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The Tempest - Act 4, scene 1
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The Tempest - Act 4, scene 1Act 4, scene 1
Scene 1
Synopsis:
Prospero releases Ferdinand and gives him Miranda as his bride-to-be. To celebrate the prospect of their union, Prospero instructs Ariel to have the spirits under Prospero’s control perform a masque. During the masque, Prospero remembers the threat posed by Caliban and stops the masque. He joins Ariel in driving off Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo with spirits in the guise of dogs.
Enter Prospero, Ferdinand, and Miranda.PROSPERO, ⌜to Ferdinand⌝
1670 If I have too austerely punished you,
1671 Your compensation makes amends, for I
1672 Have given you here a third of mine own life,
1673 Or that for which I live; who once again
1674 5 I tender to thy hand. All thy vexations
1675 Were but my trials of thy love, and thou
1676 Hast strangely stood the test. Here afore heaven
1677 I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand,
1678 Do not smile at me that I boast ⌜of her,⌝
1679 10 For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise
1680 And make it halt behind her.
FERDINAND 1681 I do believe it
1682 Against an oracle.
PROSPERO
1683 Then, as my ⌜gift⌝ and thine own acquisition
1684 15 Worthily purchased, take my daughter. But
1685 If thou dost break her virgin-knot before
1686 All sanctimonious ceremonies may
1687 With full and holy rite be ministered,
1688 No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall
1689 20 To make this contract grow; but barren hate,
1690 Sour-eyed disdain, and discord shall bestrew
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1691
The union of your bed with weeds so loathly1692 That you shall hate it both. Therefore take heed,
1693 As Hymen’s lamps shall light you.
FERDINAND 1694 25 As I hope
1695 For quiet days, fair issue, and long life,
1696 With such love as ’tis now, the murkiest den,
1697 The most opportune place, the strong’st suggestion
1698 Our worser genius can shall never melt
1699 30 Mine honor into lust to take away
1700 The edge of that day’s celebration
1701 When I shall think or Phoebus’ steeds are foundered
1702 Or night kept chained below.
PROSPERO 1703 Fairly spoke.
1704 35 Sit then and talk with her. She is thine own.
⌜Ferdinand and Miranda move aside.⌝
1705 What, Ariel, my industrious servant, Ariel!
Enter Ariel.
ARIEL
1706 What would my potent master? Here I am.
PROSPERO
1707 Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service
1708 Did worthily perform, and I must use you
1709 40 In such another trick. Go bring the rabble,
1710 O’er whom I give thee power, here to this place.
1711 Incite them to quick motion, for I must
1712 Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple
1713 Some vanity of mine art. It is my promise,
1714 45 And they expect it from me.
ARIEL 1715 Presently?
PROSPERO 1716 Ay, with a twink.
ARIEL
1717 Before you can say “Come” and “Go,”
1718 And breathe twice, and cry “So, so,”
1719 50 Each one, tripping on his toe,
1720 Will be here with mop and mow.
1721 Do you love me, master? No?
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PROSPERO 1722 Dearly, my delicate Ariel. Do not approach
1723 Till thou dost hear me call.
ARIEL 1724 55 Well; I conceive.
He exits.
PROSPERO, ⌜to Ferdinand⌝
1725 Look thou be true; do not give dalliance
1726 Too much the rein. The strongest oaths are straw
1727 To th’ fire i’ th’ blood. Be more abstemious,
1728 Or else goodnight your vow.
FERDINAND 1729 60 I warrant you, sir,
1730 The white cold virgin snow upon my heart
1731 Abates the ardor of my liver.
PROSPERO 1732 Well.—
1733 Now come, my Ariel. Bring a corollary
1734 65 Rather than want a spirit. Appear, and pertly.
Soft music.
1735 No tongue. All eyes. Be silent.
Enter Iris.
