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William Shakespeare, 1564-1616 [1623], Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies. Published according to the True Originall Copies (Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed. Blount, London) [word count] [S10801].
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Actus Tertius.

Scœna Prima. Enter Ferdinand (bearing a Log.)

Fer.
There be some Sports are painfull; & their labor
Delight in them set off: Some kindes of basenesse
Are nobly vndergon; and most poore matters
Point to rich ends: this my meane Taske
Would be as heauy to me, as odious, but
The Mistris which I serue, quickens what's dead,
And makes my labours, pleasures: O She is
Ten times more gentle, then her Father's crabbed;
And he's compos'd of harshnesse. I must remoue
Some thousands of these Logs, and pile them vp,
Vpon a sore iniunction; my sweet Mistris
Weepes when she sees me worke, & saies, such basenes
Had neuer like Executor: I forget:
But these sweet thoughts, doe euen refresh my labours,
Most busie lest, when I doe it.
Enter Miranda and Prospero.

Mir.
Alas, now pray you
Worke not so hard: I would the lightning had
Burnt vp those Logs that you are enioynd to pile:
Pray set it downe, and rest you: when this burnes
'Twill weepe for hauing wearied you: my Father
Is hard at study; pray now rest your selfe,

-- 11 --


Hee's safe for these three houres.

Fer.
O most deere Mistris,
The Sun will set before I shall discharge
What I must striue to do.

Mir.
If you'l sit downe
Ile beare your Logges the while: pray giue me that,
Ile carry it to the pile.

Fer.
No precious Creature,
I had rather cracke my sinewes, breake my backe,
Then you should such dishonor vndergoe,
While I sit lazy by.

Mir.
It would become me
As well as it do's you; and I should do it
With much more ease: for my good will is to it,
And yours it is against.

Pro.
Poore worme thou art infected,
This visitation shewes it.

Mir.
You looke wearily.

Fer.
No, noble Mistris, 'tis fresh morning with me
When you are by at night: I do beseech you
Cheefely, that I might set it in my prayers,
What is your name?

Mir.
Miranda, O my Father,
I haue broke your hest to say so.

Fer.
Admir'd Miranda,
Indeede the top of Admiration, worth
What's deerest to the world: full many a Lady
I haue ey'd with best regard, and many a time
Th'harmony of their tongues, hath into bondage
Brought my too diligent eare: for seuerall vertues
Haue I lik'd seuerall women, neuer any
VVith so full soule, but some defect in her
Did quarrell with the noblest grace she ow'd,
And put it to the foile. But you, O you,
So perfect, and so peetlesse, are created
Of euerie Creatures best.

Mir.
I do not know
One of my sexe; no womans face remember,
Saue from my glasse, mine owne: Nor haue I seene
More that I may call men, then you good friend,
And my deere Father: how features are abroad
I am skillesse of; but by my modestie
(The iewell in my dower) I would not wish
Any Companion in the world but you:
Nor can imagination forme a shape
Besides your selfe, to like of: but I prattle
Something too wildely, and my Fathers precepts
I therein do forget.

Fer.
I am, in my condition
A Prince (Miranda) I do thinke a King
(I would not so) and would no more endure
This wodden slauerie, then to suffer
The flesh-flie blow my mouth: heare my soule speake.
The verie instant that I saw you, did
My heart flie to your seruice, there resides
To make me slaue to it, and for your sake
Am I this patient Logge-man.

Mir.
Do you loue me?

Fer.
O heauen; O earth, beare witnes to this sound,
And crowne what I professe with kinde euent
If I speake true: if hollowly, inuert
VVhat best is boaded me, to mischiefe: I,
Beyond all limit of what else i'th world
Do loue, prize, honor you.

Mir.
I am a foole
To weepe at what I am glad of.

Pro.
Faire encounter
Of two most rare affections: heauens raine grace
On that which breeds betweene 'em.

Fer.
VVherefore weepe you?

Mir.
At mine vnworthinesse, that dare not offer
VVhat I desire to giue; and much lesse take
VVhat I shall die to want: But this is trifling,
And all the more it seekes to hide it selfe,
The bigger bulke it shewes. Hence bashfull cunning,
And prompt me plaine and holy innocence.
I am your wife, if you will marrie me;
If not, Ile die your maid: to be your fellow
You may denie me, but Ile be your seruant
VVhether you will or no.

Fer.
My Mistris (deerest)
And I thus humble euer.

Mir.
My husband then?

Fer.
I, with a heart as willing
As bondage ere of freedome: heere's my hand.

