The Tempest

Select or Print the text

Original text
Act III, Scene I
Enter Ferdinand (bearing a Log.)

Fer.
There be some Sports are painfull; & their labor
Delight in them set off: Some kindes of basenesse
Are nobly vndergon; and most poore matters
Point to rich ends: this my meane Taske
Would be as heauy to me, as odious, but
The Mistris which I serue, quickens what's dead,
And makes my labours, pleasures: O She is
Ten times more gentle, then her Father's crabbed;
And he's compos'd of harshnesse. I must remoue
Some thousands of these Logs, and pile them vp,
Vpon a sore iniunction; my sweet Mistris
Weepes when she sees me worke, & saies, such basenes
Had neuer like Executor: I forget:
But these sweet thoughts, doe euen refresh my labours,
Most busie lest, when I doe it.
Enter Miranda and Prospero.

Mir.
Alas, now pray you
Worke not so hard: I would the lightning had
Burnt vp those Logs that you are enioynd to pile:
Pray set it downe, and rest you: when this burnes
'Twill weepe for hauing wearied you: my Father
Is hard at study; pray now rest your selfe,
Hee's safe for these three houres.

Fer.
O most deere Mistris
The Sun will set before I shall discharge
What I must striue to do.

Mir.
If you'l sit downe
Ile beare your Logges the while: pray giue me that,
Ile carry it to the pile.

Fer.
No precious Creature,
I had rather cracke my sinewes, breake my backe,
Then you should such dishonor vndergoe,
While I sit lazy by.

Mir.
It would become me
As well as it do's you; and I should do it
With much more ease: for my good will is to it,
And yours it is against.

Pro.
Poore worme thou art infected,
This visitation shewes it.

Mir.
You looke wearily.

Fer.
No, noble Mistris, 'tis fresh morning with me
When you are by at night: I do beseech you
Cheefely, that I might set it in my prayers,
What is your name?

Mir.
Miranda, O my Father,
I haue broke your hest to say so.

Fer.
Admir'd Miranda,
Indeede the top of Admiration, worth
What's deerest to the world: full many a Lady
I haue ey'd with best regard, and many a time
Th' harmony of their tongues, hath into bondage
Brought my too diligent eare: for seuerall vertues
Haue I lik'd seuerall women, neuer any
With so full soule, but some defect in her
Did quarrell with the noblest grace she ow'd,
And put it to the foile. But you, O you,
So perfect, and so peerlesse, are created
Of euerie Creatures best.

Mir.
I do not know
One of my sexe; no womans face remember,
Saue from my glasse, mine owne: Nor haue I seene
More that I may call men, then you good friend,
And my deere Father: how features are abroad
I am skillesse of; but by my modestie
(The iewell in my dower) I would not wish
Any Companion in the world but you:
Nor can imagination forme a shape
Besides your selfe, to like of: but I prattle
Something too wildely, and my Fathers precepts
I therein do forget.

Fer.
I am, in my condition
A Prince (Miranda) I do thinke a King
(I would not so) and would no more endure
This wodden slauerie, then to suffer
The flesh-flie blow my mouth: heare my soule speake.
The verie instant that I saw you, did
My heart flie to your seruice, there resides
To make me slaue to it, and for your sake
Am I this patient Logge-man.

Mir.
Do you loue me?

Fer.
O heauen; O earth, beare witnes to this sound,
And crowne what I professe with kinde euent
If I speake true: if hollowly, inuert
What best is boaded me, to mischiefe: I,
Beyond all limit of what else i'th world
Do loue, prize, honor you.

Mir.
I am a foole
To weepe at what I am glad of.

Pro.
Faire encounter
Of two most rare affections: heauens raine grace
On that which breeds betweene 'em.

Fer.
Wherefore weepe you?

Mir.
At mine vnworthinesse, that dare not offer
What I desire to giue; and much lesse take
What I shall die to want: But this is trifling,
And all the more it seekes to hide it selfe,
The bigger bulke it shewes. Hence bashfull cunning,
And prompt me plaine and holy innocence.
I am your wife, if you will marrie me;
If not, Ile die your maid: to be your fellow
You may denie me, but Ile be your seruant
Whether you will or no.

Fer.
My Mistris (deerest)
And I thus humble euer.

Mir.
My husband then?

Fer.
I, with a heart as willing
As bondage ere of freedome: heere's my hand.

Mir.
And mine, with my heart in't; and now farewel
Till halfe an houre hence.

Fer.
A thousand, thousand.
Exeunt.

Pro.
So glad of this as they I cannot be,
Who are surpriz'd with all; but my reioycing
At nothing can be more: Ile to my booke,
For yet ere supper time, must I performe
Much businesse appertaining.
Exit.
Original text
Act III, Scene II
Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo.

