The Tempest

ACT II

SCENE I. Another part of the island.

Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others

GONZALO

Beseech you, sir, be merry, you have cause,

So have we all, of joy, for our escape

Is much beyond our loss. Our hint of woe

Is common, every day some sailor's wife,

The masters of some merchant and the merchant

Have just our theme of woe, but for the miracle,

I mean our preservation, few in millions

Can speak like us: then wisely, good sir, weigh

Our sorrow with our comfort.

ALONSO

Prithee, peace.

SEBASTIAN

He receives comfort like cold porridge.

ANTONIO

The visitor will not give him o'er so.

SEBASTIAN

Look he's winding up the watch of his wit,

by and by it will strike.

GONZALO

Sir,--

SEBASTIAN

One: tell.

GONZALO

When every grief is entertain'd that's offer'd,

Comes to the entertainer--

SEBASTIAN

A dollar.

GONZALO

Dolour comes to him, indeed: you

have spoken truer than you purposed.

SEBASTIAN

You have taken it wiselier than I meant you should.

GONZALO

Therefore, my lord,--

ANTONIO

Fie, what a spendthrift is he of his tongue!

ALONSO

I prithee, spare.

GONZALO

Well, I have done: but yet,--

SEBASTIAN

He will be talking.

ANTONIO

Which, of he or Adrian, for a good

wager, first begins to crow?

SEBASTIAN

The old cock.

ANTONIO

The cockerel.

SEBASTIAN

Done. The wager?

ANTONIO

A laughter.

SEBASTIAN

A match!

ADRIAN

Though this island seem to be desert,--

SEBASTIAN

Ha, ha, ha! So, you're paid.

ADRIAN

Uninhabitable and almost inaccessible,--

SEBASTIAN

Yet,--

ADRIAN

Yet,--

ANTONIO

He could not miss't.

ADRIAN

It must needs be of subtle, tender and delicate

temperance.

ANTONIO

Temperance was a delicate wench.

SEBASTIAN

Ay, and a subtle, as he most learnedly delivered.

ADRIAN

The air breathes upon us here most sweetly.

SEBASTIAN

As if it had lungs and rotten ones.

ANTONIO

Or as 'twere perfumed by a fen.

GONZALO

Here is everything advantageous to life.

ANTONIO

True, save means to live.

SEBASTIAN

Of that there's none, or little.

GONZALO

How lush and lusty the grass looks! how green!

ANTONIO

The ground indeed is tawny.

SEBASTIAN

With an eye of green in't.

ANTONIO

He misses not much.

SEBASTIAN

No, he doth but mistake the truth totally.

GONZALO

But the rarity of it is,--which is indeed almost

beyond credit,--

SEBASTIAN

As many vouched rarities are.

GONZALO

That our garments, being, as they were, drenched in

the sea, hold notwithstanding their freshness and

glosses, being rather new-dyed than stained with

salt water.

ANTONIO

If but one of his pockets could speak, would it not

say he lies?

SEBASTIAN

Ay, or very falsely pocket up his report

GONZALO

Methinks our garments are now as fresh as when we

put them on first in Afric, at the marriage of

the king's fair daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis.

SEBASTIAN

'Twas a sweet marriage, and we prosper well in our return.

ADRIAN

Tunis was never graced before with such a paragon to

their queen.

GONZALO

Not since widow Dido's time.

ANTONIO

Widow! a pox o' that! How came that widow in?

widow Dido!

SEBASTIAN

What if he had said 'widower AEneas' too? Good Lord,

how you take it!

ADRIAN

'Widow Dido' said you? you make me study of that:

she was of Carthage, not of Tunis.

GONZALO

This Tunis, sir, was Carthage.

ADRIAN

Carthage?

GONZALO

I assure you, Carthage.

SEBASTIAN

His word is more than the miraculous harp, he hath

raised the wall and houses too.

ANTONIO

What impossible matter will he make easy next?

SEBASTIAN

I think he will carry this island home in his pocket

and give it his son for an apple.

