The Tempest: Act 1, Scene 2
Enter PROSPERO and MIRANDA.
MIRANDA1If by your art, my dearest father, you have2Put the wild
waters in this roar, allay them.3The sky, it seems, would pour down
stinking pitch,4But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's
cheek,5Dashes the fire out. O, I have suffered6With those that I
saw suffer: a brave vessel,7Who had, no doubt, some noble creature
in her,8Dash'd all to pieces. O, the cry did knock9Against my very
heart. Poor souls, they perish'd.10Had I been any god of power, I
would11Have sunk the sea within the earth or ere12It should the
good ship so have swallow'd and13The fraughting souls within
her.
PROSPERO13Be collected:14No more amazement: tell your piteous
heart15There's no harm done.
MIRANDA15O, woe the day!
PROSPERO15No harm.16I have done nothing but in care of thee,17Of
thee, my dear one, thee, my daughter, who18Art ignorant of what
thou art, nought knowing19Of whence I am, nor that I am more
better20Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell,21And thy no
greater father.
MIRANDA21More to know22Did never meddle with my thoughts.
PROSPERO22'Tis time23I should inform thee farther. Lend thy
hand,24And pluck my magic garment from me. So:
[Lays down his mantle.]
25Lie there, my art. Wipe thou thine eyes; have comfort.26The
direful spectacle of the wreck, which touch'd27The very virtue of
compassion in thee,28I have with such provision in mine art29So
safely ordered that there is no soul30No, not so much perdition as
an hair31Betid to any creature in the vessel32Which thou heard'st
cry, which thou saw'st sink. Sit down;33For thou must now know
farther.
MIRANDA33You have often34Begun to tell me what I am, but
stopp'd35And left me to a bootless inquisition,36Concluding 'Stay:
not yet.'
PROSPERO36The hour's now come;37The very minute bids thee ope
thine ear;38Obey and be attentive. Canst thou remember39A time
before we came unto this cell?40I do not think thou canst, for then
thou wast not41Out three years old.
MIRANDA41Certainly, sir, I can.
PROSPERO42By what? by any other house or person?43Of any thing
the image tell me that44Hath kept with thy remembrance.
MIRANDA44'Tis far off45And rather like a dream than an
assurance46That my remembrance warrants. Had I not47Four or five
women once that tended me?
PROSPERO48Thou hadst, and more, Miranda. But how is it49That
this lives in thy mind? What seest thou else50In the dark backward
and abysm of time?51If thou remember'st aught ere thou camest
here,52How thou camest here thou mayst.
MIRANDA52But that I do not.
PROSPERO53Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since,54Thy
father was the Duke of Milan and55A prince of power.
MIRANDA55Sir, are not you my father?
PROSPERO56Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and57She said thou
wast my daughter; and thy father58Was Duke of Milan; and thou his
only heir59And princess no worse issued.
MIRANDA59O the heavens!60What foul play had we, that we came
from thence?61Or blessed was't we did?
PROSPERO61Both, both, my girl:62By foul play, as thou say'st,
were we heaved thence,63But blessedly holp hither.
MIRANDA63O, my heart bleeds64To think o' the teen that I have
turn'd you to,65Which is from my remembrance! Please you,
farther.
PROSPERO66My brother and thy uncle, call'd Antonio67I pray thee,
mark methat a brother should68Be so perfidious!he whom next
thyself69Of all the world I loved and to him put70The manage of my
state; as at that time71Through all the signories it was the
first72And Prospero the prime duke, being so reputed73In dignity,
and for the liberal arts74Without a parallel; those being all my
study,75The government I cast upon my brother76And to my state grew
stranger, being transported77And rapt in secret studies. Thy false
uncle78Dost thou attend me?
MIRANDA78Sir, most heedfully.
PROSPERO79Being once perfected how to grant suits,80How to deny
them, who to advance and who81To trash for over-topping, new
created82The creatures that were mine, I say, or changed 'em,83Or
else new form'd 'em; having both the key84Of officer and office,
set all hearts i' the state85To what tune pleased his ear; that now
he was86The ivy which had hid my princely trunk,87And suck'd my
verdure out on't. Thou attend'st not.
