weather ?

ANTONIO

Very foul .

GONZALO

Had I plantation of this isle , my lord —

ANTONIO

He’d sow ’t with nettle seed .

SEBASTIAN

Or docks , or mallows .

GONZALO

And were the king on ’t , what would I do ?

SEBASTIAN

Scape being drunk , for want of wine .

GONZALO

I’ th’ commonwealth I would by contraries

Execute all things , for no kind of traffic

Would I admit ; no name of magistrate ;

Letters should not be known ; riches , poverty ,

And use of service , none ; contract , succession ,

Bourn , bound of land , tilth , vineyard , none ;

No use of metal , corn , or wine , or oil ;

No occupation ; all men idle , all ,

And women too , but innocent and pure ;

No sovereignty —

SEBASTIAN

Yet he would be king on ’t .

ANTONIO

The latter end of his commonwealth forgets

the beginning .

GONZALO

All things in common nature should produce

Without sweat or endeavor ; treason , felony ,

Sword , pike , knife , gun , or need of any engine

Would I not have ; but nature should bring forth

Of its own kind all foison , all abundance ,

To feed my innocent people .

SEBASTIAN

No marrying ’mong his subjects ?

ANTONIO

None , man , all idle : whores and knaves .

GONZALO

I would with such perfection govern , sir ,

T’ excel the Golden Age .

SEBASTIAN

’Save his Majesty !

ANTONIO

Long live Gonzalo !

GONZALO

And do you mark me , sir ?

ALONSO

Prithee , no more . Thou dost talk nothing to me .

GONZALO

I do well believe your Highness , and did it to

minister occasion to these gentlemen , who are of

such sensible and nimble lungs that they always use

to laugh at nothing .

ANTONIO

’Twas you we laughed at .

GONZALO

Who in this kind of merry fooling am

nothing to you . So you may continue , and laugh at

nothing still .

ANTONIO

What a blow was there given !

SEBASTIAN

An it had not fallen flatlong .

GONZALO

You are gentlemen of brave mettle . You

would lift the moon out of her sphere if she would

continue in it five weeks without changing .

Enter Ariel invisible , playing solemn music .

SEBASTIAN

We would so , and then go a-batfowling .

ANTONIO , to Gonzalo

Nay , good my lord , be not angry .

GONZALO

No , I warrant you , I will not adventure my

discretion so weakly . Will you laugh me asleep ?

For I am very heavy .

ANTONIO

Go sleep , and hear us .

All sink down asleep except Alonso , Antonio , and Sebastian .

ALONSO

What , all so soon asleep ? I wish mine eyes

Would , with themselves , shut up my thoughts . I find

They are inclined to do so .

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 .

Ariel exits .

SEBASTIAN

What a strange drowsiness possesses them !

ANTONIO

It is the quality o’ th’ climate .

SEBASTIAN

Why

Doth it not then our eyelids sink ? I find

Not myself disposed to sleep .

ANTONIO

Nor I . My spirits are nimble .

They fell together all , as by consent .

They dropped as by a thunderstroke . What might ,

Worthy Sebastian , O , what might — ? No more .

And yet methinks I see it in thy face

What thou shouldst be . Th’ occasion speaks thee , and

My strong imagination sees a crown

Dropping upon thy head .

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 .

ANTONIO

Noble Sebastian ,

Thou let’st thy fortune sleep , die rather , wink’st

Whiles thou art waking .

SEBASTIAN

Thou dost snore distinctly .

There’s meaning in thy snores .

ANTONIO

I am more serious than my custom . You

Must be so too , if heed me ; which to do

Trebles thee o’er .

SEBASTIAN

Well , I am standing water .

ANTONIO

I’ll teach you how to flow .

SEBASTIAN

Do so . To ebb

Hereditary sloth instructs me .

ANTONIO

O ,

If you but knew how you the purpose cherish

Whiles thus you mock it , how in stripping it

You more invest it . Ebbing men indeed

Most often do so near the bottom run

By their own fear or sloth .

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 .

ANTONIO

Thus , sir :

Although this lord of weak remembrance — this ,

Who shall be of as little memory

When he is earthed — hath here almost persuaded —

For he’s a spirit of persuasion , only

Professes to persuade — the King his son’s alive ,

’Tis as impossible that he’s undrowned

As he that sleeps here swims .

SEBASTIAN

I have no hope

That he’s undrowned .

ANTONIO

O , out of that no hope

What great hope have you ! No hope that way is

Another way so high a hope that even

Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond ,

But doubt discovery there . Will you grant with me

That Ferdinand is drowned ?

SEBASTIAN

He’s gone .

ANTONIO

Then tell me ,

Who’s the next heir of Naples ?

SEBASTIAN

Claribel .

ANTONIO

She that is Queen of Tunis ; she that dwells

Ten leagues beyond man’s life ; she that from Naples

Can have no note , unless the sun were post —

The man i’ th’ moon’s too slow — till newborn chins

Be rough and razorable ; she that from whom

We all were sea-swallowed , though some cast again ,

And by that destiny to perform an act

Whereof what’s past is prologue , what to come

In yours and my discharge .