ANTONIO

And, sowing the kernels of it in the sea, bring

forth more islands.

GONZALO

Ay.

ANTONIO

Why, in good time.

GONZALO

Sir, we were talking that our garments seem now

as fresh as when we were at Tunis at the marriage

of your daughter, who is now queen.

ANTONIO

And the rarest that e'er came there.

SEBASTIAN

Bate, I beseech you, widow Dido.

ANTONIO

O, widow Dido! ay, widow Dido.

GONZALO

Is not, sir, my doublet as fresh as the first day I

wore it? I mean, in a sort.

ANTONIO

That sort was well fished for.

GONZALO

When I wore it at your daughter's marriage?

ALONSO

You cram these words into mine ears against

The stomach of my sense. Would I had never

Married my daughter there! for, coming thence,

My son is lost and, in my rate, she too,

Who is so far from Italy removed

I ne'er again shall see her. O thou mine heir

Of Naples and of Milan, what strange fish

Hath made his meal on thee?

FRANCISCO

Sir, he may live:

I saw him beat the surges under him,

And ride upon their backs, he trod the water,

Whose enmity he flung aside, and breasted

The surge most swoln that met him, his bold head

'Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oar'd

Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke

To the shore, that o'er his wave-worn basis bow'd,

As stooping to relieve him: I not doubt

He came alive to land.

ALONSO

No, no, he's gone.

SEBASTIAN

Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss,

That would not bless our Europe with your daughter,

But rather lose her to an African,

Where she at least is banish'd from your eye,

Who hath cause to wet the grief on't.

ALONSO

Prithee, peace.

SEBASTIAN

You were kneel'd to and importuned otherwise

By all of us, and the fair soul herself

Weigh'd between loathness and obedience, at

Which end o' the beam should bow. We have lost your

son,

I fear, for ever: Milan and Naples have

More widows in them of this business' making

Than we bring men to comfort them:

The fault's your own.

ALONSO

So is the dear'st o' the loss.

GONZALO

My lord Sebastian,

The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness

And time to speak it in: you rub the sore,

When you should bring the plaster.

SEBASTIAN

Very well.

ANTONIO

And most chirurgeonly.

GONZALO

It is foul weather in us all, good sir,

When you are cloudy.

SEBASTIAN

Foul weather?

ANTONIO

Very foul.

GONZALO

Had I plantation of this isle, my lord,--

ANTONIO

He'ld sow't with nettle-seed.

SEBASTIAN

Or docks, or mallows.

GONZALO

And were the king on't, what would I do?

SEBASTIAN

'Scape being drunk for want of wine.

GONZALO

I' the commonwealth I would by contraries

Execute all things, for no kind of traffic

Would I admit, no name of magistrate,

Letters should not be known, riches, poverty,

And use of service, none, contract, succession,

Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none,

No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil,

No occupation, all men idle, all,

And women too, but innocent and pure,

No sovereignty,--

SEBASTIAN

Yet he would be king on't.

ANTONIO

The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the

beginning.

GONZALO

All things in common nature should produce

Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony,

Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine,

Would I not have, but nature should bring forth,

Of its own kind, all foison, all abundance,

To feed my innocent people.

SEBASTIAN

No marrying 'mong his subjects?

ANTONIO

None, man, all idle: whores and knaves.

GONZALO

I would with such perfection govern, sir,

To excel the golden age.

SEBASTIAN

God save his majesty!

ANTONIO

Long live Gonzalo!

GONZALO

And,--do you mark me, sir?

ALONSO

Prithee, no more: thou dost talk nothing to me.

GONZALO

I do well believe your highness, and

did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen,

who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that

they always use to laugh at nothing.

ANTONIO

'Twas you we laughed at.

GONZALO

Who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing

to you: so you may continue and laugh at

nothing still.

ANTONIO

What a blow was there given!

SEBASTIAN

An it had not fallen flat-long.

GONZALO

You are gentlemen of brave metal, you would lift

the moon out of her sphere, if she would continue

in it five weeks without changing.

