The Tempest: Act 1, Scene 2







           Enter PROSPERO and MIRANDA.

      MIRANDA
1. art: magic.
  1   If by your art, my dearest father, you have
2. allay: pacify.
  2   Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them.
  3   The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch,
4. welkin's cheek: sky's face?  >>>
  4   But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek,
5. Dashes the fire out: i.e., instantly extinguishes the fire.
6. brave: splendid.
  5   Dashes the fire out. O, I have suffered
  6   With those that I saw suffer: a brave vessel,
  7   Who had, no doubt, some noble creature in her,
  8   Dash'd all to pieces. O, the cry did knock
  9   Against my very heart. Poor souls, they perish'd.
 10   Had I been any god of power, I would
11. or ere: before.
 11   Have sunk the sea within the earth or ere
 12   It should the good ship so have swallow'd and
13. fraughting souls: cargo of souls.
 13   The fraughting souls within her.

      PROSPERO
13. collected: composed, calm.
14. amazement: terror. piteous: pitying.
 13                                                     Be collected:
 14   No more amazement: tell your piteous heart
 15   There's no harm done.

      MIRANDA
 15                                   O, woe the day!

      PROSPERO
 15                                                               No harm.
16. but: except.
 16   I have done nothing but in care of thee,
 17   Of thee, my dear one, thee, my daughter, who
 18   Art ignorant of what thou art, nought knowing
19. more better: of higher rank. —Miranda doesn't know that her father was a Duke.  20. full: very.
21. no greater: i.e., of no loftier position than is implied by his "full poor cell."
 19   Of whence I am, nor that I am more better
 20   Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell,
 21   And thy no greater father.

      MIRANDA
 21                                             More to know
22. meddle with: mingle with, enter.

 22   Did never meddle with my thoughts.

      PROSPERO
 22                                                           'Tis time
 23   I should inform thee farther. Lend thy hand,
 24   And pluck my magic garment from me. So:

           [Lays down his mantle.]

25. my art: i.e., source of my magical powers.
26. wreck: shipwreck.
 25   Lie there, my art. Wipe thou thine eyes; have comfort.
 26   The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touch'd
27. virtue: essence.
 27   The very virtue of compassion in thee,
28. provision: foresight.
 28   I have with such provision in mine art
29. safely ordered: arranged everything safely.
 29   So safely ordered that there is no soul—
30. perdition: loss.
 30   No, not so much perdition as an hair
31. Betid: happened.
 31   Betid to any creature in the vessel
32. which: whom.
 32   Which thou heard'st cry, which thou saw'st sink.
           Sit down;
 33   For thou must now know farther.

      MIRANDA
 33                                                     You have often
 34   Begun to tell me what I am, but stopp'd
 35   And left me to a bootless inquisition,
35. bootless inquisition: futile inquiry.

 36   Concluding 'Stay: not yet.'
36. Stay: wait, be patient.


      PROSPERO
 36                                           The hour's now come;
38. ope: open.
 37   The very minute bids thee ope thine ear;
38. Obey: i.e., listen.
 38   Obey and be attentive. Canst thou remember
 39   A time before we came unto this cell?
 40   I do not think thou canst, for then thou wast not
41. Out: fully.

Prospero and Miranda
 41   Out three years old.

      MIRANDA
 41                                   Certainly, sir, I can.

      PROSPERO
 42   By what? by any other house or person?
 43   Of any thing the image tell me that
 44   Hath kept with thy remembrance.

      MIRANDA
 44                                                       'Tis far off
45. assurance: certainty.
 45   And rather like a dream than an assurance
46. remembrance warrants: memory guarantees.
 46   That my remembrance warrants. Had I not
 47   Four or five women once that tended me?

      PROSPERO
 48   Thou hadst, and more, Miranda. But how is it
 49   That this lives in thy mind? What seest thou else
50. backward and abysm of time: abyss of the past.
 50   In the dark backward and abysm of time?
51. aught: anything.  ere: before.
52. How thou camest here thou mayst: i.e., you may remember how you came here.
 51   If thou remember'st aught ere thou camest here,
 52   How thou camest here thou mayst.

      MIRANDA
 52                                                       But that I do not.

      PROSPERO
 53   Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since,
 54   Thy father was the Duke of Milan and
 55   A prince of power.

      MIRANDA
 55                             Sir, are not you my father?

      PROSPERO
56. piece: masterpiece. virtue: chastity.
She . . . daughter: This a version of a joke about how a wife will always be unfaithful, but will always lie about it and assure her husband that the children are really his.
59. no worse issued: no less noble in birth.
 56   Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and
 57   She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father
 58   Was Duke of Milan; and thou his only heir
 59   And princess no worse issued.

      MIRANDA
 59                                                   O the heavens!
 60   What foul play had we, that we came from thence?
 61   Or blessed was't we did?

      PROSPERO
 61                                       Both, both, my girl:
 62   By foul play, as thou say'st, were we heaved thence,
63. blessedly holp: providentially helped.
 63   But blessedly holp hither.

