Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

Enter PROSPERO, FERDINAND, and MIRANDA.

Pro. If I have too austerely punish'd you,
Your compensation makes amends; for I
Have given you here a thread of mine own life,
Or that, for which I live; whom once again
I tender to thy hand; allthy vexations
Were but my trials of thy love, and thou
Hast strangely stood the test: here, afore Heaven,
I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand,
Do not smile at me, that I boast her off,

For thou shalt find she will ontstrip all praise,
And make it halt behind her.

[blocks in formation]

For quiet days, fairissue, and long life,

With such love as 'tis now; the murkiest den,

The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion

Our worser Genius can, shall never melt

Mine honour intolust; to take away

The edge of that day's celebration,

[blocks in formation]

Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves,
Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard;
And thy sea-marge, steril, and rocky-hard,
Where thon thyself dostair: The queen o'the sky,
Whose watery 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.

Cer. Hail, many-colour'd 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 unshrubb'd down,
Rich scarf to my proud earth; Why hath thy queen
Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass'd green?
Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate;

And some donation freely to estate
On the bless'd lovers.

Cer. 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,

fler and her blind boy's scandal'd company

I have forsworn.

Iris. Of her society

Cutting the clouds towards Paphos; and her son

Dove-drawn with her: here thought they to have done

When I shall think, or Phoebus' steeds are founder'd, Be not afraid; I met her deity

Or night kept chain'd below.

[blocks in formation]

Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,
Whose vows are, that no bed-rite shall be paid

Till Hymen's torch belighted: but in vain;

Mars's hot minion is return'd 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.

Cer. Highest queen of state,

Great Juno comes; I know her by her gait.

Enter JUNO.

Jun. How does my bounteous sister? Go with me, To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be, And honour'd in their issue.

SONG.

Long continuance, and increasing, Hourly joysbe still upon you

Ari. Presently?

Pro. Ay, with a twink.

Ari. Before you can say, Come, and go,

Juno. Honour, riches, marriage-blessing,

And breathe twice; and cry, so, 80;

Each one, tripping on his toe,

Will be here with mop and mowe:

[blocks in formation]

Juno sings her blessings on you. Ceres. Earth's increase, and 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.

Fer. This is a most majestic vision, and Harmonious charmingly: May I be bold To think these spirits?

Pro. Spirits, which by mine art

I have from their confines call'd to enact

My present fancies.

Fer. Let me live here ever!

So rare a wonder'd father, and a wife,

Make this place Paradise.

At which, like unback'd colts, they prick'd their ears,
Advanc'd their eye-lids, lifted up their noses,
As they smelt musick; so I charm'd their ears,
That, calf-like, they my lowing follow'd, through
Tooth'dbriers, sharp furzes, pricking goss, and thorns,

[Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris Which enter'd their frail shins: at last I left them
on employment.

Pro. Sweet now, silence!

Juno and Ceres whisper seriously;

There's something else to do: hush, and be mute,

Or else our spell is marr'd.

Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the wand'ring
brooks,

With your sedg'd crowns, and ever harmless looks,
Leave your erisp 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 sun-burn'd sicklemen, of August weary,
Come hither from the furrow, and be merry;
Make holiday: yourrye-straw hats put on,
And these fresh nymphs encounter every one
In country footing!

Enter certain Reapers, properly habited: they join
with the Nymphs in a graceful dance; towards the
end whereof PROSPERO starts suddenly, and speaks;
after which, to a strange, hollow, and confused
noise, they heavily vanish.

Pro. [Aside.] I had forgot that foul conspiracy

Of the beast Caliban, and his confederates,

Against my life; the minute of their plot

Is almost come.-[To the Spirits.] Well done;-avoid;

-no more!

Fer. This is most strange: your father's in some

passion

That works him strongly.

Mira. Never till this day,

Saw I him touch'd with anger so distemper'd.
Pro. You do look, my son, in a mov'd sort,
As if you were dismay'd: be cheerful, sir:
Our revels now are ended: these our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and

Are melted into air, into thin air:

And like the baseless fabrick of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve;
And, like this unsubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind: Weare such stuff

As dreams are made of, and our little life

Is rounded with a sleep. - Sir, I am vex'd;

Bear with my weakness! my old brain is troubled.

Be not disturb'd with my infirmity:

If you be pleas'd, retire into my cell,

And there repose; a turn or two I'll walk,

To still my beating mind.

Fer. Mira. We wish your peace.