Enter ARIEL, invisible, playing solemn music

SEBASTIAN

We would so, and then go a bat-fowling.

ANTONIO

Nay, good my lord, be not angry.

GONZALO

No, I warrant you, I will not adventure

my discretion so weakly. Will you laugh

me asleep, for I am very heavy?

ANTONIO

Go sleep, and hear us.

All sleep except ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, and ANTONIO

ALONSO

What, all so soon asleep! I wish mine eyes

Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts: I find

They are inclined to do so.

SEBASTIAN

Please you, sir,

Do not omit the heavy offer of it:

It seldom visits sorrow, when it doth,

It is a comforter.

ANTONIO

We two, my lord,

Will guard your person while you take your rest,

And watch your safety.

ALONSO

Thank you. Wondrous heavy.

ALONSO sleeps. Exit ARIEL

SEBASTIAN

What a strange drowsiness possesses them!

ANTONIO

It is the quality o' the climate.

SEBASTIAN

Why

Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find not

Myself disposed to sleep.

ANTONIO

Nor I, my spirits are nimble.

They fell together all, as by consent,

They dropp'd, as by a thunder-stroke. What might,

Worthy Sebastian? O, what might?--No more:--

And yet me thinks I see it in thy face,

What thou shouldst be: the occasion speaks thee, and

My strong imagination sees a crown

Dropping upon thy head.

SEBASTIAN

What, art thou waking?

ANTONIO

Do you not hear me speak?

SEBASTIAN

I do, and surely

It is a sleepy language and thou speak'st

Out of thy sleep. What is it thou didst say?

This is a strange repose, to be asleep

With eyes wide open, standing, speaking, moving,

And yet so fast asleep.

ANTONIO

Noble Sebastian,

Thou let'st thy fortune sleep--die, rather, wink'st

Whiles thou art waking.

SEBASTIAN

Thou dost snore distinctly,

There's meaning in thy snores.

ANTONIO

I am more serious than my custom: you

Must be so too, if heed me, which to do

Trebles thee o'er.

SEBASTIAN

Well, I am standing water.

ANTONIO

I'll teach you how to flow.

SEBASTIAN

Do so: to ebb

Hereditary sloth instructs me.

ANTONIO

O,

If you but knew how you the purpose cherish

Whiles thus you mock it! how, in stripping it,

You more invest it! Ebbing men, indeed,

Most often do so near the bottom run

By their own fear or sloth.

SEBASTIAN

Prithee, say on:

The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim

A matter from thee, and a birth indeed

Which throes thee much to yield.

ANTONIO

Thus, sir:

Although this lord of weak remembrance, this,

Who shall be of as little memory

When he is earth'd, hath here almost persuade,--

For he's a spirit of persuasion, only

Professes to persuade,--the king his son's alive,

'Tis as impossible that he's undrown'd

And he that sleeps here swims.

SEBASTIAN

I have no hope

That he's undrown'd.

ANTONIO

O, out of that 'no hope'

What great hope have you! no hope that way is

Another way so high a hope that even

Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond,

But doubt discovery there. Will you grant with me

That Ferdinand is drown'd?

SEBASTIAN

He's gone.

ANTONIO

Then, tell me,

Who's the next heir of Naples?

SEBASTIAN

Claribel.

ANTONIO

She that is queen of Tunis, she that dwells

Ten leagues beyond man's life, she that from Naples

Can have no note, unless the sun were post--

The man i' the moon's too slow--till new-born chins

Be rough and razorable, she that--from whom?

We all were sea-swallow'd, though some cast again,

And by that destiny to perform an act

Whereof what's past is prologue, what to come

In yours and my discharge.

SEBASTIAN

What stuff is this! how say you?

'Tis true, my brother's daughter's queen of Tunis,

So is she heir of Naples, 'twixt which regions

There is some space.

