tceth,

3/-plant
some of your
TRINCULO
I said nothing. 40

<iinnculpatch &TEPHA N O

Mum, then,
and no
more.
Proceed!

CALIBAN isle:
sorcery he got this
Isav, by thy greatness wiI
lrom me he got it. It
Revenge it on him-for I know thou dar'st,
dare not 45
But this thing
$TEPHA NO
That's most certain.

rhou shalt be lord of it, and I'Il serve thee.

C A L I B A N

STEP HANO
How now shall this be compassed ? Canst thou bring me to the party :
CALIBA N

Yea, yea, my lord, PIl yield him thce asleep,

Where thou mavest knock a nail into his head. 50

ARIEL
Thou liest, thou canst not.
CALIBA N
What a pied ninny's this! Thou scurvy patch!
Idobeseech thy greatness give him blows,
And take his bottle from him. When that's gone,
He shall drink naught but brine, for Ill not show him 55
Where the quick freshes are.
STEPHANO
Trinculo, run into no further danger. Interrupt the monster one word
further and, by this hand, I'll turn my nercy out o'doors, and make a
stockfish of thee.
IRINCULO
Why, what did I?Idid nothing. I'll go farther oft. 60
STEPHANO
Didst thou not say he lied?
|ARIEL.
Thou liest.
STEP HANO
Do I Take
tit strikes so?
Trinculo thou that!
As you
like this, give me thelie another time.
INCULO
I did
not pox o' your 65
hearing too ?A
bottle! Thisgivecanthesack
lie. andOut drinking
o'your do. and
wits, A
a murrain on your monster, and
m st os

the devil take

vour fingers.
85
74 There: then, in the sense of 'here's your opportunity te.
76 paunch: Stab hm in the belly
wcasand: windpipe
79 but a sot: inpotent, powerless
They all do hate him: There is a core ol truth i what (
Overstates the casc. We have alrcady
sccn Aricl in
Act 1
(aliban says,
impatiently thought r, EPHA

he and his fellow-spirits arc bound by Prospero's&Art to

they have no pesOnal intercst. The opening lines of Act5
carry dernandng
out a'projccr
suggest the se
n cont roll:ng thesc unwilling agents of his power: My charms sense o eñr. cALIBA

obey crack n, t
81 root edly: deeply Ube

Burn but his books: Caliban emphasises the nccessity of

of power. But he may also be saving, Be caretul not to burndepriving srEPHA

as he has some tinc houschold cffccts'. anything other than

$4 that...to consider: what you should consider CALIBA.

8% nonpareil: Uncquallcd in beauty. Shakespeare is careful here to cxplain

NO ad recogiise thingS Whtch are outside his normal Cxpericnce,
goods arc - ualiry (he has hcard Prospero say c.g. that the bry
so, 3.1,82); and the fact thar Havin
considercd beautiful. We are reminded at the Sane time that Caliban and Mimods
restricted in their knowledge of the outside world: they know onlv what Batter
them, since he had charge of both their educations. Prosperm 'a Or cu
90 become: he htting for
91 brood: children He's
98-99 asleep.. . destroy: Caliban's spccch makes the sarme brutal One
death, that is found in the association betB at ie
dialogue between Antonio and Sebastian (21). As ro
He b:

And
The
Call
But
But
As gr
STEP HA
CALIBA
Av,

ke
TINCI
Exce
EPHA
CNLIBA
Galihan, Stephano and Trineulo (Stratford, 195
86
 tALIRAN

lla, ha, hal

TEPHA N O

f o r w a r d
with vour tale.-Prithee, stand further off.
Now
ALIBA N
After a little time. 70
Bet him cnough.
too.
erivng I'l beat him
yting TEPHANO

Sand farther.-Come, procccd.

custom uith him

CALIBAN

hy. as I told thee, tis a

'afternoon to slcep. Therc thou napst brain him
1'h'a books; or with a log
Having first scized his with a stake.
Batter his skull, or paunch him
knife. Remember
Or cut his weasand with thy without them
Est to possess his books, for not
Iam, nor hath
He's but a sot, as
They all do hate him
80
command.
One spirit to
but his books.
As rootedly as I. Burn calls them,
He has brave utensils, for so he deck withal.
he'll
Which, when he has a house,
consider is
And that most deeply to 85
He himself
The beauty of his daughter.
a woman
Calls her a nonpareil. l never saw
But only Sycorax my dam and
she;
But she as far surpasseth Sycorax
As great'st does least.
STEPHANO
Is it so brave a lass?
CALIBAN 90
Av, lord. She will becone thy bed, I warrant,
And bring thee forth brave brood.
STEPHANO
be King and Qucen
Monster, I will kill this man. His daughter and I will viceroys. Dost thou
thyself shall be
Save our graces!-and Trinculo and
like the plot, Trinculo?
RINCULO 95
Excellent.
STEPHANO keep a
beat thee: but, while thou ivest,
e ne thy hand. I am sorry
good tongue in thy head.
-ALIBAN
Within this balf hour will he be asleep.
Wilt thou destroy him thcn?
118 jocund: joyful
troll the catch: Sing the song. A catch was a song for
the same mclody, but with thesccond voice
SO on.
enterng as thethrecfirst otended
mite vr
103 while-cre: a short tine ago
the
104 I will do anything you ask within reason',
106 Flout 'em and scout 'em: mock and deride them (T) A I E L

tabor: stnall drum

111 the picture of Nobody: The reference is probably to
aplay callcd Nobody and Sombody (published in the title-page
arms, but no body. The character of Nobody is1606) which s
a very old one fre a
(terot
legend, and becoming a part of folklore throughout
Shakespeare's day hc is a kind of universal scapegoat: amediacval Europe. la
mysterious hirure
sponsible for everything for which a reason or a culprit cannot
stances, it is not surprising that he should often be associated be found t
speech) with the Devil and his works. (as he is in

CALIBA

That"