Mir.
And mine, with my heart in't; and now farewel
Till halfe an houre hence.

Fer.
A thousand, thousand.
Exeunt.

Pro.
So glad of this as they I cannot be,
VVho are surpriz'd with all; but my reioycing
At nothing can be more: Ile to my booke,
For yet ere supper time, must I performe
Much businesse appertaining.
Exit.

Scœna Secunda. Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo.

Ste.

Tell not me, when the But is out we will drinke water, not a drop before; therefore beare vp, & boord em' Seruant Monster, drinke to me.

Trin.

Seruant Monster? the folly of this Iland, they say there's but fiue vpon this Isle; we are three of them, if th' other two be brain'd like vs, the State totters.

Ste.

Drinke seruant Monster when I bid thee, thy eies are almost set in thy head.

Trin.

VVhere should they bee set else? hee were a braue Monster indeede if they were set in his taile.

Ste.

My man-Monster hath drown'd his tongue in sacke: for my part the Sea cannot drowne mee, I swam ere I could recouer the shore, fiue and thirtie Leagues off and on, by this light thou shalt bee my Lieutenant Monster, or my Standard.

Trin.

Your Lieutenant if you list, hee's no standard.

Ste.

VVeel not run Monsieur Monster.

Trin.

Nor go neither: but you'l lie like dogs, and yet say nothing neither.

Ste.

Moone-calfe, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a good Moone-calfe.

Cal.
How does thy honour? Let me licke thy shooe:
Ile not serue him, he is not valiant.

Trin.

Thou liest most ignorant Monster, I am in case to iustle a Constable: why, thou debosh'd Fish thou, was there euer man a Coward, that hath drunk so much Sacke as I to day? wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but halfe a Fish, and halfe a Monster?

Cal.

Loe, how he mockes me, wilt thou let him my Lord?

-- 12 --

Trin.

Lord, quoth he? that a Monster should be such a Naturall?

Cal.

Loe, loe againe: bite him to death I prethee.

Ste.

Trinculo, keepe a good tongue in your head: If you proue a mutineere, the next Tree: the poore Monster's my subiect, and he shall not suffer indignity.

Cal.

I thanke my noble Lord. Wilt thou be pleas'd to hearken once againe to the suite I made to thee?

Ste.
Marry will I: kneele, and repeate it,
I will stand, and so shall Trinculo.
Enter Ariell inuisible.

Cal.
As I told thee before, I am subiect to a Tirant,
A Sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me
Of the Island.

Ariell.
Thou lyest.

Cal.
Thou lyest, thou iesting Monkey thou:
I would my valiant Master would destroy thee.
I do not lye.

Ste.
Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in's tale,
By this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.

Trin.
Why, I said nothing.

Ste.
Mum then, and no more: proceed.

Cal.
I say by Sorcery he got this Isle
From me, he got it. If thy Greatnesse will
Reuenge it on him, (for I know thou dar'st)
But this Thing dare not.

Ste.
That's most certaine.

Cal.
Thou shalt be Lord of it, and Ile serue thee.

Ste.
How now shall this be compast?
Canst thou bring me to the party?

Cal.
Yea, yea my Lord, Ile yeeld him thee asleepe,
Where thou maist knocke a naile into his head.

Ariell.
Thou liest, thou canst not.

Cal.
What a py'de Ninnie's this? Thou scuruy patch:
I do beseech thy Greatnesse giue him blowes,
And take his bottle from him: When that's gone,
He shall drinke nought but brine, for Ile not shew him
Where the quicke Freshes are.

Ste.

Trinculo, run into no further danger:

Interrupt the Monster one word further, and by this hand, Ile turne my mercie out o'doores, and makes a Stockfish of thee.

Trin.
Why, what did I? I did nothing:
Ile go farther off,

Ste.
Didst thou not say he lyed?

Ariell.
Thou liest.

Ste.
Do I so? Take thou that,
As you like this, giue me the lye another time.

Trin.

I did not giue the lie: Out o'your wittes, and hearing too?

A pox o' your bottle, this can Sacke and drinking doo: A murren on your Monster, and the diuell take your fingers.

Cal.

Ha, ha, ha.

Ste.

Now forward with your Tale: prethee stand further off.

Cal.
Beate him enough: after a little time
Ile beate him too.

Ste.
Stand farther: Come proceede.