ANTONIO

A space whose every cubit

Seems to cry out, 'How shall that Claribel

Measure us back to Naples? Keep in Tunis,

And let Sebastian wake.' Say, this were death

That now hath seized them, why, they were no worse

Than now they are. There be that can rule Naples

As well as he that sleeps, lords that can prate

As amply and unnecessarily

As this Gonzalo, I myself could make

A chough of as deep chat. O, that you bore

The mind that I do! what a sleep were this

For your advancement! Do you understand me?

SEBASTIAN

Methinks I do.

ANTONIO

And how does your content

Tender your own good fortune?

SEBASTIAN

I remember

You did supplant your brother Prospero.

ANTONIO

True:

And look how well my garments sit upon me,

Much feater than before: my brother's servants

Were then my fellows, now they are my men.

SEBASTIAN

But, for your conscience?

ANTONIO

Ay, sir, where lies that? if 'twere a kibe,

'Twould put me to my slipper: but I feel not

This deity in my bosom: twenty consciences,

That stand 'twixt me and Milan, candied be they

And melt ere they molest! Here lies your brother,

No better than the earth he lies upon,

If he were that which now he's like, that's dead,

Whom I, with this obedient steel, three inches of it,

Can lay to bed for ever, whiles you, doing thus,

To the perpetual wink for aye might put

This ancient morsel, this Sir Prudence, who

Should not upbraid our course. For all the rest,

They'll take suggestion as a cat laps milk,

They'll tell the clock to any business that

We say befits the hour.

SEBASTIAN

Thy case, dear friend,

Shall be my precedent, as thou got'st Milan,

I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke

Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest,

And I the king shall love thee.

ANTONIO

Draw together,

And when I rear my hand, do you the like,

To fall it on Gonzalo.

SEBASTIAN

O, but one word.

They talk apart

Re-enter ARIEL, invisible

ARIEL

My master through his art foresees the danger

That you, his friend, are in, and sends me forth--

For else his project dies--to keep them living.

Sings in GONZALO's ear

While you here do snoring lie,

Open-eyed conspiracy

His time doth take.

If of life you keep a care,

Shake off slumber, and beware:

Awake, awake!

ANTONIO

Then let us both be sudden.

GONZALO

Now, good angels

Preserve the king.

They wake

ALONSO

Why, how now? ho, awake! Why are you drawn?

Wherefore this ghastly looking?

GONZALO

What's the matter?

SEBASTIAN

Whiles we stood here securing your repose,

Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing

Like bulls, or rather lions: did't not wake you?

It struck mine ear most terribly.

ALONSO

I heard nothing.

ANTONIO

O, 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear,

To make an earthquake! sure, it was the roar

Of a whole herd of lions.

ALONSO

Heard you this, Gonzalo?

GONZALO

Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming,

And that a strange one too, which did awake me:

I shaked you, sir, and cried: as mine eyes open'd,

I saw their weapons drawn: there was a noise,

That's verily. 'Tis best we stand upon our guard,

Or that we quit this place, let's draw our weapons.

ALONSO

Lead off this ground, and let's make further search

For my poor son.

GONZALO

Heavens keep him from these beasts!

For he is, sure, i' the island.

ALONSO

Lead away.

ARIEL

Prospero my lord shall know what I have done:

So, king, go safely on to seek thy son.

Exeunt

SCENE II. Another part of the island.

Enter CALIBAN with a burden of wood. A noise of thunder heard

CALIBAN

All the infections that the sun sucks up

From bogs, fens, flats, on Prosper fall and make him

By inch-meal a disease! His spirits hear me

And yet I needs must curse. But they'll nor pinch,

Fright me with urchin--shows, pitch me i' the mire,

Nor lead me, like a firebrand, in the dark

Out of my way, unless he bid 'em, but

For every trifle are they set upon me,

Sometime like apes that mow and chatter at me

And after bite me, then like hedgehogs which

Lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount

Their pricks at my footfall, sometime am I

All wound with adders who with cloven tongues

Do hiss me into madness.

Enter TRINCULO

Lo, now, lo!

Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment me

For bringing wood in slowly. I'll fall flat,

Perchance he will not mind me.