MIRANDA88O, good sir, I do.
PROSPERO88I pray thee, mark me.89I, thus neglecting worldly
ends, all dedicated90To closeness and the bettering of my
mind91With that which, but by being so retired,92O'er-prized all
popular rate, in my false brother93Awaked an evil nature; and my
trust,94Like a good parent, did beget of him95A falsehood in its
contrary as great96As my trust was; which had indeed no limit,97A
confidence sans bound. He being thus lorded,98Not only with what my
revenue yielded,99But what my power might else exact, like
one100Who having into truth, by telling of it,101Made such a sinner
of his memory,102To credit his own lie, he did believe103He was
indeed the duke; out o' the substitution104And executing the
outward face of royalty,105With all prerogative: hence his ambition
growing106Dost thou hear?
MIRANDA106Your tale, sir, would cure deafness.
PROSPERO107To have no screen between this part he play'd108And
him he play'd it for, he needs will be109Absolute Milan. Me, poor
man, my library110Was dukedom large enough: of temporal
royalties111He thinks me now incapable; confederates112So dry he
was for swaywi' the King of Naples113To give him annual tribute, do
him homage,114Subject his coronet to his crown and bend115The
dukedom yet unbow'dalas, poor Milan!116To most ignoble
stooping.
MIRANDA116O the heavens!
PROSPERO117Mark his condition and the event; then tell me118If
this might be a brother.
MIRANDA118I should sin119To think but nobly of my
grandmother:120Good wombs have borne bad sons.
PROSPERO120Now the condition.121The King of Naples, being an
enemy122To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit;123Which was,
that he, in lieu o' the premises124Of homage and I know not how
much tribute,125Should presently extirpate me and mine126Out of the
dukedom and confer fair Milan127With all the honours on my brother:
whereon,128A treacherous army levied, one midnight129Fated to the
purpose did Antonio open130The gates of Milan, and, i' the dead of
darkness,131The ministers for the purpose hurried thence132Me and
thy crying self.
MIRANDA132Alack, for pity!133I, not remembering how I cried out
then,134Will cry it o'er again: it is a hint135That wrings mine
eyes to't.
PROSPERO135Hear a little further136And then I'll bring thee to
the present business137Which now's upon's; without the which this
story138Were most impertinent.
MIRANDA138Wherefore did they not139That hour destroy us?
PROSPERO139Well demanded, wench:140My tale provokes that
question. Dear, they durst not,141So dear the love my people bore
me, nor set142A mark so bloody on the business, but143With colours
fairer painted their foul ends.144In few, they hurried us aboard a
bark,145Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepared146A rotten
carcass of a butt, not rigg'd,147Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the
very rats148Instinctively had quit it: there they hoist us,149To
cry to the sea that roar'd to us, to sigh150To the winds whose
pity, sighing back again,151Did us but loving wrong.
MIRANDA151Alack, what trouble152Was I then to you!
PROSPERO152O, a cherubim153Thou wast that did preserve me. Thou
didst smile.154Infused with a fortitude from heaven,155When I have
deck'd the sea with drops full salt,156Under my burthen groan'd;
which raised in me157An undergoing stomach, to bear up158Against
what should ensue.
MIRANDA158How came we ashore?
PROSPERO159By Providence divine.160Some food we had and some
fresh water that161A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo,162Out of his
charity, being then appointed163Master of this design, did give us,
with164Rich garments, linens, stuffs and necessaries,165Which since
have steaded much; so, of his gentleness,166Knowing I loved
myBOOKS, he furnish'd me167From mine own library with volumes
that168I prize above my dukedom.
MIRANDA168Would I might169But ever see that man!
PROSPERO169Now I arise:
[Puts on his robe.]
170Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow.171Here in
this island we arrived; and here172Have I, thy schoolmaster, made
thee more profit173Than other princesses can that have more
time174For vainer hours and tutors not so careful.
MIRANDA175Heavens thank you for't! And now, I pray you,
sir,176For still 'tis beating in my mind, your reason177For raising
this sea-storm?