[Exeunt.

Pro. Come with a thought: -I thank you: -Ariel, come!

Enter ARIEL.

I' the filthy mantled pool beyond your cell,
There dancing up to the chins, that the foul lake

O'erstunk their feet.

[blocks in formation]

Pro. A devil, a born devil, on whose nature
Nurture can neverstick; on whom my pains,
Humanely taken, all, alllost, quite lost;
And as with age his body uglier grows,
So his mind cankers: I will plague them all,
Re-enter ARIEL, loaden with glistering apparel, etc.
Even to roaring: - Come, hang them on this line!
PROSPERO and ARIEL remain invisible. Enter CALIBAN,
STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, all wet.

not

Cal. Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole may Hear a foot fall: we now are near his cell. Ste. Monster, your fiy, which, you say, is a harmless fairy, has done little better than played the Jack with us.

Trin. Monster, I do smell all horse-piss; at which my nose is in great indignation.

Ste. So is mine. Do you hear, monster? If I should take a displeasure against you; look you, –

Trin. Thou wert but a lost monster.

Cal. Good mylord, givemethy favour still!
Be patient, for the prize I'll bring thee to,
Shall hoodwink this mischance: therefore, speak

softly,

All's hush'd as midnight yet.

Trin. Ay, but to lose our bottles in the pool, Ste. There is not only disgrace and dishonour in that, monster, but an infinite loss.

Trin. That's more to me than my wetting: yet this is your harmless fairy, monster.

Ste. I will fetch off my bottle, though I be o'er ears for my labour.

Cal. Pr'ythee, myking, be quiet! Seest thou here, This is the mouth o' the cell: no noise, and enter: Do that good mischief, which may make this island Thine own for ever, and I, thy Caliban,

For aye thy foot-licker.

Ste. Givemethy hand! I do begin to have bloody thoughts.

Trin. O king Stephano! O peer! O worthy Stephano!

look, what a wardrobe here is for thee!

Cal. Let it alone, thou fool; it is but trash.

Trin. O, ho, monster; we know what belongs to a

frippery: - O king Stephano!

Ste. Put off that gown, Trinculo; by this hand, I'll have that gown.

Trin. Thy grace shall have it.

Cal. The dropsy drown this fool! what do you mean,

Ari. Thy thoughts I cleave to: What's thy pleasure? To doat thus on such luggage? Let's along,
Pro. Spirit,

We must prepare to meet with Caliban.

Ari. Ay, my commander: when I presented Ceres,
I thought to have told thee of it; but I fear'd,

Lest I might anger thee.

Pro. Say again, where didst thon leave these varlets?
Ari. I told you, sir, they were red-hot with drinking;
So full of valour, that they smote the air

For breathing in their faces; beat the ground
For kissing of their feet: yet always bending
Toward their project: Then I beat my tabor,

[blocks in formation]

country: Steal by line and level, is an excellent pass of pate; there's another garment for't.

Trin. Monster, come, put some lime upon your fingers, and away with the rest!

Cal. I will have none on't: we shall lose our time,
And all be turn'd to barnacles, or to apes
With foreheads villainous low.

Ste. Monster, lay-to your fingers; help to bear this away, where my hogshead of wineis, or I'll turn you out of my kingdom: go to, carry this!

Trin. And this.

Ste. Ay, and this.

A noise of hunters heard. Enter divers Spirits, in shape of hounds, and hunt them about; PROSPERO and ARIEL setting them on. Pro. Hey, Mountain, hey!

Ari. Silver! thereit goes, Silver!

Pro. Fury, Fury! there, Tyrant, there! hark, hark [Cal. Ste. and Trin. are driven out

Go, charge my goblins, that they grind their joints
With dry convulsions; shorten up their sinews
With aged cramps; and more pinch-spotted make

them,

[blocks in formation]

When first I rais'd the tempest. Say, my spirit, How fares the king and his?

