The Tempest

by William Shakespeare

  Under the hatches: the master and the boatswain

  Being awake, enforce105 them to this place; And presently106, I prithee.

  ARIEL I drink the air107 before me, and return Or ere108 your pulse twice beat.

  Exit

  GONZALO All torment, trouble, wonder, and amazement

  Inhabits here: some heavenly power guide us

  Out of this fearful111 country!

  PROSPERO Behold, sir king,

  The wronged Duke of Milan, Prospero:

  For more assurance that a living prince

  Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body,

  And to thee and thy company, I bid

  Embraces him

  A hearty welcome.

  ALONSO Whether thou be'st he or no,

  Or some enchanted trifle to abuse119 me --

  As late I have been -- I not know: thy pulse

  Beats as of flesh and blood: and since I saw thee

  Th'affliction of my mind amends122, with which I fear a madness held me: this must crave --

  An if this be at all124 -- a most strange story.

  Thy dukedom I resign125, and do entreat Thou pardon me my wrongs. But how should Prospero

  Be living and be here?

  PROSPERO First, noble friend,

  To Gonzalo

  Let me embrace thine age, whose honour cannot

  Be measured or confined.

  GONZALO Whether this be131

  Or be not, I'll not swear.

  PROSPERO You do yet taste

  Some subtleties134 o'th'isle, that will not let you Believe things certain. Welcome, my friends all.--

  But you, my brace136 of lords, were I so minded,

  Aside to Sebastian and Antonio

  I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you,

  And justify you138 traitors: at this time, I will tell no tales.

  Aside to Antonio, but overheard by Prospero

  SEBASTIAN The devil speaks in him.

  PROSPERO No.--

  For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother

  To Antonio

  Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive

  Thy rankest144 fault -- all of them -- and require My dukedom of thee, which perforce145 I know Thou must restore.

  ALONSO If thou be'st Prospero,

  Give us particulars of thy preservation:

  How thou hast met us here, whom three hours since

  Were wrecked upon this shore? Where I have lost --

  How sharp the point of this remembrance is --

  My dear son Ferdinand.

  PROSPERO I am woe153 for't, sir.

  ALONSO Irreparable is the loss, and Patience

  Says it is past her cure.

  PROSPERO I rather think

  You have not sought her help, of whose soft grace

  For the like loss, I have her sovereign158 aid, And rest myself content.159

  ALONSO You the like loss?

  PROSPERO As great to me as late, and supportable161

  To make the dear loss have I means much weaker

  Than you may call to comfort you: for I

  Have lost my daughter.

  ALONSO A daughter?

  O heavens, that they were living both in Naples,

  The king and queen there! That167 they were, I wish Myself were mudded in that oozy bed

  Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter?

  PROSPERO In this last tempest. I perceive these lords At this encounter do so much admire171

  That they devour their reason and scarce think172

  Their eyes do offices of truth: their words173

  Are natural breath. But, howsoe'er you have

  Been justled175 from your senses, know for certain That I am Prospero, and that very duke

  Which was thrust forth of Milan, who most strangely

  Upon this shore, where you were wrecked, was landed

  To be the lord on't.179 No more yet of this, For 'tis a chronicle of day by day180, Not a relation181 for a breakfast, nor Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir:

  This cell's my court: here have I few attendants,

  And subjects none abroad184: pray you look in.

  My dukedom since you have given me again,

  I will requite186 you with as good a thing, At least bring forth a wonder187, to content ye As much as me my dukedom.

  Here Prospero discovers Ferdinand and Miranda playing at chess

  MIRANDA Sweet lord, you play me false.189

  FERDINAND No, my dearest love,

  I would not for the world.

  MIRANDA Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle192, And I would call it fair play.

  ALONSO If this prove

  A vision of the island, one dear son

  Shall I twice lose.

  SEBASTIAN A most high miracle.197

  FERDINAND Though the seas threaten, they are merciful:

  I have cursed them without cause.

  Kneels

  ALONSO Now all the blessings

  Of a glad father compass201 thee about.

  Arise, and say how thou cam'st here.

