Shakespeare Portal

Act 5, Scene 1

Before the cell of PROSPERO.

  1. [Enter PROSPERO in his magic robes; and ARIEL.]
  2. Prospero
  3. 1897 Now does my project gather to a head:
  4. 1898 My charms crack not; my spirits obey, and time
  5. 1899 Goes upright with his carriage. How's the day?
  6. Ariel
  7. 1900 On the sixth hour; at which time, my lord,
  8. 1901 You said our work should cease.
  9. Prospero
  10. 1902 I did say so,
  11. 1903 When first I rais'd the tempest. Say, my spirit,
  12. 1904 How fares the King and 's followers?
  13. Ariel
  14. 1905 Confin'd together
  15. 1906 In the same fashion as you gave in charge;
  16. 1907 Just as you left them: all prisoners, sir,
  17. 1908 In the line-grove which weather-fends your cell;
  18. 1909 They cannot budge till your release. The king,
  19. 1910 His brother, and yours, abide all three distracted,
  20. 1911 And the remainder mourning over them,
  21. 1912 Brim full of sorrow and dismay; but chiefly
  22. 1913 Him you term'd, sir, 'the good old lord, Gonzalo':
  23. 1914 His tears run down his beard, like winter's drops
  24. 1915 From eaves of reeds; your charm so strongly works them,
  25. 1916 That if you now beheld them, your affections
  26. 1917 Would become tender.
  27. Prospero
  28. 1918 Dost thou think so, spirit?
  29. Ariel
  30. 1919 Mine would, sir, were I human.
  31. Prospero
  32. 1920 And mine shall.
  33. 1921 Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling
  34. 1922 Of their afflictions, and shall not myself,
  35. 1923 One of their kind, that relish all as sharply,
  36. 1924 Passion as they, be kindlier mov'd than thou art?
  37. 1925 Though with their high wrongs I am struck to the quick,
  38. 1926 Yet with my nobler reason 'gainst my fury
  39. 1927 Do I take part: the rarer action is
  40. 1928 In virtue than in vengeance: they being penitent,
  41. 1929 The sole drift of my purpose doth extend
  42. 1930 Not a frown further. Go release them, Ariel.
  43. 1931 My charms I'll break, their senses I'll restore,
  44. 1932 And they shall be themselves.
  45. Ariel
  46. 1933 I'll fetch them, sir.
  47. [Exit.]
  48. Prospero
  49. 1934 Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes, and
  50. 1935 groves;
  51. 1936 And ye that on the sands with printless foot
  52. 1937 Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly him
  53. 1938 When he comes back; you demi-puppets that
  54. 1939 By moonshine do the green sour ringlets make,
  55. 1940 Whereof the ewe not bites; and you whose pastime
  56. 1941 Is to make midnight mushrooms, that rejoice
  57. 1942 To hear the solemn curfew; by whose aid,—
  58. 1943 Weak masters though ye be,—I have bedimm'd
  59. 1944 The noontide sun, call'd forth the mutinous winds,
  60. 1945 And 'twixt the green sea and the azur'd vault
  61. 1946 Set roaring war: to the dread rattling thunder
  62. 1947 Have I given fire, and rifted Jove's stout oak
  63. 1948 With his own bolt: the strong-bas'd promontory
  64. 1949 Have I made shake; and by the spurs pluck'd up
  65. 1950 The pine and cedar: graves at my command
  66. 1951 Have wak'd their sleepers, op'd, and let them forth
  67. 1952 By my so potent art. But this rough magic
  68. 1953 I here abjure; and, when I have requir'd
  69. 1954 Some heavenly music,—which even now I do,—
  70. 1955 To work mine end upon their senses that
  71. 1956 This airy charm is for, I'll break my staff,
  72. 1957 Bury it certain fathoms in the earth,
  73. 1958 And deeper than did ever plummet sound
  74. 1959 I'll drown my book.
  75. [Solem music]
  76. [Re-enter ARIEL: after him, ALONSO, with frantic gesture, attended by GONZALO; SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO in like manner, attended by ADRIAN and FRANCISCO: they all enter the circle which PROSPERO had made, and there stand charmed: which PROSPERO observing, speaks.]
  77. Prospero
  78. 1960 A solemn air, and the best comforter
  79. 1961 To an unsettled fancy, cure thy brains,
  80. 1962 Now useless, boil'd within thy skull! There stand,
  81. 1963 For you are spell-stopp'd.
