The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)

by William Shakespeare

  Are spoken from instinct: but, however you haveBeen justled from your senses, know for certain

  Been knocked away from your senses, know for certainThat I am Prospero and that very duke

  That I am Prospero, and the very same dukeWhich was thrust forth of Milan, who most strangely

  Who was cast out of Milan, who very strangelyUpon this shore, where you were wreck'd, was landed,

  Landed on this shore, where you were wrecked,To be the lord on't. No more yet of this;

  To be the lord of the island. I will tell you no more of this yet;For 'tis a chronicle of day by day,

  Because it is a very long story,Not a relation for a breakfast nor

  Not a tale to be told over breakfast, orBefitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir;

  Fit for this first meeting. Welcome, sir;This cell's my court: here have I few attendants

  This little cell is my palace: here I have a few servantsAnd subjects none abroad: pray you, look in.

  And no subject anywhere else: please, look inside.My dukedom since you have given me again,

  Since you have given me my dukedom back,I will requite you with as good a thing;

  I will reward you with something just as good;At least bring forth a wonder, to content ye

  Or at least show you a miracle to satisfyAs much as me my dukedom.

  You as much as my dukedom did me.

  Here PROSPERO discovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA playing at chess

  MIRANDA

  Sweet lord, you play me false.

  Sweet husband, you are cheating.

  FERDINAND

  No, my dear'st love,

  No, my dearest love,I would not for the world.

  I wouldn’t do that for the world.

  MIRANDA

  Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle,

  Yes, you could argue for twenty kingdomsAnd I would call it, fair play.

  And I would defend you, calling it fair play.

  ALONSO

  If this prove

  If this turns out to beA vision of the Island, one dear son

  A vision from the Island, my dear sonShall I twice lose.

  I will lose for a second time.

  SEBASTIAN

  A most high miracle!

  A very mighty miracle!

  FERDINAND (seeing ALONSO)

  Though the seas threaten, they are merciful;

  Though the seas may be menacing, they are also merciful;I have cursed them without cause.

  I have cursed them for taking my father without cause.

  Kneels

  ALONSO

  Now all the blessings

  Now may all the blessingsOf a glad father compass thee about!

  Of a happy father surround you!Arise, and say how thou camest here.

  Stand up, and tell me how you came to be here.

  MIRANDA

  O, wonder!

  Oh, miracle!How many goodly creatures are there here!

  How many good men are here!How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,

  How beautiful mankind is! Oh, what a brave new world,That has such people in't!

  That has such people in it!

  PROSPERO

  'Tis new to thee.

  It is only new to you.

  ALONSO

  What is this maid with whom thou wast at play?

  Who is this lady that you were playing chess with?Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours:

  You cannot have known anyone here for more than three hours:Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us,

  Is she the goddess that tore us apartAnd brought us thus together?

  And brought us together again?

  FERDINAND

  Sir, she is mortal;

  Sir, she is human;But by immortal Providence she's mine:

  But by God, she is now my wife:I chose her when I could not ask my father

  I chose her when I could not ask my fatherFor his advice, nor thought I had one. She

  For his advice, nor did I even think that I had a father anymore. SheIs daughter to this famous Duke of Milan,

  Is the daughter of this famous Duke of Milan,Of whom so often I have heard renown,

  Who I have heard talked of so often,But never saw before; of whom I have

  But had never seen before; from whom I haveReceived a second life; and second father

  Received a second chance at life; and a second fatherThis lady makes him to me.

  By marriage with his daughter.

  ALONSO

  I am hers:

  And I am her second father:But, O, how oddly will it sound that I

  But, oh, how strange it will sound for meMust ask my child forgiveness!

  To ask my child for forgiveness@

  PROSPERO

  There, sir, stop:

  It’s fine, sir, no need:Let us not burthen our remembrance with

  We don’t need to burden our memories withA heaviness that's gone.

  A sorrow that’s passed.

  GONZALO

  I have inly wept,

  I have wept inwardly,Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you god,

  Or I would have spoken up earlier. God, look downAnd on this couple drop a blessed crown!

  And grant this couple a holy crown!For it is you that have chalk'd forth the way

  For you are the one who has marked out the pathWhich brought us hither.

  That brought us here.

  ALONSO

  I say, Amen, Gonzalo!

  Well said, Gonzalo, Amen!

  GONZALO

  Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue

  Was the Duke of Milan cast out of Milan, so that his offspringShould become kings of Naples? O, rejoice

  Would become kings of Naples? Oh, celebrateBeyond a common joy, and set it down

  More than just a common joy, and bring it downWith gold on lasting pillars: In one voyage

  In gold as a lasting monument: In one tripDid Claribel her husband find at Tunis,

  Has Claribel found her husband in Tunis,And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife

  And her brother Ferdinand found a wifeWhere he himself was lost, Prospero his dukedom

  Where he was himself lost, and Prospero found his dukedomIn a poor isle and all of us ourselves

  In this small island, and all of us found ourselvesWhen no man was his own.