Ard play
STEPHA
What
TRINCUæ
This
$TEPH A
If th
take
TRINCU
0,i
STEPH
He
CALIB:
STEPH
No.
CALIB
He
So
Son

Tha
Wi
Costume of the Character of Nobody.
113 take'st as thou list: Take any shape you like. inhabrtant Rea
which constanth nls
118 the isle is full of noises: Caliban cmerges in this speech as the nst
island: he responds instinctively and without fear to the music illogical s
and appears to be in cornplete hurnony with his surroundings.
l be noticed that
the
Kermode quotes Robert Graves on this passage: "It will rd
of tenses creates a perfect suspension of time." (Tbe Wbin Godaess,)
88
 s12/99
sTEPHA NO

Ay, on mine honour.

master.
rhis will Itell my
A R I E L

100
age (teprotug CALIBA N
Thou mak'st me merry. I am full of pleasure.
e, hrst 2tet jocund! Will you troll the catch
Let uss be
al Europ You taught me but
while-cre>
ious hgute sh
c lound. Cader
s T E P H A N O

At thy request, monster, I will do reason, any reason. Come on, Trinculo,
as he is
in
let us sing 105
Song
Flout 'em and scout 'em,
And scout 'em and flout 'em!
Thought is free.
CALIBAN
That's not the tune.
Ariel plays the tume on a tabor and pipe
STEPHANO
What is this same ? 110
TRINCULO
This is the tune of our catch, played by the picture of Nobody.
STEPHANO
If thou beest a man, show thyself in thy likeness. If thou beest a devil,
take't as thou list.
TRINCULO
O, forgive me my sins!
STEPHANO
He that dies pays all debts. Idefy thee. Mercy upon us! 115
CALIBAN
Art thou afeard?
SIEPHANO
No, monster, not 1.
CALIBAN
e not afeard: the isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes athousand twangling instruments
hum about mine
120

hat, if I then bad wakedears; and sometime voices

make me sleep after long sleep,
The clouds again; and then, in dreaming,
methought
Ready to drop upon me,would open, and show riches 125
t h c n a n u ai
l nbs

Cried to that when I waked

which
ons

TRPHANO
This will
dream again.
music for
that
the
ik prove a brave kingdom to me, where I shall have my
Ccd

89
 possible
130 by and by: immediately; as soon as vigorously.
132 He lays on it: Hc thumps his drum
133 Wilt come: addresscd to Caliban

PHAN

T a e
s o L .

The famous Elizabethan

and pipe. These

instruments
actor, Richard
often Tarlton, awith the tai,
accompanied
TEPHAN

at which Tarlton excelled. gig-a dact

ALNCUL

ENE 3
SCENE 3
Laherpart

s
Alonso's party are continuing the scarch for Ferdinand, but with diminishine horeeft
assassination bid, Scbastian and Antonio are watching fot:
alive. After the failure of their forgotten as Prospe31. own plan unfolds in this scy cONZAL
opportunity; but their schemes are Br la
Virgin Mary. Cf.
1 By'r lakin: By our Ladykin: the Mr old
ache: (T)
Through paths which are sometimes staihr
3 Through forthrights and meanders: Throug
suggests the difficult and painful joumr
times winding. In metaphorical terns, this
Iaeeds

Prospero's enenics must take along the path

to repentance and forgivencss. C. ii4 LONSO
forthrights: (T) Old lord
attached: seized
spirits: with the result that I am
in low spirits Tho an
7 To th'dulling of my encouragement To thdi
flatterer: as a source of
8 put off: give up 9 for myadjcctival form of 'frustration." tven h
11 frustrate: Uscless. The setback o long
because of one
13 for one repulse : through; to put into effcct
14 t'efect: to carry
15 throughly: thoroughly themselves Our frus
as careful about guarding
17 use such vigilance: be He is not directly involved in the action. but acts 3 du ANTONIO
Prospero on the top, invisible: Prospero hin
scem to suggest thatmusicians
the spectacle. The words on the top behizd
ordinator of give the appropriate cucs to the
third acting levcl where hc would responsible
of thunder
for producing thc soundtaking Do not.
light curtain), Those Gallery, their
ccaled by a be placed in the Musicthe stage-hands n tne the Elb Ihat vo
drums-would probably also to on Fl
of would give the cuc (3.i.54)
Prospero; and this in turn Aight presented no
prooblem wir a
of a
BASTLA
sible for Aricl's descent to the stage below. (Ariel's descend by
Incans

he would n oflered byLC

stage, with its claborate system of pulleys:
harness worn bencath his harpy costume.)bansquet vanishes, the explanation ot th
sources

As for the quaint device with which the tor

the
Danquetis
seer
we
briefly (see FurtherReading r
is very plausible and worth restating
the
on which theplaced overrt
Adams' full argument is wellworth consulting). The table Shapes
and
descetds
possibly carried in by the When Ariel
atrap in the Platform floor (or is
staxrh
stage-hand. the
Bencath the table, concealcd by its hangings, isSa
sight,
: from: th

concealing it wings, t
a
s
wings, i.e. folds his wings around the food, thus When Ariel lifts his tuhle
the

a panel in the table top and removes the banquet.

trapdoor,
and
hen
his exit via the
accomplished. The stage-hand can make
carried off (3.ii.83).

90
 /2/28

n o t h i n g .

cALIBAN destroycd.
Prospero is
When
srEPHANO

I remember thc story.

shall be by and by. 130
Ihat
I8INCUL.o
sound is going away. Let's follow it, and after do our work.
oanieáa sTEPHA NO

Lead, monster; we'll follow.IwouldI could see this taborer! He lays it on.
T R I N C U L O

Wilt come-Mfollow, Stephano.