  82. 1964 Holy Gonzalo, honourable man,
  83. 1965 Mine eyes, even sociable to the show of thine,
  84. 1966 Fall fellowly drops. The charm dissolves apace;
  85. 1967 And as the morning steals upon the night,
  86. 1968 Melting the darkness, so their rising senses
  87. 1969 Begin to chase the ignorant fumes that mantle
  88. 1970 Their clearer reason.—O good Gonzalo!
  89. 1971 My true preserver, and a loyal sir
  90. 1972 To him thou follow'st, I will pay thy graces
  91. 1973 Home, both in word and deed.—Most cruelly
  92. 1974 Didst thou, Alonso, use me and my daughter:
  93. 1975 Thy brother was a furtherer in the act;—
  94. 1976 Thou'rt pinch'd for't now, Sebastian.—Flesh and blood,
  95. 1977 You, brother mine, that entertain'd ambition,
  96. 1978 Expell'd remorse and nature, who, with Sebastian,—
  97. 1979 Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong,—
  98. 1980 Would here have kill'd your king; I do forgive thee,
  99. 1981 Unnatural though thou art! Their understanding
  100. 1982 Begins to swell, and the approaching tide
  101. 1983 Will shortly fill the reasonable shores
  102. 1984 That now lie foul and muddy. Not one of them
  103. 1985 That yet looks on me, or would know me.—Ariel,
  104. 1986 Fetch me the hat and rapier in my cell:—
  105. [Exit ARIEL]
  106. Prospero
  107. 1987 I will discase me, and myself present,
  108. 1988 As I was sometime Milan.—Quickly, spirit;
  109. 1989 Thou shalt ere long be free.
  110. [ARIEL re-enters, singing, and helps to attire PROSPERO.]
  111. Ariel
  112. 1990 Where the bee sucks, there suck I:
  113. 1991 In a cowslip's bell I lie;
  114. 1992 There I couch when owls do cry.
  115. 1993 On the bat's back I do fly
  116. 1994 After summer merrily:
  117. 1995 Merrily, merrily shall I live now
  118. 1996 Under the blossom that hangs on the bough.
  119. Prospero
  120. 1997 Why, that's my dainty Ariel! I shall miss thee;
  121. 1998 But yet thou shalt have freedom;—so, so, so.—
  122. 1999 To the king's ship, invisible as thou art:
  123. 2000 There shalt thou find the mariners asleep
  124. 2001 Under the hatches; the master and the boatswain
  125. 2002 Being awake, enforce them to this place,
  126. 2003 And presently, I prithee.
  127. Ariel
  128. 2004 I drink the air before me, and return
  129. 2005 Or ere your pulse twice beat.
  130. [Exit]
  131. Gonzalo
  132. 2006 All torment, trouble, wonder and amazement
  133. 2007 Inhabits here. Some heavenly power guide us
  134. 2008 Out of this fearful country!
  135. Prospero
  136. 2009 Behold, sir king,
  137. 2010 The wronged Duke of Milan, Prospero.
  138. 2011 For more assurance that a living prince
  139. 2012 Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body;
  140. 2013 And to thee and thy company I bid
  141. 2014 A hearty welcome.
  142. Alonso
  143. 2015 Whe'er thou be'st he or no,
  144. 2016 Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me,
  145. 2017 As late I have been, I not know: thy pulse
  146. 2018 Beats, as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee,
  147. 2019 Th' affliction of my mind amends, with which,
  148. 2020 I fear, a madness held me: this must crave,—
  149. 2021 An if this be at all—a most strange story.
  150. 2022 Thy dukedom I resign, and do entreat
  151. 2023 Thou pardon me my wrongs.—But how should Prospero
  152. 2024 Be living and be here?
  153. Prospero
  154. 2025 First, noble friend,
  155. 2026 Let me embrace thine age; whose honour cannot
  156. 2027 Be measur'd or confin'd.
  157. Gonzalo
  158. 2028 Whether this be
  159. 2029 Or be not, I'll not swear.
  160. Prospero
  161. 2030 You do yet taste
  162. 2031 Some subtleties o' the isle, that will not let you
  163. 2032 Believe things certain.—Welcome, my friends all:—
  164. [Aside to SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO]
  165. Prospero
  166. 2033 But you, my brace of
  167. 2034 lords, were I so minded,
  168. 2035 I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you,
  169. 2036 And justify you traitors: at this time
  170. 2037 I will tell no tales.
  171. [Aside]
  172. Sebastian
  173. 2038 The devil speaks in him.
  174. Prospero
  175. 2039 No.