PROSPERO177Know thus far forth.178By accident most strange,
bountiful Fortune,179Now my dear lady, hath mine enemies180Brought
to this shore; and by my prescience181I find my zenith doth depend
upon182A most auspicious star, whoseINFLUENCE183If now I court not
but omit, my fortunes184Will ever after droop. Here cease more
questions:185Thou art inclined to sleep; 'tis a good dulness,186And
give it way: I know thou canst not choose.
[Miranda sleeps.]
187Come away, servant, come. I am ready now.188Approach, my
Ariel, come.
Enter ARIEL.
ARIEL189All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come190To
answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly,191To swim, to dive into the
fire, to ride192On the curl'd clouds, to thy strong bidding
task193Ariel and all his quality.
PROSPERO193Hast thou, spirit,194Perform'd to point the tempest
that I bade thee?
ARIEL195To every article.196I boarded the king's ship; now on
the beak,197Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin,198I flamed
amazement: sometime I'ld divide,199And burn in many places; on the
topmast,200The yards and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly,201Then
meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precursors202O' the dreadful
thunder-claps, more momentary203And sight-outrunning were not; the
fire and cracks204Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty
Neptune205Seem to besiege and make his bold waves tremble,206Yea,
his dread trident shake.
PROSPERO206My brave spirit!207Who was so firm, so constant, that
this coil208Would not infect his reason?
ARIEL208Not a soul209But felt a fever of the mad and
play'd210Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners211Plunged in
the foaming brine and quit the vessel,212Then all afire with me:
the king's son, Ferdinand,213With hair up-staring,then like reeds,
not hair,214Was the first man that leap'd; cried, 'Hell is
empty215And all the devils are here.'
PROSPERO215Why that's my spirit!216But was not this nigh
shore?
ARIEL216Close by, my master.
PROSPERO217But are they, Ariel, safe?
ARIEL217Not a hair perish'd;218On their sustaining garments not
a blemish,219But fresher than before: and, as thou badest me,220In
troops I have dispersed them 'bout the isle.221The king's son have
I landed by himself;222Whom I left cooling of the air with
sighs223In an odd angle of the isle and sitting,224His arms in this
sad knot.
PROSPERO224Of the king's ship225The mariners say how thou hast
disposed226And all the rest o' the fleet.
ARIEL226Safely in harbour227Is the king's ship; in the deep
nook, where once228Thou call'dst me up at midnight to fetch
dew229From the still-vex'd Bermoothes, there she's hid:230The
mariners all under hatches stow'd;231Who, with a charm join'd to
their suffer'd labor,232I have left asleep; and for the rest o' the
fleet233Which I dispersed, they all have met again234And are upon
the Mediterranean flote,235Bound sadly home for Naples,236Supposing
that they saw the king's ship wreck'd237And his great person
perish.
PROSPERO237Ariel, thy charge238Exactly is perform'd: but there's
more work.239What is the time o' the day?
ARIEL239Past the mid season.
PROSPERO240At least two glasses. The time 'twixt six and
now241Must by us both be spent most preciously.
ARIEL242Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains,243Let
me remember thee what thou hast promised,244Which is not yet
perform'd me.
PROSPERO244How now? moody?245What is't thou canst demand?
ARIEL245My liberty.
PROSPERO246Before the time be out? no more!
ARIEL246I prithee,247Remember I have done thee worthy
service;248Told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings,
served249Without or grudge or grumblings: thou didst promise250To
bate me a full year.
PROSPERO250Dost thou forget251From what a torment I did free
thee?
ARIEL251No.
PROSPERO252Thou dost, and think'st it much to tread the
ooze253Of the salt deep,254To run upon the sharp wind of the
north,255To do me business in the veins o' the earth256When it is
baked with frost.
ARIEL256I do not, sir.
PROSPERO257Thou liest, malignant thing! Hast thou forgot258The
foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy259Was grown into a hoop?
hast thou forgot her?
ARIEL260No, sir.
PROSPERO260Thou hast. Where was she born? speak; tell me.
ARIEL261Sir, in Argier.