  When no man had control of himself.

  ALONSO

  [To FERDINAND and MIRANDA] Give me your hands:

  [To FERDINAND and MIRANDA] Give me your hands:Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart

  Let grief and sorrow always stay in the heartThat doth not wish you joy!

  Of the person who doesn’t wish you joy!

  GONZALO

  Be it so! Amen!

  Let it be so! Amen!

  Re-enter ARIEL, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following

  O, look, sir, look, sir! here is more of us:

  Oh, look, sir, look, sir! There are more of us:I prophesied, if a gallows were on land,

  As I foretold, if there were gallows on land,This fellow could not drown. Now, blasphemy,

  Then this man couldn’t drown. Now, blasphemer,That swear'st grace o'erboard, not an oath on shore?

  Who cursed so much that God was cast overboard; do you not have any swear words now on the shore?Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news?

  Have you no words on land? What’s the news?

  Boatswain

  The best news is, that we have safely found

  The best news is that we have safely foundOur king and company; the next, our ship—

  The king and his companions; the next news, our ship—Which, but three glasses since, we gave out split—

  Which, only three hours ago, we believed was split in two—Is tight and yare and bravely rigg'd as when

  Is watertight and ready for sea, and as excellently equipped as whenWe first put out to sea.

  We first went out to sea.


  ARIEL

  [Aside to PROSPERO] Sir, all this service

  [Aside to PROSPERO] Sir, all this repairHave I done since I went.

  I have done since I went to get them.

  PROSPERO

  [Aside to ARIEL] My tricksy spirit!

  [Aside to ARIEL] My clever spirit!

  ALONSO

  These are not natural events; they strengthen

  These are not natural events; they keep goingFrom strange to stranger. Say, how came you hither?

  From strange to even stranger. Tell me, how did you come here?

  Boatswain

  If I did think, sir, I were well awake,

  If I thought, sir, that I was completely awake,I'ld strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep,

  I would try to tell you. We were dead asleep,And--how we know not--all clapp'd under hatches;

  And—we don’t know how—all stowed away under the deck;Where but even now with strange and several noises

  Where just now by strange and various noisesOf roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains,

  Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains,And more diversity of sounds, all horrible,

  And even more diverse sounds, all horrible,We were awaked; straightway, at liberty;

  We were woken up; immediately free;Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld

  Where we saw, newly ready to sail,Our royal, good and gallant ship, our master

  Our royal, good and noble ship, with our masterCapering to eye her: on a trice, so please you,

  Dancing in front of her: from a moment, if you want to know, Even in a dream, were we divided from them

  Just as in a dream, we were separated from themAnd were brought moping hither.

  And were brought here bewildered.

  ARIEL

  [Aside to PROSPERO] Was't well done?

  [Aside to PROSPERO] Was it done well?

  PROSPERO

  [Aside to ARIEL] Bravely, my diligence. Thou shalt be free.

  [Aside to ARIEL]Excellently, my diligent service. You will be free.

  ALONSO

  This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod

  This is a maze as strange as any that men have ever walkedAnd there is in this business more than nature

  And in this situation there is more than what natureWas ever conduct of: some oracle

  Could ever control: some intermediary for the godsMust rectify our knowledge.

  Must tell us what is happening.

  PROSPERO

  Sir, my liege,

  Sir, my king,Do not infest your mind with beating on

  Do not trouble your mind with thinking aboutThe strangeness of this business; at pick'd leisure

  The strangeness of his situation; at some specific time,Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you,

  Which will be soon, I’ll explain everything to you alone,Which to you shall seem probable, of every

  Which will seem possible to you, of every one of These happen'd accidents; till when, be cheerful

  These events which have occurred; until then, be happyAnd think of each thing well.

  And think well of each event.

  [Aside to ARIEL] Come hither, spirit:

  [Aside to ARIEL] Come here, spirit;Set Caliban and his companions free;

  Set Caliban and his companions free;Untie the spell.

  Undo the spell.

  Exit ARIEL

  How fares my gracious sir?

  How is my good sir managing?There are yet missing of your company

  There are still missing from your companionsSome few odd lads that you remember not.

  A few more servants that you aren’t remembering.

  Re-enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO and TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel

  STEPHANO

  Every man shift for all the rest, and

  Every man look out for the others, andlet no man take care for himself; for all is

  Let no man take care of only himself; because everything isbut fortune. Coragio, bully-monster, coragio!