  176. 2040 For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother
  177. 2041 Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive
  178. 2042 Thy rankest fault; all of them; and require
  179. 2043 My dukedom of thee, which, perforce, I know
  180. 2044 Thou must restore.
  181. Alonso
  182. 2045 If thou beest Prospero,
  183. 2046 Give us particulars of thy preservation;
  184. 2047 How thou hast met us here, whom three hours since
  185. 2048 Were wrack'd upon this shore; where I have lost,—
  186. 2049 How sharp the point of this remembrance is!—
  187. 2050 My dear son Ferdinand.
  188. Prospero
  189. 2051 I am woe for't, sir.
  190. Alonso
  191. 2052 Irreparable is the loss, and patience
  192. 2053 Says it is past her cure.
  193. Prospero
  194. 2054 I rather think
  195. 2055 You have not sought her help; of whose soft grace,
  196. 2056 For the like loss I have her sovereign aid,
  197. 2057 And rest myself content.
  198. Alonso
  199. 2058 You the like loss!
  200. Prospero
  201. 2059 As great to me, as late; and, supportable
  202. 2060 To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker
  203. 2061 Than you may call to comfort you, for I
  204. 2062 Have lost my daughter.
  205. Alonso
  206. 2063 A daughter?
  207. 2064 O heavens! that they were living both in Naples,
  208. 2065 The king and queen there! That they were, I wish
  209. 2066 Myself were mudded in that oozy bed
  210. 2067 Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter?
  211. Prospero
  212. 2068 In this last tempest. I perceive, these lords
  213. 2069 At this encounter do so much admire
  214. 2070 That they devour their reason, and scarce think
  215. 2071 Their eyes do offices of truth, their words
  216. 2072 Are natural breath; but, howsoe'er you have
  217. 2073 Been justled from your senses, know for certain
  218. 2074 That I am Prospero, and that very duke
  219. 2075 Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most strangely
  220. 2076 Upon this shore, where you were wrack'd, was landed
  221. 2077 To be the lord on't. No more yet of this;
  222. 2078 For 'tis a chronicle of day by day,
  223. 2079 Not a relation for a breakfast nor
  224. 2080 Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir:
  225. 2081 This cell's my court: here have I few attendants
  226. 2082 And subjects none abroad: pray you, look in.
  227. 2083 My dukedom since you have given me again,
  228. 2084 I will requite you with as good a thing;
  229. 2085 At least bring forth a wonder, to content ye
  230. 2086 As much as me my dukedom.
  231. [The entrance of the Cell opens, and discovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA playing at chess.]
  232. Miranda
  233. 2087 Sweet lord, you play me false.
  234. Ferdinand
  235. 2088 No, my dearest love,
  236. 2089 I would not for the world.
  237. Miranda
  238. 2090 Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle,
  239. 2091 And I would call it fair play.
  240. Alonso
  241. 2092 If this prove
  242. 2093 A vision of the island, one dear son
  243. 2094 Shall I twice lose.
  244. Sebastian
  245. 2095 A most high miracle!
  246. Ferdinand
  247. 2096 Though the seas threaten, they are merciful:
  248. 2097 I have curs'd them without cause.
  249. [Kneels to ALONSO.]
  250. Alonso
  251. 2098 Now all the blessings
  252. 2099 Of a glad father compass thee about!
  253. 2100 Arise, and say how thou cam'st here.
  254. Miranda
  255. 2101 O, wonder!
  256. 2102 How many goodly creatures are there here!
  257. 2103 How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world
  258. 2104 That has such people in't!
  259. Prospero
  260. 2105 'Tis new to thee.
  261. Alonso
  262. 2106 What is this maid, with whom thou wast at play?
  263. 2107 Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours:
  264. 2108 Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us,
  265. 2109 And brought us thus together?
  266. Ferdinand
  267. 2110 Sir, she is mortal;
  268. 2111 But by immortal Providence she's mine.
  269. 2112 I chose her when I could not ask my father
  270. 2113 For his advice, nor thought I had one. She
  271. 2114 Is daughter to this famous Duke of Milan,
  272. 2115 Of whom so often I have heard renown,
  273. 2116 But never saw before; of whom I have
  274. 2117 Receiv'd a second life: and second father
  275. 2118 This lady makes him to me.
  276. Alonso
  277. 2119 I am hers:
  278. 2120 But, O! how oddly will it sound that I
  279. 2121 Must ask my child forgiveness!
  280. Prospero
  281. 2122 There, sir, stop:
  282. 2123 Let us not burden our remembrances with
  283. 2124 A heaviness that's gone.