PROSPERO261O, was she so? I must262Once in a month recount what
thou hast been,263Which thou forget'st. This damn'd witch
Sycorax,264For mischiefs manifold and sorceries terrible265To enter
human hearing, from Argier,266Thou know'st, was banish'd: for one
thing she did267They would not take her life. Is not this true?
ARIEL268Ay, sir.
PROSPERO269This blue-eyed hag was hither brought with
child270And here was left by the sailors. Thou, my slave,271As thou
report'st thyself, wast then her servant;272And, for thou wast a
spirit too delicate273To act her earthy and abhorr'd
commands,274Refusing her grand hests, she did confine thee,275By
help of her more potent ministers276And in her most unmitigable
rage,277Into a cloven pine; within which rift278Imprison'd thou
didst painfully remain279A dozen years; within which space she
died280And left thee there; where thou didst vent thy groans281As
fast as mill-wheels strike. Then was this island282SAVEfor the son
that she did litter here,283A freckled whelp hag-bornnot honour'd
with284A human shape.
ARIEL284Yes, Caliban her son.
PROSPERO285Dull thing, I say so; he, that Caliban286Whom now I
keep in service. Thou best know'st287What torment I did find thee
in; thy groans288Did make wolves howl and penetrate the
breasts289Of ever angry bears: it was a torment290To lay upon the
damn'd, which Sycorax291Could not again undo: it was mine
art,292When I arrived and heard thee, that made gape293The pine and
let thee out.
ARIEL293I thank thee, master.
PROSPERO294If thou more murmur'st,I WILLrend an oak295And peg
thee in his knotty entrails till296Thou hast howl'd away twelve
winters.
ARIEL296Pardon, master;297I WILLbe correspondent to
command298And do my spiriting gently.
PROSPERO298Do so, and after two days299I WILLdischarge thee.
ARIEL299That's my noble master!300What shall I do? say what;
what shall I do?
PROSPERO301Go make thyself like a nymph o' the sea: be
subject302To no sight but thine and mine, invisible303To every
eyeball else. Go take this shape304And hither come in't: go, hence
with diligence!
[Exit Ariel.]
305Awake, dear heart, awake! thou hast slept well;306Awake!
MIRANDA306The strangeness of your story put307Heaviness in
me.
PROSPERO307Shake it off. Come on;308We'll visit Caliban my
slave, who never309YIELDSus kind answer.
MIRANDA309'Tis a villain, sir,310I do not love to look on.
PROSPERO310But, as 'tis,311We cannot miss him: he does make our
fire,312Fetch in our wood and serves inOFFICES313That profit us.
What, ho! slave! Caliban!314Thou earth, thou! speak.
CALIBAN[Within.]314There's wood enough within.
PROSPERO315Come forth, I say! there's other business for
thee:316Come, thou tortoise! when?
Enter ARIEL like a water-nymph.
317Fine apparition! My quaint Ariel,318Hark in thine ear.
ARIEL318My lord it shall be done.
Exit.
PROSPERO319Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself320Upon
thy wicked dam, come forth!
Enter CALIBAN.
CALIBAN321As wicked dew as e'er my mother brush'd322With raven's
feather from unwholesome fen323Drop on you both! a south-west blow
on ye324And blister you all o'er!
PROSPERO325For this, be sure, to-night thou shalt have
cramps,326Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up;
urchins327Shall, for that vast of night that they mayWORK,328All
exercise on thee; thou shalt be pinch'd329As thick as honeycomb,
each pinch more stinging330Than bees that made 'em.
CALIBAN330I must eat my dinner.331This island's mine, by Sycorax
my mother,332Which thou takest from me. When thou camest
first,333Thou strokedst me and madest much of me, wouldst give
me334Water with berries in't, and teach me how335To name the bigger
light, and how the less,336That burn by day and night: and then I
loved thee337And show'd thee all the qualities o' the isle,338The
fresh springs, brine-pits, barren place and fertile:339Cursed be I
that did so! All the charms340Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats,
light on you!341For I am all the subjects that you have,342Which
first was mine own king: and here you sty me343In this hard rock,
whiles you do keep from me344The rest o' the island.
