The Tempest

1 Enter Prospero in his magic robes, and Ariel.
2 PROSPERO.
3 Now does my project gather to a head:
4 My charms crack not; my spirits obey, and time
5 Goes upright with his carriage. How’s the day?
6 ARIEL.
7 On the sixth hour; at which time, my lord,
8 You said our work should cease.
9 PROSPERO.
10 I did say so,
11 When first I rais’d the tempest. Say, my spirit,
12 How fares the King and ’s followers?
13 ARIEL.
14 Confin’d together
15 In the same fashion as you gave in charge,
16 Just as you left them; all prisoners, sir,
17 In the line grove which weather-fends your cell;
18 They cannot budge till your release. The King,
19 His brother, and yours, abide all three distracted,
20 And the remainder mourning over them,
21 Brimful of sorrow and dismay; but chiefly
22 Him you term’d, sir, “the good old lord, Gonzalo”.
23 His tears run down his beard, like winter’s drops
24 From eaves of reeds; your charm so strongly works ’em,
25 That if you now beheld them, your affections
26 Would become tender.
27 PROSPERO.
28 Dost thou think so, spirit?
29 ARIEL.
30 Mine would, sir, were I human.
31 PROSPERO.
32 And mine shall.
33 Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling
34 Of their afflictions, and shall not myself,
35 One of their kind, that relish all as sharply
36 Passion as they, be kindlier mov’d than thou art?
37 Though with their high wrongs I am struck to th’ quick,
38 Yet with my nobler reason ’gainst my fury
39 Do I take part: the rarer action is
40 In virtue than in vengeance: they being penitent,
41 The sole drift of my purpose doth extend
42 Not a frown further. Go release them, Ariel.
43 My charms I’ll break, their senses I’ll restore,
44 And they shall be themselves.
45 ARIEL.
46 I’ll fetch them, sir.
47 [_Exit._]
48 PROSPERO.
49 Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes, and
50 groves;
51 And ye that on the sands with printless foot
52 Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly him
53 When he comes back; you demi-puppets that
54 By moonshine do the green sour ringlets make,
55 Whereof the ewe not bites; and you whose pastime
56 Is to make midnight mushrooms, that rejoice
57 To hear the solemn curfew; by whose aid,
58 Weak masters though ye be, I have bedimm’d
59 The noontide sun, call’d forth the mutinous winds,
60 And ’twixt the green sea and the azur’d vault
61 Set roaring war: to the dread rattling thunder
62 Have I given fire, and rifted Jove’s stout oak
63 With his own bolt; the strong-bas’d promontory
64 Have I made shake, and by the spurs pluck’d up
65 The pine and cedar: graves at my command
66 Have wak’d their sleepers, op’d, and let ’em forth
67 By my so potent art. But this rough magic
68 I here abjure; and, when I have requir’d
69 Some heavenly music,—which even now I do,—
70 To work mine end upon their senses that
71 This airy charm is for, I’ll break my staff,
72 Bury it certain fathoms in the earth,
73 And deeper than did ever plummet sound
74 I’ll drown my book.
75 [_Solemn music._]
76 Re-enter Ariel: after him, Alonso with a frantic gesture, attended by
77 Gonzalo, Sebastian and Antonio in like manner, attended by Adrian and
78 Francisco: they all enter the circle which Prospero had made, and
79 there stand charmed; which Prospero observing, speaks.