  Lucky. Courage, good monster, courage!

  TRINCULO

  If these be true spies which I wear in my head,

  If the eyes I have in my face are true,here's a goodly sight.

  Then this here is a fine sight.

  CALIBAN

  O Setebos, these be brave spirits indeed!

  Oh, my mother’s god Setebos, these are noble spirits indeed!How fine my master is! I am afraid

  How great my new master is! I am afraidHe will chastise me.

  He will punish me.

  SEBASTIAN

  Ha, ha!

  Ha, ha!What things are these, my lord Antonio?

  What are these creatures, my lord Antonio?Will money buy 'em?

  Can they be bought with money?

  ANTONIO

  Very like; one of them

  Probably; one of themIs a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable.

  Is a normal fish, and can be sold, no doubt.

  PROSPERO

  Mark but the badges of these men, my lords,

  But notice the uniforms of these men, my lords,Then say if they be true. This mis-shapen knave,

  Then tell me if they are loyal. This crippled scoundrel,His mother was a witch, and one so strong

  His mother was a witch, and one so strongThat could control the moon, make flows and ebbs,

  That she could control the moon, make the tide flow in and out,And deal in her command without her power.

  And share in the moon’s power beyond the moon’s control.These three have robb'd me; and this demi-devil—

  These three have robbed me; and this half-devil—For he's a bastard one--had plotted with them

  For he’s the bastard—has plotted with themTo take my life. Two of these fellows you

  To kill me. Two of these men youMust know and own; this thing of darkness I

  Must recognize and acknowledge; this creature of darkness, IAcknowledge mine.

  Acknowledge is mine.

  CALIBAN

  I shall be pinch'd to death.

  I will be tormented to death.

  ALONSO

  Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler?

  Is this not Stephano, my drunken butler?

  SEBASTIAN

  He is drunk now: where had he wine?

  He is drunk even now: where did he get the wine?

  ALONSO

  And Trinculo is reeling ripe: where should they

  And Trinculo is stumbling drunk: where did they Find this grand liquor that hath gilded 'em?

  Find this fine wine that has colored their cheeks?How camest thou in this pickle?

  How did you come to be in this predicament?

  TRINCULO

  I have been in such a pickle since I

  I have been in such a drunken predicament since Isaw you last that I fear me will never out of

  Last saw you that I’m afraid it will never leave my bones: I shall not fear fly-blowing.

  My body: I won’t even fear that a fly might lay eggs on me.

  SEBASTIAN

  Why, how now, Stephano!

  Well, how’s this, Stephano!

  STEPHANO

  O, touch me not; I am not Stephano, but a cramp.

  Oh, don’t touch me; I am not Stephano, I am only sore.

  PROSPERO

  You'ld be king o' the isle, sirrah?

  You wanted to be king of this island, man?

  STEPHANO

  I should have been a sore one then.

  I would have been a severe one if I had become king.

  ALONSO

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

  He is the strangest man I have ever seen.

  Pointing to Caliban

  PROSPERO

  He is as disproportion'd in his manners

  He is as ugly in his characterAs in his shape. Go, sirrah, to my cell;

  As he is in his shape. Go, man, into my cell;Take with
you your companions; as you look

  Take your companions with you; if you are lookingTo have my pardon, trim it handsomely.

  To receive my forgiveness, clean it up well.

  CALIBAN

  Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter

  Yes, I will do that; and I’ll be wise after this moment onAnd seek for grace. What a thrice-double ass

  And seek your favor. What a triple-double assWas I, to take this drunkard for a god

  I was, to mistake this drunkard for a godAnd worship this dull fool!

  And worship this stupid fool!

  PROSPERO

  Go to; away!

  Get to it; go away!

  ALONSO

  Hence, and bestow your luggage where you found it.

  Go away, and return those goods where you found them.

  SEBASTIAN

  Or stole it, rather.

  Or stole them, rather.

  Exeunt CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO

  PROSPERO

  Sir, I invite your highness and your train

  Sir, I invite your highness and your companionsTo my poor cell, where you shall take your rest

  Into my small cell, where you can stay and restFor this one night; which, part of it, I'll waste

  For just tonight; which in part, I’ll spendWith such discourse as, I not doubt, shall make it

  With such conversations that it will, I don’t doubt, make the nightGo quick away; the story of my life

  Go by quickly; the story of my lifeAnd the particular accidents gone by

  And the specific events that have passedSince I came to this isle: and in the morn

  Since I came to this island: and in the morningI'll bring you to your ship and so to Naples,

  I’ll take you to your ship and you’ll be off to Naples,Where I have hope to see the nuptial

  Where I hope to see the weddingOf these our dear-beloved solemnized;