PROSPERO344Thou most lying slave,345Whom stripes may move, not
kindness! I have used thee,346Filth as thou art, with human care,
and lodged thee347In mine own cell, till thou didst seek to
violate348The honour of my child.
CALIBAN349O ho, O ho! would't had been done!350Thou didst
prevent me; I had peopled else351This isle with Calibans.
PROSPERO351Abhorred slave,352Which any print of goodness wilt
not take,353Being capable of all ill! I pitied thee,354Took pains
to make thee speak, taught thee each hour355One thing or other:
when thou didst not, savage,356Know thine own meaning, but wouldst
gabble like357A thing most brutish, I endow'd thy purposes358With
words that made them known. But thy vile race,359Though thou didst
learn, had that in't which good natures360Could not abide to be
with; therefore wast thou361Deservedly confined into this
rock,362Who hadst deserved more than a prison.
CALIBAN363You taught me language; and my profit on't364Is, I
know how to curse. The red plague rid you365For learning me your
language!
PROSPERO365Hag-seed, hence!366Fetch us in fuel; and be quick,
thou'rt best,367To answer other business. Shrug'st thou,
malice?368If thou neglect'st or dost unwillingly369What I command,
I'll rack thee with old cramps,370Fill all thy bones with aches,
make thee roar371That beasts shall tremble at thy din.
CALIBAN371No, pray thee.
[Aside.]
372I must obey: his art is of such power,373It would control my
dam's god, Setebos,374and make a vassal of him.
PROSPERO374So, slave; hence!
Exit CALIBAN.
Enter FERDINAND; and ARIEL, invisible, playing and singing.
ARIEL['S] SONG
375Come unto these yellow sands,376And then take
hands:377Courtsied when you have and kiss'd378The wild waves
whist,379Foot it featly here and there;380And, sweet sprites, the
burthen bear.381Hark, hark!
*** Burthen, dispersedly, [within.]
382Bow-wow.383The watch-dogs bark!
[Burthen, dispersedly, within.]
384Bow-wow.385Hark, hark! I hear386The strain of strutting
chanticleer
Cry [within].
387Cock-a-diddle-dow.
FERDINAND388Where should this music be? i' the air or the
earth?389It sounds no more: and sure, it waits upon390Some god o'
the island. Sitting on a bank,391Weeping again the king my father's
wreck,392This music crept by me upon the waters,393Allaying both
their fury and my passion394With its sweet air: thence I have
follow'd it,395Or it hath drawn me rather. But 'tis gone.396No, it
begins again.
ARIEL['S] SONG.
397Full fathom five thy father lies;398Of his bones are coral
made;399Those are pearls that were his eyes:400Nothing of him that
doth fade401But doth suffer a sea-change402Into something rich and
strange.403Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell
Burthen [within].
404Ding-dong.405Hark! now I hear them,Ding-dong, bell.
FERDINAND406The ditty does remember my drown'd father.407This is
no mortal business, nor no sound408That the earth owes. I hear it
now above me.
PROSPERO409The fringed curtains of thine eye advance410And say
what thou seest yond.
MIRANDA410What is't? a spirit?411Lord, how it looks about!
Believe me, sir,412It carries a brave form. But 'tis a spirit.
PROSPERO413No, wench; it eats and sleeps and hath such
senses414As we have, such. This gallant which thou seest415Was in
the wreck; and, but he's something stain'd416With grief that's
beauty's canker, thou mightst call him417A goodly person: he hath
lost his fellows418And strays about to find 'em.
MIRANDA418I might call him419A thing divine, for nothing
natural420I ever saw so noble.
PROSPERO
[Aside.]
420It goes on, I see,421As my soul prompts it. Spirit, fine
spirit! I'll free thee422Within two days for this.
FERDINAND422Most sure, the goddess423On whom these airs attend!
Vouchsafe my prayer424May know if you remain upon this
island;425And that you will some good instruction give426How I may
bear me here: my prime request,427Which I do last pronounce, is, O
you wonder!428If you be maid or no?
MIRANDA428No wonder, sir;429But certainly a maid.