      MIRANDA
 63                                               O, my heart bleeds
64. teen: sorrow, trouble. turn'd you to: reminded you of.
65. from: out of.
 64   To think o' the teen that I have turn'd you to,
 65   Which is from my remembrance! Please you, farther.

      PROSPERO
 66   My brother and thy uncle, call'd Antonio—
 67   I pray thee, mark me—that a brother should
68. next: next to.
 68   Be so perfidious!—he whom next thyself
 69   Of all the world I loved and to him put
70. manage: management, administration.
 70   The manage of my state; as at that time
71. signories: domains held by feudal lords.  the first: most prestigious.  prime: chief, first in rank.
73. liberal arts: studies which liberate the mind, such as logic, music, and astronomy.
 71   Through all the signories it was the first
 72   And Prospero the prime duke, being so reputed
 73   In dignity, and for the liberal arts
 74   Without a parallel; those being all my study,
 75   The government I cast upon my brother
76. to my state grew stranger: i.e., withdrew from my responsibilities as duke.
77. secret studies: studies of the occult, such as magic, sorcery, and mysticism.
 76   And to my state grew stranger, being transported
 77   And rapt in secret studies. Thy false uncle—
 78   Dost thou attend me?

      MIRANDA
 78                                   Sir, most heedfully.

      PROSPERO
79. perfected: grown skillful.
 79   Being once perfected how to grant suits,
 80   How to deny them, who to advance and who
81. trash for overtopping: restrain from becoming too powerful.  82. creatures that were mine: i.e., officials who I appointed to office.  82‑83. or . . . Or: either . . . or.
83. key: (1) key to a lock; (2) key of a tune.
 81   To trash for over-topping, new created
 82   The creatures that were mine, I say, or changed 'em,
 83   Or else new form'd 'em; having both the key
 84   Of officer and office, set all hearts i' the state
 85   To what tune pleased his ear; that now he was
 86   The ivy which had hid my princely trunk,
87. verdure: vigor, vitality. on't: of it.
 87   And suck'd my verdure out on't. Thou attend'st not.

      MIRANDA
 88   O, good sir, I do.

      PROSPERO
 88                               I pray thee, mark me.
89. ends: goals, concerns.
90. closeness: seclusion.
91. but by being so retired: i.e., except for the drawback of being so isolated.
92. O'er-prized all popular rate: had greater worth than any popular evaluation would place upon it.
94. good parent: Perhaps this is an echo of the English proverb, "Many a good father has a bad son." of: in.
 89   I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated
 90   To closeness and the bettering of my mind
 91   With that which, but by being so retired,
 92   O'er-prized all popular rate, in my false brother
 93   Awaked an evil nature; and my trust,
 94   Like a good parent, did beget of him
 95   A falsehood in its contrary as great
 96   As my trust was; which had indeed no limit,
97. sans: without. lorded: i.e., established in a position of power.
 97   A confidence sans bound. He being thus lorded,
 98   Not only with what my revenue yielded,
99. else: otherwise, additionally.
100. Who . . . it: i.e., who drives out truth by repeating a lie.
 99   But what my power might else exact, like one
100   Who having into truth, by telling of it,
101   Made such a sinner of his memory,
102. To: as to.
103-105. out . . . prerogative: as a result of his making himself my substitute and carrying out all the visible functions of royalty with all its rights and privileges.
102   To credit his own lie, he did believe
103   He was indeed the duke; out o' the substitution
104   And executing the outward face of royalty,
105   With all prerogative: hence his ambition growing—
106   Dost thou hear?

      MIRANDA
106                           Your tale, sir, would cure deafness.


      PROSPERO
107   To have no screen between this part he play'd
108. him he play'd it for: i.e., himself.
109. Absolute Milan: actual Duke of Milan.
110. temporal royalties: practical administration.
108   And him he play'd it for, he needs will be
109   Absolute Milan. Me, poor man, my library
110   Was dukedom large enough: of temporal royalties
111. confederates: makes alliance.
111   He thinks me now incapable; confederates—
112. dry . . . for sway: thirsty for power.
112   So dry he was for sway—wi' th' King of Naples
113. him: i.e., the King of Naples.
113   To give him annual tribute, do him homage,
114. Subject his coronet to his crown: i.e., make the Duke of Milan subservient to the King of Naples.
114-116. bend . . . stooping: i.e.make the dukedom of Milan, which never before had bowed down, stoop like a slave.
114   Subject his coronet to his crown and bend
115   The dukedom yet unbow'd—alas, poor Milan!—
116   To most ignoble stooping.

      MIRANDA
116                                             O the heavens!

      PROSPERO
117-118. Mark . . . brother: i.e., Take note of the servile agreement he made and the shameful outcome, then tell me if he was really my brother.
117   Mark his condition and the event; then tell me
118   If this might be a brother.

      MIRANDA
118                                           I should sin
119   To think but nobly of my grandmother:
120. but: other than.
120   Good wombs have borne bad sons.