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 .

ANTONIO

A space whose ev’ry cubit

Seems to cry out “ How shall that Claribel

Measure us back to Naples ? Keep in Tunis

And let Sebastian wake . ” Say this were death

That now hath seized them , why , they were no worse

Than now they are . There be that can rule Naples

As well as he that sleeps , lords that can prate

As amply and unnecessarily

As this Gonzalo . I myself could make

A chough of as deep chat . O , that you bore

The mind that I do , what a sleep were this

For your advancement ! Do you understand me ?

SEBASTIAN

Methinks I do .

ANTONIO

And how does your content

Tender your own good fortune ?

SEBASTIAN

I remember

You did supplant your brother Prospero .

ANTONIO

True ,

And look how well my garments sit upon me ,

Much feater than before . My brother’s servants

Were then my fellows ; now they are my men .

SEBASTIAN

But , for your conscience ?

ANTONIO

Ay , sir , where lies that ? If ’twere a kibe ,

’Twould put me to my slipper , but I feel not

This deity in my bosom . Twenty consciences

That stand ’twixt me and Milan , candied be they

And melt ere they molest ! Here lies your brother ,

No better than the earth he lies upon .

If he were that which now he’s like — that’s dead —

Whom I with this obedient steel , three inches of it ,

Can lay to bed forever ; whiles you , doing thus ,

To the perpetual wink for aye might put

This ancient morsel , this Sir Prudence , who

Should not upbraid our course . For all the rest ,

They’ll take suggestion as a cat laps milk .

They’ll tell the clock to any business that

We say befits the hour .

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 .

ANTONIO

Draw together ,

And when I rear my hand , do you the like

To fall it on Gonzalo .

They draw their swords .

SEBASTIAN

O , but one word .

They talk apart .

Enter Ariel , invisible , with music and song .

ARIEL , to the sleeping Gonzalo

My master through his art foresees the danger

That you , his friend , are in , and sends me forth —

For else his project dies — to keep them living .

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 !

ANTONIO , to Sebastian

Then let us both be sudden .

GONZALO , waking

Now , good angels preserve the

King !

He wakes Alonso .

ALONSO , to Sebastian

Why , how now , ho ! Awake ? Why are you drawn ?

Wherefore this ghastly looking ?

GONZALO , to Sebastian

What’s the matter ?

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 .

ANTONIO

O , ’twas a din to fright a monster’s ear ,

To make an earthquake . Sure , it was the roar

Of a whole herd of lions .

ALONSO

Heard you this , Gonzalo ?

GONZALO

Upon mine honor , sir , I heard a humming ,

And that a strange one too , which did awake me .

I shaked you , sir , and cried . As mine eyes opened ,

I saw their weapons drawn . There was a noise ,

That’s verily . ’Tis best we stand upon our guard ,

Or that we quit this place . Let’s draw our weapons .

ALONSO

Lead off this ground , and let’s make further search

For my poor son .

GONZALO

Heavens keep him from these beasts ,

For he is , sure , i’ th’ island .

ALONSO

Lead away .

ARIEL , aside

Prospero my lord shall know what I have done .

So , king , go safely on to seek thy son .

They exit .

Scene 2

Enter Caliban with a burden of wood .

A noise of thunder heard .

CALIBAN

All the infections that the sun sucks up

From bogs , fens , flats , on Prosper fall and make him

By inchmeal a disease ! His spirits hear me ,

And yet I needs must curse . But they’ll nor pinch ,

Fright me with urchin-shows , pitch me i’ th’ mire ,

Nor lead me like a firebrand in the dark

Out of my way , unless he bid ’em . But

For every trifle are they set upon me ,

Sometimes like apes , that mow and chatter at me

And after bite me ; then like hedgehogs , which

Lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount

Their pricks at my footfall . Sometime am I

All wound with adders , who with cloven tongues

Do hiss me into madness . 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 .

He lies down and covers himself with a cloak .

Enter Trinculo .

TRINCULO

Here’s neither bush nor shrub to bear off

any weather at all . And another storm brewing ; I

hear it sing i’ th’ 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 .

Noticing Caliban .

What have we here , a man or a fish ? Dead or

alive ? A fish , he smells like a fish — a very ancient

and fishlike 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 lay 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 hereabout . Misery acquaints a man

with strange bedfellows . I will here shroud till the

dregs of the storm be past .

He crawls under Caliban’s cloak .

Enter Stephano singing .

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 savor 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 .

CALIBAN

Do not torment me ! O !

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’ nostrils .

CALIBAN

The spirit torments me . O !

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 .

CALIBAN

Do not torment me , prithee . I’ll bring my

wood home faster .

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 , it 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 .

CALIBAN

Thou dost me yet but little hurt . Thou wilt

anon ; I know it by thy trembling . Now Prosper

works upon thee .

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 .

Caliban drinks .

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 .

Caliban drinks .

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 be’st Stephano , touch me

and speak to me , for I am Trinculo — be not

afeard — thy good friend Trinculo .

STEPHANO

If thou be’st Trinculo , come forth . I’ll pull

thee by the lesser legs . If any be Trinculo’s legs ,

these are they .