Ari. Confin'd together

In the same fashion as you gave in charge;
Just as you left them, sir; all prisoners

In the lime 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,
Brim-full of sorrow, and dismay; but chiefly
Him you term'd, sir, The good old lord, Gonzalo;
His tears run down his beard, like winter's drops
From eaves of reeds; your charm so strongly works

them,

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

groves;

And ye, that on the sands with printless foot
Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly him,
When he comes back; you demy-puppets, that
By moon-shine do the green-sour ringlets make,
Whereof the ewe not bites; and you, whose pastime
Is to make midnight mushrooms; that rejoice
To hear the solemn curfew; by whose aid
(Weak masters though yebe,) I have be-dimm'd
The noon-tide sun, call'd forth the mutinous winds,
And 'twixt the green sea and the azur'd 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 bas'd promontory
Have I made shake; and by the spurs pluck'd up
The pine and cedar: graves, at my command,
Have wak'd their sleepers; oped, and let them forth
By my so potent art: But this rough magick
There abjure: and, when I have requir'd
Some heavenly musick, (which even now I do,)
To work mine end upon their senses, that
This airy charm is for, I'll break my staff,
Bury it certain fathoms in the earth,

Solean musick.

And, deeper than did ever plummet sound,
I'll drown my book.
Re-enter ARIEL: after him, ALONSO, with a frantic
gesture, attended by GONZALO; SEBASTIAN and ANTO-
NIO in like manner, attended by ADRIAN and FRAN-
CISCO: they all enter the cirele which PROSPERO had
made, and there stand charmed; which PROSPERO
observing, speaks.

A solenn air, and the best comforter
To an unsettled fancy, cure thy brains,
Now useless, boil'd within thy skull! There stand,

For you are spell-stopp'd.

Holy Gonzalo, honourable man,

Mineeyes, even sociable to the show of thine,
Fall fellowly drops. - The charm dissolves apace;
And as the morning steals upon the night,
Melting the darkness, so their rising senses
Begin to chase the ignorant fumes, that mantle
Their clearer reason. Omy 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, useme and my daughter:
Thy brother was a furtrerer in the act; -
Thou'rt pinch'd for't now, Sebastian. - Flesh and

blood,

You brother mine, that entertain'd ambition,
Expell'd remorse and nature; who with Sebastian
(Whoseinward pinches therefore are most strong,)
Would here have kill'd your king; I do forgive thee,
Unnatural though thou art! - Their understanding
Begins to swell; and the approaching tide
Will shortly fill the reasonable shores,

That now lie 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! (Exit Ariel.
I will dis-case me, and myselfpresent,
As I was sometime Milan: - quickly, spirit!
Thou shalt ere long be free.

ARIEL re-enters, singing, and helps to attire
PROSPERO.

Avi. Where the bee sucks, there suck 1;

In a cowslip's bell I lie :

There I couch, when owlsdo cry.

On the bat's back I do fly,

After summer, merrily:

Merrily, merrily, shall I live now

Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.

Pro. Why, that'smy dainty Ariel; I shall miss thee; That they devour their reason; and scarce think

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 pr'ythee.

Ari. I drink the air before me, and return

Or e'er your pulse twice beat.

Exit Ariel.

Gon. All torment, trouble, wonder, and amazement Inhabits here. Some heavenly power guidens

Out of this fearful country!

Pro. Behold, sir king,

The wronged duke of Milan, Prospero:

For more assurance that a living prince

Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body;
And to thee, and thy company, I bid

A hearty welcome.

Alon. Whe'r thou beest he, or no,

Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me,

As late I have been, Inotknow: thy pulse

Beats, as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee,

The affliction of my mind amends, with which,

I fear, a madness held me: this must crave

(An if this be at all,) a most strange story.

Thy dukedom I resign; and do entreat,

Thou pardon me my wrongs:-But how should Pro

Be living, and be here?

Pro. First, noble friend,

spero

Let me embrace thine age; whose honour cannot

Be measur'd or confin'd.

Gon. Whether this be,

Or be not, I'll not swear,

Pro. You do yet taste

Some subtiltieso' the isle, that will not let you

Believe things certain: - Welcome, my friends all!

But you, my brace of lords, were I so miuded,

[Aside to Seb. and Ant.

I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you,

And justify you traitors; at this time

I'll tell no tales.

[blocks in formation]

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; whomost strangely

Upon this shore, where you were wreck'd, was landed,

To be the lord on't. No more yet of this!

For 'tis a chronicle of day by day,

Not a relation for a breakfast, nor

Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir;
This cell's my court: here have I few attendants,
And subjects none abroad: pray you, look in!
My dukedom since you have given me again,

I will requite you with as good a thing;

Atleast, bring forth a wonder, to content ye,

As much as me my dukedom.

The entrance of the cell opens, and discovers FERDI

MAND and MIRANDA playing at chess.

Mira. Sweet lord, you play me false.

Fer. No, my dearest love,

I would not for the world,

[blocks in formation]

Alon. What is this maid, with whom thou wast at

play?

Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours: Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us,

And brought us thus together?

Fer. Sir, she's mortal;

But, by immortal providence, she's mine;
I chose her, when I could not ask my father
For his advice; nor thought I hadone: 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
Receiv'd a second life, and second father
This lady makes him to me.

Alon. I am her's:

But O, how oddly will it sound, that I

Must ask my child forgiveness!

Pro. There, sir, stop;

Let us not burden our remembrances

With a heaviness that's gone!

Gon. I have inly wept,

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

And on this couple drop a blessed crown!

Foritis you, that have chalk'd forth the way

Which brought us hither!

Alon. I say, Amen, Gonzalo !

Gon. 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 oue voyage Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis: And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife, Where he himself was lost; Prospero his dukedom,

[blocks in formation]

amazedly following.

Olook, sir, look, sir! here are more of us.
Iprophesied, 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?
Boats. The best news is, that we have safely found
Ourking, and company; the next, our ship,-
Which, but three glasses since, we gave out split, -
Istight, and yare, and bravely rigg'd, as when

We first put out to sea.

Ari. Sir, all this service Have I done, since I went. Pro. My tricksy spirit!

}

Aside.

Alon. These are not natural events; they strengthen From strange to stranger :- Say, how came you hither? Boats. If I did think, sir, I were well awake,

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

And (how, weknow not,) all clapp'd under hatches,
Where, but even now, with strange and several noises
Of roaring, shrieking, howling, gingling chains,
And more diversity of sounds, all horrible,
We were awak'd; straightway, atliberty:
Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld
Our royal, good, and gallant ship; our master
Capering to eye her: On a trice, so please you,
Even in a dream, were we divided from them,
And were brought moping hither.

Ari. Was't well done?

1}

Pro. Bravely, my diligence! Thou shalt

be free.

Aside.

[blocks in formation]

There are yet missing of your company
Some few odd lads, that you remember not.
Re-enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and
TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel.

Ste. Every man shift for all the rest, and let no man take care for himself; for all is but fortune: -Coragio, bully-monster, Coragio!

Trin. If these be true spies which I wearin my head, here's a goodly sight.

Cal. O Setebos, these be brave spirits, indeed!

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

Seb. Ha, ha!

What things are these, my lord Antonio?
Will money buy them?

Ant. Very like; one of them

Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable.

Pro. Mark but the badges of these men, my lords, Then say, if they be true!-This mis-shapen knave,His mother was a witch; and one so strong

(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.

Cal. I shall be pinch'd to death.

Alon. Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler?
Seb. He is drunk now: where had he wine?

Alon. And Trinculo is reeling ripe: Where should

they

Find this grand liquor, that hath gilded them? -
How cam'st thou in this pickle?

Trin. I have been in such a pickle, since I saw you last, that, I fear me, will never out of my bones: I shall not fear fly-blowing.

Seb. Why, how now, Stephano?

Ste. O touch me not! I am not Stephano, but a cramp.
Pro. You'd be king of the isle, sirrah?
Ste. I should have been a sore one then.

Alon. This is as strange a thing, as e'er I look'd on.

[Pointing to Caliban.

Pro. He is as disproportion'd in his manners,
As in his shape: Go, sirrah, to my cell;
Take with you your companions; as you look
To have my pardon, trim it handsomely!

Cal. 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!
Pro. Go to; away!

Alon. Hence, and bestow your luggage where you found it!

Seb. Or stole it, rather. [Exeunt Cal. Ste. and Trin.
Pro. 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, Inot doubt, shall make it
Go quick away: the story of my life,
And the particular accidents, gone by,

Since I came to this isle. And in the morn,
I'll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples,
Where I have hope to see the nuptial

Of these our dear-beloved solemniz'd,
And thence retire me to my Milan, where
Every third thought shall be my grave.
Alon. I long

To hear the story of your life, which must
Take the ear strangely.

Pro. I'll deliver all;

And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales,
And sail so expeditious, that shall catch
Your royal fleet far off. - My Ariel! - chick, -
That is thy charge; then to the elements
Be free, and fare thou well! [Aside.] - Please you

draw near!

EPILOGUE.

SPOKEN BY PROSPERO.

Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own;
Which is most faint: Now, 'tis true,
I must be here confined by you,
Or sent to Naples: Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got,
And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island, by your spell;
But release me from my bands,
With the help of your good hands!
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,

[Exeunt.

« PreviousContinue »