      PROSPERO
Now the condition: i.e., Now I will tell you the details of the pact he made.
120                                                     Now the condition.
121   The King of Naples, being an enemy
122. hearkens: listens to. suit: proposal.
122   To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit;
123. he: the King of Naples. in lieu o' the premises: in return for the pledge.
123   Which was, that he, in lieu o' the premises
124   Of homage and I know not how much tribute,
125. presently extirpate: immediately remove.
125   Should presently extirpate me and mine
126   Out of the dukedom and confer fair Milan
127   With all the honours on my brother: whereon,
128   A treacherous army levied, one midnight
129   Fated to the purpose did Antonio open
130   The gates of Milan, and, i' the dead of darkness,
131. ministers for the purpose: agents employed to do this. hurried thence: swiftly carried away.
131   The ministers for the purpose hurried thence
132   Me and thy crying self.

      MIRANDA
132                                       Alack, for pity!
133   I, not remembering how I cried out then,
134-135. it is a hint / That wrings mine eyes to't: i.e., it is something that wrings tears out of my eyes.
134   Will cry it o'er again: it is a hint
135   That wrings mine eyes to't.

      PROSPERO
135                                             Hear a little further
136   And then I'll bring thee to the present business
137   Which now's upon's; without the which this story
138. impertinent: irrelevant.
138   Were most impertinent.

      MIRANDA
138. Wherefore: why.
138                                         Wherefore did they not
139   That hour destroy us?

      PROSPERO
139. demanded: asked. wench: girl, young woman. —Here it is a term of endearment.  140. durst: dared.
139                                     Well demanded, wench:
140   My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst not,
141-142. set / A mark so bloody: i.e., make obvious their murderous intent.
141   So dear the love my people bore me, nor set
142   A mark so bloody on the business, but
143. With colours . . . ends: i.e., tried to make what they were doing look much better than what they actually intended.
144. In few: in short. bark: ship.
143   With colours fairer painted their foul ends.
144   In few, they hurried us aboard a bark,
145   Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepared
146. butt: tub; an old run-down ship.
146   A rotten carcass of a butt, not rigg'd,
147   Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats
148   Instinctively had quit it: there they hoist us,
149   To cry to the sea that roar'd to us, to sigh
150   To the winds whose pity, sighing back again,
151   Did us but loving wrong.

      MIRANDA
151                                         Alack, what trouble
152   Was I then to you!

      PROSPERO
152                             O, a cherubim
153   Thou wast that did preserve me. Thou didst smile,
154. Infused: filled, suffused.
154   Infused with a fortitude from heaven,
155. deck'd: (1) adorned; (2) covered.  drops full salt: i.e., tears.
156-157. which . . . stomach: i.e., your smile, Miranda, gave me the courage to endure.
155   When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt,
156   Under my burden groan'd, which raised in me
157   An undergoing stomach, to bear up
158   Against what should ensue.

      MIRANDA
158                                               How came we ashore?

      PROSPERO
159   By Providence divine.
160   Some food we had and some fresh water that
161   A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo,
162   Out of his charity, being then appointed
163   Master of this design, did give us, with
164. stuffs and necessaries: supplies and necessities.
165. steaded much: done a great deal to sustain us. so, of his gentleness: similarly, out of his [Gonzalo's] gentlemanly character.
164   Rich garments, linens, stuffs and necessaries,
165   Which since have steaded much; so, of his gentleness,
166   Knowing I loved my books, he furnish'd me
167   From mine own library with volumes that
168   I prize above my dukedom.

      MIRANDA
168-169. Would . . . man!: i.e., I wish I could meet that man someday!
168                                           Would I might
169   But ever see that man!

      PROSPERO
169                                       Now I arise:

           [Puts on his robe.]

170   Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow.
171   Here in this island we arrived; and here
172-173. made . . . can: i.e., made you profit more from your education than other princes [members of the ruling class] are able to.
174. vainer hours: i.e. time spent on trifles.
172   Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit
173   Than other princes can that have more time
174   For vainer hours and tutors not so careful.

      MIRANDA
175   Heavens thank you for't! And now, I pray you, sir,
176   For still 'tis beating in my mind, your reason
177   For raising this sea-storm?

      PROSPERO
177                                               Know thus far forth.
178   By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune
179   (Now my dear lady) hath mine enemies
180. prescience: foreknowledge.
181. zenith: height of fortune (astrological term).
180   Brought to this shore; and by my prescience
181   I find my zenith doth depend upon
182. influence: astrological power.
182   A most auspicious star, whose influence
183. omit: ignore.
183   If now I court not but omit, my fortunes
184   Will ever after droop. Here cease more questions:
185. dullness: sleepiness.
185   Thou art inclined to sleep; 'tis a good dullness,
186. give it way: let it have its way; i.e., don't fight it.
Prospero charms Miranda to sleep
187. Come away: come here, away from where you are.
186   And give it way: I know thou canst not choose.

           [Miranda sleeps.]

187   Come away, servant, come. I am ready now.
188   Approach, my Ariel, come.

           Enter ARIEL.