80 A solemn air, and the best comforter
81 To an unsettled fancy, cure thy brains,
82 Now useless, boil’d within thy skull! There stand,
83 For you are spell-stopp’d.
84 Holy Gonzalo, honourable man,
85 Mine eyes, e’en sociable to the show of thine,
86 Fall fellowly drops. The charm dissolves apace;
87 And as the morning steals upon the night,
88 Melting the darkness, so their rising senses
89 Begin to chase the ignorant fumes that mantle
90 Their clearer reason. O good Gonzalo!
91 My true preserver, and a loyal sir
92 To him thou follow’st, I will pay thy graces
93 Home, both in word and deed. Most cruelly
94 Didst thou, Alonso, use me and my daughter:
95 Thy brother was a furtherer in the act.
96 Thou art pinch’d for ’t now, Sebastian. Flesh and blood,
97 You, brother mine, that entertain’d ambition,
98 Expell’d remorse and nature, who, with Sebastian,—
99 Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong,
100 Would here have kill’d your King; I do forgive thee,
101 Unnatural though thou art. Their understanding
102 Begins to swell, and the approaching tide
103 Will shortly fill the reasonable shores
104 That now lie foul and muddy. Not one of them
105 That yet looks on me, or would know me. Ariel,
106 Fetch me the hat and rapier in my cell.
107 [_Exit Ariel._]
108 I will discase me, and myself present
109 As I was sometime Milan. Quickly, spirit;
110 Thou shalt ere long be free.
111 Ariel re-enters, singing, and helps to attire Prospero.
112 ARIEL
113 _Where the bee sucks, there suck I:
114 In a cowslip’s bell I lie;
115 There I couch when owls do cry.
116 On the bat’s back I do fly
117 After summer merrily.
118 Merrily, merrily shall I live now
119 Under the blossom that hangs on the bough._
120 PROSPERO.
121 Why, that’s my dainty Ariel! I shall miss thee;
122 But yet thou shalt have freedom; so, so, so.
123 To the King’s ship, invisible as thou art:
124 There shalt thou find the mariners asleep
125 Under the hatches; the master and the boatswain
126 Being awake, enforce them to this place,
127 And presently, I prithee.
128 ARIEL.
129 I drink the air before me, and return
130 Or ere your pulse twice beat.
131 [_Exit._]
132 GONZALO.
133 All torment, trouble, wonder and amazement
134 Inhabits here. Some heavenly power guide us
135 Out of this fearful country!
136 PROSPERO.
137 Behold, sir King,
138 The wronged Duke of Milan, Prospero.
139 For more assurance that a living prince
140 Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body;
141 And to thee and thy company I bid
142 A hearty welcome.
143 ALONSO.
144 Whe’er thou be’st he or no,
145 Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me,
146 As late I have been, I not know: thy pulse
147 Beats, as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee,
148 Th’ affliction of my mind amends, with which,
149 I fear, a madness held me: this must crave,
150 An if this be at all, a most strange story.
151 Thy dukedom I resign, and do entreat
152 Thou pardon me my wrongs. But how should Prospero
153 Be living and be here?
154 PROSPERO.
155 First, noble friend,
156 Let me embrace thine age, whose honour cannot
157 Be measur’d or confin’d.
158 GONZALO.
159 Whether this be
160 Or be not, I’ll not swear.
161 PROSPERO.
162 You do yet taste
163 Some subtleties o’ the isle, that will not let you
164 Believe things certain. Welcome, my friends all.
165 [_Aside to Sebastian and Antonio._] But you, my brace of lords, were I
166 so minded,
167 I here could pluck his highness’ frown upon you,
168 And justify you traitors: at this time
169 I will tell no tales.
170 SEBASTIAN.
171 [_Aside._] The devil speaks in him.
172 PROSPERO.
173 No.
174 For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother
175 Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive
176 Thy rankest fault, all of them; and require
177 My dukedom of thee, which perforce I know
178 Thou must restore.
179 ALONSO.
180 If thou beest Prospero,
181 Give us particulars of thy preservation;
182 How thou hast met us here, whom three hours since
183 Were wrack’d upon this shore; where I have lost,—
184 How sharp the point of this remembrance is!—
185 My dear son Ferdinand.
186 PROSPERO.
187 I am woe for ’t, sir.
188 ALONSO.
189 Irreparable is the loss, and patience
190 Says it is past her cure.
191 PROSPERO.
192 I rather think
193 You have not sought her help, of whose soft grace,
194 For the like loss I have her sovereign aid,
195 And rest myself content.
196 ALONSO.
197 You the like loss!
198 PROSPERO.
199 As great to me, as late; and, supportable
200 To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker
201 Than you may call to comfort you, for I
202 Have lost my daughter.
203 ALONSO.
204 A daughter?
205 O heavens, that they were living both in Naples,
206 The King and Queen there! That they were, I wish
207 Myself were mudded in that oozy bed
208 Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter?
209 PROSPERO.
210 In this last tempest. I perceive, these lords
211 At this encounter do so much admire
212 That they devour their reason, and scarce think
213 Their eyes do offices of truth, their words
214 Are natural breath; but, howsoe’er you have
215 Been justled from your senses, know for certain
216 That I am Prospero, and that very duke
217 Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most strangely
218 Upon this shore, where you were wrack’d, was landed
219 To be the lord on’t. No more yet of this;
220 For ’tis a chronicle of day by day,
221 Not a relation for a breakfast nor
222 Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir.