He pulls him out from under Caliban’s cloak .

Thou art very Trinculo indeed . How

cam’st thou to be the siege of this mooncalf ? Can

he vent Trinculos ?

TRINCULO

I took him to be killed with a thunderstroke .

But art thou not drowned , Stephano ? I

hope now thou art not drowned . Is the storm

overblown ? I hid me under the dead mooncalf’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 .

CALIBAN , aside

These be fine things , an if they be not

sprites . That’s a brave god and bears celestial liquor .

I will kneel to him .

He crawls out from under the cloak .

STEPHANO , to Trinculo

How didst thou scape ? How

cam’st thou hither ? Swear by this bottle how thou

cam’st 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 .

CALIBAN

I’ll swear upon that bottle to be thy true

subject , for the liquor is not earthly .

STEPHANO , to Trinculo

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 .

Trinculo drinks .

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 th’ seaside , where my wine is hid . — How now ,

mooncalf , how does thine ague ?

CALIBAN

Hast thou not dropped from heaven ?

STEPHANO

Out o’ th’ moon , I do assure thee . I was the

man i’ th’ moon when time was .

CALIBAN

I have seen thee in her , and I do adore thee .

My mistress showed me thee , and thy dog , and thy

bush .

STEPHANO

Come , swear to that . Kiss the book . I will

furnish it anon with new contents . Swear .

Caliban drinks .

TRINCULO

By this good light , this is a very shallow

monster . I afeard of him ? A very weak monster . The

man i’ th’ moon ? A most poor , credulous monster !

— Well drawn , monster , in good sooth !

CALIBAN

I’ll show thee every fertile inch o’ th’ island ,

and I will kiss thy foot . I prithee , be my god .

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 .

Caliban kneels .

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 .

CALIBAN

I’ll show thee the best springs . I’ll pluck thee berries .

I’ll fish for thee and get thee wood enough .

A plague upon the tyrant that I serve .

I’ll bear him no more sticks , but follow thee ,

Thou wondrous man .

TRINCULO

A most ridiculous monster , to make a wonder

of a poor drunkard .

CALIBAN , standing

I prithee , let me bring thee where crabs grow ,

And I with my long nails will dig thee pignuts ,

Show thee a jay’s nest , and instruct thee how

To snare the nimble marmoset . I’ll bring thee

To clustering filberts , and sometimes I’ll get thee

Young scamels from the rock . Wilt thou go with me ?

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 .

CALIBAN sings drunkenly

Farewell , master , farewell , farewell .

TRINCULO

A howling monster , a drunken monster .

CALIBAN sings

No more dams I’ll make for fish ,

Nor fetch in firing

At requiring ,

Nor scrape trenchering , nor wash dish .

’Ban , ’ban , Ca-caliban

Has a new master . Get a new man .

Freedom , high-day ! High-day , freedom ! Freedom ,

high-day , freedom !

STEPHANO

O brave monster ! Lead the way .

They exit .

ACT 3

Scene 1

Enter Ferdinand bearing a log .

FERDINAND

There be some sports are painful , and their labor

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 labors 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 labors ,

Most busiest when I do it .

Enter Miranda ; and Prospero at a distance , unobserved .

MIRANDA

Alas now , pray you ,

Work not so hard . I would the lightning had

Burnt up those logs that you are enjoined to pile .

Pray , set it down and rest you . When this burns

’Twill weep for having wearied you . My father

Is hard at study . Pray now , rest yourself .

He’s safe for these three hours .

FERDINAND

O most dear mistress ,

The sun will set before I shall discharge

What I must strive to do .

MIRANDA

If you’ll sit down ,

I’ll bear your logs the while . Pray , give me that .

I’ll carry it to the pile .

FERDINAND

No , precious creature ,

I had rather crack my sinews , break my back ,

Than you should such dishonor undergo

While I sit lazy by .

MIRANDA

It would become me

As well as it does you , and I should do it

With much more ease , for my good will is to it ,

And yours it is against .

PROSPERO , aside

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

Th’ harmony of their tongues hath into bondage

Brought my too diligent ear . For several virtues

Have I liked several women , never any

With so full 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 .

MIRANDA

I do not know

One of my sex , no woman’s face remember ,

Save , from my glass , mine own . Nor have I seen

More that I may call men than you , good friend ,

And my dear father . How features are abroad

I am skilless of , but by my modesty ,

The jewel in my dower , I would not wish

Any companion in the world but you ,

Nor can imagination form a shape

Besides yourself to like of . But I prattle

Something too wildly , and my father’s precepts

I therein do forget .

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 .

MIRANDA

Do you love me ?

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’ th’ world ,

Do love , prize , honor you .

MIRANDA

I am a fool

To weep at what I am glad of .

PROSPERO , aside

Fair encounter

Of two most rare affections . Heavens rain grace

On that which breeds between ’em !

FERDINAND

Wherefore weep you ?

MIRANDA

At mine unworthiness , that dare not offer

What I desire to give , and much less take

What I shall die to want . But this is trifling ,

And all the more it seeks to hide itself ,

The bigger bulk it shows . Hence , bashful cunning ,

And prompt me , plain and holy innocence .

