Chapter XIV: Act III: SCENE I.--Before PROSPERO'S Cell

_Enter FERDINAND, bearing a log._

There be some sports are painful, and their labour
Delight in them sets off:[418-1] some kinds of baseness[418-2]
Are nobly undergone; and most poor matters
Point to rich ends. This my mean task would be
As heavy to me as 'tis odious, but
The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead,
And makes my labours pleasures:[418-3] O, she is
Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed,
And he's composed of harshness. I must remove
Some thousands of these logs, and pile them up,
Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress
Weeps when she sees me work; and says such baseness
Had never like executor. I forget:
But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labour;
Most busy when I do it least.[419-4]

_Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO behind._

_Mira._ Alas, now, pray you,
Work not so hard: I would the lightning had
Burnt up those logs that you're 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.

_Ferd._ O most dear mistress,
The Sun will set before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.

_Mira._ If you'll sit down,
I'll bear your logs the while: pray, give me that;
I'll carry't to the pile.

_Ferd._ No, precious creature;
I'd rather crack my sinews, break my back,
Than you should such dishonour undergo,
While I sit lazy by.

_Mira._ 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 it is against.

_Pros._ [_Aside._] Poor worm, thou art infected!
This visitation shows it.

_Mira._ You look wearily.

_Ferd._ 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?

_Mira._ Miranda--O my father,
I've broke your best to say so!

_Ferd._ Admired Miranda!
Indeed the top of admiration; worth
What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady
I've 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:[420-5] but you, O you,
So perfect and so peerless, are created
Of every creature's best!

_Mira._ 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'm skilless 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
I therein do forget.

_Ferd._ I am, in my condition,
A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king,--
I would not so![420-6]--and would no more endure
This wooden slavery than to suffer
The flesh-fly blow[422-7] 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.

_Mira._ Do you love me?

_Ferd._ O Heaven, O Earth, bear witness to this sound,
And crown what I profess with kind event,
If I speak true! if hollowly,[422-8] invert
What best is boded me to mischief! I,
Beyond all limit of what else[422-9] i' the world,
Do love, prize, honour you.

_Mira._ I am a fool
To weep at what I'm glad of.

_Pros._ [_Aside._] Fair encounter
Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace
On that which breeds between them!

_Ferd._ Wherefore weep you?

_Mira._ At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer
What I desire to give; and much less take
What I shall die to want.[422-10] But this is trifling;
And all the more it seeks to hide itself,
The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!
I am your wife, if you will marry me;
If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow[423-11]
You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,
Whether you will or no.

_Ferd._ My mistress, dearest,
And I thus humble ever.

_Mira._ My husband, then?

_Ferd._ Ay, with a heart as willing
As bondage[423-12] e'er of freedom: here's my hand.

_Mira._ And mine, with my heart in't: and now farewell
Till half an hour hence.

_Ferd._ A thousand thousand![423-13]

[_Exeunt FERDINAND and MIRANDA._

_Pros._ So glad of this as they, I cannot be,
Who am surprised withal;[423-14] but my rejoicing
At nothing can be more. I'll to my book;
For yet, ere supper-time, must I perform
Much business appertaining. [_Exit._

SCENE II.--_Another part of the Island._

_Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, with a bottle._

_Steph._ Tell not me: when the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and board 'em.[423-1] Servant-monster, drink to me.

_Trin._ Servant-monster! the folly of this island! They say there's but five upon this isle: we are three of them; if th' other two be brain'd like us, the State totters.

_Steph._ Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee: thy eyes are almost set[424-2] in thy head.

[_CALIBAN drinks._

_Trin._ Where should they be set else? he were a brave monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.

_Steph._ My man-monster hath drown'd his tongue in sack: for my part, the sea cannot drown me; I swam, ere I could recover the shore, five-and-thirty leagues, off and on, by this light.--Thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster, or my standard.[424-3]

_Trin._ Your lieutenant, if you list: he's no standard.[424-4]

_Steph._ We'll not run, Monsieur Monster.