Ste.
Tell not me, when the But is out we will
drinke water, not a drop before; therefore beare vp, &
boord em' Seruant Monster, drinke to me.

Trin.
Seruant Monster? the folly of this Iland,
they say there's but fiue vpon this Isle; we are three of
them, if th' other two be brain'd like vs, the State totters.

Ste.
Drinke seruant Monster when I bid thee,
thy eies are almost set in thy head.

Trin.
Where should they bee set else? hee were a
braue Monster indeede if they were set in his taile.

Ste.
My man-Monster hath drown'd his tongue
in sacke: for my part the Sea cannot drowne mee, I swam
ere I could recouer the shore, fiue and thirtie Leagues off
and on, by this light thou shalt bee my Lieutenant
Monster, or my Standard.

Trin.
Your Lieutenant if you list, hee's no standard.

Ste.
Weel not run Monsieur Monster.

Trin.
Nor go neither: but you'l lie like dogs, and
yet say nothing neither.

Ste.
Moone-calfe, speak once in thy life, if thou beest
a good Moone-calfe.

Cal.
How does thy honour? Let me licke thy shooe:
Ile not serue him, he is not valiant.

Trin.
Thou liest most ignorant Monster, I am in
case to iustle a Constable: why, thou debosh'd Fish
thou, was there euer man a Coward, that hath drunk so
much Sacke as I to day? wilt thou tell a monstrous lie,
being but halfe a Fish, and halfe a Monster?

Cal.
Loe, how he mockes me, wilt thou let him my
Lord?

Trin.
Lord, quoth he? that a Monster should be
such a Naturall?

Cal.
Loe, loe againe: bite him to death I prethee.

Ste.
Trinculo, keepe a good tongue in your head:
If you proue a mutineere, the next Tree: the poore
Monster's my subiect, and he shall not suffer indignity.

Cal.
I thanke my noble Lord. Wilt thou be pleas'd to
hearken once againe to the suite I made to thee?

Ste.
Marry will I: kneele, and repeate it, I will
stand, and so shall Trinculo.
Enter Ariell inuisible.

Cal.
As I told thee before, I am subiect to a Tirant,
A Sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me / Of the
Island.

Ariell.
Thou lyest.

Cal.
Thou lyest, thou iesting Monkey thou:
I would my valiant Master would destroy thee.
I do not lye.

Ste.
Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in's
tale, / By this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.

Trin.
Why, I said nothing.

Ste.
Mum then, and no more: proceed.

Cal.
I say by Sorcery he got this Isle
From me, he got it. If thy Greatnesse will
Reuenge it on him, (for I know thou dar'st)
But this Thing dare not.

Ste.
That's most certaine.

Cal.
Thou shalt be Lord of it, and Ile serue thee.

Ste.
How now shall this be compast? / Canst
thou bring me to the party?

Cal.
Yea, yea my Lord, Ile yeeld him thee asleepe,
Where thou maist knocke a naile into his head.

Ariell.
Thou liest, thou canst not.

Cal.
What a py'de Ninnie's this? Thou scuruy patch:
I do beseech thy Greatnesse giue him blowes,
And take his bottle from him: When that's gone,
He shall drinke nought but brine, for Ile not shew him
Where the quicke Freshes are.

Ste.
Trinculo, run into no further danger: Interrupt
the Monster one word further, and by this hand,
Ile turne my mercie out o' doores, and make a / Stockfish of
thee.

Trin.
Why, what did I? I did nothing: Ile go
farther off.

Ste.
Didst thou not say he lyed?

Ariell.
Thou liest.

Ste.
Do I so? Take thou that,
As you like this, giue me the lye another time.

Trin.
I did not giue the lie: Out o'your wittes, and
hearing too? A pox o'your bottle, this can Sacke and
drinking doo: A murren on your Monster, and the diuell
take your fingers.

Cal.
Ha, ha, ha.

Ste.
Now forward with your Tale: prethee stand
further off.

Cal.
Beate him enough: after a little time
Ile beate him too.

Ste.
Stand farther: Come proceede.

Cal.
Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custome with him
I'th afternoone to sleepe: there thou maist braine him,
Hauing first seiz'd his bookes: Or with a logge
Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake,
Or cut his wezand with thy knife. Remember
First to possesse his Bookes; for without them
Hee's but a Sot, as I am; nor hath not
One Spirit to command: they all do hate him
As rootedly as I. Burne but his Bookes,
He ha's braue Vtensils (for so he calles them)
Which when he ha's a house, hee'l decke withall.
And that most deeply to consider, is
The beautie of his daughter: he himselfe
Cals her a non-pareill: I neuer saw a woman
But onely Sycorax my Dam, and she;
But she as farre surpasseth Sycorax,
As great'st do's least.

Ste.
Is it so braue a Lasse?

Cal.
I Lord, she will become thy bed, I warrant,
And bring thee forth braue brood.