SCENE 3

of the Island
minisking
Dnio are bor Anothet part
tr Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Adrian, Francisco, and otbers
n untolds inttt cONZALO
Br 'r lakin, I can go no further, sir.
are sometimes
My old bones ache. Here's a maze trod indeed,
ult and paicáin Through forthrights and meanders! By your patience,
Inceds must rest me.
dforgivenes Cs
ALONS0
Old lord, I cannot blame thee, 5
spirts Who am myself attached with 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 fatterer. He is drowned
Whom thus we stray to find, and the sea mocks 10
Our frustrate search on land. Well, let him go.
n, but aB2
<&ANTONIO
that Pros (Aide to Sebastian)
usicansh

lof thurd
1am right glad that he's so out of hope.
taking th Ho lo not, for one repulse, forgo the purpose
inthe
That you resolved t'eflect.
nds

BASTI AN
Atide to Antonio)
p r a b l e m

ation ere

Will we take The next advantage

t h e

r thes
chebunçus
s o u n z

ANTONIO throughly.
n dpscndoret
15
For, now Let it be tonight;
Wil not, they are oppressed with travel, they
nor cannot, use such vigilance
As when they
are fresh.
91
21 kind keepers: guardian angels
which the wooden
22 Aliving drollery: Apuppet-showin fiyures are
metaphor is appropriate in that these strange shapes are controlled 1eplaen t
The
top-in the rolc, as it werc, of
puppet-master.
crcature with a sinvle horn in the
tPtr
23 unicorns: mythical horsc-like tmiddle
Alegendary bird thought to dwell in Arabia in
a tree of
24 phoenix: whichfrom
of its kind. Similarly, only onc phocnix existed at a time, springing
predecessor. .
funeral pyre which consumed the body of its
26 'And bring to me anyC other story that seems improbable The
fascination t
held a grcat
the Flizabethans, and figurc
prominentlyunicof
in
and the.
the witza ILO

period.
27 Travellers ne'er did lie: In fact, travellers' tales werc rcgarded with sceptics
30 islanders: (T)
31 certes: certainly
32-35 Gonzalo supplies additional support for the idea that an ugly oot deforned
docs not nccessarily imply a savage naturc bencath. See note to 2.i.126#
36 some of you there: i.e. Antonio and Sebastian, and Ialso Alonso- although the la h t
there

in a better light, partly because we sympathise with him in his grief over Ferdin
because, in this instance, he scems to share Gonzalo's generous and perceptiye t h shous

the shapes, admiring their manners and gracctul movements. Antonio ad S

contrast, register only a sense of astonishment at the spcctacle. T O N I O

37 muse: wonder at

39 want the use of tongue: are unable to speak

40 Praise in departing: Aproverbial expression: Don't praise too soon: vait and se y
will end'.

Buast.

Faniful
A Unicorn. From Gesner's Curions W"oodcuts of Real and

92
 treole b3/18
SEBASTIAN
A n i tt o A n t o m i o )

Isay tonight. No more.

and strange music; and Prospero on the top, invisible. Enter several strange
,brisging in abanquel; and dance about it with gentle actions of salutations; and,
rititg tthe King, et., to eat, they depart.
ALONSO

What harmony is this! My good friends, hark!

h
GONZALO

Marvellous sweet music! 20

ALONSO

Give us kind keepers, heavens! What were these ?

sEBASTIAN
hough te Aliving drollery. Now I will believe
et Fering That there are unicorns; that in Arabia
perceti There is one tree, the phoenix' throne, one phoenix
At this hour reigning there.
ANTONIO
I'll believe both; 25
And what does else want credit, come to me
wait znd g And I'l be sworn 'tis true. Travellers ne'er did lie,
Though fools at home condemn 'em.
GONZALO
If in Naples
1should report this now, would they believe me?
IfIshould say I saw such islanders?
30
For certes, these are people of the island
Who, though they are of monstrous shape, yet note,
Iheir manners are more gentle, kind, than of
Our human generation you shall find
Many, nay, almost any.
PROSPERO
(Aside) Honest lord,
Thou hast said well, for some of you there present 35
Are worse than devils.
ALONSo
Icannot too much muse
Such shapes, such gesture, and such sound, expressing,
Although they want the use of tongue, a kind
Of excecllent dumb discourse.
PROSPERO
(Aside) Praise in departing.
FRANCISCO 40
They vanished strangely.

93
42 viands: Food; victuals. Shakespeare almost certainly ntendsa
with an illusory h. parallel wnh
here: Christ was tempted in the wilderness3.ii.52
Succumb to the lurc of the
food; and in 53 Alonso s
inviting Ari,
banuet. Setatn
specilically order s.
Sebastian to join in the feast with
him, thereby Aricl's line
sin
Book 2:
Cr. Milton, Paradise Regained, up his eyes beheld
Our Saviour lifting shade
under the broadest
In anple
Table richly spred, in regal modc, sort
meats of noblest
With dishes pil'd, and
And savour... (338-342)
But when Christ successfully tesists
tte lr
temptation, vanish'd quite
Both Table and Provision
and Talons heard
46
With sound of Harpics wings,throats. CÉ, A,
Dewlapped : with folds of skin at
their Midsummer (402403)
Nigh' Drram, A
their heads are hung at
putt

morning dew;
With cars that suwccp away the
Crook-knec'd, and dew-lapp'd like Thessalian bulls...
skin hanging from the :
a variant form of 'wattle': the fleshy neck of aby tte
Whose :heads
4748 Wallets stood in their breasts : Such storics were frcquently reported tte
of the New World. Cf. Otbello, 1.iii.144-145, where the Moor tells how he won De hough

love with tales of

Anthropophagi, and men whosc
heads
The shoulders. andto,.
Do grow beneath their
A0 Each putere0ut of five for one: Elizabethan travellers often spcculated on the
was forfeit i
depositing a sun of money in london on departure, which
turn. If, however, he came back safely, and could prove that he rcached his det
was repaid fivefold. HEL

