And shew'd thee all the qualities o' the isle, The fresh springs, brine pits, barren place, and fertile ; Cursed be I that did so !-All the charms Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you ! For I am all the subjects that you have, Which first was mine own king : and here you
sty me In this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me The rest of the island.
Music. Where should this music be? i the air, or the
earth? It sounds no more : and sure it waits upon Some god of the island. Sitting on a bank, Weeping again the king my father's wreck, This music crept by me upon the waters : Allaying both their fury and my passion, With its sweet air.
Ariel's Song. Full fathom five thy father lies ;
Of his bones are coral made ; Those are pearls, that were his eyes :
Nothing of him that doth fade, But doth suffer a sea change Into something rich and strange. Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell : Hark! now I hear them,—ding-dong, bell.
A Lover's Speech. My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up. My father's loss, the weakness which I feel, The wreck of all my friends, or this man's threats,
To whom I am subdued, are but light to me, Might I but through my prison once a day Behold this maid : all corners else o' the earth Let liberty make use of: space enough Have I in such a prison.
Act II. Description of Ferdinand's Swimming ashore. 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 waye-worn basis bow'd, As stooping to relieve him : I not doubt He came alive to land.
Sleep. Do not omit the heavy offer of it: It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth, It is a comforter.
Caliban's Curses. 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 fire-brand in the dark Out of my way, unless he bid them ; but For every trifle are they set upon me : Sometimes like apes, that moe* and chatter at me,
. . To make faces.
And after, bite me; then like hedge-hogs, which Lie tumbling in my bare-foot way, and mount Their pricks at my footfall ; sometimes am I All wound with adders, who, with cloven tongues, Do hiss me into madness.
Satire on English Curiosity. 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, PoorJohn. A strange fish! Were 1 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 lay out ten to see a dead Indian.
Caliban's Promises. I'll shew 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. I pr’ythee, let me bring thee where crabs grow : And I with my long nails will dig thee pig-nuts : Show thee a jay's nest, and instruct thee how To snare the nimble marmozet ; I'll bring thee To clustering filberds, and sometimes I'll get thee Young sea-mells* from the rock.
Act III. Ferdinand and Miranda. Prospero at a distance.
MIRANDA. Alas, now! pray you, Work not so hard : I would the lightning had Burnt up those logs, that you are enjoin'd to pile ! Pray, set it down, and rest you: when this burns, 'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself ; He's safe for these three hours. FERDINAND.
O most dear mistress, The sun will set, before I shall discharge What I must strive to do. MIRANDA.
If you will sit down I'll bear your logs the while : pray give me that ; I'll carry it to the pile. FERDINAND.
No, precious creature ; I had rather crack my sinews, break my back, Than you should such dishonour undergo, While I sit lazy by. MIRANDA.
It would become me As well as it does you : and I should do it With much more ease ; for my good will is to it, And yours against
PROSPERO. Poor worm ! thou art infected; This visitation shews it. MIRANDA.
You look wearily. FERDINAND. No, noble mistress ; 'tis fresh morning
with me When you are by at night. I do beseech you (Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers), What is your name? MIRANDA.
Miranda :-O my father, I have broke your hest* to say so !
* Disobeyed her father's injuncticns.
FERDINAND.
Admired Miranda ! Indeed the top of admiration ; worth What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady I have eyed with best regard ; and many a time The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues Have I liked several women ; never any With so full soul, but some defect in her Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed,* And put it to the foil : But you, O you, So perfect, and so peerless, are created Of every creature's best. MIRANDA.
I do not know One of my sex : no woman's face remember, Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen More that I may call men, than you, good friend, And my dear father : how features are abroad, I am skill-less of; but, by my modesty, (The jewel in my dower) I would not wish Any companion in the world but you ; Nor can imagination form a shape, Besides yourself, to like of: but I prattle Something too wildly, and my father's precepts Therein forget.
FERDINAND. I am, in my condition, A prince, Miranda ; I do think, a king; (I would, not so !) and would no more endure This wooden slavery, than I would suffer The flesh-fly blow my mouth.—Hear my soul speak;
-The very instant that I saw you, did My heart fly to your service; there resides, To make me slave to it; and, for your sake, Am I this patient log-man.
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