FERDINAND429My language! heavens!430I am the best of them that
speak this speech,431Were I but where 'tis spoken.
PROSPERO431How? the best?432What wert thou, if the King of
Naples heard thee?
FERDINAND433A single thing, as I am now, that wonders434To hear
thee speak of Naples. He does hear me;435And that he does I weep:
myself am Naples,436Who with mine eyes, never since at ebb,
beheld437The king my father wreck'd.
MIRANDA437Alack, for mercy!
FERDINAND438Yes, faith, and all his lords; the Duke of
Milan439And his brave son being twain.
PROSPERO
[Aside.]
439The Duke of Milan440And his more braver daughter could
control thee,441If now 'twere fit to do't. At the first
sight442They have changed eyes. Delicate Ariel,443I'll set thee
free for this. A word, good sir;444I fear you have done yourself
some wrong: a word.
MIRANDA445Why speaks my father so ungently? This446Is the third
man that e'er I saw, the first447That e'er I sigh'd for: pity move
my father448To be inclined my way!
FERDINAND448O, if a virgin,449And your affection not gone forth,
I'll make you450The queen of Naples.
PROSPERO450Soft, sir! one word more.
[Aside.]
451They are both in either's powers; but this swift business452I
must uneasy make, lest too light winning453Make the prize light.
One word more; I charge thee454That thou attend me: thou dost here
usurp455The name thou owest not; and hast put thyself456Upon this
island as a spy, to win it457From me, the lord on't.
FERDINAND457No, as I am a man.
MIRANDA458There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple:459If
the ill spirit have so fair a house,460Good things will strive to
dwell with't.
PROSPERO460Follow me.461Speak not you for him; he's a traitor.
Come;462I'll manacle thy neck and feet together:463Sea-water shalt
thou drink; thy food shall be464The fresh-brook muscles, wither'd
roots and husks465Wherein the acorn cradled. Follow.
FERDINAND465No;466I will resist such entertainment till467Mine
enemy has more power.
He draws, and is charmed from moving
MIRANDA467O dear father,468Make not too rash a trial of him,
for469He's gentle and not fearful.
PROSPERO469What? I say,470My foot my tutor? Put thy sword up,
traitor;471Who makest a show but darest not strike, thy
conscience472Is so possess'd with guilt: come from thy ward,473For
I can here disarm thee with this stick474And make thy weapon
drop.
MIRANDA474Beseech you, father.
PROSPERO475Hence! hang not on my garments.
MIRANDA475Sir, have pity;476I'll be his surety.
PROSPERO476Silence! one word more477Shall make me chide thee, if
not hate thee. What!478An advocate for an imposter! hush!479Thou
think'st there is no more such shapes as he,480Having seen but him
and Caliban: foolish wench!481To the most of men this is a
Caliban482And they to him are angels.
MIRANDA482My affections483Are then most humble; I have no
ambition484To see a goodlier man.
PROSPERO
[To Ferdinand.]484Come on; obey:485Thy nerves are in their
infancy again486And have no vigour in them.
FERDINAND486So they are;487My spirits, as in a dream, are all
bound up.488My father's loss, the weakness which I feel,489The
wreck of all my friends, nor this man's threats,490To whom I am
subdued, are but light to me,491Might I but through my prison once
a day492Behold this maid: all corners else o' the earth493Let
liberty make use of; space enough494Have I in such a prison.
PROSPERO
[Aside.]494It works.
[To Ferdinand.]
494Come on.495Thou hast done well, fine Ariel!
[To Ferdinand.]
495Follow me.
[To Ariel.]
496Hark what thou else shalt do me.
MIRANDA496Be of comfort;497My father's of a better nature,
sir,498Than he appears by speech: this is unwonted499Which now came
from him.
PROSPERO499Thou shalt be free500As mountain winds: but then
exactly do501All points of my command.
ARIEL501To the syllable.
PROSPERO
[To Ferdinand.]
502Come, follow.
[To Miranda.]
502Speak not for him.
Exeunt.
The Tempest Navigator
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The Tempest Act 1 scene 2
19