Ste.
Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter
and I will be King and Queene, saue our Graces: and
Trinculo and thy selfe shall be Vice-royes: Dost thou like
the plot Trinculo?

Trin.
Excellent.

Ste.
Giue me thy hand, I am sorry I beate thee:
But while thou liu'st keepe a good tongue in thy head.

Cal.
Within this halfe houre will he be asleepe,
Wilt thou destroy him then?

Ste.
I on mine honour.

Ariell.
This will I tell my Master.

Cal.
Thou mak'st me merry: I am full of pleasure,
Let vs be iocond. Will you troule the Catch
You taught me but whileare?

Ste.
At thy request Monster, I will do reason, / Any
reason: Come on Trinculo, let vs sing.
Sings.
Flout 'em, and cout 'em:
and skowt 'em, and flout 'em,
Thought is free.

Cal.
That's not the tune.
Ariell plaies the tune on a Tabor and Pipe.

Ste.
What is this same?

Trin.
This is the tune of our Catch, plaid by the
picture of No-body.

Ste.
If thou beest a man, shew thy selfe in thy likenes:
If thou beest a diuell, take't as thou list.

Trin.
O forgiue me my sinnes.

Ste.
He that dies payes all debts: I defie thee;
Mercy vpon vs.

Cal.
Art thou affeard?

Ste.
No Monster, not I.

Cal.
Be not affeard, the Isle is full of noyses,
Sounds, and sweet aires, that giue delight and hurt not:
Sometimes a thousand twangling Instruments
Will hum about mine eares; and sometime voices,
That if I then had wak'd after long sleepe,
Will make me sleepe againe, and then in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and shew riches
Ready to drop vpon me, that when I wak'd
I cri'de to dreame againe.

Ste.
This will proue a braue kingdome to me, / Where
I shall haue my Musicke for nothing.

Cal.
When Prospero is destroy'd.

Ste.
That shall be by and by: I remember the
storie.

Trin.
The sound is going away, / Lets follow it, and
after do our worke.

Ste.
Leade Monster, / Wee'l follow: I would I could
see this Taborer, / He layes it on.

Trin.
Wilt come? Ile follow Stephano.
Exeunt.
Original text
Act III, Scene III
Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Anthonio, Gonzallo, Adrian,
Francisco, &c

Gon.
By'r lakin, I can goe no further, Sir,
My old bones akes: here's a maze trod indeede
Through fourth-rights, & Meanders: by your patience,
I needes must rest me.

Al.
Old Lord, I cannot blame thee,
Who, am my selfe attach'd with wearinesse
To th' dulling of my spirits: Sit downe, and rest:
Euen here I will put off my hope, and keepe it
No longer for my Flatterer: he is droun'd
Whom thus we stray to finde, and the Sea mocks
Our frustrate search on land: well, let him goe.

Ant.
I am right glad, that he's so out of hope:
Doe not for one repulse forgoe the purpose
That you resolu'd t' effect.

Seb.
The next aduantage
will we take throughly.

Ant.
Let it be to night,
For now they are oppress'd with trauaile, they
Will not, nor cannot vse such vigilance
As when they are fresh.

Seb.
I say to night: no more.
Solemne and strange Musicke: and Prosper on the top
(inuisible:) Enter seuerall strange shapes, bringing in a
Banket; and dance about it with gentle actions of salutations,
and inuiting the King, &c. to eate, they depart.

Al.
What harmony is this? my good friends, harke.

Gon.
Maruellous sweet Musicke.

Alo.
Giue vs kind keepers, heauẽs: what were these?

Seb.
A liuing Drolerie: now I will beleeue
That there are Vnicornes: that in Arabia
There is one Tree, the Phonix throne, one Phonix
At this houre reigning there.

Ant.
Ile beleeue both:
And what do's else want credit, come to me
And Ile besworne 'tis true: Trauellers nere did lye,
Though fooles at home condemne 'em.

Gon.
If in Naples
I should report this now, would they beleeue me?
If I should say I saw such Islands;
(For certes, these are people of the Island)
Who though they are of monstrous shape, yet note
Their manners are more gentle, kinde, then of
Our humaine generation you shall finde
Many, nay almost any.

Pro.
Honest Lord,
Thou hast said well: for some of you there present;
Are worse then diuels.

Al.
I cannot too much muse
Such shapes, such gesture, and such sound expressing
(Although they want the vse of tongue) a kinde
Of excellent dumbe discourse.

Pro.
Praise in departing.

Fr.
They vanish'd strangely.

Seb.
No matter, since
They haue left their Viands behinde; for wee haue stomacks.
Wilt please you taste of what is here?

Alo.
Not I.