I am your wife if you will marry me .

If not , I’ll die your maid . To be your fellow

You may deny me , but I’ll be your servant

Whether you will or no .

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 .

MIRANDA , clasping his hand

And mine , with my heart in ’t . And now farewell

Till half an hour hence .

FERDINAND

A thousand thousand .

They exit .

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 suppertime must I perform

Much business appertaining .

He exits .

Scene 2

Enter Caliban , Stephano , and Trinculo .

STEPHANO , to Trinculo

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 .

Caliban drinks .

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 drowned 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

Mooncalf , speak once in thy life , if thou

be’st a good mooncalf .

CALIBAN

How does thy Honor ? Let me lick thy shoe . I’ll

not serve him ; he is not valiant .

TRINCULO

Thou liest , most ignorant monster . I am in

case to justle a constable . Why , thou debauched

fish , thou ! Was there ever man a coward that hath

drunk so much sack as I today ? 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 .

CALIBAN

I thank my noble lord . Wilt thou be pleased

to harken once again to the suit I made to thee ?

STEPHANO

Marry , will I . Kneel and repeat it . I will

stand , and so shall Trinculo .

Enter Ariel , invisible .

CALIBAN , kneeling

As I told thee before , I am subject

to a tyrant , a sorcerer , that by his cunning hath

cheated me of the island .

ARIEL , in Trinculo’s voice

Thou liest .

CALIBAN , to Trinculo

Thou liest , thou jesting monkey ,

thou . He stands . I would my valiant master would

destroy thee . I do not lie .

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 .

Trinculo stands aside .

Proceed .

CALIBAN

I say by sorcery he got this isle ;

From me he got it . If thy Greatness will ,

Revenge it on him , for I know thou dar’st ,

But this thing dare not .

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 ?

CALIBAN

Yea , yea , my lord . I’ll yield him thee asleep ,

Where thou mayst knock a nail into his head .

ARIEL , in Trinculo’s voice

Thou liest . Thou canst not .

CALIBAN

What a pied ninny’s this ! — Thou scurvy patch ! —

I do beseech thy Greatness , give him blows

And take his bottle from him . When that’s gone ,

He shall drink naught but brine , for I’ll not show him

Where the quick freshes are .

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

stockfish of thee .

TRINCULO

Why , what did I ? I did nothing . I’ll go

farther off .

STEPHANO

Didst thou not say he lied ?

ARIEL , in Trinculo’s voice

Thou liest .

STEPHANO

Do I so ? Take thou that .

He beats Trinculo .

As you like this , give me the lie another time .

TRINCULO

I did not give the lie ! Out o’ your wits and

hearing 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 .

To Trinculo .

Prithee , stand further off .

CALIBAN

Beat him enough . After a little time

I’ll beat him too .

STEPHANO

Stand farther .

Trinculo moves farther away .

Come , proceed .

CALIBAN

Why , as I told thee , ’tis a custom with him

I’ th’ afternoon to sleep . There thou mayst brain him ,

Having first seized his books , or with a log

Batter his skull , or paunch him with a stake ,

Or cut his weasand with thy knife . Remember

First to possess his books , for without them

He’s but a sot , as I am , nor hath not

One spirit to command . They all do hate him

As rootedly as I . Burn but his books .

He has brave utensils — for so he calls them —

Which , when he has a house , he’ll deck withal .

And that most deeply to consider is

The beauty of his daughter . He himself

Calls her a nonpareil . I never saw a woman

But only Sycorax my dam and she ;

But she as far surpasseth Sycorax

As great’st does least .

STEPHANO

Is it so brave a lass ?

CALIBAN

Ay , lord , she will become thy bed , I warrant ,

And bring thee forth brave brood .

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 liv’st , keep a good tongue in thy

head .

CALIBAN

Within this half hour will he be asleep .

Wilt thou destroy him then ?

STEPHANO

Ay , on mine honor .

ARIEL , aside

This will I tell my master .

CALIBAN

Thou mak’st me merry . I am full of pleasure .

Let us be jocund . Will you troll the catch

You taught me but whilere ?

STEPHANO

At thy request , monster , I will do reason ,

any reason . — Come on , Trinculo , let us sing .

Sings .

Flout ’em and cout ’em

And scout ’em and flout ’em !

Thought is free .

CALIBAN

That’s not the tune .

Ariel plays the tune on a tabor and pipe .

STEPHANO

What is this same ?

TRINCULO

This is the tune of our catch played by the

picture of Nobody .

STEPHANO , to the invisible musician

If thou be’st a

man , show thyself in thy likeness . If thou be’st 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 .

CALIBAN

Be not afeard . The isle is full of noises ,

Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not .

Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments

Will hum about mine ears , and sometimes voices

That , if I then had waked after long sleep ,

Will make me sleep again ; and then , in dreaming ,

The clouds methought would open , and show riches

Ready to drop upon me , that when I waked

I cried to dream again .

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 taborer . He lays it on . Wilt come ?

TRINCULO

I’ll follow , Stephano .

They exit .