223 This cell’s my court: here have I few attendants,
224 And subjects none abroad: pray you, look in.
225 My dukedom since you have given me again,
226 I will requite you with as good a thing;
227 At least bring forth a wonder, to content ye
228 As much as me my dukedom.
229 Here Prospero discovers Ferdinand and Miranda playing at chess.
230 MIRANDA.
231 Sweet lord, you play me false.
232 FERDINAND.
233 No, my dearest love,
234 I would not for the world.
235 MIRANDA.
236 Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle,
237 And I would call it fair play.
238 ALONSO.
239 If this prove
240 A vision of the island, one dear son
241 Shall I twice lose.
242 SEBASTIAN.
243 A most high miracle!
244 FERDINAND.
245 Though the seas threaten, they are merciful.
246 I have curs’d them without cause.
247 [_Kneels to Alonso._]
248 ALONSO.
249 Now all the blessings
250 Of a glad father compass thee about!
251 Arise, and say how thou cam’st here.
252 MIRANDA.
253 O, wonder!
254 How many goodly creatures are there here!
255 How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world
256 That has such people in ’t!
257 PROSPERO.
258 ’Tis new to thee.
259 ALONSO.
260 What is this maid, with whom thou wast at play?
261 Your eld’st acquaintance cannot be three hours:
262 Is she the goddess that hath sever’d us,
263 And brought us thus together?
264 FERDINAND.
265 Sir, she is mortal;
266 But by immortal Providence she’s mine.
267 I chose her when I could not ask my father
268 For his advice, nor thought I had one. She
269 Is daughter to this famous Duke of Milan,
270 Of whom so often I have heard renown,
271 But never saw before; of whom I have
272 Receiv’d a second life; and second father
273 This lady makes him to me.
274 ALONSO.
275 I am hers:
276 But, O, how oddly will it sound that I
277 Must ask my child forgiveness!
278 PROSPERO.
279 There, sir, stop:
280 Let us not burden our remembrances with
281 A heaviness that’s gone.
282 GONZALO.
283 I have inly wept,
284 Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you gods,
285 And on this couple drop a blessed crown;
286 For it is you that have chalk’d forth the way
287 Which brought us hither.
288 ALONSO.
289 I say, Amen, Gonzalo!
290 GONZALO.
291 Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue
292 Should become Kings of Naples? O, rejoice
293 Beyond a common joy, and set it down
294 With gold on lasting pillars: in one voyage
295 Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis,
296 And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife
297 Where he himself was lost; Prospero his dukedom
298 In a poor isle; and all of us ourselves,
299 When no man was his own.
300 ALONSO.
301 [_To Ferdinand and Miranda._] Give me your hands:
302 Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart
303 That doth not wish you joy!
304 GONZALO.
305 Be it so. Amen!
306 Re-enter Ariel with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following.
307 O look, sir, look, sir! Here are more of us.
308 I prophesied, if a gallows were on land,
309 This fellow could not drown. Now, blasphemy,
310 That swear’st grace o’erboard, not an oath on shore?
311 Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news?
312 BOATSWAIN.
313 The best news is that we have safely found
314 Our King and company. The next, our ship,—
315 Which but three glasses since, we gave out split,
316 Is tight and yare, and bravely rigg’d as when
317 We first put out to sea.
318 ARIEL.
319 [_Aside to Prospero._] Sir, all this service
320 Have I done since I went.
321 PROSPERO.
322 [_Aside to Ariel._] My tricksy spirit!
323 ALONSO.
324 These are not natural events; they strengthen
325 From strange to stranger. Say, how came you hither?
326 BOATSWAIN.
327 If I did think, sir, I were well awake,
328 I’d strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep,
329 And,—how, we know not,—all clapp’d under hatches,
330 Where, but even now, with strange and several noises
331 Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains,
332 And mo diversity of sounds, all horrible,
333 We were awak’d; straightway, at liberty:
334 Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld
335 Our royal, good, and gallant ship; our master
336 Cap’ring to eye her. On a trice, so please you,
337 Even in a dream, were we divided from them,
338 And were brought moping hither.
339 ARIEL.
340 [_Aside to Prospero._] Was’t well done?
341 PROSPERO.
342 [_Aside to Ariel._] Bravely, my diligence. Thou shalt be free.
343 ALONSO.
344 This is as strange a maze as e’er men trod;
345 And there is in this business more than nature
346 Was ever conduct of: some oracle
347 Must rectify our knowledge.
348 PROSPERO.
349 Sir, my liege,
350 Do not infest your mind with beating on
351 The strangeness of this business. At pick’d leisure,
352 Which shall be shortly, single I’ll resolve you,
353 Which to you shall seem probable, of every
354 These happen’d accidents; till when, be cheerful
355 And think of each thing well. [_Aside to Ariel._] Come hither, spirit;
356 Set Caliban and his companions free;
357 Untie the spell.
358 [_Exit Ariel._]
359 How fares my gracious sir?
360 There are yet missing of your company
361 Some few odd lads that you remember not.
362 Re-enter Ariel driving in Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo in their
363 stolen apparel.