  284. Gonzalo
  285. 2125 I have inly wept,
  286. 2126 Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you gods,
  287. 2127 And on this couple drop a blessed crown;
  288. 2128 For it is you that have chalk'd forth the way
  289. 2129 Which brought us hither.
  290. Alonso
  291. 2130 I say, Amen, Gonzalo!
  292. Gonzalo
  293. 2131 Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue
  294. 2132 Should become kings of Naples? O, rejoice
  295. 2133 Beyond a common joy, and set it down
  296. 2134 With gold on lasting pillars. In one voyage
  297. 2135 Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis,
  298. 2136 And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife
  299. 2137 Where he himself was lost; Prospero his dukedom
  300. 2138 In a poor isle; and all of us ourselves,
  301. 2139 When no man was his own.
  302. [To FERDINAND and MIRANDA]
  303. Alonso
  304. 2140 Give me your hands:
  305. 2141 Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart
  306. 2142 That doth not wish you joy!
  307. Gonzalo
  308. 2143 Be it so. Amen!
  309. [Re-enter ARIEL, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following.]
  310. Gonzalo
  311. 2144 O look, sir! look, sir! Here are more of us.
  312. 2145 I prophesied, if a gallows were on land,
  313. 2146 This fellow could not drown.—Now, blasphemy,
  314. 2147 That swear'st grace o'erboard, not an oath on shore?
  315. 2148 Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news?
  316. Boatswain
  317. 2149 The best news is that we have safely found
  318. 2150 Our king and company: the next, our ship,—
  319. 2151 Which but three glasses since we gave out split,—
  320. 2152 Is tight and yare, and bravely rigg'd as when
  321. 2153 We first put out to sea.
  322. [Aside to PROSPERO]
  323. Ariel
  324. 2154 Sir, all this service
  325. 2155 Have I done since I went.
  326. [Aside to ARIEL]
  327. Prospero
  328. 2156 My tricksy spirit!
  329. Alonso
  330. 2157 These are not natural events; they strengthen
  331. 2158 From strange to stranger—Say, how came you hither?
  332. Boatswain
  333. 2159 If I did think, sir, I were well awake,
  334. 2160 I'd strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep,
  335. 2161 And,—how, we know not,—all clapp'd under hatches,
  336. 2162 Where, but even now, with strange and several noises
  337. 2163 Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains,
  338. 2164 And mo diversity of sounds, all horrible,
  339. 2165 We were awak'd; straightway, at liberty:
  340. 2166 Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld
  341. 2167 Our royal, good, and gallant ship; our master
  342. 2168 Cap'ring to eye her: on a trice, so please you,
  343. 2169 Even in a dream, were we divided from them,
  344. 2170 And were brought moping hither.
  345. [Aside to PROSPERO]
  346. Ariel
  347. 2171 Was't well done?
  348. [Aside to ARIEL]
  349. Prospero
  350. 2172 Bravely, my diligence. Thou
  351. 2173 shalt be free.
  352. Alonso
  353. 2174 This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod;
  354. 2175 And there is in this business more than nature
  355. 2176 Was ever conduct of: some oracle
  356. 2177 Must rectify our knowledge.
  357. Prospero
  358. 2178 Sir, my liege,
  359. 2179 Do not infest your mind with beating on
  360. 2180 The strangeness of this business: at pick'd leisure,
  361. 2181 Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you,—
  362. 2182 Which to you shall seem probable—of every
  363. 2183 These happen'd accidents; till when, be cheerful
  364. 2184 And think of each thing well.—
  365. [Aside to ARIEL]
  366. Prospero
  367. 2185 Come
  368. 2186 hither, spirit;
  369. 2187 Set Caliban and his companions free;
  370. 2188 Untie the spell.
  371. [Exit ARIEL]
  372. Prospero
  373. 2189 How fares my gracious sir?
  374. 2190 There are yet missing of your company
  375. 2191 Some few odd lads that you remember not.
  376. [Re-enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel.]
  377. Stephano
  378. 2192 Every man shift for all the rest, and let no man
  379. 2193 take care for himself, for all is but fortune.—Coragio!
  380. 2194 bully-monster, Coragio!
  381. Trinculo
  382. 2195 If these be true spies which I wear in my head,
  383. 2196 here's a goodly sight.
  384. Caliban
  385. 2197 O Setebos, these be brave spirits indeed.
  386. 2198 How fine my master is! I am afraid
  387. 2199 He will chastise me.
  388. Sebastian
  389. 2200 Ha, ha!
  390. 2201 What things are these, my lord Antonio?
  391. 2202 Will money buy them?