Cal.
Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custome with him
I'th afternoone to sleepe: there thou maist braine him,
Hauing first seiz'd his bookes: Or with a logge
Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake,
Or cut his wezand with thy knife. Remember
First to possesse his Bookes; for without them
Hee's but a Sot, as I am; nor hath not
One Spirit to command: they all do hate him
As rootedly as I. Burne but his Bookes,
He ha's braue Vtensils (for so he calles them)
Which when he ha's house, hee'l decke withall.
And that most deeply to consider, is
The beautie of his daughter: he himselfe
Cals her a non-pareill: I neuer saw a woman
But onely Sycorax my Dam, and she;
But she as farre surpasseth Sycorax,
As great'st do's least.

Ste.
Is it so braue a Lasse?

Cal.
I Lord, she will become thy bed, I warrant,
And bring thee forth braue brood.

Ste.

Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter and I will be King and Queene, saue our Graces: and Trinculo and thy selfe shall be Vice-royes:

Dost thou like the plot Trinculo?

Trin.

Excellent.

Ste.
Giue me thy hand, I am sorry I beate thee:
But while thou liu'st keepe a good tongue in thy head.

Cal.
Within this halfe houre will he be asleepe,
Wilt thou destroy him then?

Ste.
I on mine honour.

Ariell.
This will I tell my Master.

Cal.
Thou mak'st me merry: I am full of pleasure,
Let vs be iocond. Will you troule the Catch
You taught me but whileare?

Ste.
At thy request Monster, I will do reason,
Any reason: Come on Trinculo, let vs sing. Sings.

Flout 'em and cout 'em: and skowt 'em, and flout 'em, Thought is free.

Cal.

That's not the tune.

Ariell plaies the tune on a Tabor and Pipe.

Ste.

What is this same?

Trin.

This is the tune of our Catch, plaid by the picture of No-body.

Ste.
If thou beest a man, shew thy selfe in thy likenes:
If thou beest a diuell, take't as thou list.

Trin.
O forgiue me my sinnes.

Ste.
He that dies payes all debts: I defie thee;
Mercy vpon vs.

Cal.
Art thou affeard?

Ste.
No Monster, not I.

Cal.
Be not affeard, the Isle is full of noyses,
Sounds, and sweet aires, that giue delight and hurt not:
Sometimes a thousand twangling Instruments
Will hum about mine eares; and sometime voices,
That if I then had wak'd after long sleepe,
Will make me sleepe againe, and then in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and shew riches
Ready to drop vpon me, that when I wak'd
I cri'de to dreame againe.

Ste.
This will proue a braue kingdome to me,
Where I shall haue my Musicke for nothing.

Cal.
When Prospero is destroy'd.

Ste.
That shall be by and by:
I remember the storie.

Trin.
The sound is going away,
Lets follow it, and after do our worke.

Ste.
Leade Monster,
Wee'l follow: I would I could see this Taborer,
He layes it on.

Trin.
Wilt come?
Ile follow Stephano.
Exeunt.

-- 13 --

Scena Tertia. Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Anthonio, Gonzallo, Adrian, Francisco, &c.

Gon.
By'r lakin, I can goe no further, Sir,
My old bones akes: here's a maze trod indeede
Through fourth rights; & Meanders: by your patience,
I needes must rest me.

Al.
Old Lord, I cannot blame thee,
Who, am my selfe attach'd with wearinesse
To th'dulling of my spirits: Sit downe, and rest:
Euen here I will put off my hope, and keepe it
No longer for my Flatterer: he is droun'd
Whom thus we stray to finde, and the Sea mocks
Our frustrate search on land, well, let him goe.

Ant.
I am right glad, that he's so out of hope:
Doe not for one repulse forgoe the purpose
That you resolu'd t'effect.

Seb.
The next aduantage will we take throughly.

Ant.
Let it be to night,
For now they are oppress'd with trauaile, they
Will not, nor cannot vse such vigilance
As when they are fresh.
Solemne and strange Musicke: and Prosper on the top (inuisible:) Enter seuerall strange shapes, bringing in a Banket; and dance about it with gentle actions of salutations, and inuiting the King, &c. to eate, they depart.

Seb.
I say to night: no more.

Al.
What harmony is this? my good friends, harke.

Gon.
Maruellous sweet Musicke.

Alo.
Giue vs kind keepers, heau&ebar;s: what were these?

Seb.
A liuing Drolerie: now I will beleeue
That there are Vnicornes: that in Arabia
There is one Tree, the Phœnix throne, one Phœnix
At this houre reigning there.

Ant.
Ile beleeue both:
And what do's else want credit, come to me
And Ile besworne 'tis true: Trauellers nere did lye,
Though fooles at home condemne 'em.