364 STEPHANO.
365 Every man shift for all the rest, and let no man take care for himself,
366 for all is but fortune.—Coragio! bully-monster, coragio!
367 TRINCULO.
368 If these be true spies which I wear in my head, here’s a goodly sight.
369 CALIBAN.
370 O Setebos, these be brave spirits indeed.
371 How fine my master is! I am afraid
372 He will chastise me.
373 SEBASTIAN.
374 Ha, ha!
375 What things are these, my lord Antonio?
376 Will money buy them?
377 ANTONIO.
378 Very like; one of them
379 Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable.
380 PROSPERO.
381 Mark but the badges of these men, my lords,
382 Then say if they be true. This mis-shapen knave,
383 His mother was a witch; and one so strong
384 That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs,
385 And deal in her command without her power.
386 These three have robb’d me; and this demi-devil,
387 For he’s a bastard one, had plotted with them
388 To take my life. Two of these fellows you
389 Must know and own; this thing of darkness I
390 Acknowledge mine.
391 CALIBAN.
392 I shall be pinch’d to death.
393 ALONSO.
394 Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler?
395 SEBASTIAN.
396 He is drunk now: where had he wine?
397 ALONSO.
398 And Trinculo is reeling-ripe: where should they
399 Find this grand liquor that hath gilded ’em?
400 How cam’st thou in this pickle?
401 TRINCULO.
402 I have been in such a pickle since I saw you last that, I fear me, will
403 never out of my bones. I shall not fear fly-blowing.
404 SEBASTIAN.
405 Why, how now, Stephano!
406 STEPHANO.
407 O! touch me not. I am not Stephano, but a cramp.
408 PROSPERO.
409 You’d be King o’ the isle, sirrah?
410 STEPHANO.
411 I should have been a sore one, then.
412 ALONSO.
413 This is as strange a thing as e’er I look’d on.
414 [_Pointing to Caliban._]
415 PROSPERO.
416 He is as disproportioned in his manners
417 As in his shape. Go, sirrah, to my cell;
418 Take with you your companions. As you look
419 To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.
420 CALIBAN.
421 Ay, that I will; and I’ll be wise hereafter,
422 And seek for grace. What a thrice-double ass
423 Was I, to take this drunkard for a god,
424 And worship this dull fool!
425 PROSPERO.
426 Go to; away!
427 ALONSO.
428 Hence, and bestow your luggage where you found it.
429 SEBASTIAN.
430 Or stole it, rather.
431 [_Exeunt Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo._]
432 PROSPERO.
433 Sir, I invite your Highness and your train
434 To my poor cell, where you shall take your rest
435 For this one night; which, part of it, I’ll waste
436 With such discourse as, I not doubt, shall make it
437 Go quick away: the story of my life
438 And the particular accidents gone by
439 Since I came to this isle: and in the morn
440 I’ll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples,
441 Where I have hope to see the nuptial
442 Of these our dear-belov’d solemnized;
443 And thence retire me to my Milan, where
444 Every third thought shall be my grave.
445 ALONSO.
446 I long
447 To hear the story of your life, which must
448 Take the ear strangely.
449 PROSPERO.
450 I’ll deliver all;
451 And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales,
452 And sail so expeditious that shall catch
453 Your royal fleet far off. [_Aside to Ariel._] My Ariel,
454 chick,
455 That is thy charge: then to the elements
456 Be free, and fare thou well! Please you, draw near.
457 [_Exeunt._]
458 EPILOGUE
459 PROSPERO.
460 Now my charms are all o’erthrown,
461 And what strength I have’s mine own,
462 Which is most faint. Now ’tis true,
463 I must be here confin’d by you,
464 Or sent to Naples. Let me not,
465 Since I have my dukedom got,
466 And pardon’d the deceiver, dwell
467 In this bare island by your spell,
468 But release me from my bands
469 With the help of your good hands.
470 Gentle breath of yours my sails
471 Must fill, or else my project fails,
472 Which was to please. Now I want
473 Spirits to enforce, art to enchant;
474 And my ending is despair,
475 Unless I be reliev’d by prayer,
476 Which pierces so that it assaults
477 Mercy itself, and frees all faults.
478 As you from crimes would pardon’d be,
479 Let your indulgence set me free.
480 [_Exit._]