The Tempest: Act 1, Scene 2
Enter PROSPERO and MIRANDA.
MIRANDA
1. art: magic.
1
If by your art, my dearest father, you have2. 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.
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 would11. or ere: before.
11
Have sunk the sea within the earth or ere 12
It should the good ship so have swallow'd and13. fraughting souls: cargo of souls.
13
The fraughting souls within her.
PROSPERO
13. collected: composed, calm.
14. amazement: terror. piteous: pitying.
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 knowing19. 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."
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
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.
26. wreck: shipwreck.
25
Lie there, my art. Wipe thou thine eyes; have comfort. 26
The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touch'd27. virtue: essence.
27
The very virtue of compassion in thee,28. provision: foresight.
28
I have with such provision in mine art29. safely ordered: arranged everything safely.
29
So safely ordered that there is no soul30. perdition: loss.
30
No, not so much perdition as an hair31. Betid: happened.
31
Betid to any creature in the vessel32. 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 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 off45. assurance: certainty.
45
And rather like a dream than an assurance46. 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 else50. 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.
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.
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 bleeds64. teen: sorrow, trouble. turn'd you to: reminded you of.
65. from: out 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 methat a brother should68. next: next to.
68
Be so perfidious!he whom next thyself 69
Of all the world I loved and to him put70. manage: management, administration.
70
The manage of my state; as at that time71. 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.
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 brother76. 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.
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 who81. 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.
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.
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.
100. Who . . . it: i.e., who drives out truth by repeating a lie.
99
But what my power might else exact, like one100
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.
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 believe103
He was indeed the duke; out o' the substitution104
And executing the outward face of royalty,105
With all prerogative: hence his ambition growing106
Dost thou hear?
MIRANDA
106
Your tale, sir, would cure deafness.
PROSPERO
107
To have no screen between this part he play'd108. him he play'd it for: i.e., himself.
109. Absolute Milan: actual Duke of Milan.
110. temporal royalties: practical administration.
109. Absolute Milan: actual Duke of Milan.
110. temporal royalties: practical administration.
108
And him he play'd it for, he needs will be109
Absolute Milan. Me, poor man, my library110
Was dukedom large enough: of temporal royalties111. confederates: makes alliance.
111
He thinks me now incapable; confederates112. dry . . . for sway: thirsty for power.
112
So dry he was for swaywi' th' King of Naples113. 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.
114-116. 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 bend115
The dukedom yet unbow'dalas, 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 me118
If this might be a brother.
MIRANDA
118
I should sin119
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 enemy122. 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 premises124
Of homage and I know not how much tribute,125. presently extirpate: immediately remove.
125
Should presently extirpate me and mine126
Out of the dukedom and confer fair Milan127
With all the honours on my brother: whereon,128
A treacherous army levied, one midnight129
Fated to the purpose did Antonio open130
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 thence132
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 hint135
That wrings mine eyes to't.
PROSPERO
135
Hear a little further136
And then I'll bring thee to the present business137
Which now's upon's; without the which this story138. impertinent: irrelevant.
138
Were most impertinent.
MIRANDA
138. Wherefore: why.
138
Wherefore did they not139
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 set142
A mark so bloody on the business, but143. 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 prepared146. 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 rats148
Instinctively had quit it: there they hoist us,149
To cry to the sea that roar'd to us, to sigh150
To the winds whose pity, sighing back again,151
Did us but loving wrong.
MIRANDA
151
Alack, what trouble152
Was I then to you!
PROSPERO
152
O, a cherubim153
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.
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 me157
An undergoing stomach, to bear up158
Against what should ensue.
MIRANDA
158
How came we ashore?
PROSPERO
159
By Providence divine.160
Some food we had and some fresh water that161
A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo,162
Out of his charity, being then appointed163
Master of this design, did give us, with164. 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.
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 me167
From mine own library with volumes that168
I prize above my dukedom.
MIRANDA
168-169. Would . . . man!: i.e., I wish I could meet that man someday!
168
Would I might169
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 here172-173. 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.
174. vainer hours: i.e. time spent on trifles.
172
Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit173
Than other princes can that have more time174
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 reason177
For raising this sea-storm?
PROSPERO
177
Know thus far forth.178
By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune179
(Now my dear lady) hath mine enemies180. prescience: foreknowledge.
181. zenith: height of fortune (astrological term).
181. zenith: height of fortune (astrological term).