50 warrant: proof 51 Although my last: Though it may be my last mecal

monstrous bird-like ctar
Ariel, like a harpy: In Greek mythology, the harpics were off of banquets secms to b
That hath
carrying
wings and long claws, who acted as scavengers. The ind what
their special function (see Virgil's Aeneid Bk.of3.2251., and also commentary notc to Jüc
a maiden or an angel: cf. Perichs, 4.i 4 Hith caus
were often described as having thc features Where ma
Thou art like the harpy,
Which, to betray, dost with thine angel's face, icing mo
Seize with thinc eagle's talons. ind even
This emphasises the idea that Ariel acts
as a tempter, putting on a fair show (in the procs Ter pro
bang
his true purpose and snatching away thederands
an attractive feast), before demonstrating
Shakespcarc's most claborate, in terns of the
with a qnaint device: This scene is to mount t
on the resources of the stage. It would, however, have been quite possibletheatres lise u
more sophisticated indoor
open-air stage of the Globe, as wcll as in the
discussion of the stagC-mechanics involved, in0
See commentary note to 3.ii.17 for a p
of this kind were an integraldramanN
cxplanation of the quaint device. Theatrical tricks demonstrations
the of
spectacle, and were cagerly awaited by the audience, as banquet des
Prospero's) 'magic'. (This is not to say, of course, that the disappearing
a more serious function in the play's thematic design.)
53 Stand to: (T) tep
Destiny, or Faxc, was
54-55 Destiny, of which this world is the instrument . play th
men. In this
three goddesses who controlled and dictated the lives rideof l..178-180).
worldly instrument is the Sea, as suggested herc (and
56 never-surfcited: evcr-hungry rhetorical
fose

57 and: The word is strictly speaking redundant, but it adds to the

torren
t
of Ariel's spcech. possible

60 suchlike valour: i.e. desperate courage, of the kind that makes it

suicide

94
 the
s/3/41
SEBAS TIA N
No matter, since
They have left their viands behind, for we have stomachs.
here ?
Will't please you taste of what is
A L O N S o

Not I.
GONZALO

Faith, sir, you nccd not fear. When we were boys,

iWho would believe that there were mountaineers 45
Dewlapped like bulls, whose throats had hanging at 'em
Wallets of Aesh? Or that there were such men
Whose heads stood in their breasts? Which now wve find
Each putter-out of five for one will bring us
Good warrant of.
tutke ALONSO
the co I will stand to and feed, 50
Desde
Although my last-no matter, since I feel
The best is past. Brother, my lord the Duke,
Stand to, and do as we.
their a Tbuonder and lightning. Linter Ariel, like a barpy, claps his wings upon the table, and,
he did
testinat with
a quaint device, the banguet vanishes.
ARIEL
You are three men of sin, whom Destiny 55
Tcaturs
That hath to instrument this lower world
to ha And what is in'tthe never-surfeited sea
on this island
Hath caused to belch up you, and
'mongst men
Where man doth not inhabit, you
ii.46-4

made you mad;

Being most unfit to live. I have 60
men hang and drown
And even with suchlike valour
r o r s

Their proper selves.

a n g u t

n d a p

I part
r m a t i s

95
 themsclves.)
61 proper: own. (Thus:
62. the elements...:a very complicated construction, Aricl scems to say,
elements of which your swords
Fate and, being spirits, are the very ate mae
they cannot injure us. HremunnSte
laughter
64 bemocked-at stabs: futile thrusts which only arouse o fw h o m

65 the stil-closing waters: Waters which fiow together again as soon as W o u n dt h e

K thest1ill
66 dowle: small feather
plume: (T) Oned o w e

69 will not: Cannot. Prospero's magic has deprived them of strength, so that tact o. irelikein
too hcavy to lift. Compare Ferdinand's predicament, 1.i.485-486. Y'our s w o r e

72 which hath requit it: "Which has avenged your deed (by casting you on the sho Lad will n
island)'. For that's
75 Incensed: Stirred to anger. The image is of Nature rising in protest against their From Mila
decd. Exposed u
76 peace: Peace of mind-up to now their conscienccs have not been troubled br th Himandh
Prospero. See Antonio's remark, 2.i.257.
they comnitted against The powe
77 bereft: robbed Incensed
lead them to date
78 Lingering perdition: Gradual ruin. Suffering, slow but sure, will Against v
80 whose wraths: i.e. the powers (3.iii.74) They have
aplum
81 else falls: Which otherwisc will fall. (Another cxarmplc of a singular verb with Lingering
jcct: wraths .. . falls.) Can be at
will guard you from) heart's s
82 is nothing but heart's sorrow: the only thing (that You and
83 And a bla1neless lifec to follow'.
mock the assembled company
Which he
mocks and mows: The spirits pull faces and otherwisc Upon vo
gestures.
And a cle
84 Bravely: finely-as usual in this play
taken literallv: Prospero may
tshes in
5 The word should not necessarily be k and mo.
devour's
praising references to their
other hand, harpics
the banquet disappcar. On the stealing
skill in making numerous of banque PROSPERO
for their appetite-hencc the
consurmed the fox

quaint device herc may indccd give the appearancc that Ariel has Bravely
86 bated: omitted
and with marvellous care in p
Perform
Of my ir
87-88 with good life... strange: Most rcalistically In what
(Prospero is praising his actors.)
spirits in Ariel's retinue) And obs
88 meaner ministers: lesser minions (the less powerful
89 several kinds: individual parts
Their se
And the
done: performed In their
And in
Young
And his