TRINCULO

Here's neither bush nor shrub, to bear off

any weather at all, and another storm brewing,

I hear it sing i' the wind: yond same black

cloud, yond huge one, looks like a foul

bombard that would shed his liquor. If it

should thunder as it did before, I know not

where to hide my head: yond same cloud cannot

choose but fall by pailfuls. What have we

here? a man or a fish? dead or alive? A fish:

he smells like a fish, a very ancient and fish-

like smell, a kind of not of the newest Poor-

John. A strange fish! Were I in England now,

as once I was, and had but this fish painted,

not a holiday fool there but would give a piece

of silver: there would this monster make a

man, any strange beast there makes a man:

when they will not give a doit to relieve a lame

beggar, they will lazy out ten to see a dead

Indian. Legged like a man and his fins like

arms! Warm o' my troth! I do now let loose

my opinion, hold it no longer: this is no fish,

but an islander, that hath lately suffered by a

thunderbolt.

Thunder

Alas, the storm is come again! my best way is to

creep under his gaberdine, there is no other

shelter hereabouts: misery acquaints a man with

strange bed-fellows. I will here shroud till the

dregs of the storm be past.

Enter STEPHANO, singing: a bottle in his hand

STEPHANO

I shall no more to sea, to sea,

Here shall I die ashore--

This is a very scurvy tune to sing at a man's

funeral: well, here's my comfort.

Drinks

Sings

The master, the swabber, the boatswain and I,

The gunner and his mate

Loved Mall, Meg and Marian and Margery,

But none of us cared for Kate,

For she had a tongue with a tang,

Would cry to a sailor, Go hang!

She loved not the savour of tar nor of pitch,

Yet a tailor might scratch her where'er she did itch:

Then to sea, boys, and let her go hang!

This is a scurvy tune too: but here's my comfort.

Drinks

CALIBAN

Do not torment me: Oh!

STEPHANO

What's the matter? Have we devils here? Do you put

tricks upon's with savages and men of Ind, ha? I

have not scaped drowning to be afeard now of your

four legs, for it hath been said, As proper a man as

ever went on four legs cannot make him give ground,

and it shall be said so again while Stephano

breathes at's nostrils.

CALIBAN

The spirit torments me, Oh!

STEPHANO

This is some monster of the isle with four legs, who

hath got, as I take it, an ague. Where the devil

should he learn our language? I will give him some

relief, if it be but for that. if I can recover him

and keep him tame and get to Naples with him, he's a

present for any emperor that ever trod on neat's leather.

CALIBAN

Do not torment me, prithee, I'll bring my wood home faster.

STEPHANO

He's in his fit now and does not talk after the

wisest. He shall taste of my bottle: if he have

never drunk wine afore will go near to remove his

fit. If I can recover him and keep him tame, I will

not take too much for him, he shall pay for him that

hath him, and that soundly.

CALIBAN

Thou dost me yet but little hurt, thou wilt anon, I

know it by thy trembling: now Prosper works upon thee.

STEPHANO

Come on your ways, open your mouth, here is that

which will give language to you, cat: open your

mouth, this will shake your shaking, I can tell you,

and that soundly: you cannot tell who's your friend:

open your chaps again.

TRINCULO

I should know that voice: it should be--but he is

drowned, and these are devils: O defend me!

STEPHANO

Four legs and two voices: a most delicate monster!

His forward voice now is to speak well of his

friend, his backward voice is to utter foul speeches

and to detract. If all the wine in my bottle will

recover him, I will help his ague. Come. Amen! I

will pour some in thy other mouth.

TRINCULO

Stephano!

STEPHANO

Doth thy other mouth call me? Mercy, mercy! This is

a devil, and no monster: I will leave him, I have no

long spoon.

TRINCULO

Stephano! If thou beest Stephano, touch me and

speak to me: for I am Trinculo--be not afeard--thy

good friend Trinculo.