_Trin._ Nor go neither: but you'll lie like dogs, and yet say nothing neither.

_Steph._ Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou be'st a good moon-calf.

_Cal._ How does thy Honour? Let me lick thy shoe. I'll not serve him, he is not valiant.

_Trin._ Thou liest, most ignorant monster: I am in case to justle a constable.[424-5] Why, thou debosh'd[424-6] fish, thou, was there ever man a coward that hath drunk so much sack as I to-day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish and half a monster?

_Cal._ Boo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?

_Trin._ Lord, quoth he. That a monster should be such a natural![425-7]

_Cal._ Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I pr'ythee.

_Steph._ Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head: if you prove a mutineer,--the next tree.[425-8] The poor monster's my subject, and he shall not suffer indignity.

_Cal._ I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleased
To hearken once again the suit I made thee?

_Steph._ Marry, will I: kneel, and repeat it; I will stand, and so shall Trinculo.

_Enter ARIEL, invisible._

_Cal._ As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant; a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island.

_Ari._ Thou liest.[425-9]

_Cal._ Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou:
I would my valiant master would destroy thee!
I do not lie.

_Steph._ Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in's tale, by this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.

_Trin._ Why, I said nothing.

_Steph._ Mum, then, and no more.--
[_To CAL._] Proceed.

_Cal._ I say, by sorcery he got this isle;
From me he got it. If thy Greatness will
Revenge it on him,--for, I know, thou darest,
But this thing[425-10] dare not,--

_Steph._ That's most certain.

_Cal._ Thou shalt be lord of it, and I will serve thee.

_Steph._ How now shall this be compass'd?
Canst thou bring me to the party?

_Cal._ Yea, yea, my lord; I'll yield him thee asleep,
Where thou mayst knock a nail into his head.

_Ari._ Thou liest; thou canst not.

_Cal._ What a pied ninny's[426-11] this!--Thou scurvy patch![426-12]--
I do beseech thy Greatness, give him blows,
And take his bottle from him: when that's gone,
He shall drink nought but brine; for I'll not show him
Where the quick freshes[426-13] are.

_Steph._ Trinculo, run into no further danger: interrupt the monster one word further, and, by this hand, I'll turn my mercy out of doors, and make a stock-fish[426-14] of thee.

_Trin._ Why, what did I? I did nothing. I'll go further off.

_Steph._ Didst thou not say he lied?

_Ari._ Thou liest.

_Steph._ Do I so? take thou that. [_Strikes him._] As you like this, give me the lie another time.

_Trin._ I did not give thee the lie. Out o' your wits and hearing too? A pox o' your bottle! this can sack and drinking do. A murrain on your monster, and the Devil take your fingers!

_Cal._ Ha, ha, ha!

_Steph._ Now, forward with your tale.--Pr'ythee stand further off.[427-15]

_Cal._ Beat him enough: after a little time, I'll beat him too.

_Steph._ Stand further.--Come, proceed.

_Cal._ Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with him
I' the afternoon to sleep; then thou mayst brain him,
Having first seized his books; or with a log
Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake,
Or cut his weazand[427-16] with thy knife. Remember
First to possess his books; for without them
He's but a sot,[427-17] as I am, nor hath not
One spirit to command: they all do hate him
As rootedly as I. Burn but his books.
He has brave[427-18] utensils,--for so he calls them,--
Which, when he has a house, he'll deck't withal:
And that most deeply to consider is
The beauty of his daughter; he himself
Calls her a nonpareil: I ne'er saw woman,
But only Sycorax my dam and she;
But she as far surpasseth Sycorax
As great'st does least.

_Steph._ Is it so brave a lass?

_Cal._ Ay, lord.

_Steph._ Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter and I will be king and queen,--save our Graces!--and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys.--Dost thou like the plot, Trinculo?

_Trin._ Excellent.

_Steph._ Give me thy hand: I am sorry I beat thee; but, while thou livest, keep a good tongue in thy head.