Scene 3

Enter Alonso , Sebastian , Antonio , Gonzalo , Adrian , Francisco , etc.

GONZALO

By ’r lakin , I can go no further , sir .

My old bones aches . Here’s a maze trod indeed

Through forthrights and meanders . By your patience ,

I needs must rest me .

ALONSO

Old lord , I cannot blame thee .

Who am myself attached with weariness

To th’ dulling of my spirits . Sit down and rest .

Even here I will put off my hope and keep it

No longer for my flatterer . He is drowned

Whom thus we stray to find , and the sea mocks

Our frustrate search on land . Well , let him go .

ANTONIO , aside to Sebastian

I am right glad that he’s so out of hope .

Do not , for one repulse , forgo the purpose

That you resolved t’ effect .

SEBASTIAN , aside to Antonio

The next advantage

Will we take throughly .

ANTONIO , aside to Sebastian

Let it be tonight ;

For now they are oppressed with travel , they

Will not nor cannot use such vigilance

As when they are fresh .

SEBASTIAN , aside to Antonio

I say tonight . No more .

Solemn and strange music

, and enter Prospero on the top invisible .

ALONSO

What harmony is this ? My good friends , hark .

GONZALO

Marvelous sweet music !

Enter several strange shapes , bringing in a banquet , and dance about it with gentle actions of salutations .

ALONSO

Give us kind keepers , heavens ! What were these ?

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 .

ANTONIO

I’ll believe both ;

And what does else want credit , come to me

And I’ll be sworn ’tis true . Travelers ne’er did lie ,

Though fools at home condemn ’em .

GONZALO

If in Naples

I should report this now , would they believe me ?

If I should say I saw such islanders —

For , certes , these are people of the island —

Who , though they are of monstrous shape , yet note

Their manners are more gentle , kind , than of

Our human generation you shall find

Many , nay , almost any .

PROSPERO , aside

Honest lord ,

Thou hast said well , for some of you there present

Are worse than devils .

ALONSO

I cannot too much muse

Such shapes , such gesture , and such sound , expressing —

Although they want the use of tongue — a kind

Of excellent dumb discourse .

PROSPERO , aside

Praise in departing .

Inviting the King , etc. , to eat , the shapes depart .

FRANCISCO

They vanished 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 .

GONZALO

Faith , sir , you need not fear . When we were boys ,

Who would believe that there were mountaineers

Dewlapped like bulls , whose throats had hanging at ’em

Wallets of flesh ? Or that there were such men

Whose heads stood in their breasts ? Which now we find

Each putter-out of five for one will bring us

Good warrant of .

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 .

Alonso , Sebastian , and Antonio move toward the table .

Thunder

and lightning . Enter Ariel , like a Harpy , claps his wings upon the table ,

and

with a quaint device the banquet vanishes .

ARIEL as Harpy

You are three men of sin , whom Destiny ,

That hath to instrument this lower world

And what is in ’t , the never-surfeited sea

Hath caused to belch up you , and on this island ,

Where man doth not inhabit , you ’mongst men

Being most unfit to live . I have made you mad ;

And even with such-like valor , men hang and drown

Their proper selves .

Alonso , Sebastian , and Antonio draw their swords .

You fools , I and my fellows

Are ministers of Fate . The elements

Of whom your swords are tempered may as well

Wound the loud winds or with bemocked-at stabs

Kill the still-closing waters as diminish

One dowl 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

Ling’ring 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’s 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 , aside

Bravely the figure of this Harpy hast thou

Performed , 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 drowned ,

And his and mine loved darling .

He exits , above .

GONZALO , to Alonso

I’ th’ name of something holy , sir , why stand you

In this strange stare ?

ALONSO

O , it is monstrous , monstrous !

Methought the billows spoke and told me of it ;

The winds did sing it to me , and the thunder ,

That deep and dreadful organ pipe , pronounced

The name of Prosper . It did bass my trespass .

Therefor my son i’ th’ ooze is bedded , and

I’ll seek him deeper than e’er plummet sounded ,

And with him there lie mudded .

He exits .

SEBASTIAN

But one fiend at a time ,

I’ll fight their legions o’er .

ANTONIO

I’ll be thy second .

They exit .

GONZALO

All three of them are desperate . Their great guilt ,

Like poison given to work a great time after ,

Now ’gins to bite the spirits . I do beseech you

That are of suppler joints , follow them swiftly

And hinder them from what this ecstasy

May now provoke them to .

ADRIAN

Follow , I pray you .

They all exit .

ACT 4

Scene 1

Enter Prospero , Ferdinand , and Miranda .

PROSPERO , to Ferdinand

If I have too austerely punished 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 of her ,

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 ministered ,

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 honor into lust to take away

The edge of that day’s celebration

When I shall think or Phoebus’ steeds are foundered

Or night kept chained below .

PROSPERO

Fairly spoke .

Sit then and talk with her . She is thine own .

Ferdinand and Miranda move aside .

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 .

He exits .

PROSPERO , to Ferdinand

Look thou be true ; do not give dalliance

Too much the rein . The strongest oaths are straw

To th’ fire i’ th’ blood . Be more abstemious ,

Or else goodnight your vow .

