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.50
Do you love me, master? No?
PROSPERO Dearly, my delicate Ariel: do not approach
Till thou dost hear me call.
ARIEL Well: I conceive.54
Exit
To Ferdinand
PROSPERO Look thou be true: do not give dalliance55
Too much the rein: the strongest oaths are straw
To th'fire i'th'blood57: be more abstemious, Or else goodnight58 your vow.
FERDINAND I warrant you, sir,
The white cold virgin snow upon my heart
Abates the ardour of my liver.61
PROSPERO Well.
Now come, my Ariel! Bring a corollary63, Rather than want a spirit: appear, and pertly.64
No tongue! All eyes! Be silent.
Soft music. Enter Iris64
IRIS Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas66
Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches67, oats and peas; Thy turfy68 mountains, where live nibbling sheep, And flat meads thatched with stover69, them to keep: Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims70, Which spongy April at thy hest betrims71
To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom-groves72, Whose shadow the dismissed73 bachelor loves, Being lass-lorn: thy poll-clipped74 vineyard, And thy sea-marge75 sterile and rocky-hard, Where thou thyself dost air: the queen o'th'sky76, Whose wat'ry arch77 and messenger am I, Bids thee leave these78, and with her sovereign grace,
In her chariot
Juno descends
Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,
To come and sport. Her peacocks fly amain80: Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.
Enter Ceres
CERES Hail, many-coloured messenger, that ne'er
Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter83: Who, with thy saffron84 wings, upon my flowers Diffusest honey drops85, refreshing showers, And with each end of thy blue bow86 dost crown My bosky acres and my unshrubbed down87, Rich scarf to my proud88 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 estate91
On the blest lovers.
CERES Tell me, heavenly bow,
If Venus or her son94, as thou dost know, Do now attend the queen? Since they did plot
The means that dusky Dis96 my daughter got, Her and her blind boy's scandaled97 company I have forsworn.98
IRIS Of her society
Be not afraid: I met her deity
Cutting the clouds towards Paphos101, and her son Dove-drawn102 with her. Here thought they to have done Some wanton103 charm upon this man and maid, Whose vows are that no bed-right104 shall be paid Till Hymen's torch be lighted105 -- but in vain.
Mars' hot minion106 is returned again: Her waspish-headed107 son has broke his arrows, Swears he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows108, And be a boy right out.109
CERES Highest queen of state,
Great Juno, comes: I know her by her gait.111
Juno alights
JUNO How does my bounteous112 sister? Go with me To bless this twain113, that they may prosperous be, And honoured in their issue.
They sing
JUNO Honour, riches, marriage-blessing,
Long continuance, and increasing116, Hourly joys be still117 upon you, Juno sings her blessings on you.
CERES Earth's increase, foison119 plenty, Barns and garners120 never empty, Vines with clust'ring bunches growing,
Plants with goodly burden bowing:
Spring come to you at the farthest123, 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 bold128
To think these spirits?
PROSPERO Spirits, which by mine art
I have from their confines called to enact
My present fancies.132
FERDINAND Let me live here ever:
So rare a wondered134 father, and a wise, Makes this place paradise.
PROSPERO Sweet, now, silence!
Juno and Ceres whisper seriously137: There's something else to do. Hush, and be mute,
Or else our spell is marred.
Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on employment
IRIS You nymphs, called Naiads, of the windring140 brooks, With your sedged141 crowns and ever-harmless looks, Leave your crisp channels142, and on this green land Answer your summons: Juno does command.
Come, temperate144 nymphs, and help to celebrate A contract of true love: be not too late.145
Enter certain nymphs
You sunburned sicklemen146 of August weary, Come hither from the furrow147 and be merry: Make holiday: your rye-straw hats put on,
And these fresh nymphs encounter every one
In country footing.150
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
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. Avoid154: no more!
To the spirits
FERDINAND This is strange: your father's in some passion155
To Miranda
That works him strongly.
MIRANDA Never till this day
Saw I him touched with anger, so distempered.158
PROSPERO You do look, my son, in a moved sort159, As if you were dismayed: be cheerful, sir.