GoNZALO
I'th' nar
In this
AL.O,ONSoit is

96
 thzsthan,
and the otbers draw their suords
You fools! I and my fellows
ministers
off Fate: the elements,
Ire
sour swords are tempered, may as well
whon
Of loud winds, or with bemocked-at stabs
Woundthc diminish
still-closing waters, as 65
it the
dowle
that's in mv plumne. My fellow ministers
invulnerable. It you could
burt
ire like too massy for your strengths,
swords are
Sour
remember
tad will not be uplifted. But
you-that vou three
Eor that's my business to
70
Prospero
From Mlan did supplant goodhath requit it.
Esnosed unto the sea, which
for which foul deed
Him and his innocent child;
forgetting, have
The powers, delay1ng, not
creatures
Incensed the seas and shores, yea, all the 75
Aeainst vour peace. Thec of thy son, Alonso,
me
They have berett; and do pronounce by
death
Lingering perdition-worse than any
Cn be at once-shall step by step attend
You and your ways; whose wraths to guard vou from, 80
Which here, in this most desolate isle, clse falls
U'pon vour heads, is nothing but heart's sorrow.
And aclear life ensuing.
gele rantshes is thunder. Then, to soft musie, enter the shapes again, and dance with
r u t nd mows, (arrying ont the table.
e m P R O S P E R O

Bravely the igure of this harpy hast thou

Performed, my Ariel: a grace it had, devouring: 85
Of my instruction hast thou nothing bated
In what thou hadst to say. So, with good lite
And observation strange, my meaner ministers
Their several kinds have done. My high charms work,
And these, mine enemies, are all knit up 90
In their distractions. Thev now are in my power;
And in these fits I leave them while I visit
Toung Ferdinand, whom they
And his and mine loved darling.suppose is drowned,
GONZALo
th name of
something holy, sir, why stand you 95
In this
ALONSO strange stare:
,it is monstrous,
nonstrous.
97
98 of it: of my sin
101 it did bass my trespass: It proclained my wrong
-doing
Notice how the association of nusic and the thunder here in a decp and
which is threatened by Alonso's 'discordant' art () sugKUsts th
chatea
102 Therefor: in conscquence of this
103 plummet: plumb-line, uscd to measure (sound) the depth of
water
104 But one. , . time: Let the fiends
come onc at a time (and I will fight rh
107 Gonzalo refers to poison calculated to take cfect a long
tine after
though such poisoas are unlikely to have existed, thcey were a grat being
who often hinged the plots of their plays on the delaved workings of favourite wih ddre
drink.
ecstasy: Madness. Gonzalo fcars that Alonso may be conternplating suicide (nde i it
that Anronio and Sebastian will destroy themselves in a futile assault t
ofi Prospeto and have
ACT 4
In Act 4, which consists of a single scernc, the play's rwo sub-plots are virtually conruel :
dinand has proved himself worthy of Miranda by succcsstully acconplishing the taski ,
him by Prospero; the lovers then rcceive his blessing; and theit union is cclcbrated in the
which Prospero puts on with the aid of his magic powers.
The masquc comes to an abrupt and untimely end, however, as Prospero rccalls (ust in tr
plot of Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano to kill him. Ariel is dispatched to divert them i%
Vert them of s
his master's ccll, and the Act ends with the conspirators being routcd hy ProsTero and An .

SCENE 1

1 austerely: severely
2 Your compensation makes amends: Your reward makes up for it.
3 ahasthird of mine own life: Prospero's ncaning here is not clear. He may ie saying
devoted a third of his life to the upbringing of the daugher he is now giving s,
his dukedom and his studies. 4.i4 se 14
he may mean that the other two-thirds of hi_ life are Ilive for, and l'm g
to bear our the latter sugyestion, as if to say, "There are threc things
vou one of the.
4 who: whom (i.c. Miranda).
7 strangely: wonderfully
8 I ratify ... gift: I confirm this valuable gift is yours.
tOSPERO
her off. Prospero is conscious
9 boast her off: Compare the construction 'show the nature ot tne
lavishing praise on Miranda, in order to bring home to Ferdinand
has won (T) prais
Mr
to
cmphasise that any attenipr
10-11 Prospero uses the metaphor of a true
race toworth. 'She will outdistance pratse a
must inevitably fall short of her
standing'

98
 billows spoke, and told me of it:
the
to me; and the thunder,
did sing it
M e t h o u g h t

winds

dreadful organ-pipe, pronounced

The l e e p a n d
That

The namc of Prosper:

it did bass my trespass. 100
mr son
i'th'ooze is bedded, and
T h e r c t o r

him deeper
than e'er plummet sounded,
I lseek him there lic
mudded
th

FBASTIA N
But one fiend at a time,
legions o'er.
l fight their
ANTONIO
IIl be thy second.
off
105
Jebastian
uetonio md
cONZALO
All three of them are desperate. Their great guilt,
Osperoto tdiewasent%
tched ike poison given to work a great
time after.
Nor'gins to bite the spirits. I do besseech vou,
That are of suppler joints, follow them swiftly.
And hinder them from what this ecstasv 110
May now provoke them to.
ADRIA N
Follow, I pray you.
por it.
clear. He ma; be
hter he is no piruig
dom and his suat ACT4
things Ilive fo, edl
SCENE 1

Before Prospero's cell

|Enter Praspero, Ferdinand, and Miranda
PROSPERO
rospero is conSc
nature ofad I(I have too austerely punished you,
nand the
Tour compensation makes amends, forI
any attempt to Have given you here a third of mine own life,
outdistancp s
Or that for which I live: who once
Itender to thr hand. All thy
again
vexations 5
Were but my trials of thy love, and thou
st strangelv stood the test. Here, afore heaven,
Iratifr this mr rich gift. O
Ferdinand,
not smile at me that I boast her ott,
or thou shalt find she will 10
And ake it halt outstrip all praise,
behind her.
99
12 Against an oracle: even if an
oracle should declare otherwise
13 gift: (T) vour abours)
14
16 purchased: won (by
sanctimonious: Holy. (The word is not used in its modern derogatofy sense )