      ARIEL
189   All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come
190   To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly,
191   To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride
192-193. to . . . quality: This is the last item in the series that began at line 190, with "be't to fly." Here Ariel is saying that he will use all of his abilities to accomplish whatever task Prospero commands him to do.
192   On the curl'd clouds, to thy strong bidding task
193   Ariel and all his quality.


      PROSPERO
193                                             Hast thou, spirit,
194. Perform'd . . . thee: i.e., created the tempest exactly as I told you to.
194   Perform'd to point the tempest that I bade thee?

      ARIEL
195   To every article.
196. beak: prow.
196   I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak,
197. waist: midship. deck: poop deck at the stern.
197   Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin,
198. flam'd amazement: struck terror by appearing as the flamelike phenomenon called St. Elmo's fire.
198   I flamed amazement: sometime I'ld divide,
199   And burn in many places; on the topmast,
200. distinctly: in separate places.
200   The yards and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly,
201   Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precursors
202   O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary
Neptune with his trindent.203. sight-outrunning: swifter than sight. were not: could not have been.
204. Neptune: Roman god of the sea.
206. trident: three-pronged weapon.


206. brave: splendid.
207. coil: uproar.
203   And sight-outrunning were not; the fire and cracks
204   Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune
205   Seem to besiege and make his bold waves tremble,
206   Yea, his dread trident shake.

      PROSPERO
206                                                 My brave spirit!
207   Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil
208   Would not infect his reason?

      ARIEL
208                                                 Not a soul
209. of the mad: such as madmen have.
209-210. played . . . desperation: i.e., did irrational things in a panic.
209   But felt a fever of the mad and play'd
210   Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners
211   Plunged in the foaming brine and quit the vessel,
212   Then all afire with me. The king's son, Ferdinand,
213. up-staring: standing on end.
213   With hair up-staring,—then like reeds, not hair,—
214   Was the first man that leap'd; cried, 'Hell is empty
215   And all the devils are here.'


      PROSPERO
215                                                 Why that's my spirit!
216   But was not this nigh shore?

      ARIEL
216                                               Close by, my master.

      PROSPERO
217   But are they, Ariel, safe?

      ARIEL
217                                           Not a hair perish'd;
218. sustaining garments: clothes that bore them up in the water.  219. badest: ordered.
220. troops: separate groups.
218   On their sustaining garments not a blemish,
219   But fresher than before: and, as thou badest me,
220   In troops I have dispersed them 'bout the isle.
221   The king's son have I landed by himself;
222. cooling of: cooling.
222   Whom I left cooling of the air with sighs
223. angle: corner.
223   In an odd angle of the isle and sitting,
224. in this sad knot: i.e., crossed thus (Ariel illustrates with a gesture).
Ariel with his arms folded.
224   His arms in this sad knot.

      PROSPERO
224                                           Of the king's ship
225   The mariners say how thou hast disposed
226   And all the rest o' the fleet.

      ARIEL
226                                               Safely in harbour
227. nook: inlet, small bay.
227   Is the king's ship; in the deep nook, where once
228. dew: (Collected for magical purposes.)
228   Thou call'dst me up at midnight to fetch dew
229   From the still-vex'd Bermoothes, there she's hid:
229. still-vex'd Bermoothes: always stormy Bermuda islands.

230   The mariners all under hatches stow'd;
231   Who, with a charm join'd to their suffer'd labor,
231. with a charm: by means of a magic spell. their suff'red labor: the labor they have endured.

232   I have left asleep; and for the rest o' the fleet
233   Which I dispersed, they all have met again
234   And are upon the Mediterranean float,
234. float: flood, sea.

235   Bound sadly home for Naples,
236   Supposing that they saw the king's ship wreck'd
237   And his great person perish.

      PROSPERO
237                                               Ariel, thy charge
238   Exactly is perform'd: but there's more work.
239   What is the time o' the day?

      ARIEL
239                                             Past the mid season.
239. mid season: noon.


      PROSPERO
240   At least two glasses. The time 'twixt six and now
240. glasses: hourglasses.

241   Must by us both be spent most preciously.
241. preciously: with meticulous workmanship. —It is never explained exactly why everything must be accomplished in less than four hours.


      ARIEL
242   Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains,
242. pains: duties, chores.

243   Let me remember thee what thou hast promised,
243. remember thee: remind you.

244   Which is not yet perform'd me.
244. performed me: done for me as promised.


      PROSPERO
244                                                 How now? moody?
245   What is't thou canst demand?

      ARIEL
245                                               My liberty.

      PROSPERO
246   Before the time be out? no more!

      ARIEL
246                                                     I prithee,
247   Remember I have done thee worthy service;
248   Told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings, served
249   Without or grudge or grumblings: thou didst promise
250   To bate me a full year.
250. bate me a full year: take an entire year off of my term of service.


      PROSPERO
250                                     Dost thou forget
251   From what a torment I did free thee?

      ARIEL
251                                                           No.

      PROSPERO
252   Thou dost, and think'st it much to tread the ooze
252. ooze: muddy sea floor.

253   Of the salt deep,
254   To run upon the sharp wind of the north,
255   To do me business in the veins o' the earth
255. do me: do for me.