180
Brought to this shore; and by my prescience181
I find my zenith doth depend upon182. influence: astrological power.
182
A most auspicious star, whose influence183. omit: ignore.
183
If now I court not but omit, my fortunes184
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.
187. Come away: come here, away from where you are.
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 come190
To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly,191
To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride192-193. 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 task193
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 precursors202
O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary203. 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.
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 cracks204
Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune205
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 coil208
Would not infect his reason?
ARIEL
208
Not a soul209. of the mad: such as madmen have.
209-210. played . . . desperation: i.e., did irrational things in a panic.
209-210. played . . . desperation: i.e., did irrational things in a panic.
209
But felt a fever of the mad and play'd210
Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners211
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 empty215
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.
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 sighs223. angle: corner.
223
In an odd angle of the isle and sitting,224
His arms in this sad knot.
PROSPERO
224
Of the king's ship225
The mariners say how thou hast disposed226
And all the rest o' the fleet.
ARIEL
226
Safely in harbour227. nook: inlet, small bay.
227
Is the king's ship; in the deep nook, where once228. dew: (Collected for magical purposes.)
228
Thou call'dst me up at midnight to fetch dew229
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 fleet233
Which I dispersed, they all have met again234
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'd237
And his great person perish.
PROSPERO
237
Ariel, thy charge238
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, served249
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 forget251
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 forgot258. envy: malice.
258
The foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy259
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 must262
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 terrible265
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 delicate272. 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 ministers276
And in her most unmitigable rage,277
Into a cloven pine; within which rift278
Imprison'd thou didst painfully remain279
A dozen years; within which space she died280
And left thee there; where thou didst vent thy groans281
As fast as mill-wheels strike. Then was this island281. 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-bornnot 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'st287
What torment I did find thee in; thy groans288
Did make wolves howl and penetrate the breasts289
Of ever angry bears: it was a torment290
To lay upon the damn'd, which Sycorax291
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 oak295
And peg thee in his knotty entrails till295. his: its.
296
Thou hast howl'd away twelve winters.
ARIEL
296
Pardon, master;297
I will be correspondent to command297. correspondent: obedient.
298
And do my spiriting gently.
PROSPERO
298
Do so, and after two days299
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 subject302
To no sight but thine and mine, invisible303
To every eyeball else. Go take this shape304
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 put307
Heaviness in me.
307. Heaviness: drowsiness.
PROSPERO
307
Shake it off. Come on;308
We'll visit Caliban my slave, who never309
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 offices312. 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,
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!
Enter CALIBAN.
CALIBAN
321
As wicked dew as e'er my mother brush'd322
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. 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'd329
As thick as honeycomb, each pinch more stinging330
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 me334
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 thee337
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 me344
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 else350. I had peopled else: otherwise, I would have peopled.
351
This isle with Calibans.
PROSPERO
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 hour355
One thing or other: when thou didst not, savage,356
Know thine own meaning, but wouldst gabble like357
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 natures360
Could not abide to be with; therefore wast thou361
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't364
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 unwillingly369
What I command, I'll rack thee with old cramps,
369. old: innumerable.
370
Fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar371
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.
382
Bow-wow.383
The watch-dogs bark!
[Burthen, dispersedly.]
384
Bow-wow.385
Hark, hark! I hear386
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 fade401
But doth suffer a sea-change402
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 sound408
That the earth owes. I hear it now above me.408. owes: owns.
PROSPERO
409
The fringed curtains of thine eye advance409. 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 senses414
As we have, such. This gallant which thou seest415
Was in the wreck; and, but he's something stain'd415. something stain'd: somewhat disfigured.
416
With grief that's beauty's canker, thou mightst call him416. canker: worm that eats blossoms.
417
A goodly person: he hath lost his fellows418
And strays about to find 'em.
MIRANDA
418
I might call him419
A thing divine, for nothing natural420
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 thee422
Within two days for this.
FERDINAND
422
Most sure, the goddess423
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 give426
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: 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, beheld437
The king my father wreck'd.
MIRANDA
437
Alack, for mercy!
FERDINAND
438
Yes, faith, and all his lords; the Duke of Milan439
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. 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 sight442
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? This446
Is the third man that e'er I saw, the first447
That e'er I sigh'd for: pity move my father448
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 it457
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 be464
The fresh-brook mussles, wither'd roots and husks465
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],
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 conscience472
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 more477
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 ambition484
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 enough494
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 free500
As mountain winds: but then exactly do501
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.