IRIS
1736 Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas
1737 Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and peas;
1738 Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep,
1739 70 And flat meads thatched with stover, them to keep;
1740 Thy banks with pionèd and twillèd brims,
1741 Which spongy April at thy hest betrims
1742 To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy
1743 broom groves,
1744 75 Whose shadow the dismissèd bachelor loves,
1745 Being lass-lorn; thy poll-clipped vineyard,
1746 And thy sea marge, sterile and rocky hard,
1747 Where thou thyself dost air—the Queen o’ th’ sky,
1748 Whose wat’ry arch and messenger am I,
1749 80 Bids thee leave these, and with her sovereign grace,
1750 Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,
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1751
To come and sport. ⌜Her⌝ peacocks fly amain.1752 Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.
Enter Ceres.
CERES
1753 Hail, many-colored messenger, that ne’er
1754 85 Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter;
1755 Who with thy saffron wings upon my flowers
1756 Diffusest honey drops, refreshing showers;
1757 And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown
1758 My bosky acres and my unshrubbed down,
1759 90 Rich scarf to my proud Earth. Why hath thy queen
1760 Summoned me hither to this short-grassed green?
IRIS
1761 A contract of true love to celebrate,
1762 And some donation freely to estate
1763 On the blest lovers.
CERES 1764 95 Tell me, heavenly bow,
1765 If Venus or her son, as thou dost know,
1766 Do now attend the Queen? Since they did plot
1767 The means that dusky Dis my daughter got,
1768 Her and her blind boy’s scandaled company
1769 100 I have forsworn.
IRIS 1770 Of her society
1771 Be not afraid. I met her deity
1772 Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her son
1773 Dove-drawn with her. Here thought they to have
1774 105 done
1775 Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,
1776 Whose vows are that no bed-right shall be paid
1777 Till Hymen’s torch be lighted—but in vain.
1778 Mars’s hot minion is returned again;
1779 110 Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows,
1780 Swears he will shoot no more, but play with
1781 sparrows,
1782 And be a boy right out.
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Juno descends.CERES 1783 Highest queen of state,
1784 115 Great Juno, comes. I know her by her gait.
JUNO
1785 How does my bounteous sister? Go with me
1786 To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be
1787 And honored in their issue.
They sing.
JUNO
1788 Honor, riches, marriage-blessing,
1789 120 Long continuance and increasing,
1790 Hourly joys be still upon you.
1791 Juno sings her blessings on you.
⌜CERES⌝
1792 Earth’s increase, foison plenty,
1793 Barns and garners never empty,
1794 125 Vines with clust’ring bunches growing,
1795 Plants with goodly burden bowing;
1796 Spring come to you at the farthest
1797 In the very end of harvest.
1798 Scarcity and want shall shun you.
1799 130 Ceres’ blessing so is on you.
FERDINAND
1800 This is a most majestic vision, and
1801 Harmonious charmingly. May I be bold
1802 To think these spirits?
PROSPERO 1803 Spirits, which by mine art
1804 135 I have from their confines called to enact
1805 My present fancies.
FERDINAND 1806 Let me live here ever.
1807 So rare a wondered father and a wise
1808 Makes this place paradise.
Juno and Ceres whisper,
and send Iris on employment.
PROSPERO 1809 140 Sweet now, silence.
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1810
Juno and Ceres whisper seriously.1811 There’s something else to do. Hush, and be mute,
1812 Or else our spell is marred.
IRIS
1813 You nymphs, called naiads of the windring brooks,
1814 145 With your sedged crowns and ever-harmless looks,
1815 Leave your crisp channels and on this green land
1816 Answer your summons, Juno does command.
1817 Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate
1818 A contract of true love. Be not too late.
Enter certain Nymphs.
1819 150 You sunburned sicklemen, of August weary,
1820 Come hither from the furrow and be merry.
1821 Make holiday: your rye-straw hats put on,
1822 And these fresh nymphs encounter every one
1823 In country footing.
Enter certain Reapers, properly habited. They join with
the Nymphs in a graceful dance, towards the end
whereof Prospero starts suddenly and speaks.