256   When it is baked with frost.
256. baked: hardened.


      ARIEL
256                                               I do not, sir.

      PROSPERO
257   Thou liest, malignant thing! Hast thou forgot
258. envy: malice.
258   The foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy
259   Was grown into a hoop? hast thou forgot her?
259. grown into a hoop: i.e., so bent over with age as to resemble a hoop.



      ARIEL
260   No, sir.

      PROSPERO
260             Thou hast. Where was she born? speak; tell me.

      ARIEL
261   Sir, in Argier.
261. Argier: Algiers.


      PROSPERO
261                         O, was she so? I must
262   Once in a month recount what thou hast been,
263   Which thou forget'st. This damn'd witch Sycorax,
264   For mischiefs manifold and sorceries terrible
265   To enter human hearing, from Argier,
266   Thou know'st, was banish'd: for one thing she did
266. one thing she did: Perhaps that "one thing" was to become pregnant with Caliban. In Shakespeare's time pregnant women were not executed.

267   They would not take her life. Is not this true?

      ARIEL
268   Ay, sir.

      PROSPERO
269   This blue-eyed hag was hither brought with child
269. blue-ey'd: with dark circles around the eyes. with child: pregnant.

270   And here was left by the sailors. Thou, my slave,
271   As thou report'st thyself, wast then her servant;
272   And, for thou wast a spirit too delicate
272. for: because.

273   To act her earthy and abhorr'd commands,
274   Refusing her grand hests, she did confine thee,
274. hests: commands.

275   By help of her more potent ministers
276   And in her most unmitigable rage,
277   Into a cloven pine; within which rift
278   Imprison'd thou didst painfully remain
279   A dozen years; within which space she died
280   And left thee there; where thou didst vent thy groans
281   As fast as mill-wheels strike. Then was this island—
281. As . . .  strike: as fast as mill wheels strike the water.

282   Save for the son that she did litter here,
282. Save: except. litter: drop, in the sense of "give birth to."

283   A freckled whelp hag-born—not honour'd with
282. whelp: offspring of a dog. Both "litter" and "whelp" strongly suggest that Caliban is beastly.

284   A human shape.


      ARIEL
284                         Yes, Caliban her son.

      PROSPERO
285   Dull thing, I say so; he, that Caliban
285. Dull thing, I say so: i.e., Exactly, that's what I said, you dullard.

286   Whom now I keep in service. Thou best know'st
287   What torment I did find thee in; thy groans
288   Did make wolves howl and penetrate the breasts
289   Of ever angry bears: it was a torment
290   To lay upon the damn'd, which Sycorax
291   Could not again undo: it was mine art,
292   When I arrived and heard thee, that made gape
292. gape: open wide.

293   The pine and let thee out.

      ARIEL
293                                           I thank thee, master.

      PROSPERO
294   If thou more murmur'st, I will rend an oak
295   And peg thee in his knotty entrails till
295. his: its.

296   Thou hast howl'd away twelve winters.

      ARIEL
296                                                             Pardon, master;
297   I will be correspondent to command
297. correspondent: obedient.

298   And do my spiriting gently.
298. do my spriting gently: perform my tasks as a spirit ungrudgingly.

Sofia Jean Gomez as Ariel


      PROSPERO
298                                               Do so, and after two days
299   I will discharge thee.

      ARIEL
299                                       That's my noble master!
300   What shall I do? say what; what shall I do?

      PROSPERO
301   Go make thyself like a nymph o' the sea: be subject
302   To no sight but thine and mine, invisible
303   To every eyeball else. Go take this shape
304   And hither come in't: go, hence with diligence!

           [Exit Ariel.]

305   Awake, dear heart, awake! thou hast slept well;
306   Awake!

      MIRANDA
306             The strangeness of your story put
307   Heaviness in me.
307. Heaviness: drowsiness.



      PROSPERO
307                             Shake it off. Come on;
308   We'll visit Caliban my slave, who never
309   Yields us kind answer.

      MIRANDA
309                                       'Tis a villain, sir,
310   I do not love to look on.

      PROSPERO
310                                       But, as 'tis,
311   We cannot miss him: he does make our fire,
311. miss: do without.

312   Fetch in our wood and serves in offices
312. offices: functions, duties.

313   That profit us. What, ho! slave! Caliban!
313. profit us: benefit us.

314   Thou earth, thou! speak.

      CALIBAN [Within.]
314                                       There's wood enough within.

      PROSPERO
315   Come forth, I say! there's other business for thee:
316   Come, thou tortoise! when?
316. when: This is a common expression of impatience.


           Enter ARIEL like a water-nymph.

317   Fine apparition! My quaint Ariel,
317. quaint: clever, ingenious.

Miranda, Prospero, Ariel, and Caliban

318   Hark in thine ear.

           [Prospero whispers in Ariel's ear.]

      ARIEL
318                               My lord it shall be done.

           Exit.

      PROSPERO
319   Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself
319. got: begotten.

320   Upon thy wicked dam, come forth!
320. dam: mother.
Caliban by Charles BuchelDjimon Hounsou as CalibanCaliban crouching


           Enter CALIBAN.