Our revels161 now are ended. These our actors, As I foretold you162, were all spirits and Are melted into air, into thin air,
And, like the baseless fabric164 of this vision, The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe166 itself, Yea, all which it167 inherit, shall dissolve, And, like this insubstantial pageant168 faded, Leave not a rack169 behind. We are such stuff As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded171 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 cell174
And there repose. A turn or two I'll walk
To still my beating mind.
FERDINAND AND MIRANDA We wish your peace.
Exeunt [Ferdinand and Miranda]
PROSPERO Come with a thought178: I thank thee, Ariel: come!
Enter Ariel
ARIEL Thy thoughts I cleave to179: 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?184
ARIEL I told you, sir, they were red-hot185 with drinking, So full of valour that they smote186 the air For breathing in their faces, beat the ground
For kissing of their feet: yet always bending188
Towards their project. Then I beat my tabor,
At which, like unbacked colts190, they pricked their ears, Advanced191 their eyelids, lifted up their noses As192 they smelt music: so I charmed their ears, That calf-like they my lowing193 followed through Toothed briars, sharp furzes, pricking gorse and thorns194, Which entered their frail shins: at last I left them
I'th'filthy-mantled196 pool beyond your cell, There dancing up to th'chins, that the foul lake197
O'erstunk their feet.
PROSPERO This was well done, my bird.
Thy shape invisible retain thou still200: Th
e trumpery201 in my house, go bring it hither, For stale202 to catch these thieves.
ARIEL I go, I go.
Exit
PROSPERO A devil, a born devil, on whose nature
Nurture can never stick: on whom my pains,
Humanely taken, all, all lost206, quite lost.
And as with age his body uglier grows,
So his mind cankers.208 I will plague them all, Even to roaring. Come, hang them on this line.209
Ariel hangs up the finery
Enter Ariel, loaden with glistering apparel etc.
Enter Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo, all wet
Prospero and Ariel stand apart
CALIBAN Pray you, tread softly, that210 the blind mole may not hear a footfall: we now are near
his cell.
STEPHANO Monster, your fairy213, which you say is a harmless fairy, has done little better than played the jack with214 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 lost219 monster.
CALIBAN Good my lord, give me thy favour still.
Be patient, for the prize I'll bring thee to
Shall hoodwink this mischance222: 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 dishonour 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 ears229 for my labour.
CALIBAN Prithee, my king, be quiet. See'st thou here, This is the mouth o'th'cell: no noise, and enter.
Do that good mischief233 which may make this island Thine own forever, and I thy Caliban
For aye235 thy foot-licker.
STEPHANO Give me thy hand. I do begin to have bloody thoughts.
Sees the apparel
TRINCULO O King Stephano, O peer!238 O worthy Stephano, look what a wardrobe here is for thee!
CALIBAN Let it alone, thou fool: it is but trash.
TRINCULO O, ho, monster: we know what belongs to a frippery.241
O King Stephano!
Puts on a gown
STEPHANO Put off that gown, Trinculo: by this hand, I'll have that gown.
TRINCULO Thy grace shall have it.
CALIBAN The dropsy246 drown this fool: what do you mean To dote thus on such luggage?247 Let's alone And do the murder first: if he awake,
From toe to crown he'll fill our skins with pinches,
Make us strange stuff.250
STEPHANO Be you quiet, monster.-- Mistress line251, is not this my
jerkin? Now is the jerkin under the line252: now, Takes it down
jerkin, you are like to lose your hair253 and prove a bald jerkin.
TRINCULO Do, do: we steal by line and level, an't like254 your grace.
STEPHANO I thank thee for that jest: here's a garment for't: wit
shall not go unrewarded while I am king
Gives Trinculo a garment
of this country. 'Steal by line and level' is an excellent pass of258
pate: there's another garment for't.
Gives another
TRINCULO Monster, come put some lime260 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 barnacles263, or to apes With foreheads villainous264 low.
STEPHANO Monster, lay to your265 fingers: help to bear this away where my hogshead266 of wine is, or I'll turn you out of my kingdom: go to, carry this.
TRINCULO And this.
They load Caliban with garments
STEPHANO Ay, and this.
A noise of hunters heard. Enter diverse spirits, in shape of dogs and hounds, hunting them about, Prospero and Ariel setting them on
PROSPERO Hey, Mountain, hey!270
ARIEL Silver! There it goes, Silver!
Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo are driven out
PROSPERO Fury, Fury! There, Tyrant, there: hark! hark!
Go, charge my goblins that they grind273 their joints
To Ariel
With dry convulsions, shorten up274 their sinews With aged cramps, and more pinch-spotted275 make them Than pard or cat o'mountain.276
ARIEL Hark, they roar.
PROSPERO Let them be hunted soundly. At this hour
Lies at my mercy all mine enemies:
Shortly shall all my labours end, and thou
Shalt have the air at freedom: for a little281, Follow, and do me service.
Exeunt
Act 5 Scene 1
running scene 9
Enter Prospero in his magic robes, and Ariel
PROSPERO Now does my project gather to a head.1
My charms crack not, my spirits obey, and Time2
Goes upright with his carriage. How's the day?3
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 charge10, Just as you left them; all prisoners, sir,
In the line-grove which weather-fends12 your cell: They cannot budge till your release. The king,
His brother, and yours abide all three distracted14, And the remainder mourning over them,
Brimful of sorrow and dismay: but chiefly
Him that you termed17, sir, the good old lord Gonzalo: His tears run down his beard, like winter's drops18
From eaves of reeds. Your charm so strongly works 'em
That if you now beheld them, your affections20
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 sharply27
Passion as they, be kindlier moved28 than thou art?
Though with their high wrongs I am struck to th'quick29, Yet with my nobler reason gainst my fury
Do I take part: the rarer31 action is In virtue than32 in vengeance. They being penitent, The sole drift33 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.
Exit
PROSPERO Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing38 lakes and groves, And ye that on the sands with printless foot39
Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly40 him When he comes back: you demi-puppets41 that By moonshine do the green sour ringlets42 make, Whereof the ewe not bites43: and you whose pastime Is to make midnight mushrooms44, that rejoice To hear the solemn curfew45, by whose aid --
Weak masters though ye be -- I have bedimmed46
The noontide sun, called forth the mutinous winds,
And 'twixt the green sea and the azured vault48
Set roaring war49: to the dread rattling thunder Have I given fire, and rifted Jove's stout oak50
With his own bolt: the strong-based promontory51
Have I made shake and by the spurs52 plucked up The pine and cedar. Graves at my command
Have waked their sleepers, oped54, and let 'em forth
By my so potent art. But this rough55 magic Prospero traces a circle with his staff
I here abjure: and when I have required56
Some heavenly music -- which even now I do --
To work mine end58 upon their senses that This airy charm is for, I'll break my staff,
Bury it ce
rtain fathoms60 in the earth, And deeper than did ever plummet sound61
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:
To Alonso
A solemn air63, and the best comforter To an unsettled fancy64, cure thy brains,
To Sebastian and Antonio
Now useless, boil65 within thy skull!-- There stand, For you are spell-stopped.66
To Gonzalo
Holy Gonzalo, honourable man,
Mine eyes, ev'n sociable to the show68 of thine,
Aside
Fall fellowly drops.-- The charm dissolves apace69, And as the morning steals upon the night,
Melting the darkness, so their rising71 senses Begin to chase the ignorant fumes that mantle72
Their clearer reason.-- O good Gonzalo,
My true74 preserver, and a loyal sir To him thou follow'st, I will pay thy graces75
Home both in word and deed.-- Most cruelly
Didst thou, Alonso, use me and my daughter:
Thy brother was a furtherer78 in the act.--
To Antonio
Thou art pinched for't now, Sebastian.-- Flesh and blood,
You, brother mine, that entertain80 ambition, Expelled remorse and nature81: whom, with Sebastian --
Whose inward pinches82 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 tide85
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 rapier89 in my cell: I will discase90 me, and myself present As I was sometime Milan.91 Quickly, spirit:
Ariel gets hat and rapier, returns immediately,
Thou shalt ere long be free.
Ariel sings and helps to attire him:
ARIEL Where the bee sucks, there suck I:
In a cowslip's bell94 I lie: There I couch95 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 bough.
PROSPERO Why, that's my dainty Ariel. I shall miss
Thee: but yet thou shalt have freedom. So, so, so.
Arranges his attire
To the king's ship, invisible as thou art:
There shalt thou find the mariners asleep
The Tempest Page 8
