| [Enter FERDINAND, bearing a log] | |
| FERDINAND | There be some sports are painful, and their labour
Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness Are nobly undergone and most poor matters Point to rich ends. This my mean task Would be as heavy to me as odious, but The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed, And he's composed of harshness. I must remove Some thousands of these logs and pile them up, Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress Weeps when she sees me work, and says, such baseness Had never like executor. I forget: But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours, Most busy lest, when I do it. |
| [Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO at a distance, unseen] | |
| MIRANDA | Alas, now, pray you,
Work not so hard: I would the lightning had Burnt up those logs that you are enjoin'd 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 dishonour 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 | Poor worm, thou art infected!
This visitation shows it. |
| MIRANDA | You look wearily. |
| FERDINAND | No, noble mistress;'tis fresh morning with me
When you are by at night. I do beseech you-- Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers-- What is your name? |
| MIRANDA | Miranda.--O my father,
I have broke your hest to say so! |
| FERDINAND | Admired Miranda!
Indeed the top of admiration! worth What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady I have eyed with best regard and many a time The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues Have I liked several women; never any With so fun soul, but some defect in her Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed And put it to the foil: but you, O you, So perfect and so peerless, are created Of every creature's best! |
| 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' the world Do love, prize, honour you. |
| MIRANDA | I am a fool
To weep at what I am glad of. |
| PROSPERO | 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, it 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 | And mine, with my heart in't; and now farewell
Till half an hour hence. |
| FERDINAND | A thousand thousand! |
| [Exeunt FERDINAND and MIRANDA severally] | |
| PROSPERO | So glad of this as they I cannot be,
Who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing At nothing can be more. I'll to my book, For yet ere supper-time must I perform Much business appertaining. |
| [Exit] |
| [Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO] | |
| STEPHANO | Tell not me; when the butt is out, we will drink
water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and board 'em. Servant-monster, drink to me. |
| TRINCULO | Servant-monster! the folly of this island! They
say there's but five upon this isle: we are three of them; if th' other two be brained like us, the state totters. |
| STEPHANO | Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee: thy eyes
are almost set in thy head. |
| TRINCULO | Where should they be set else? he were a brave
monster indeed, if they were set in his tail. |
| STEPHANO | My man-monster hath drown'd his tongue in sack:
for my part, the sea cannot drown me; I swam, ere I could recover the shore, five and thirty leagues off and on. By this light, thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster, or my standard. |
| TRINCULO | Your lieutenant, if you list; he's no standard. |
| STEPHANO | We'll not run, Monsieur Monster. |
| TRINCULO | Nor go neither; but you'll lie like dogs and yet say
nothing neither. |
| STEPHANO | Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a
good moon-calf. |
| CALIBAN | How does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe.
I'll not serve him; he's not valiant. |
| TRINCULO | Thou liest, most ignorant monster: I am in case to
justle a constable. Why, thou deboshed fish thou, was there ever man a coward that hath drunk so much sack as I to-day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish and half a monster? |
| CALIBAN | Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord? |
| TRINCULO | 'Lord' quoth he! That a monster should be such a natural! |
| CALIBAN | Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I prithee. |
| STEPHANO | Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head: if you
prove a mutineer,--the next tree! The poor monster's my subject and he shall not suffer indignity. |
| CALIBAN | I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleased to
hearken 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 | As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant, a
sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island. |
| ARIEL | Thou liest. |
| CALIBAN | Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou: 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. 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 darest, 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 bead. |
| ARIEL | 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 nought 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 stock-fish of thee. |
| TRINCULO | Why, what did I? I did nothing. I'll go farther
off. |
| STEPHANO | Didst thou not say he lied? |
| ARIEL | Thou liest. |
| STEPHANO | Do I so? take thou that. |
| [Beats TRINCULO] | |
| As you like this, give me the lie another time. | |
| TRINCULO | I did not give the lie. Out o' your
wits and bearing too? A pox o' your bottle! this can sack and drinking do. A murrain on your monster, and the devil take your fingers! |