_Cal._ Within this half-hour will he be asleep:
Wilt thou destroy him then?

_Steph._ Ay, on mine honour.

_Ari._ This will I tell my master.[428-19]

_Cal._ Thou makest me merry; I am full of pleasure:
Let us be jocund: will you troll the catch[428-20]
You taught me but while-ere?[428-21]

_Steph._ At thy request, monster, I will do reason,[428-22] any
reason.--Come on, Trinculo, let us sing.
[_Sings._
_Flout 'em and scout 'em, and scout 'em and flout 'em;
Thought is free._

_Cal._ That's not the tune.

[_ARIEL plays the tune on a tabor and pipe._

_Steph._ What is this same?[428-23]

_Trin._ This is the tune of our catch, play'd by the picture of Nobody.[428-24]

_Steph._ If thou be'st a man, show thyself in thy likeness: if thou be'st a devil--take't as thou list.[429-25]

_Trin._ O, forgive me my sins!

_Steph._ He that dies pays all debts: I defy thee.--Mercy upon us!

_Cal._ Art thou afeard?

_Steph._ No, monster, not I.

_Cal._ Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not.
Sometime[429-26] a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices,
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me; that, when I waked,
I cried to dream again.

_Steph._ This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where I shall have my music for nothing.

_Cal._ When Prospero is destroy'd.

_Steph._ That shall be by-and-by: I remember the story.

_Cal._ The sound is going away; let's follow it.
And after do our work.

_Steph._ Lead, monster; we'll follow.--I would I could see this taborer! he lays it on.--Wilt come?

_Trin._ I'll follow, Stephano. [_Exeunt._

SCENE III.--_Another part of the Island._

_Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and Others._

_Gonza._ By'r lakin,[430-1] I can go no further, sir;
My old bones ache: here's a maze trod, indeed,
Through forth-rights[430-2] and meanders![430-3] by your patience,
I needs must rest me.

_Alon._ Old lord, I cannot blame thee,
Who am myself attach'd with[430-4] weariness,
To th' dulling of my spirits: sit down, and rest.
Even here I will put off my hope, and keep it
No longer for my flatterer: he is drown'd
Whom thus we stray to find; and the sea mocks
Our frustrate[430-5] search on land. Well, let him go.

_Anto._ [_Aside to SEBAS._] I am right glad that he's so out of hope.
Do not, for one repulse, forgo the purpose
That you resolved t' effect.

_Sebas._ [_Aside to ANTO._] The next advantage
Will we take throughly.[430-6]

_Anto._ [_Aside to SEBAS._] Let it be to-night.
For, now they are oppress'd with travel, they
Will not, nor cannot, use such vigilance
As when they're fresh.

_Sebas._ [_Aside to ANTO._] I say, to-night: no more.
[_Solemn and strange music._

_Alon._ What harmony is this? My good friends, hark!

_Gonza._ Marvellous sweet music!

_Enter PROSPERO above, invisible. Enter, below, several strange
Shapes, bringing in a Banquet: they dance about it with gentle
actions of salutation; and, inviting the KING, &c., to eat, they
depart._

_Alon._ Give us kind keepers, Heavens!--
What were these?

_Sebas._ A living drollery.[431-7] Now I will believe
That there are unicorns; that in Arabia
There is one tree, the phoenix throne;[431-8] one phoenix
At this hour reigning there.

_Anto._ I'll believe both;
And what does else want credit, come to me,
And I'll be sworn 'tis true; travellers ne'er did lie,
Though fools at home condemn 'em.

_Gonza._ If in Naples
I should report this now, would they believe me?
If I should say I saw such islanders,--
For, certes,[431-9] these are people of the island,--
Who, though they are of monstrous shape, yet, note,
Their manners are more gentle-kind than of
Our human generation you shall find
Many, nay, almost any.

_Pros._ [_Aside._] Honest lord,
Thou hast said well; for some of you there present
Are worse than devils.