PROSPERO
1824 155 I had forgot that foul conspiracy
1825 Of the beast Caliban and his confederates
1826 Against my life. The minute of their plot
1827 Is almost come.—Well done. Avoid. No more.
To a strange, hollow, and confused noise,
⌜the spirits⌝ heavily vanish.
FERDINAND, ⌜to Miranda⌝
1828 This is strange. Your father’s in some passion
1829 160 That works him strongly.
MIRANDA 1830 Never till this day
1831 Saw I him touched with anger, so distempered.
PROSPERO, ⌜to Ferdinand⌝
1832 You do look, my son, in a moved sort,
1833 As if you were dismayed. Be cheerful, sir.
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1834
165 Our revels now are ended. These our actors,1835 As I foretold you, were all spirits and
1836 Are melted into air, into thin air;
1837 And like the baseless fabric of this vision,
1838 The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,
1839 170 The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
1840 Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
1841 And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
1842 Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
1843 As dreams are made on, and our little life
1844 175 Is rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vexed.
1845 Bear with my weakness. My old brain is troubled.
1846 Be not disturbed with my infirmity.
1847 If you be pleased, retire into my cell
1848 And there repose. A turn or two I’ll walk
1849 180 To still my beating mind.
FERDINAND/MIRANDA 1850 We wish your peace.
⌜They⌝ exit.
Enter Ariel.
PROSPERO
1851 Come with a thought. I thank thee, Ariel. Come.
ARIEL
1852 Thy thoughts I cleave to. What’s thy pleasure?
PROSPERO 1853 Spirit,
1854 185 We must prepare to meet with Caliban.
ARIEL
1855 Ay, my commander. When I presented Ceres,
1856 I thought to have told thee of it, but I feared
1857 Lest I might anger thee.
PROSPERO
1858 Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets?
ARIEL
1859 190 I told you, sir, they were red-hot with drinking,
1860 So full of valor that they smote the air
1861 For breathing in their faces, beat the ground
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1862
For kissing of their feet; yet always bending1863 Towards their project. Then I beat my tabor,
1864 195 At which, like unbacked colts, they pricked their
1865 ears,
1866 Advanced their eyelids, lifted up their noses
1867 As they smelt music. So I charmed their ears
1868 That, calf-like, they my lowing followed through
1869 200 Toothed briers, sharp furzes, pricking gorse, and
1870 thorns,
1871 Which entered their frail shins. At last I left them
1872 I’ th’ filthy-mantled pool beyond your cell,
1873 There dancing up to th’ chins, that the foul lake
1874 205 O’erstunk their feet.
PROSPERO 1875 This was well done, my bird.
1876 Thy shape invisible retain thou still.
1877 The trumpery in my house, go bring it hither
1878 For stale to catch these thieves.
ARIEL 1879 210 I go, I go.He exits.
PROSPERO
1880 A devil, a born devil, on whose nature
1881 Nurture can never stick; on whom my pains,
1882 Humanely taken, all, all lost, quite lost;
1883 And as with age his body uglier grows,
1884 215 So his mind cankers. I will plague them all
1885 Even to roaring.
Enter Ariel, loaden with glistering apparel, etc.
1886 Come, hang ⌜them on⌝ this line.
Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo, all wet, ⌜as
Prospero and Ariel look on.⌝
CALIBAN 1887 Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole
1888 may not hear a footfall. We now are near his cell.
STEPHANO 1889 220Monster, your fairy, which you say is a
1890 harmless fairy, has done little better than played the
1891 jack with us.
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TRINCULO
1892
Monster, I do smell all horse piss, at which1893 my nose is in great indignation.
STEPHANO 1894 225So is mine.—Do you hear, monster. If I
1895 should take a displeasure against you, look you—
TRINCULO 1896 Thou wert but a lost monster.