  MIRANDA O wonder!

  How many goodly204 creatures are there here!

  How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,

  That has such people in't.

  PROSPERO 'Tis new to thee.

  ALONSO What is this maid with whom thou wast at play?

  To Ferdinand

  Your eld'st209 acquaintance cannot be three hours: Is she the goddess that hath severed us,

  And brought us thus together?

  FERDINAND Sir, she is mortal:

  But by immortal providence, she's mine:

  I chose her when I could not ask my father

  For his advice, nor thought I had one.215 She Is daughter to this famous Duke of Milan,

  Of whom so often I have heard renown217, But never saw before: of whom I have

  Received a second life: and second father

  This lady makes him to me.

  ALONSO I am hers.221

  But, O, how oddly will it sound that I

  Must ask my child forgiveness.

  PROSPERO There sir, stop:

  Let us not burden our remembrances with

  A heaviness226 that's gone.

  GONZALO I have inly227 wept, Or should have spoke ere this. Look down you gods,

  And on this couple drop a blessed crown.

  For it is you that have chalked forth230 the way Which brought us hither.

  ALONSO I say amen, Gonzalo.

  GONZALO Was Milan thrust from Milan233 that his issue Should become kings of Naples? O, rejoice

  Beyond a common joy, and set it down

  With gold on lasting pillars: in one voyage

  Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis,

  And Ferdinand her brother found a wife

  Where he himself was lost, Prospero his dukedom

  In a poor isle, and all of us our selves

  When no man was his own.

  ALONSO Give me your hands:

  To Ferdinand and Miranda

  Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart243

  That doth not wish you joy.

  GONZALO Be it so. Amen!

  Enter Ariel, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following

  O, look, sir, look, sir! Here is more of us!

  I prophesied, if a gallows were on land,

  To Boatswain

  This fellow could not drown.-- Now, blasphemy248, That swear'st grace o'erboard, not an oath on shore?

  Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news?

  BOATSWAIN The best news is that we have safely found Our king and company: the next, our ship,

  Which but three glasses since we gave out253 split, Is tight and yare254 and bravely rigged as when We first put out to sea.

  Aside to Prospero

  ARIEL Sir, all this service

  Have I done since I went.

  Aside to Ariel
/>   PROSPERO My tricksy258 spirit!

  ALONSO These are not natural events: they strengthen From strange to stranger. Say, how came you hither?

  BOATSWAIN If I did think, sir, I were well awake,

  I'd strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep,

  And -- how we know not -- all clapped under hatches263, Where, but even now, with strange and several264 noises Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains,

  And more diversity of sounds, all horrible,

  We were awaked: straightway at liberty267, Where we, in all our trim268, freshly beheld Our royal, good and gallant ship, our master

  Cap'ring to eye her. On a trice270, so please you, Even in a dream, were we divided from them

  And were brought moping272 hither.

  Aside to Prospero

  ARIEL Was't well done?

  Aside to Ariel

  PROSPERO Bravely, my diligence. Thou shalt be free.

  ALONSO This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod,

  And there is in this business more than nature

  Was ever conduct277 of: some oracle Must rectify our knowledge.

  PROSPERO Sir, my liege,

  Do not infest your mind with beating280 on The strangeness of this business. At picked leisure281 --

  Which shall be shortly single282 -- I'll resolve you, Which to you shall seem probable283, of every These happened accidents.284 Till when, be cheerful

  And think of each thing well.285-- Come hither, spirit,

  Aside to Ariel

  Set Caliban and his companions free:

  Untie the spell.--

  [Exit Ariel]

  To Alonso

  How fares my gracious sir?

  There are yet missing of your company

  Some few odd lads that you remember not.

  Enter Ariel, driving in Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo, in their stolen apparel

  STEPHANO Every man shift290 for all the rest, and let no man take care for himself: for all is but fortune. Coraggio, bully291-monster, coraggio!

  TRINCULO If these be true spies293 which I wear in my head, here's a goodly sight.

  CALIBAN O Setebos, these be brave spirits indeed!

  How fine my master is! I am afraid

  He will chastise me.

