No better than the earth he lies upon,
If he were that which now he's like -- that's dead --
Whom I with this obedient steel -- three inches of it --
Touching sword or dagger
Can lay to bed forever: whiles you, doing thus,
To the perpetual wink for aye311 might put This ancient morsel312, this Sir Prudence, who Should not313 upbraid our course. For all the rest, They'll take suggestion as a cat laps milk:
They'll tell the clock to any business that315
We say befits the hour.
SEBASTIAN Thy case, dear friend,
Shall be my precedent. As thou got'st Milan,
I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke
Shall free thee from the tribute320 which thou payest, And I the king shall love thee.
ANTONIO Draw together:
And when I rear323 my hand, do you the like, To fall it on Gonzalo.
SEBASTIAN O, but one word.
They talk apart
Enter Ariel [invisible] with music and song
ARIEL My master through his art foresees the danger
That you, his friend, are in, and sends me forth --
To Gonzalo, who still sleeps
For else his project328 dies -- to keep them living.
Sings in Gonzalo's ear
While you here do snoring lie,
Open-eyed conspiracy
His time331 doth take.
If of life you keep a care,
Shake off slumber, and beware:
Awake, awake!
ANTONIO Then let us both be sudden.
Antonio and Sebastian draw their swords
GONZALO Now, good angels preserve the king!
Waking
ALONSO Why, how now? Ho, awake! Why are you drawn?
The others wake
Wherefore this ghastly338 looking?
GONZALO What's the matter?
SEBASTIAN Whiles we stood here securing your repose, Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing
Like bulls, or rather lions: did't not wake you?
It struck mine ear most terribly.
ALONSO I heard nothing.
ANTONIO O, 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear,
To make an earthquake! Sure it was the roar
Of a whole herd of lions.
ALONSO Heard you this, Gonzalo?
GONZALO Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming,
And that a strange one too, which did awake me:
I shaked you, sir, and cried: as mine eyes opened,
I saw their weapons drawn: there was a noise,
That's verily.353 'Tis best we stand upon our guard, Or that we quit this place: let's draw our weapons.
ALONSO Lead off this ground, and let's make further search For my poor son.
GONZALO Heavens keep him from these beasts!
For he is sure i'th'island.
ALONSO Lead away.
ARIEL Prospero, my lord, shall know what I have done.
So, king, go safely on to seek thy son.
Exeunt [separately]
Act 2 Scene 2
running scene 4
Enter Caliban with a burden of wood. A noise of thunder heard
CALIBAN All the infections that the sun sucks up
From bogs, fens, flats2, on Prosper fall, and make him By inch-meal3 a disease. His spirits hear me, And yet I needs must curse. But they'll nor pinch4, Fright me with urchin-shows5, pitch me i'th'mire, Nor lead me like a firebrand6 in the dark Out of my way, unless he bid 'em: but
For every trifle are they set upon me,
Sometime like apes, that mow9 and chatter at me, And after bite me: then like hedgehogs, which
Lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount
Their pricks at my footfall: sometime am I
All wound with adders, who with cloven13 tongues Do hiss me into madness.
Enter Trinculo
Lo15, now, lo!
Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment me
For bringing wood in slowly. I'll fall flat:
Lies down and covers himself with his cloak
Perchance he will not mind18 me.
TRINCULO Here's neither bush nor shrub to bear off19 any weather at all, and another storm brewing: I hear it sing
i'th'wind: yond same black cloud, yond huge one, looks like
a foul bombard22 that would shed his liquor. If it should thunder as it did before, I know not where to hide my head:
yond same cloud cannot choose but fall by pailfuls. What
Sees Caliban
have we here? A man or a fish? Dead or alive?
A fish, he smells like a fish: a very ancient and fishlike
smell: a kind of not-of-the-newest poor-John.27 A strange fish!
Were I in England now -- as once I was -- and had but
this fish painted29, not a holiday fool there but would give a piece of silver: there would this monster make a man30: any strange beast there makes a man: when they will not give a
doit32 to relieve a lame beggar, they will lay out ten to see a dead Indian. Legged33 like a man and his fins like arms! Warm, o'my troth! I do now let loose34 my opinion, hold it no longer: this is no fish, but an islander that hath lately suffered by
Thunder
a thunderbolt. Alas, the storm is come again! My
best way is to creep under his gaberdine37: there is no other shelter hereabout. Misery acquaints a man with strange
bedfellows: I will here shroud39 till the dregs
Trinculo gets under Caliban's cloak
of the storm be past.