_Alon._ I cannot too much muse[432-10]
Such shapes, such gesture, and such sound, expressing--
Although they want the use of tongue--a kind
Of excellent dumb discourse.

_Pros._ [_Aside._] Praise in departing.[432-11]

_Fran._ They vanish'd strangely.

_Sebas._ No matter, since
They've left their viands behind; for we have stomachs.--
Will't please you taste of what is here?

_Alon._ Not I.

_Gonza._ Faith, sir, you need not fear. When we were boys,
Who would believe that there were mountaineers
Dew-lapp'd like bulls, whose throats had hanging at 'em
Wallets of flesh? or that there were such men
Whose heads stood in their breasts?[432-12] which now we find,
Each putter-out of one for five[432-13] will bring us
Good warrant of.

_Alon._ I will stand to, and feed,
Although my last: no matter, since I feel
The best is past.--Brother, my lord the Duke,
Stand to, and do as we.

_Thunder and lightning. Enter ARIEL, like a harpy; claps his wings
upon the table; and by a quaint device, the banquet vanishes._

_Ari._ You are three men of sin, whom Destiny--
That hath to instrument[433-14] this lower world
And what is in't--the never-surfeited sea
Hath caused to belch up; yea, and on this island
Where man doth not inhabit; you 'mongst men
Being most unfit to live. I've made you mad;
And even with such like valour men hang and drown
Their proper selves.
[_Seeing ALON., SEBAS., &c., draw their swords._
You fools! I and my fellows
Are ministers of Fate: the elements,
Of whom your swords are temper'd, may as well
Wound the loud winds, or with bemock'd-at stabs
Kill the still-closing[433-15] waters, as diminish
One dowle[434-16] that's in my plume: my fellow-ministers
Are like invulnerable. If you could hurt,
Your swords are now too massy for your strengths,
And will not be uplifted. But remember,--
For that's my business to you,--that you three
From Milan did supplant good Prospero;
Exposed unto the sea, which hath requit[434-17] it,
Him and his innocent child: for which foul deed
The powers, delaying, not forgetting, have
Incensed the seas and shores, yea, all the creatures,
Against your peace. Thee of thy son, Alonso,
They have bereft; and do pronounce, by me,
Lingering perdition--worse than any death
Can be at once--shall step by step attend
You and your ways; whose[434-18] wraths to guard you from,--
Which here, in this most desolate isle, else falls
Upon your heads,--is nothing, but heart-sorrow
And a clear life ensuing.

_He vanishes in thunder; then, to soft music, enter the Shapes again,
and dance with mocks and mowes, and carry out the table._

_Pros._ [_Aside._] Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou
Perform'd, my Ariel; a grace it had, devouring:
Of my instruction hast thou nothing 'bated
In what thou hadst to say: so, with good life,
And observation strange, my meaner ministers
Their several kinds have done.[435-19] My high charms work,
And these mine enemies are all knit up
In their distractions: they now are in my power;
And in these fits I leave them, while I visit
Young Ferdinand,--who they suppose is drown'd,--
And his and my loved darling. [_Exit from above._

_Gonza._ I' the name of something holy, sir, why stand you
In this strange stare?

_Alon._ O, it is monstrous, monstrous!
Methought the billows spoke, and told me of it;[435-20]
The winds did sing it to me; and the thunder,
That deep and dreadful organ pipe, pronounced
The name of Prosper: it did bass my trespass.[435-21]
Therefore my son i' the ooze is bedded;[435-22] and
I'll seek him deeper than e'er plummet sounded,
And with him there lie mudded.[435-23] [_Exit._

_Sebas._ But one fiend at a time,
I'll fight their legions o'er.

_Anto._ I'll be thy second.

[_Exeunt SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO._

_Gonza._ All three of them are desperate: their great guilt,
Like poison given to work a long time after,[436-24]
Now 'gins to bite the spirits.--I do beseech you,
That are of suppler joints, follow them swiftly,
And hinder them from what this ecstasy[436-25]
May now provoke them to.

_Adri._ Follow, I pray you. [_Exeunt._