STEPHANO

If thou beest Trinculo, come forth: I'll pull thee

by the lesser legs: if any be Trinculo's legs,

these are they. Thou art very Trinculo indeed! How

camest thou to be the siege of this moon-calf? can

he vent Trinculos?

TRINCULO

I took him to be killed with a thunder-stroke. But

art thou not drowned, Stephano? I hope now thou art

not drowned. Is the storm overblown? I hid me

under the dead moon-calf's gaberdine for fear of

the storm. And art thou living, Stephano? O

Stephano, two Neapolitans 'scaped!

STEPHANO

Prithee, do not turn me about, my stomach is not constant.

CALIBAN

[Aside] These be fine things, an if they be

not sprites.

That's a brave god and bears celestial liquor.

I will kneel to him.

STEPHANO

How didst thou 'scape? How camest thou hither?

swear by this bottle how thou camest hither. I

escaped upon a butt of sack which the sailors

heaved o'erboard, by this bottle, which I made of

the bark of a tree with mine own hands since I was

cast ashore.

CALIBAN

I'll swear upon that bottle to be thy true subject,

for the liquor is not earthly.

STEPHANO

Here, swear then how thou escapedst.

TRINCULO

Swum ashore. man, like a duck: I can swim like a

duck, I'll be sworn.

STEPHANO

Here, kiss the book. Though thou canst swim like a

duck, thou art made like a goose.

TRINCULO

O Stephano. hast any more of this?

STEPHANO

The whole butt, man: my cellar is in a rock by the

sea-side where my wine is hid. How now, moon-calf!

how does thine ague?

CALIBAN

Hast thou not dropp'd from heaven?

STEPHANO

Out o' the moon, I do assure thee: I was the man i'

the moon when time was.

CALIBAN

I have seen thee in her and I do adore thee:

My mistress show'd me thee and thy dog and thy bush.

STEPHANO

Come, swear to that, kiss the book: I will furnish

it anon with new contents swear.

TRINCULO

By this good light, this is a very shallow monster!

I afeard of him! A very weak monster! The man i'

the moon! A most poor credulous monster! Well

drawn, monster, in good sooth!

CALIBAN

I'll show thee every fertile inch o' th' island,

And I will kiss thy foot: I prithee, be my god.

TRINCULO

By this light, a most perfidious and drunken

monster! when 's god's asleep, he'll rob his bottle.

CALIBAN

I'll kiss thy foot, I'll swear myself thy subject.

STEPHANO

Come on then, down, and swear.

TRINCULO

I shall laugh myself to death at this puppy-headed

monster. A most scurvy monster! I could find in my

heart to beat him,--

STEPHANO

Come, kiss.

TRINCULO

But that the poor monster's in drink: an abominable monster!

CALIBAN

I'll show thee the best springs, I'll pluck thee berries,

I'll fish for thee and get thee wood enough.

A plague upon the tyrant that I serve!

I'll bear him no more sticks, but follow thee,

Thou wondrous man.

TRINCULO

A most ridiculous monster, to make a wonder of a

Poor drunkard!

CALIBAN

I prithee, let me bring thee where crabs grow,

And I with my long nails will dig thee pignuts,

Show thee a jay's nest and instruct thee how

To snare the nimble marmoset, I'll bring thee

To clustering filberts and sometimes I'll get thee

Young scamels from the rock. Wilt thou go with me?

STEPHANO

I prithee now, lead the way without any more

talking. Trinculo, the king and all our company

else being drowned, we will inherit here: here,

bear my bottle: fellow Trinculo, we'll fill him by

and by again.

CALIBAN

[Sings drunkenly]

Farewell master, farewell, farewell!

TRINCULO

A howling monster: a drunken monster!

CALIBAN

No more dams I'll make for fish

Nor fetch in firing

At requiring,

Nor scrape trencher, nor wash dish

'Ban, 'Ban, Cacaliban

Has a new master: get a new man.

Freedom, hey-day! hey-day, freedom! freedom,

hey-day, freedom!

STEPHANO

O brave monster! Lead the way.

Exeunt