Gon.
Faith Sir, you neede not feare: when wee were Boyes
Who would beleeue that there were Mountayneeres,
Dew-lapt, like Buls, whose throats had hanging at 'em
Wallets of flesh? or that there were such men
Whose heads stood in their brests? which now we finde
Each putter out of fiue for one, will bring vs
Good warrant of.

Al.
I will stand to, and feede,
Although my last, no matter, since I feele
The best is past: brother: my Lord, the Duke,
Stand too, and doe as we.
Thunder and Lightning. Enter Ariell (like a Harpey)
claps his wings vpon the Table, and with a quient
deuice the Banquet vanishes

Ar.
You are three men of sinne, whom destiny
That hath to instrument this lower world,
And what is in't: the neuer surfeited Sea,
Hath caus'd to belch vp you: and on this Island,
Where man doth not inhabit, you 'mongst men,
Being most vnfit to liue: I haue made you mad;
And euen with such like valour, men hang, and drowne
Their proper selues:
you fooles, I and my fellowes
Are ministers of Fate, the Elements
Of whom your swords are temper'd, may as well
Wound the loud windes, or with bemockt-at-Stabs
Kill the still closing waters, as diminish
One dowle that's in my plumbe: My fellow ministers
Are like-invulnerable: if you could hurt,
Your swords are now too massie for your strengths,
And will not be vplifted: But remember
(For that's my businesse to you) that you three
From Millaine did supplant good Prospero,
Expos'd vnto the Sea (which hath requit it)
Him, and his innocent childe: for which foule deed,
The Powres, delaying (not forgetting) haue
Incens'd the Seas, and Shores; yea, all the Creatures
Against your peace: Thee of thy Sonne, Alonso
They haue bereft; and doe pronounce by me
Lingring perdition (worse then any death
Can be at once) shall step, by step attend
You, and your wayes, whose wraths to guard you from,
Which here, in this most desolate Isle, else fals
Vpon your heads, is nothing but hearts-sorrow,
And a cleere life ensuing.
He vanishes in Thunder: then (to soft Musicke.) Enter the
shapes againe, and daunce (with mockes and mowes) and
carrying out the Table.

Pro.
Brauely the figure of this Harpie, hast thou
Perform'd (my Ariell) a grace it had deuouring:
Of my Instruction, hast thou nothing bated
In what thou had'st to say: so with good life,
And obseruation strange, my meaner ministers
Their seuerall kindes haue done: my high charmes work,
And these (mine enemies) are all knit vp
In their distractions: they now are in my powre;
And in these fits, I leaue them, while I visit
Yong Ferdinand (whom they suppose is droun'd)
And his, and mine lou'd darling.

Gon.
I'th name of something holy, Sir, why stand you
In this strange stare?

Al.
O, it is monstrous: monstrous:
Me thought the billowes spoke, and told me of it,
The windes did sing it to me: and the Thunder
(That deepe and dreadfull Organ-Pipe) pronounc'd
The name of Prosper: it did base my Trespasse,
Therefore my Sonne i'th Ooze is bedded; and
I'le seeke him deeper then ere plummet sounded,
And with him there lye mudded.
Exit.

Seb.
But one feend at a time,
Ile fight their Legions ore.

Ant
Ile be thy Second.
Exeunt.

Gon.
All three of them are desperate: their great guilt
(Like poyson giuen to worke a great time after)
Now gins to bite the spirits: I doe beseech you
(That are of suppler ioynts) follow them swiftly,
And hinder them from what this extasie
May now prouoke them to.

Ad.
Follow, I pray you.
Exeunt omnes.
Modern text
Act III, Scene I
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 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 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
(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, honour 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
And mine, with my heart in't; and now farewell
Till half an hour hence.

FERDINAND
A thousand, thousand!
Exeunt Ferdinand and Miranda in different directions

PROSPERO
So glad of this as they I cannot be,
Who are surprised with all, 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
Modern text
Act III, Scene II
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 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 beest
a good mooncalf.

CALIBAN
How does thy honour? 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 deboshed 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
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
(to Trinculo)
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 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
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
Thou liest.

STEPHANO
Do I so? Take thou that!
He strikes 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. – Prithee, stand
further 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 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 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 mak'st 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 tabor 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 taborer! He lays it on.

TRINCULO
Wilt come? – I'll follow, Stephano.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act III, Scene III
Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Adrian,
Francisco, and others

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 Prospero on the top,
invisible. Enter several strange shapes, bringing in a
banquet; and dance about it with gentle actions of salutations;
and, inviting the King, etc., to eat, they depart

ALONSO
What harmony is this? My good friends, hark!

GONZALO
Marvellous sweet music!

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 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.
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 suchlike valour men hang and drown
Their proper selves.
Alonso, Sebastian, and the others 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 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'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, carrying
out the table

PROSPERO
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.
Exit

GONZALO
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.
Therefore my son i'th' 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 Antonio and Sebastian

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
x

Jump directly to