| CALIBAN | Ha, ha, ha! |
| STEPHANO | Now, forward with your tale. Prithee, stand farther
off. |
| CALIBAN | Beat him enough: after a little time
I'll beat him too. |
| STEPHANO | Stand farther. 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 wezand 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 livest, 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 honour. |
| ARIEL | This will I tell my master. |
| CALIBAN | Thou makest me merry; I am full of pleasure:
Let us be jocund: will you troll the catch You taught me but while-ere? |
| STEPHANO | At thy request, monster, I will do reason, any
reason. Come on, Trinculo, let us sing. |
| [Sings] | |
| Flout 'em and scout 'em
And scout 'em and flout 'em Thought is free. | |
| CALIBAN | That's not the tune. |
| [Ariel plays the tune on a tabour and pipe] | |
| STEPHANO | What is this same? |
| TRINCULO | This is the tune of our catch, played by the picture
of Nobody. |
| STEPHANO | If thou beest a man, show thyself in thy likeness:
if thou beest a devil, take't as thou list. |
| TRINCULO | O, forgive me my sins! |
| STEPHANO | He that dies pays all debts: I defy thee. Mercy upon us! |
| CALIBAN | Art thou afeard? |
| STEPHANO | No, monster, not I. |
| 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 sometime 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 tabourer; he lays it on. |
| TRINCULO | Wilt come? I'll follow, Stephano. |
| [Exeunt] |
| [Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO,
ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others] | |
| GONZALO | By'r lakin, I can go no further, sir;
My old bones ache: here's a maze trod indeed Through forth-rights and meanders! By your patience, I needs must rest me. |
| ALONSO | Old lord, I cannot blame thee,
Who am myself attach'd with weariness, To the 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 drown'd 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, forego the purpose That you resolved to effect. |
| SEBASTIAN | [Aside to ANTONIO] The next advantage
Will we take throughly. |
| ANTONIO | [Aside to SEBASTIAN] Let it be to-night;
For, now they are oppress'd with travel, they Will not, nor cannot, use such vigilance As when they are fresh. |
| SEBASTIAN | [Aside to ANTONIO] I say, to-night: no more. |
| [Solemn and strange music] | |
| ALONSO | What harmony is this? My good friends, hark! |
| GONZALO | Marvellous sweet music! |
| [Enter PROSPERO above, invisible. Enter several
strange Shapes, bringing in a banquet; they dance about it with gentle actions of salutation; and, inviting the King, &c. to eat, they depart] | |
| 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: travellers 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. |
| FRANCISCO | They vanish'd strangely. |
| SEBASTIAN | No matter, since
They have left their viands behind; for we have stomachs. Will't please you taste of what is here? |
| ALONSO | Not I. |
| GONZALO | Faith, sir, you need not fear. When we were boys,
Who would believe that there were mountaineers Dew-lapp'd 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. |
| [Thunder and lightning. Enter ARIEL, like a
harpy; claps his wings upon the table; and, with a quaint device, the banquet vanishes] | |
| ARIEL | 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 valour men hang and drown Their proper selves. |
| [ALONSO, SEBASTIAN &c. draw their swords] | |
| You fools! I and my fellows
Are ministers of Fate: the elements, Of whom your swords are temper'd, may as well Wound the loud winds, or with bemock'd-at stabs Kill the still-closing waters, as diminish One dowle that's in my plume: my fellow-ministers Are like invulnerable. If you could hurt, Your swords are now too massy for your strengths And will not be uplifted. But remember-- For that's my business to you--that you three From Milan did supplant good Prospero; Exposed unto the sea, which hath requit it, Him and his innocent child: for which foul deed The powers, delaying, not forgetting, have Incensed the seas and shores, yea, all the creatures, Against your peace. Thee of thy son, Alonso, They have bereft; and do pronounce by me: Lingering perdition, worse than any death Can be at once, shall step by step attend You and your ways; whose wraths to guard you from-- Which here, in this most desolate isle, else falls Upon your heads--is nothing but heart-sorrow And a clear life ensuing. | |
| [He vanishes in thunder; then, to soft music
enter the Shapes again, and dance, with mocks and mows, and carrying out the table] | |
| PROSPERO | Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou
Perform'd, my Ariel; a grace it had, devouring: Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated In what thou hadst to say: so, with good life And observation strange, my meaner ministers Their several kinds have done. My high charms work And these mine enemies are all knit up In their distractions; they now are in my power; And in these fits I leave them, while I visit Young Ferdinand, whom they suppose is drown'd, And his and mine loved darling. |
| [Exit above] | |
| GONZALO | I' the 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. Therefore my son i' the ooze is bedded, and I'll seek him deeper than e'er plummet sounded And with him there lie mudded. [Exit] |
| SEBASTIAN | But one fiend at a time,
I'll fight their legions o'er. |
| ANTONIO | I'll be thy second. |
| [Exeunt SEBASTIAN, and ANTONIO] | |
| 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. |
| [Exeunt] |