      CALIBAN
321   As wicked dew as e'er my mother brush'd
322   With raven's feather from unwholesome fen
322. fen: marsh, bog.

323   Drop on you both! a south-west blow on ye
323. south-west: southwest wind, thought to bring pestilence.

324   And blister you all o'er!

      PROSPERO
325   For this, be sure, tonight thou shalt have cramps,
326   Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up; urchins
326. pen thy breath up: i.e., make you gasp and hold your breath. urchins: i.e., goblins in the shape of hedgehogs.
327. for that . . . work: during that long period of darkness during which they are permitted to perform their mischief.

327   Shall, for that vast of night that they may work,
328   All exercise on thee; thou shalt be pinch'd
329   As thick as honeycomb, each pinch more stinging
330   Than bees that made 'em.
330. 'em: i.e., them, the cells of the honeycomb.


      CALIBAN
330                                     I must eat my dinner.
dinner: lunch.

331   This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother,
332   Which thou takest from me. When thou camest first,
333   Thou strokedst me and madest much of me, wouldst
        give me
334   Water with berries in't, and teach me how
334. berries: coffee beans?

335   To name the bigger light, and how the less,
335. the bigger light, and . . . the less: i.e., the sun and the moon. (See Genesis 1:16: "God then made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.")

336   That burn by day and night: and then I loved thee
337   And show'd thee all the qualities o' the isle,
338   The fresh springs, brine-pits, barren place and fertile:
339   Cursed be I that did so! All the charms
339. charms: spells.

340   Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you!
341   For I am all the subjects that you have,
342   Which first was mine own king: and here you sty me
342. sty: confine, as in a pigsty.

343   In this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me
344   The rest o' the island.

      PROSPERO
344                                   Thou most lying slave,
345   Whom stripes may move, not kindness! I have used thee,
345. stripes: whippings.  move: motivate.

346   Filth as thou art, with human care, and lodged thee
346. human: humane.

347   In mine own cell, till thou didst seek to violate
347-348. violate / The honour of: rape.

348   The honour of my child.

      CALIBAN
349   O ho, O ho! would't had been done!
350   Thou didst prevent me; I had peopled else
350. I had peopled else: otherwise, I would have peopled.

351   This isle with Calibans.

      PROSPERO
PROSPERO: Maybe this speech heading should be "MIRANDA".

351                                           Abhorred slave,
352   Which any print of goodness wilt not take,
352. print: imprint, impression.

353   Being capable of all ill! I pitied thee,
353. capable of all ill: i.e., liable to pick up any bad influence.

354   Took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour
355   One thing or other: when thou didst not, savage,
356   Know thine own meaning, but wouldst gabble like
357   A thing most brutish, I endow'd thy purposes
357. purposes: meanings, desires.

358   With words that made them known. But thy vile race,
358. race: nature.

359   Though thou didst learn, had that in't which good natures
360   Could not abide to be with; therefore wast thou
361   Deservedly confined into this rock,
362   Who hadst deserved more than a prison.
362. hadst deserved more than a prison: had deserved more punishment than merely to be confined to prison.


      CALIBAN
363   You taught me language; and my profit on't
364   Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you
364. red plague: syphilis?   rid you: destroy you.

365   For learning me your language!
365. learning me: teaching me.


      PROSPERO
365                                                     Hag-seed, hence!
365. Hag-seed: Offspring of a female demon.

366   Fetch us in fuel; and be quick, thou'rt best,
366. thou'rt best: you had better..

367   To answer other business. Shrug'st thou, malice?
367. answer other business: perform other tasks.

368   If thou neglect'st or dost unwillingly
369   What I command, I'll rack thee with old cramps,
369. old: innumerable.

370   Fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar
371   That beasts shall tremble at thy din.
371. That: so loudly that.


      CALIBAN
371                                                               No, pray thee.

           [Aside.]

372   I must obey: his art is of such power,
373   It would control my dam's god, Setebos,
373. Setebos: Richard Eden (1521? - 1576), a translator of travel books, identified Setebos as a god of the Patagonians. Patagonia is the southern tip of South America.

374   and make a vassal of him.

      PROSPERO
374                                         So, slave; hence!

           Exit CALIBAN.

           Enter FERDINAND; and ARIEL,
           invisible, playing and singing.

           ARIEL['S] SONG

375        Come unto these yellow sands,
376        And then take hands:
377        Courtsied when you have and kiss'd,
377. Courtsied . . . kiss'd: when you have curtsied and kissed.   378. whist: being hushed.

378        The wild waves whist,
379        Foot it featly here and there;
379. featly: nimbly.

380        And, sweet sprites, the burthen bear.
380. burthen: chorus, refrain.

381        Hark, hark!


           Burthen, dispersedly.
Burthen, dispersedly: i.e., chorus, sung from here and there by invisible spirits.

Ferdinand lured by Arial


382        Bow-wow.
383        The watch-dogs bark!

           [Burthen, dispersedly.]