CALIBAN
1897 Good my lord, give me thy favor still.
1898 Be patient, for the prize I’ll bring thee to
1899 230 Shall hoodwink this mischance. Therefore speak
1900 softly.
1901 All’s hushed as midnight yet.
TRINCULO 1902 Ay, but to lose our bottles in the pool!
STEPHANO 1903 There is not only disgrace and dishonor in
1904 235 that, monster, but an infinite loss.
TRINCULO 1905 That’s more to me than my wetting. Yet this
1906 is your harmless fairy, monster!
STEPHANO 1907 I will fetch off my bottle, though I be o’er
1908 ears for my labor.
CALIBAN
1909 240 Prithee, my king, be quiet. Seest thou here,
1910 This is the mouth o’ th’ cell. No noise, and enter.
1911 Do that good mischief which may make this island
1912 Thine own forever, and I, thy Caliban,
1913 For aye thy foot-licker.
STEPHANO 1914 245Give me thy hand. I do begin to have bloody
1915 thoughts.
TRINCULO, ⌜seeing the apparel⌝ 1916 O King Stephano, O
1917 peer, O worthy Stephano, look what a wardrobe
1918 here is for thee!
CALIBAN
1919 250 Let it alone, thou fool. It is but trash.
TRINCULO 1920 Oho, monster, we know what belongs to a
1921 frippery. ⌜He puts on one of the gowns.⌝ O King
1922 Stephano!
STEPHANO 1923 Put off that gown, Trinculo. By this hand,
1924 255 I’ll have that gown.
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TRINCULO
1925
Thy Grace shall have it.CALIBAN
1926 The dropsy drown this fool! What do you mean
1927 To dote thus on such luggage? ⌜Let ’t⌝ alone,
1928 And do the murder first. If he awake,
1929 260 From toe to crown he’ll fill our skins with pinches,
1930 Make us strange stuff.
STEPHANO 1931 Be you quiet, monster.—Mistress Line, is
1932 not this my jerkin?⌜He takes a jacket from the tree.⌝
1933 Now is the jerkin under the line.—Now, jerkin, you
1934 265 are like to lose your hair and prove a bald jerkin.
TRINCULO 1935 Do, do. We steal by line and level, an ’t like
1936 your Grace.
STEPHANO 1937 I thank thee for that jest. Here’s a garment
1938 for ’t. Wit shall not go unrewarded while I am king
1939 270 of this country. “Steal by line and level” is an excellent
1940 pass of pate. There’s another garment for ’t.
TRINCULO 1941 Monster, come, put some lime upon your
1942 fingers, and away with the rest.
CALIBAN
1943 I will have none on ’t. We shall lose our time
1944 275 And all be turned to barnacles or to apes
1945 With foreheads villainous low.
STEPHANO 1946 Monster, lay to your fingers. Help to bear
1947 this away where my hogshead of wine is, or I’ll turn
1948 you out of my kingdom. Go to, carry this.
TRINCULO 1949 280And this.
STEPHANO 1950 Ay, and this.
A noise of hunters heard.
Enter divers spirits in shape of dogs and hounds,
hunting them about, Prospero and Ariel setting them on.
PROSPERO 1951 Hey, Mountain, hey!
ARIEL 1952 Silver! There it goes, Silver!
PROSPERO
1953 Fury, Fury! There, Tyrant, there! Hark, hark!
⌜Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo are driven off.⌝
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1954
285 Go, charge my goblins that they grind their joints1955 With dry convulsions, shorten up their sinews
1956 With agèd cramps, and more pinch-spotted make
1957 them
1958 Than pard or cat o’ mountain.
ARIEL 1959 290 Hark, they roar.
PROSPERO
1960 Let them be hunted soundly. At this hour
1961 Lies at my mercy all mine enemies.
1962 Shortly shall all my labors end, and thou
1963 Shalt have the air at freedom. For a little
1964 295 Follow and do me service.
They exit.