  SEBASTIAN Ha, ha!

  What things are these, my lord Antonio?

  Will money buy 'em?

  ANTONIO Very like. One of them301

  Is a plain fish, and no doubt marketable.

  PROSPERO Mark but the badges303 of these men, my lords, Then say if they be true.304 This misshapen knave, His mother was a witch, and one so strong

  That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs,

  And deal in her command without her power307: These three have robbed me, and this demi-devil --

  For he's a bastard309 one -- had plotted with them To take my life. Two of these fellows you

  Must know and own: this thing of darkness I

  Acknowledge mine.

  CALIBAN I shall be pinched to death.

  ALONSO Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler?

  SEBASTIAN He is drunk now: where had he wine?

  ALONSO And Trinculo is reeling ripe316: where should they Find this grand liquor that hath gilded317 'em?

  How cam'st thou in this pickle?318

  To Trinculo

  TRINCULO I have been in such a pickle since I saw you last that I fear me will never out of my bones: I shall not fear fly-320

  blowing.

  SEBASTIAN Why, how now, Stephano?

  STEPHANO O, touch me not: I am not Stephano, but a

  cramp.324

  PROSPERO You'd be king o'the isle, sirrah?325

  STEPHANO I should have been a sore326 one then.

  ALONSO This is a strange thing as e'er I looked on.

  Points to Caliban

  PROSPERO He is as disproportioned in his manners328

  As in his shape. Go, sirrah, to my cell:

  Take with you your companions: as you look

  To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.331

  CALIBAN Ay, that I will: and I'll be wise hereafter, And seek for grace. What a thrice-double333 ass Was I to take this drunkard for a god

  And worship this dull fool!

  PROSPERO Go to, away!

  ALONSO Hence, and bestow your luggage where you found it.

  SEBASTIAN Or stole it, rather.

  [Exeunt Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo]

  PROSPERO Sir, I invite your highness and your train

  To my poor cell, where you shall take your rest

  For this one night: which, part of it, I'll waste341

  With such discourse as I not doubt shall make it

  Go quick away: the story of my life

  And the particular accidents344 gone by Since I came to this isle: and in the morn

  I'll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples,

  Where I have hope to see the nuptial

  Of these our dear-beloved solemnized348, And thence retire me to my Milan, where

  Every third thought350 shall be my grave.

  ALONSO I long

  To hear the story of your life, which must

  Take the ear strangely.353

  PROSPERO I'll deliver all,

  And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales

  And sail so expeditious that shall catch356

  Your royal fleet far off.-- My Ariel, chick,

  That is thy charge: then to the elements

  Be free, and fare thou well.-- Please you, draw near.359

  Exeunt [all but Prospero]

  EPILOGUE SPOKEN BY PROSPERO

  Now my charms are all o'erthrown360, And what strength I have's mine own,

  Which is most faint: now 'tis true,

  I must be here confined by you363, Or sent to Naples. Let me not,

  Since I have my dukedom got

  And pardoned the deceiver, dwell

  In this bare island by your spell,

  But release me from my bands368

  With the help of your good hands369: Gentle breath370 of yours my sails Must fill, or else my project fails,

  Which was to please. Now I want372

  Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,

  And my ending is despair,

  Unless I be relieved by prayer375, Which pierces so, that it assaults376

  Mercy itself, and frees all faults.

  As you from crimes would pardoned be,

  Let your indulgence379 set me free.

  Awaits applause

  Exit

  TEXTUAL NOTES

  F = First Folio text of 1623, the only authority for the play F2 = a correction introduced in the Second Folio text of 1632

  Ed = a correction introduced by a later editor

  SD = stage direction

  SH = speech heading (i.e. speaker's name)

  List of parts based on "Names of the Actors" (reordered) at end of F text

  1.1.8 SD Ferdinand = Ed. F = Ferdinando 59 wi'th' = Ed. F = with'

  1.2.129 wi'th' = Ed. F = with 202 princes = Ed. F = Princesse (old spelling of "princes") 330 she = Ed. F = he 2.2.173 trencher = Ed. F = trenchering