17 rite: (T) The heavens will shower blessings

shower. and gracc
18 aspersion: Sprinkling: The image recalls
holy bond of marriage. Mi te
only if they respcct the
Heavens rain grace/On that
which breeds between 'em (3.i7
this sccnc.
i75-76),PrOspet
and ant' i. eatietb
in the masquc, latcr in yates t
of Juno and Ceres rcpcllent. loathsome 22 vou
21 weeds: instead of flowers:
loathly: both: both cf v.
shall light you: Hymen was the god of marriage,
As Hymen's lamp and catte
for the tmarriagc
23 smoky: this was scen as an omen
which burnt
saving to Ferdinand and orMiranda that it is up to them to determine how
cither clcar

fair issue: fine children 25

burn. With ... now: together with the love I possess at thas mae.
24
26 opportune: Convenient; suitable. Even if I were in the sort of place- ike a mute
I should break my vow
. suggestion
=
u sha

where it seemed fitting that

to the beliet that each pcrson has a good'temptatkr
s
27 our worser genius: An allusion latter it he yields to tempDtatine
Ferdinand will be listening to the voice of the AONA
ND

28 to: so as to
29 cdge: keen delight
or...or: cither or. In bhis impaticncc tor night to Come, it will scen to Fr+i
30-31 night kept a prisoner in the yn
if the sun-god's horses have been lamed, or f such

so long in coming.
the end of the day being apparently Ost op

34 potent: powerful
3.ii.88: my meaner ministers.
35 thy meaner fellows: Cí. term for all the spirits under his command. Prospero js ter ve
37 rabble: Merely a collective
contemptuous.
demonstration of my nagic powcrs.
(This is the trick tim Tc túge 01
of mine Art: A
41 Some vanity
plays down the significance of thisofconjuring act te vz Then I shall
to in 4.i.37). Noticc how Prospero diversion; also that it is an illusion fancv, and in to he bo
vanity suggests a trifle, a mere which s r
conjure up an imaginary, ideal worid, SPERO
rcal. But although the nasquc docs Caliban's conspiracy, nevertheless it is not simpe
remembers
dismissed when Prospero themes of the play.
containcd interlude: it relates closcly to the became very popular th
Italy, and
it then and
originally imported from
The masque form was Shakespeare's day masques werc
frequently perforned in the grath hz, Ariel!
and the nobility. ln provide a suitable setting for thesc claborzrt ri
and castles of England, which could event standing on its own (not,
a5 lk6
was a dramatic claborate cosrumes and disguk
ments. Basically the masquc music and dancing,
on WOuld
a play), and concentrating
plot and character. From
this description it 3
rather than on
spcctacular cfects,
masque-like episodcs: notably
that in 3.iii where At
that Tbe Tempest has other role is trequetae
the banquet. We can sce, also, how Prospero's
and snatches up with his Art (comi
produccr, 'dirccting' the spectacle he has created ssiz
theatrical
But these masque elenents
are fully incorporate I t h e n ,

SCene which opens the play). to the overall

themthe
a harpy is relevant sin, showing
and do not stand alonc. Ariel's disguise as men of
mirror to the three
grotesque appearance acts as a Intentioa:
it
cckha

ugly and deformed natures.

Act 4 has a diferent
The actual masque mounted by Prospero in Golden
World wherc o fm a r t

union of Ferdinand and Miranda by placing them in a and stabilir

ti
harmony
cord can penetrate. The three goddesses underline the ideal World, as
Prospero
But the

and link it to the fertility of nature. It is an imaginary,

real world of
Naples.
Ferdinand and Miranda must leave it finally for the us morc
incds
makes
setting, it that
has an important function: bccause of its perfectfrom view In a world

hidden
values and customs which can become
Antonio and Scbastian.
Presently?...twink: Immediately -in the twinkling o an c
42-43

100
 FERDINAND
Ido believe it
Agaasta n o r a c l e

PROSPERO
as
thine own acquisition
T git, and
Then,
my daughter; but
hils purchascd, takevirgin-knot
break her before 15
dost
If thou
sanctimonious
ceremonics mav
1ll ministered,
INth full and holy rite be
the heavens Jet fall
No sweet aspersion shall hate,
To make this contract grow; but barren
anr-eted disdain and discord shall bestrew 20
loathlv
The union of vour bed with weeds so
That you shall hate it both. Therefore take heed.
vou.
As flvmen's lamps shall light
FERDINAND

As I hope
in For quiet days, fair issue, and long life,
With such love as 'tis now, the murkiest den, 25
The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion
melt
Our worser genius can, shall never
Mine honour into lust, to take away
The edge of that dav's celebration
When I shall think or Phoebus' steeds are foundered 30
Or Night kept chained below.
ItPROSPERO
Fairly spoke.
Sit then and talk with her: she is thine own.
What, Ariel! Mr industrious servant, Ariel!
s& do Enter Aril

What would my potent master? Here I am.

PROSPERO 35
Ihou and thy meaner fellows your last service
Did worthily perform, and I must use you
In such another trick. Go bring the rabble,
er whom I give thee power, here to this place.
k hem to quick motion, for I must 40
ow upon the eves of this young couple
ome vanity of mine Art. It is my promise,
ARIEL.And they expect it from me.
PROSPERO
Ay, with a
Presently?
twink.
.
101
 47 mop and mow: Gestures and strange expresstons, (CE
Staye diteetta f
50 Well: Good. (Similatly in 4.i.56.)
conceive: understand

51 dalliance: tlirtation, Miranda and Ferdlinand hay

havc pethaps e
P'rospero's conversatio1 with Atiel.
$2 rein: (T)
that's the cnd of
54 good night: so much tor;
Warrant: promise

Abates: cools r6PERO

the ardour of my liver: my intensc desire (for Mirandal
57-58 Bring... a spirit: Bring onc spirit too many rather than have too fe
58 pertly : quickly
59 No tongue!: Silence was essential to thc success of magical operations.
Enter Iris: The goddess of the rainbow and a messcnger of the gods, cspeciallyCi,4
of Jupitcr). She may be played by Ariel in the masque: sce commentary note to 4
0SPERO
60 Ceres: the goddess of cultivation, responsible for the earth's fertility and
bounteous: abundant (referring to the crops which grow under hert Care)
leas: mcadows