Enter Stephano, singing
STEPHANO I shall no more to sea, to sea:
With a bottle in his hand
Here shall I die ashore--
This is a very scurvy43 tune to sing at a man's funeral: well,
here's my comfort.
Drinks
Sings
The master, the swabber45, the boatswain and I, The gunner and his mate,
Loved Mall, Meg and Marian and Margery,
But none of us cared for Kate.
For she had a tongue with a tang49, Would cry to a sailor, 'Go hang!'
She loved not the savour51 of tar nor of pitch, Yet a tailor might scratch her where'er she did itch52: Then to sea, boys, and let her go hang!
Drinks
This is a scurvy tune too: but here's my comfort.
CALIBAN Do not torment me: O!
STEPHANO What's the matter?56 Have we devils here? Do you put tricks upon's with savages and men of Ind57, ha? I have not scaped drowning to be afeard now of your four legs: for it
hath been said, 'As proper a man as ever went on four legs59, cannot make him give ground60': and it shall be said so again, while Stephano breathes at'nostrils.61
CALIBAN The spirit torments me: O!
STEPHANO This is some monster of the isle with four legs, who hath got, as I take it, an ague.64 Where the devil should he learn our language? I will give him some relief65, if it be but for that. If I can recover66 him, and keep him tame, and get to Naples with him, he's a present for any emperor that ever
trod on neat's leather.68
CALIBAN Do not torment me, prithee: I'll bring my wood home faster.
STEPHANO He's in his fit now, and does not talk after71 the wisest.
He shall taste of my bottle: if he have never drunk wine
afore, it will go near to remove his fit. If I can recover him73
and keep him tame, I will not take too much for him: he shall
pay for him that hath him, and that soundly.
CALIBAN Thou dost me yet but little hurt: thou wilt anon76, I know it by thy trembling. Now Prosper works upon thee.
STEPHANO Come on your ways78: open your mouth: here is that which will give language to you, cat.79 Open your mouth: this
Gives Caliban a drink
will shake80 your shaking, I can tell you, and that soundly: you cannot tell who's
your friend: open
your chaps82 again.
Caliban spits it out
TRINCULO I should know that voice: it should be-- but he is drowned, and these are devils. O, defend me!
STEPHANO Four legs and two voices: a most delicate85 monster!
His forward voice now is to speak well of his friend: his
backward voice is to utter foul speeches and to detract.87 If all the wine in my bottle will recover him, I will help his ague.
Come. Amen! I will pour some in thy other mouth.
TRINCULO Stephano!
STEPHANO Doth thy other mouth call me? Mercy, mercy! This is a devil, and no monster: I will leave him, I have no long92
spoon.
TRINCULO Stephano! If thou be'st Stephano, touch me and speak to me, for I am Trinculo -- be not afeard -- thy good
friend Trinculo.
STEPHANO If thou be'st Trinculo, come forth: I'll pull thee by
the lesser legs.98 If any be Trinculo's legs, Pulls him out
these are they. Thou art very Trinculo indeed! How cam'st
thou to be the siege of this moon-calf? Can he vent100
Trinculos?
TRINCULO I took him to be killed with a thunder-stroke: but art thou not drowned, Stephano? I hope now thou art not
drowned: is the storm overblown?104 I hid me under the dead moon-calf's gaberdine for fear of the storm: and art thou
living, Stephano? O Stephano, two
Trinculo and Stephano embrace or dance
Neapolitans scaped!
STEPHANO Prithee, do not turn me about: my stomach is not constant.
Aside
CALIBAN These be fine things, an if110 they be not sprites.
That's a brave god and bears celestial liquor:
I will kneel to him.
STEPHANO How didst thou scape? How cam'st thou hither?
Swear by this bottle how thou cam'st hither. I escaped upon
a butt of sack115 which the sailors heaved o'erboard, by this bottle which I made of the bark of a tree with mine own
hands since I was cast ashore.
CALIBAN I'll swear upon that bottle to be thy true subject, for the liquor is not earthly.
STEPHANO Here: swear then how thou escap'dst.
TRINCULO Swum ashore, man, like a duck: I can swim like a duck, I'll be sworn.
STEPHANO Here, kiss the book.123 Though thou canst swim like a
duck, thou art made like a goose.124
Gives Trinculo the bottle
TRINCULO O Stephano, hast any more of this?
STEPHANO The whole butt, man: my cellar is in a rock by th'sea-side, where my wine is hid.-- How now, moon-calf?
How does thine ague?
To Caliban
CALIBAN Hast thou not dropped from heaven?