  3.1.2 sets = Ed. F = set 15 least = F2. F = lest 3.2.117 scout = Ed. F = cout (118 F = skowt) 3.3.2 ache = F2. F = akes 34 islanders = F2. F = Islands 4.1.12 gainst = Ed. F = Against (beginning new half-line) 13 guest = F. Some eds emend to gift. 57 abstemious = F2. F = abstenious 67 vetches spelled Fetches in F 80 Her = Ed. F = here 119 SH CERES = Ed. (no change of singer in F) 134 wise = F. Some eds emend to wife 209 them on= Ed. F = on them 5.1.18 run = F2. F = runs 77 Didst = F (catchword on sig. B2v; text reads Did) 87 lies = Ed. F = ly 118 Whether = Ed. F = Where 291 Coraggio ... coraggio = F2. F = Coragio ... Corasio

  SCENE-BY-SCENE ANALYSIS

  ACT 1 SCENE 1

  The play opens dramatically on board a ship in the middle of a violent storm. It features two sets of characters: mariners and nobles. Social hierarchy is overturned as the sailors giv
e the orders, telling the aristocrats to keep out of the way. Despite their best efforts though, by the end of the scene, all agree that they and the ship are lost. The scene is characterized by the peril of the situation and the vitality of the boatswain's language. It opens the debate on issues of sovereignty, authority and legitimacy, character, fate, and predestination.

  ACT 1 SCENE 2

  A long scene which introduces the inhabitants of the island and the relationships between them. It raises questions of personal claims to authority and sovereignty over the island as divergent accounts of individual histories are related.

  Lines 1-218: Reveals that the storm was not a product of nature but conjured up by Prospero. His daughter, Miranda, is distressed by the suffering of the victims but he reassures her that all are safe. Laying his magic cloak aside, he explains his real identity and how they came to the island. He is the rightful Duke of Milan and relates how twelve years ago with the support of the King of Naples, his brother Antonio usurped his dukedom. He and Miranda were set adrift in a small boat but survived thanks to one of the courtiers, Gonzalo, who took pity on them and furnished them with necessities for the voyage as well as Prospero's books. He speaks with bitterness of his brother Antonio's treachery, but by his own account, his neglect of civic duty in favor of private study played a role in encouraging his ambition. He goes on to explain his reason for raising this storm: his enemies were all on board ship: Fortune has delivered them into his hands. To what extent is a providential, benign destiny at work in shaping the course of events?

  Lines 219-357: While Miranda sleeps, Ariel appears to do his master's bidding. He describes how he performed and managed the tempest and has since dispersed the shipwrecked passengers around the island. Prospero has further tasks for him but Ariel reminds his master of his promise to restore his liberty. Prospero is enraged, reminding Ariel in turn of the debt of gratitude he owes. When he and Miranda arrived, the island was not deserted. Ariel had originally been servant to the witch Sycorax, herself banished to the island while pregnant with her son, Caliban. Because he refused to carry out her wicked commands, Sycorax had imprisoned Ariel for twelve years in a cloven pine, during which time she died. He suffered great pains until Prospero finally released him. Prospero threatens that he will imprison Ariel in an oak if he refuses to obey him, though he promises to discharge him in two days' time. Ariel is now to turn himself into an invisible sea nymph.

  Lines 375-437: As Ariel departs, Prospero wakes Miranda, suggesting that they visit Caliban, now their slave. Miranda confesses her dislike of him but Prospero reminds her that they need him to perform all the menial tasks essential to their comfort and survival. The relationship between Prospero and Caliban is hostile and full of recriminations. Caliban curses him and Prospero responds with threats. Caliban relates his own version of Prospero's arrival on the island. Initially a mutually beneficial relationship, Prospero taught him to speak his language and he willingly showed them "all the qualities o'th'isle." He resents Prospero's assumption of kingship: "For I am all the subjects that you have, / Which first was mine own king." Prospero, however, disputes this account and accuses Caliban of having tried to violate Miranda sexually. Whatever he says, though, Caliban dare not disobey Prospero's powerful magic.