  392. Antonio
  393. 2203 Very like; one of them
  394. 2204 Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable.
  395. Prospero
  396. 2205 Mark but the badges of these men, my lords,
  397. 2206 Then say if they be true.—This mis-shapen knave—
  398. 2207 His mother was a witch; and one so strong
  399. 2208 That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs,
  400. 2209 And deal in her command without her power.
  401. 2210 These three have robb'd me; and this demi-devil,—
  402. 2211 For he's a bastard one,—had plotted with them
  403. 2212 To take my life: two of these fellows you
  404. 2213 Must know and own; this thing of darkness I
  405. 2214 Acknowledge mine.
  406. Caliban
  407. 2215 I shall be pinch'd to death.
  408. Alonso
  409. 2216 Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler?
  410. Sebastian
  411. 2217 He is drunk now: where had he wine?
  412. Alonso
  413. 2218 And Trinculo is reeling-ripe: where should they
  414. 2219 Find this grand liquor that hath gilded them?
  415. 2220 How cam'st thou in this pickle?
  416. Trinculo
  417. 2221 I have been in such a pickle since I saw you
  418. 2222 last that, I fear me, will never out of my bones. I
  419. 2223 shall not fear fly-blowing.
  420. Sebastian
  421. 2224 Why, how now, Stephano!
  422. Stephano
  423. 2225 O! touch me not: I am not Stephano, but a cramp.
  424. Prospero
  425. 2226 You'd be king o' the isle, sirrah?
  426. Stephano
  427. 2227 I should have been a sore one, then.
  428. Alonso
  429. 2228 This is as strange a thing as e'er I look'd on.
  430. [Pointing to CALIBAN]
  431. Prospero
  432. 2229 He is as disproportioned in his manners
  433. 2230 As in his shape.—Go, sirrah, to my cell;
  434. 2231 Take with you your companions: as you look
  435. 2232 To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.
  436. Caliban
  437. 2233 Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter,
  438. 2234 And seek for grace. What a thrice-double ass
  439. 2235 Was I, to take this drunkard for a god,
  440. 2236 And worship this dull fool!
  441. Prospero
  442. 2237 Go to; away!
  443. Alonso
  444. 2238 Hence, and bestow your luggage where you found it.
  445. Sebastian
  446. 2239 Or stole it, rather.
  447. [Exeunt CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO.]
  448. Prospero
  449. 2240 Sir, I invite your Highness and your train
  450. 2241 To my poor cell, where you shall take your rest
  451. 2242 For this one night; which—part of it—I'll waste
  452. 2243 With such discourse as, I not doubt, shall make it
  453. 2244 Go quick away; the story of my life
  454. 2245 And the particular accidents gone by
  455. 2246 Since I came to this isle: and in the morn
  456. 2247 I'll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples,
  457. 2248 Where I have hope to see the nuptial
  458. 2249 Of these our dear-belov'd solemnized;
  459. 2250 And thence retire me to my Milan, where
  460. 2251 Every third thought shall be my grave.
  461. Alonso
  462. 2252 I long To hear the story of your life, which must
  463. 2253 Take the ear strangely.
  464. Prospero
  465. 2254 I'll deliver all;
  466. 2255 And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales,
  467. 2256 And sail so expeditious that shall catch
  468. 2257 Your royal fleet far off.—
  469. [Aside to ARIEL]
  470. Prospero
  471. 2258 My Ariel,
  472. 2259 chick,
  473. 2260 That is thy charge: then to the elements
  474. 2261 Be free, and fare thou well!—Please you, draw near.
  475. [Exeunt]
  476. [EPILOGUE]
  477. [Spoken by PROSPERO]
  478. Prospero
  479. 2262 Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
  480. 2263 And what strength I have's mine own;
  481. 2264 Which is most faint; now 'tis true,
  482. 2265 I must be here confin'd by you,
  483. 2266 Or sent to Naples. Let me not,
  484. 2267 Since I have my dukedom got,
  485. 2268 And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
  486. 2269 In this bare island by your spell:
  487. 2270 But release me from my bands
  488. 2271 With the help of your good hands.
  489. 2272 Gentle breath of yours my sails
  490. 2273 Must fill, or else my project fails,
  491. 2274 Which was to please. Now I want
  492. 2275 Spirits to enforce, art to enchant;
  493. 2276 And my ending is despair,
  494. 2277 Unless I be reliev'd by prayer,
  495. 2278 Which pierces so that it assaults
  496. 2279 Mercy itself, and frees all faults.
  497. 2280 As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
  498. 2281 Let your indulgence set me free.