61 vetches: a tvpe of cattle-fodder

63 meads thatched with stover: meadows sown with fodder
them: the shecp
64 pionèd and twillèd brims: cdges of a river-bank which have been woh w,
forced with a lattice-work of branches
spongy: rainy-encouraging the growth of spring flowers
65 fowers at your conmand
at thy hest betrims: adorns with
66 cold: Virtuous. Notice howformality,
the richness of descriptive language in this spect áed
tendency towards a 'cold'
broom-groves: (T)
suitor
67 the dismissèd bachelor: the rejected
68 lass-lorn : deprived of his lovc supports
pole-clipt: a reference to vines twining around their
69 sea-marge, sterile: barren sca-shore
king of the gods. She is often scprcsctda d
70 queen o'th'sky: Juno, wife of Jupiter,
Vide 4.i.74.
in a chariot drawn by peacocks.
71 arch: rainbow
74 amain: with speed st Thich
of some kind. Cf. Aricl's Alight in 3.i and
Jono descends: Probably on a platformcontrast, is slow and starely: she docs
not 'arrre
note to 3.111.17. uno's descent, by
until 4.i.101.

102
 SOu
'Come' and 'Go,
can say
twicc, and cry, 'So, So',
Ktorc

hrcathe
And bre: 45
on his toe,
Each onc, tripping mow,
Wl be here with mop andNo?
master?
Do vou love me,
ROSPERO

Deadly, my deicate Ariel. Do not approach

Tll thou dost hear me call,
ARIEL

Well, I conceive. 50

PROSPERO

Look thou be true. DO not give dalliance

Too much the rein. The
strOngest oaths are straw
To th'fire i'th'blood. Be more
Or else, good night your vow. abstemious,
FERDIN AND
I warrant you, sir,
The white cold virgin snow
Abates the ardour of my upon my heart 55
PROSPERO liver.

Now come, my Ariell Bring 2 Well.

Rather than want a spirit a corollary,
BPPeAT, and pertly.
o tongue! All evesl silent.
Soft music, Enter
IRIS Iris.
Ceres, most bounteateous lady, thy rich leas
60
Or wheat, rye, barlev,
vetches, oats, and peasc;
Ihy turfy mountains, where
And flat meads thatched withlive nibbling sheep,
stover, them to keep;
Ihy banks wih pionèd and twillèd brims,
nich spongy April at thy hest betrims, 65
0 make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom-groves,
Vhose shadow thydisint
the bachelor loves,
Bei
And
ng 3lass-lorn: vineyard,
thy sea-marge,sterile and rocky-hare
Where
ere thou thysel dost air-the queen o'th'sky, 70
Whose wat'ry arch and messenger am l,
ds thee leave these, and with her sovereign grace
1ere on this erass-plot, in this very place,
amain.
nn descendsCome and sport. Her peacocks fly

103
78 saffron: yellow
79 Difusest: scatters
80-81 One end of the rainbow is in wooded (bosky) terrain, the other
sides (down).
85 estate: bestow
87-97 Venus is the goddess of love; her son is Cupid, At first sight
priate figurc at a marriage-blessing: but Ceres' fears are she
might
assisted Pluto (dusky Dis), king of the
underworld, iin his plot She ape
wel-found.
Proserpina and make her his qucen. Ceres, in her to kidnap he 4
she had previously blessed and made despair, . put a
plentiful, so that it became cursc on the ae
length she discovered Proserpina's whereabouts, and extracted batren and dev
that her daughter could spend half thc ycar on carth, while a promise ftom
other half with Pluto in the underworld. Accordingly. shc would
Ceres lifted hare mitboas,
ycar, when the crops grew and the sun shone: the remnainder of her curse ior b
wintry. the tme
wa ol
In the magic donain of Ferdinand and Miranda,
4i.110-117): it is a protected haven where no wantonhowever, winter is unkcoy
(ike the stealing of Proserpina) is permitted; so insteadcharm or violbtion of
of her curse. Cetrs n
blessing on the lovers.

Venus and Cupid. ro

scandaous
and
with his evil
90-91 've sworn to avoid the company of Venus and Cupid
tation." worstfy
chiefr
93 Cutting: Aying through she w2s
place where associated with
Papbos: In Cyprus: the favourite abode of Venus, and the traditionally

94 Dove--drawn: In a chariot drawn by doves. 'Doves' are

95 Wanton charm: Cf. 4.i.55.
9698 Compare Prospero's warning, 4.i.51f. (hot) mistress of Mars.
hot minion: Venus, who was the passionate

99 waspish-headed: irritable
101 right out: normal
of state: stately
102 gait: walk; bearing
104 this twain: this pair of lovers
105 is8ue: children

104
/1/75
Tich Ceres, her to entertain. 75
Approach,

Feier C r e s

that ne'er
CERES

Hail, many-colourcd messenger,

Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter;
Who, with thy saftron wings, upon my flowers
Difusest honey-drops, refreshing showers;
dost crown 80
And with each end of thy blue bov
My bosky acres and mv unshrubbed down,
Rich scarf to my proud earth. Why hath thy queen
Summoned me hither to this short-grassed green?
IRIS
Acontract of true Jove to celebrate, 85
And some donation freely to estate
On the blest lovers.
CERES
Tell me, heavenly bow,
If Venus or her son, as thou dost know,
Do now attend the queen? Since they did plot
my daughter got,
The means that dusky Disscandalled 90
company
Her and her blind bor's
I have forsworn.
IRIS
Of her society
Be not afraid. I met her deity
clouds towards Paphos, and her son
Cutting the thought they to have
done
Dove-drawn with her. Here 95
man and mnaid,
wanton charm upon this paid
Dome no bed-right shall be
are, that
Whose vows but in vain.
Hymen's torch be lighted:
Till urned again;
return
Mars's hot minion is arrows,
w a s p i s h - h e a d e d son
has broke his
Her shoot no more, but play with sparrows. 100
Swears he will
out.
And be a boy right
CERES Highest queen of state,
her gait.
comes; I know her by
Great Iuno
with me
JUNO bountcous
sister ? Go
How does
my they may prOsperous be,
this twain, that
To bless issue.
honoured in their 105
And
They sing
JUNOO Honour, riches, marriage blessine