384        Bow-wow.
385        Hark, hark! I hear
386        The strain of strutting chanticleer

           Cry.

387        Cock-a-diddle-dow.

      FERDINAND
388   Where should this music be? i' the air or the earth?
389   It sounds no more: and sure, it waits upon
389. waits upon: serves, attends.

390   Some god o' the island. Sitting on a bank,
390. bank: sandbank.

391   Weeping again the king my father's wreck,
392   This music crept by me upon the waters,
393   Allaying both their fury and my passion
393. passion: sorrow.

394   With its sweet air: thence I have follow'd it,
394. thence: i.e., from the bank on which I sat.

395   Or it hath drawn me rather. But 'tis gone.
396   No, it begins again.

                ARIEL['S] SONG.

397        Full fathom five thy father lies;
398        Of his bones are coral made;
399        Those are pearls that were his eyes:
400        Nothing of him that doth fade
401        But doth suffer a sea-change
402        Into something rich and strange.
403        Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell
403. knell: announcement of a death by the tolling of a bell.


           Burthen.

404        Ding-dong.
405        Hark! now I hear them,—Ding-dong, bell.


      FERDINAND
406   The ditty does remember my drown'd father.
406. ditty: words of the song. remember: commemorate.

407   This is no mortal business, nor no sound
408   That the earth owes. I hear it now above me.
408. owes: owns.


      PROSPERO
409   The fringed curtains of thine eye advance
409. The fringed . . . advance: i.e., open your eyes wide and look out into the distance.

410   And say what thou seest yond.

      MIRANDA
410                                                 What is't? a spirit?
411   Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, sir,
412   It carries a brave form. But 'tis a spirit.
412. brave: excellent, splendid.


      PROSPERO
413   No, wench; it eats and sleeps and hath such senses
414   As we have, such. This gallant which thou seest
415   Was in the wreck; and, but he's something stain'd
415. something stain'd: somewhat disfigured.

416   With grief that's beauty's canker, thou mightst call him
416. canker: worm that eats blossoms.

417   A goodly person: he hath lost his fellows
417. fellows: friends, associates.

The Meeting of Ferdinand and Miranda by Walter Crane

418   And strays about to find 'em.

      MIRANDA
418                                               I might call him
419   A thing divine, for nothing natural
420   I ever saw so noble.

      PROSPERO

           [Aside.]


420                                 It goes on, I see,
420-421. It . . . prompts it: i.e., things are working out just as I have hoped and planned.

421   As my soul prompts it. Spirit, fine spirit! I'll free thee
422   Within two days for this.


      FERDINAND
422                                           Most sure, the goddess
423   On whom these airs attend! Vouchsafe my prayer
423. airs: i.e., the music he has heard. Vouchsafe: Grant.

424   May know if you remain upon this island;
424. remain: dwell, have your home here.

425   And that you will some good instruction give
426   How I may bear me here: my prime request,
426. bear me: conduct myself. prime: first, most important.

427   Which I do last pronounce, is, O you wonder!
428   If you be maid or no?
428. maid: i.e., a human maiden, not a goddess. —Ferdinand wants to know if he is permitted to woo her; in a couple of minutes he will offer to marry her.


      MIRANDA
428                                 No wonder, sir;
429   But certainly a maid.

      FERDINAND
429                                     My language! heavens!
430   I am the best of them that speak this speech,
430. best: first in rank. —Ferdinand believes his father, the King of Naples, to be dead, which makes him the highest-ranking of all who live in Naples, where his language is spoken.

431   Were I but where 'tis spoken.

      PROSPERO
431                                               How? the best?
432   What wert thou, if the King of Naples heard thee?

      FERDINAND
433   A single thing, as I am now, that wonders
433. single: i.e., a solitary individual.

434   To hear thee speak of Naples. He does hear me;
434. Naples: the King of Naples.  He does hear me: i.e., I, who am the new King of Naples, hear myself, and therefore the King of Naples hears me.
435. And that he does I weep: i.e., and I weep at this reminder that my father is dead, making me the king.
436. at ebb: dry.

435   And that he does I weep: myself am Naples,
436   Who with mine eyes, never since at ebb, beheld
437   The king my father wreck'd.

      MIRANDA
437                                             Alack, for mercy!


      FERDINAND
438   Yes, faith, and all his lords; the Duke of Milan
439   And his brave son being twain.
439. brave son: handsome son. —This son is not mentioned elsewhere in the play.


      PROSPERO [Aside.]
439                                                   The Duke of Milan
439. The Duke of Milan: —Prospero means himself. The person who Ferdinand refers to as the Duke of Milan is Prospero's brother, who stole the dukedom from Prospero.
440. more braver: more good-looking. control thee: correct you (about who the real Duke of Milan is.)
442. chang'd eyes: exchanged loving looks.
444. done yourself some wrong: i.e., done something unworthy of yourself.

440   And his more braver daughter could control thee,
441   If now 'twere fit to do't. At the first sight
442   They have changed eyes. Delicate Ariel,
443   I'll set thee free for this. —A word, good sir;
444   I fear you have done yourself some wrong: a word.