FERDINAND

I warrant you , sir ,

The white cold virgin snow upon my heart

Abates the ardor of my liver .

PROSPERO

Well . —

Now come , my Ariel . Bring a corollary

Rather than want a spirit . Appear , and pertly .

Soft music .

No tongue . All eyes . Be silent .

Enter Iris .

IRIS

Ceres , most bounteous lady , thy rich leas

Of wheat , rye , barley , vetches , oats , and peas ;

Thy turfy mountains , where live nibbling sheep ,

And flat meads thatched with stover , them to keep ;

Thy banks with pionèd and twillèd brims ,

Which spongy April at thy hest betrims

To make cold nymphs chaste crowns ; and thy broom groves ,

Whose shadow the dismissèd bachelor loves ,

Being lass-lorn ; thy poll-clipped vineyard ,

And thy sea marge , sterile and rocky hard ,

Where thou thyself dost air — the Queen o’ th’ sky ,

Whose wat’ry arch and messenger am I ,

Bids thee leave these , and with her sovereign grace ,

Here on this grass-plot , in this very place ,

To come and sport . Her peacocks fly amain .

Approach , rich Ceres , her to entertain .

Enter Ceres .

CERES

Hail , many-colored messenger , that ne’er

Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter ;

Who with thy saffron wings upon my flowers

Diffusest honey drops , refreshing showers ;

And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown

My bosky acres and my unshrubbed down ,

Rich scarf to my proud Earth . Why hath thy queen

Summoned me hither to this short-grassed green ?

IRIS

A contract of true love to celebrate ,

And some donation freely to estate

On the blest lovers .

CERES

Tell me , heavenly bow ,

If Venus or her son , as thou dost know ,

Do now attend the Queen ? Since they did plot

The means that dusky Dis my daughter got ,

Her and her blind boy’s scandaled company

I have forsworn .

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 in 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 .

Juno descends .

CERES

Highest queen of state ,

Great Juno , comes . I know her by her gait .

JUNO

How does my bounteous sister ? Go with me

To bless this twain , that they may prosperous be

And honored in their issue .

They sing .

JUNO

Honor , riches , marriage-blessing ,

Long continuance and increasing ,

Hourly joys be still upon you .

Juno sings her blessings on you .

CERES

Earth’s increase , foison plenty ,

Barns and garners never empty ,

Vines with clust’ring bunches growing ,

Plants with goodly burden 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

Harmonious charmingly . May I be bold

To think these spirits ?

PROSPERO

Spirits , which by mine art

I have from their confines called to enact

My present fancies .

FERDINAND

Let me live here ever .

So rare a wondered father and a wise

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 marred .

IRIS

You nymphs , called naiads of the windring brooks ,

With your sedged crowns and ever-harmless looks ,

Leave your crisp channels and on this green land

Answer your summons , Juno does command .

Come , temperate nymphs , and help to celebrate

A contract of true love . Be not too late .

Enter certain Nymphs .

You sunburned 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 .

PROSPERO

I had forgot that foul conspiracy

Of the beast Caliban and his confederates

Against my life . The minute of their plot

Is almost come . — Well done . Avoid . No more .

To a strange , hollow , and confused noise , the spirits heavily vanish .

FERDINAND , to Miranda

This is strange . Your father’s in some passion

That works him strongly .

MIRANDA

Never till this day

Saw I him touched with anger , so distempered .

PROSPERO , to Ferdinand

You do look , my son , in a moved sort ,

As if you were dismayed . 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-capped towers , the gorgeous palaces ,

The solemn temples , the great globe itself ,

Yea , 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 vexed .

Bear with my weakness . My old brain is troubled .

Be not disturbed 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 / MIRANDA

We wish your peace .

They exit .

Enter Ariel .

PROSPERO

Come with a thought . I thank thee , Ariel . Come .

ARIEL

Thy thoughts I cleave to . What’s thy pleasure ?

PROSPERO

Spirit ,

We must prepare to meet with Caliban .

ARIEL

Ay , my commander . When I presented Ceres ,

I thought to have told thee of it , but I feared

Lest I might anger thee .

PROSPERO

Say again , where didst thou leave these varlets ?

ARIEL

I told you , sir , they were red-hot with drinking ,

So full of valor that they smote the air

For breathing in their faces , beat the ground

For kissing of their feet ; yet always bending

Towards their project . Then I beat my tabor ,

At which , like unbacked colts , they pricked their ears ,

Advanced their eyelids , lifted up their noses

As they smelt music . So I charmed their ears

That , calf-like , they my lowing followed through

Toothed briers , sharp furzes , pricking gorse , and thorns ,

Which entered their frail shins . At last I left them

I’ th’ filthy-mantled pool beyond your cell ,

There dancing up to th’ chins , that the foul lake

O’erstunk their feet .

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 .

He exits .

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 .

Enter Ariel , loaden with glistering apparel , etc.

Come , hang them on this line .

Enter Caliban , Stephano , and Trinculo , all wet ,

as Prospero and Ariel look on .