STEPHANO Out o'th'moon, I do assure thee: I was the man i'th'moon when time was.131
CALIBAN I have seen thee in her, and I do adore132 thee: my mistress showed me thee, and thy dog, and thy bush.133
STEPHANO Come, swear to that: kiss the book: I will furnish it
anon with new contents.136
Gives Caliban the bottle
Swear.
Caliban drinks
TRINCULO By this good light, this is a very shallow137 monster! I
Aside?
afeard of him? A very weak monster! The man
i'th'moon? A most poor, credulous monster! Well drawn139, monster, in good sooth!140
CALIBAN I'll show thee every fertile inch o'th'island: and I will kiss thy foot. I prithee, be my god.
TRINCULO By this light, a most perfidious143 and drunken monster! When's god's asleep, he'll rob
Aside?
his bottle.
CALIBAN I'll kiss thy foot: I'll swear myself thy subject.
STEPHANO Come on then: down, and swear.
Caliban kneels
TRINCULO I shall laugh myself to death at this puppy-headed148
monster. A most scurvy monster! I could find in my heart to
beat him--
Aside?
STEPHANO Come, kiss.
To Caliban
TRINCULO --But that the poor monster's in drink152: an abominable monster!
CALIBAN I'll show thee the best springs: I'll pluck thee berries: I'll fish for thee and get thee wood enough. A plague
upon the tyrant that I serve! I'll bear him no more sticks, but
follow thee, thou wondrous man.
TRINCULO A most ridiculous monster, to make a wonder of a
Aside?
poor drunkard!
CALIBAN I prithee, let me bring thee where crabs160 grow: and I with my long nails will dig thee pignuts161: show thee a jay's nest and instruct thee how to snare the nimble marmoset162: I'll bring thee to clust'ring filberts163, and sometimes I'll get thee young scamels164 from the rock. Wilt thou go with me?
STEPHANO I prithee, now lead the way without any more talking. Trinculo, the king and all our company else being
drowned, we will inherit here.-- Here, bear my
To Caliban
bottle. Fellow Trinculo, we'll fill him by and by again.
Sings drunkenly
CALIBAN Farewell master: farewell, farewell!
TRINCULO A howling monster: a drunken monster!
Sings
CALIBAN No more dams I'll make for171 fish, Nor fetch in firing172 at requiring, Nor scrape trencher173, nor wash dish, 'Ban, 'Ban, Cacaliban
Has a new master: get a new man.
Freedom, high-day!176 High-day, freedom! Freedom, high-day, freedom!
STEPHANO O brave monster, lead the way!
Exeunt
Act 3 Scene 1
running scene 5
Enter Ferdinand, bearing a log
FERDINAND There be some sports are painful, and their labour1
Sets down the log
Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness2
Are nobly undergone, and most poor matters
Point to rich ends. This my mean4 task Would be as heavy to me as odious, but
The mistress which I serve quickens6 what's dead And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is
Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed8; And he's composed of harshness. I must remove
Some thousands of these logs and pile them up,
Upon a sore injunction.11 My sweet mistress Weeps when she sees me work and says such baseness12
Had never like executor. I forget13:
But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours,
Picks up the log
Most busy least15, when I do it.
Prospero at a distance, unseen
Enter Miranda and Prospero
To Ferdinand
MIRANDA Alas, now pray you,
Work not so hard. I would the lightning had
Burnt up those logs that you are enjoined18 to pile.
Pray, set it down and rest you: when this burns
'Twill weep20 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 discharge24
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 become33 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 Poor worm, thou art infected.37
Aside
This visitation38 shows it.
MIRANDA You look wearily.
FERDINAND No, noble mistress, 'tis fresh morning with me When you are b
y41 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 hest45 to say so.
FERDINAND Admired Miranda,
Indeed the top47 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 bondage50
Brought my too diligent51 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 owed54, And put it to the foil.55 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 glass60, mine own: nor have I seen More that I may call men than you, good friend61, And my dear father: how features are abroad62, I am skilless of; but by my modesty63 --
The jewel in my dower64 -- 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 precepts68
I therein do forget.
FERDINAND I am in my condition70
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 blow74 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 event81
If I speak true: if hollowly82, invert What best is boded me to mischief83: I, Beyond all limit of what84 else i'th'world, Do love, prize, honour you.
MIRANDA I am a fool
To weep at what I am glad of.
PROSPERO Fair88 encounter Aside
Of two most rare89 affections! Heavens rain grace On that which breeds90 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.94 But this is trifling, And all the more it seeks to hide itself
The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning96, 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 fellow99