      MIRANDA
445   Why speaks my father so ungently? This
446   Is the third man that e'er I saw, the first
447   That e'er I sigh'd for: pity move my father
448   To be inclined my way!

      FERDINAND
448                                     O, if a virgin,
449   And your affection not gone forth, I'll make you
449. And your affection not gone forth: and if you are not pledged to another.

450   The queen of Naples.

      PROSPERO
450                                   Soft, sir! one word more.

           [Aside.]

451   They are both in either's powers; but this swift business
451. They . . . powers: They are in each other's power.

452   I must uneasy make, lest too light winning
452. uneasy: difficult. too light: too easy.

453   Make the prize light. —One word more; I charge thee
453. Make the prize light: make the prize cheap.

454   That thou attend me: thou dost here usurp
454. attend: follow, obey.

455   The name thou owest not; and hast put thyself
455. owest: owns.

456   Upon this island as a spy, to win it
457   From me, the lord on't.
457. on't: of it.


      FERDINAND
457                                   No, as I am a man.

      MIRANDA
458   There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple:
458. temple: i.e., Ferdinand. —Miranda thinks he is the most beautiful thing she has ever seen.

459   If the ill spirit have so fair a house,
460   Good things will strive to dwell with't.
460. strive to dwell with't: i.e., expel the evil and occupy the "temple," or the body.


      PROSPERO
460                                                               Follow me.
461   Speak not you for him; he's a traitor. Come;
462   I'll manacle thy neck and feet together:
463   Sea-water shalt thou drink; thy food shall be
464   The fresh-brook mussles, wither'd roots and husks
465   Wherein the acorn cradled. Follow.

      FERDINAND
465                                                           No;
466   I will resist such entertainment till
466. entertainment: treatment.

467   Mine enemy has more power.

           He draws [his sword],
Ferdinand charmed from moving

           and is charmed from moving.

      MIRANDA
467                                                         O dear father,
468   Make not too rash a trial of him, for
468. rash: harsh.

469   He's gentle and not fearful.
469. gentle: of high birth. fearful: frightening.


      PROSPERO
469                                               What? I say,
470   My foot my tutor?
470. My foot my tutor?: i.e., You are out of place, as though my foot were trying to teach me how to behave.


           [To Ferdinand.]

470                                 Put thy sword up, traitor;
471   Who makest a show but darest not strike, thy conscience
472   Is so possess'd with guilt: come from thy ward,
472. ward: position of defense (in fencing).

473   For I can here disarm thee with this stick
473. stick: staff, magic wand.

474   And make thy weapon drop.

      MIRANDA
474                                           Beseech you, father.

      PROSPERO
475   Hence! hang not on my garments.

      MIRANDA
475                                                   Sir, have pity;
476   I'll be his surety.
476. I'll be his surety: i.e., I will be responsible for guaranteeing his good behavior.


      PROSPERO
476                               Silence! one word more
477   Shall make me chide thee, if not hate thee. What!
478   An advocate for an imposter! hush!
479   Thou think'st there is no more such shapes as he,
480   Having seen but him and Caliban: foolish wench!
481   To the most of men this is a Caliban
481. To: in comparison with.

482   And they to him are angels.

      MIRANDA
482                                         My affections
482. affections: emotions, fond feelings.

483   Are then most humble; I have no ambition
484   To see a goodlier man.

      PROSPERO  [To Ferdinand.]

484                                     Come on; obey:
485   Thy nerves are in their infancy again
485. nerves: sinews, tendons.

486   And have no vigour in them.

      FERDINAND
486                                             So they are;
487   My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up.
487. spirits: vital powers.  bound up: tied up, imprisoned.

488   My father's loss, the weakness which I feel,
489   The wreck of all my friends, nor this man's threats,
489. nor: not even.

490   To whom I am subdued, are but light to me,
490. are but light to me: are very easy for me to bear.

491   Might I but through my prison once a day
491. through my prison: through the bars of my prison cell.

492   Behold this maid: all corners else o' the earth
493   Let liberty make use of; space enough
494   Have I in such a prison.

      PROSPERO

           [Aside.]
494                                       It works.
494. It works: i.e., My plan is working; love is taking possession of these two.


           [To Ferdinand.]

494                                       Come on.—

           [To Ariel.]

495   Thou hast done well, fine Ariel!


           [To Ferdinand.]

495                                                   Follow me.

           [To Ariel.]

496   Hark what thou else shalt do me.
496. Hark what thou else shalt do me: Listen carefully to what else you are going to do for me.


      MIRANDA
496                                                     Be of comfort;
497   My father's of a better nature, sir,
498   Than he appears by speech: this is unwonted
498. unwonted: unusual.

499   Which now came from him.

      PROSPERO  [To Ariel.]
499                                         Thou shalt be free
500   As mountain winds: but then exactly do
501   All points of my command.

      ARIEL
501                                           To the syllable.

      PROSPERO

           [To Ferdinand.]

502   Come, follow.

           [To Miranda.]

502                       Speak not for him.
502. for him: in his defense.


           Exeunt.