CALIBAN

Pray you , tread softly , that the blind mole

may not hear a footfall . We now are near his cell .

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 .

CALIBAN

Good my lord , give me thy favor still .

Be patient , for the prize I’ll bring thee to

Shall hoodwink this mischance . Therefore speak softly .

All’s hushed as midnight yet .

TRINCULO

Ay , but to lose our bottles in the pool !

STEPHANO

There is not only disgrace and dishonor 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 labor .

CALIBAN

Prithee , my king , be quiet . Seest thou here ,

This is the mouth o’ th’ cell . No noise , and enter .

Do that good mischief which may make this island

Thine own forever , and I , thy Caliban ,

For aye thy foot-licker .

STEPHANO

Give me thy hand . I do begin to have bloody

thoughts .

TRINCULO , seeing the apparel

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

Oho , monster , we know what belongs to a

frippery . He puts on one of the gowns . O King

Stephano !

STEPHANO

Put off that gown , Trinculo . By this hand ,

I’ll have that gown .

TRINCULO

Thy Grace shall have it .

CALIBAN

The dropsy drown this fool ! What do you mean

To dote thus on such luggage ? Let ’t alone ,

And do the murder first . If he awake ,

From toe to crown he’ll fill our skins with pinches ,

Make us strange stuff .

STEPHANO

Be you quiet , monster . — Mistress Line , is

not this my jerkin ?

He takes a jacket from the tree .

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 .

CALIBAN

I will have none on ’t . We shall lose our time

And all be turned to barnacles or to apes

With foreheads villainous low .

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 , hunting them about ,

Prospero and Ariel setting them on .

PROSPERO

Hey , Mountain , hey !

ARIEL

Silver ! There it goes , Silver !

PROSPERO

Fury , Fury ! There , Tyrant , there ! Hark , hark !

Caliban , Stephano , and Trinculo are driven off .

Go , charge my goblins that they grind their joints

With dry convulsions , shorten up their sinews

With agèd 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

Lies at my mercy all mine enemies .

Shortly shall all my labors end , and thou

Shalt have the air at freedom . For a little

Follow and do me service .

They exit .

ACT 5

Scene 1

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 ?

ARIEL

On the sixth hour , at which time , my lord ,

You said our work should cease .

PROSPERO

I did say so

When first I raised the tempest . Say , my spirit ,

How fares the King and ’s followers ?

ARIEL

Confined together

In the same fashion as you gave in charge ,

Just as you left them ; all prisoners , sir ,

In the line grove which weather-fends your cell .

They cannot budge till your release . The King ,

His brother , and yours abide all three distracted ,

And the remainder mourning over them ,

Brimful of sorrow and dismay ; but chiefly

Him that you termed , sir , the good old Lord Gonzalo .

His tears runs down his beard like winter’s drops

From eaves of reeds . Your charm so strongly works ’em

That if you now beheld them , your affections

Would become tender .

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 th’ quick ,

Yet with my nobler reason ’gainst 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 .

ARIEL

I’ll fetch them , sir .

He exits .

Prospero draws a large circle on the stage with his staff .

PROSPERO

You elves of hills , brooks , standing lakes , and groves ,

And you 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 mushrumps , that rejoice

To hear the solemn curfew ; by whose aid ,

Weak masters though you be , I have bedimmed

The noontide sun , called 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 plucked 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 ,

Prospero gestures with his staff .

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 .

Here enters 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 , boiled within thy skull . There stand ,

For you are spell-stopped . —

Holy Gonzalo , honorable man ,

Mine eyes , e’en 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 thou 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 pinched for ’t now , Sebastian . — Flesh and blood ,

You , brother mine , that entertained ambition ,

Expelled remorse and nature , whom , with Sebastian ,

Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong ,

Would here have killed 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 .

Ariel exits and at once returns with Prospero’s ducal robes .

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 bow .

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 .

ARIEL

I drink the air before me , and return

Or ere your pulse twice beat .

He exits .

GONZALO

All torment , trouble , wonder , and amazement

Inhabits here . Some heavenly power guide us

Out of this fearful country !

PROSPERO , to Alonso

Behold , sir king ,

The wrongèd Duke of Milan , Prospero .

For more assurance that a living prince

Does now speak to thee , I embrace thy body ,

He embraces Alonso .

And to thee and thy company I bid

A hearty welcome .

ALONSO

Whe’er thou be’st 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 ,

Th’ 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 , to Gonzalo

First , noble friend ,

Let me embrace thine age , whose honor cannot

Be measured or confined .

GONZALO

Whether this be

Or be not , I’ll not swear .

PROSPERO

You do yet taste

Some subtleties o’ th’ 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 , aside to Sebastian

No .

To Antonio .

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 , whom three hours since

Were wracked 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 .

ALONSO

Irreparable is the loss , and patience

Says it is past her cure .

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 .

ALONSO

A daughter ?

O heavens , that they were living both in Naples ,

The King and Queen there ! That they were , I wish

Myself were mudded in that oozy bed

Where my son lies ! — When did you lose your 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 wracked , 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 .

To Alonso .

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 you

As much as me my dukedom .