Gon.
If in Naples
I should report this now, would they beleeue me?
If I should say I saw such Islands;
(For certes, these are people of the Island)
Who though they are of monstrous shape yet note
Their manners are more gentle, kinde, then of
Our humaine generation you shall finde
Many, nay almost any.

Pro.
Honest Lord,
Thou hast said well: for some of you there present;
Are worse then diuels.

Al.
I cannot too much muse
Such shapes, such gesture, and such sound expressing
(Although they want the vse of tongue) a kinde
Of excellent dumbe discourse.

Pro.
Praise in departing.

Fr.
They vanish'd strangely.

Seb.
No matter, since
They haue left their Viands behinde; for wee haue stomacks.
Wilt please you taste of what is here?

Alo.
Not I.

Gon.
Faith Sir, you neede not feare: when wee were Boyes
Who would beleeue that there were Mountayneeres,
Dew-lapt, like Buls, whose throats had hanging at 'em
Wallets of flesh? or that there were such men
Whose heads stood in their brests? which now we finde
Each putter out of fiue for one, will bring vs
Good warrant of.

Al.
I will stand to, and feede,
Although my last, no matter, since I feele
The best is past: brother: my Lord, the Duke,
Stand too, and doe as we.
Thunder and Lightning. Enter Ariell (like a Harpey) claps his wings vpon the Table, and with a quient deuice the Banquet vanishes.

Ar.
You are three men of sinne, whom destiny
That hath to instrument this lower world,
And what is in't: the neuer surfeited Sea,
Hath caus'd to belch vp you; and on this Island,
Where man doth not inhabit, you 'mongst men,
Being most vnfit to liue: I haue made you mad;
And euen with such like valour, men hang, and drowne
Their proper selues: you fooles, I and my fellowes
Are ministers of Fate, the Elements
Of whom your swords are temper'd, may as well
Wound the loud windes, or with bemockt-at-Stabs
Kill the still closing waters, as diminish
One dowle that's in my plumbe: My fellow ministers
Are like-invulnerable: if you could hurt,
Your swords are now too massie for your strengths,
And will not be vplifted: But remember
(For that's my businesse to you) that you three
From Millaine did supplant good Prospero,
Expos'd vnto the Sea (which hath requit it)
Him, and his innocent childe: for which foule deed,
The Powres, delaying (not forgetting) haue
Incens'd the Seas, and Shores; yea, all the Creatures
Against your peace: Thee of thy Sonne, Alonso
They haue bereft; and doe pronounce by me
Lingring perdition (worse then any death
Can be at once) shall step, by step attend
You, and your wayes, whose wraths to guard you from,
Which here, in this most desolate Isle, else fals
Vpon your heads, is nothing but hearts-sorrow,
And a cleere life ensuing.
He vanishes in Thunder: then (to soft Musicke.) Enter the shapes againe, and daunce (with mockes and mowes) and carrying out the Table.

Pro.
Brauely the figure of this Harpie, hast thou
Perform'd (my Ariell) a grace it had deuouring:
Of my Instruction, hast thou nothing bated
In what thou had'st to say: so with good life,
And obseruation strange, my meaner ministers
Their seuerall kindes haue done: my high charmes work,
And these (mine enemies) are all knit vp
In their distractions: they now are in my powre;
And in these fits, I leaue them, while I visit
Yong Ferdinand (whom they suppose is droun'd)
And his, and mine lou'd darling.

Gon.
I'th name of something holy, Sir, why stand you
In this strange stare?

Al.
O, it is monstrous: monstrous:
Me thought the billowes spoke, and told me of it,
The windes did sing it to me: and the Thunder
(That deepe and dreadfull Organ-Pipe) pronounc'd
The name of Prosper: it did base my Trespasse,
Therefore my Sonne i'th Ooze is bedded; and
I'le seeke him deeper then ere plummet sounded,
And with him there lye mudded.
Exit.

Seb.
But one feend at a time,
Ile fight their Legions ore.

-- 14 --

Ant.
Ile be thy Second.
Exeunt.

Gon.
All three of them are desperate: their great guilt
(Like poyson giuen to worke a great time after)
Now gins to bite the spirits: I doe beseech you
(That are of suppler ioynts) follow them swiftly,
And hinder them from what this extasie
May now prouoke them to.

Ad.
Follow, I pray you.
Exeunt omnes.
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William Shakespeare, 1564-1616 [1623], Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories, & tragedies. Published according to the True Originall Copies (Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed. Blount, London) [word count] [S10801].
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