Here Prospero discovers

Ferdinand and Miranda , playing at chess .

MIRANDA , to Ferdinand

Sweet lord , you play me false .

FERDINAND

No , my dearest love ,

I would not for the world .

MIRANDA

Yes , for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle ,

And I would call it fair play .

ALONSO

If this prove

A vision of the island , one dear son

Shall I twice lose .

SEBASTIAN

A most high miracle !

FERDINAND , seeing Alonso and coming forward

Though the seas threaten , they are merciful .

I have cursed them without cause .

He kneels .

ALONSO

Now , all the blessings

Of a glad father compass thee about !

Arise , and say how thou cam’st here .

Ferdinand stands .

MIRANDA , rising and coming forward

O wonder !

How many goodly creatures are there here !

How beauteous mankind is ! O , brave new world

That has such people in ’t !

PROSPERO

’Tis new to thee .

ALONSO , to Ferdinand

What is this maid with whom thou wast at play ?

Your eld’st acquaintance cannot be three hours .

Is she the goddess that hath severed us

And brought us thus together ?

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 .

ALONSO

I am hers .

But , O , how oddly will it sound that I

Must ask my child forgiveness !

PROSPERO

There , sir , stop .

Let us not burden our remembrances with

A heaviness that’s gone .

GONZALO

I have inly wept

Or should have spoke ere this . Look down , you gods ,

And on this couple drop a blessèd crown ,

For it is you that have chalked forth the way

Which brought us hither .

ALONSO

I say “ Amen , ” Gonzalo .

GONZALO

Was Milan thrust from Milan , that his issue

Should become kings of Naples ? O , rejoice

Beyond a common joy , and set it down

With gold on lasting pillars : in one voyage

Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis ,

And Ferdinand , her brother , found a wife

Where he himself was lost ; Prospero his dukedom

In a poor isle ; and all of us ourselves

When no man was his own .

ALONSO , to Ferdinand and Miranda

Give me your hands .

Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart

That doth not wish you joy !

GONZALO

Be it so . Amen .

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 rigged as when

We first put out to sea .

ARIEL , aside to Prospero

Sir , all this service

Have I done since I went .

PROSPERO , aside to Ariel

My tricksy spirit !

ALONSO

These are not natural events . They strengthen

From strange to stranger . — Say , how came you hither ?

BOATSWAIN

If I did think , sir , I were well awake ,

I’d strive to tell you . We were dead of sleep

And — how , we know not — all clapped 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

Cap’ring 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 .

ALONSO

This is as strange a maze as e’er men trod ,

And there is in this business more than nature

Was ever conduct of . Some oracle

Must rectify our knowledge .

PROSPERO

Sir , my liege ,

Do not infest your mind with beating on

The strangeness of this business . At picked leisure ,

Which shall be shortly , single I’ll resolve you ,

Which to you shall seem probable , of every

These happened 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 .

Ariel exits .

How fares my gracious sir ?

There are yet missing of your company

Some few odd lads that you remember not .

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 .

Coraggio , bully monster , coraggio .

TRINCULO

If these be true spies which I wear in my

head , here’s a goodly sight .

CALIBAN

O Setebos , these be brave spirits indeed ! How

fine my master is ! I am afraid he will chastise me .

SEBASTIAN

Ha , ha !

What things are these , my Lord Antonio ?

Will money buy ’em ?

ANTONIO

Very like . One of them

Is a plain fish and no doubt marketable .

PROSPERO

Mark but the badges of these men , my lords ,

Then say if they be true . This misshapen 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 robbed 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 I

Acknowledge mine .

CALIBAN

I shall be pinched to death .

ALONSO

Is not this Stephano , my drunken butler ?

SEBASTIAN

He is drunk now . Where had he wine ?

ALONSO

And Trinculo is reeling ripe . Where should they

Find this grand liquor that hath gilded ’em ?

To Trinculo .

How cam’st thou in this pickle ?

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 flyblowing .

SEBASTIAN

Why , how now , Stephano ?

STEPHANO

O , touch me not ! I am not Stephano , but a

cramp .

PROSPERO

You’d be king o’ the isle , sirrah ?

STEPHANO

I should have been a sore one , then .

ALONSO , indicating Caliban

This is as strange a thing as e’er I looked on .

PROSPERO

He is as disproportioned in his manners

As in his shape . To Caliban . Go , sirrah , to my cell .

Take with you your companions . As you look

To have my pardon , trim it handsomely .

CALIBAN

Ay , that I will , and I’ll be wise hereafter

And seek for grace . What a thrice-double ass

Was I to take this drunkard for a god ,

And worship this dull fool !

PROSPERO

Go to , away !

ALONSO , to Stephano and Trinculo

Hence , and bestow your luggage where you found it .

SEBASTIAN

Or stole it , rather .

Caliban , Stephano , and Trinculo exit .

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-belovèd solemnized ,

And thence retire me to my Milan , where

Every third thought shall be my grave .

ALONSO

I long

To hear the story of your life , which must

Take the ear strangely .

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 .

They all exit .

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 pardoned 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 pardoned be ,

Let your indulgence set me free .

He exits .