105
108 still always
110 Larth' inrease et
110 foisou plenty: uttul abundanc
114 115
kres the hardshi of wnte)
110 charninglv: lh wod etes woth t the h
haRC or cha lik) ture ot this majestie vioi....
be bold: b boll a
fancies:D(uheh h can make visble wuh th ad
hs \t togve the ovIS hs blessng thtouph cee spitits
Suh a tate and wIw tatlhet who an ptodue these
126 mute: stlet wondeS wIe
128 Naiades: spit dets
windring: The Wd cobincs the scnse of
3u120 wandcrinu'
120 sedged: madc trom grassy reeds 130 crisp: tippling
3 tempcrate: chaste hence appropriate to a
and'Indir
arriayc
134 sickleman: reapers blessing
holiday: (T)
cncounter: take as partoers
oper hatited:
ow:fprately
dresse.i
it té: Sorr (CE 'with heavv hearts".)
The nasque scenc with lohn Cleinents as Prospero
Siunon Ward as I
OBriun as Miranda in David Jones' 1lempest
sSPERO
at Chichester

FERDIN4,1

PROSPER

Juno a
There
Or else

IRIS
l'ou n

Leave
:ns.
Come
A cor

lou
Con
Mak
And
In c
|Ester cer
 Long continuance, and
Houry jors be still uponincreasing
yo!
luno sings lher blessings on you.
Farth's increase, toison plenty.
Barns and garners never empty.
110
Vines with clust'ring bunches
growing,
Plants with goodly burden bowing:
Spring come to you at the farthest
In the very end of harvest.
Scarcity and want shall shun you, 115
Ceres' blessing so is on you.
SERDINA ND
This is a nost majestic viSiOn, and
larmonious charmingly. May I be bold
To think these spirits?
y68. FROSPERO

I have from their confnes

Spirits,
which by mine Art
called to enact 120
My present fancies.
FERDINAND

Let me live
So rare a wondered father and a here ever;
wise
Makes this place Paradise.
jps6 and Ceres nbisper, and send Iris on
PROSPERO employ ment
Sweet, now, silence!
Juno and Ceres whisper seriously.
There's something else to do. Hush and 125
Or else our spell is marred. be mute,
IRIS
You nymphs, called Naiades, of the windring brooks,
With your sedged crowns and ever-harmless looks,
Leave tour crisp channels, and on this green land
130
Answer vour summons; Juno does command.
Lome temperate nvmphs, and help to celebrate
A contract of true love. Be not too late.
I:nter certain Nymph.s
You sunburned sicklemen, of August weary,
Come hither fron the furrow, and be merrv. 135
Make holidav: vour rye-straw hats put on,
And thcse fresh oymphs cncounter everr one
In countrv footing.
1nler ceriain Reapers, properly babited. They join with the Nynpbs in a gracefu!
ace, towards the tnd nhereof, Prospero starts sudenly and speaks; after which, to a
nish,
Jrange, hollan, and confused noise, ther berily
107
142 Avoid!: Be gonc!
144 works: troubles; agitates
145 touched: stirrcd
distempered: upset; distraught
A 0 S P E

146 moved sort: Troubled statc. I'rospero has regaincd his self.
anxicty over his outburst. The speech that follows is one of f-control,
and notices Frri
succeeds in consoling Ferdinand, but which also reveals to us great caln and
the truc natuTesttt,P
distress.
148 revels: Games. Uscd gencrally to describe theatrical
151 the baseless fabric of this vision:
entertainments ERDIS
Compare this insubstantial pareant in A: t.. Tais
emphasises that the elaborate structure of the masquc,
anpear to be at the time, is mercly an however real and endunrg 1 That
this with the inevitable passing away ofillusion which quickly fades; he goes
all worldly things. ont o 0AN
154 all which it inherit: all who inherit (i.c.
occupv) the carth
156 rack: a wisp of cloud
157 on: of PROSPE

158 rounded with a sleep: Crowned by death. Cf. You

Richard ll, 3.ii.160-162: As
... for within the hollow crown
That rounds the mortal temples of a king Our
Keeps Death his court As
It is his realisation that each human life is
surroundcd 1by a sleep, before birth za: Are
death, which disturbs Prospero's peace of mind. It leads him (and Shakespeare :) 1o que An
the meaning of his own existence, and ask himsclf what he has achicved. At ths The
he is conscious only of failure and betraval: Caliban, whom he tried to educate, S I'he
to kill him; just as, twelve years before, Antonio abuscd the power Prospero give t
Yea
usurp the dukedom. Everything depends, therefore, on the successful compleirn And
plan, to redecm past crrors and justify the long years in exile.
162 rcpose: rest Lea
163 still: calm As

beating: agitated. Cf. 1.ii.176. Is r

We wish your pcace: We hope you'll feel cal1ner. Bea
164 with a thought: at once: as quick as a thought Be
Ithank thee: Probably addressed to the departing lovers, in response totheir good
165 cleave to: Attend to connstantly. The bond between is so (Osct An
master and Servant
Aricl can be summoncd with a thought. To
166 mcet with: confront: deal with FERD
Ferdinar
PROST
Cs
Lnter
ARIE
PROS

l08
 0sPER

that foul conspiracy

his confederates 140
r Caliban and
torgot

Jhat their plot

Th minute of
b e a s t

life. The
c o m e , - W e l l done! Avoid! No more!-
slos.

s
S E R D I N AN D

strange.
Your fatheer's in some passion
Ths is strongly.
him
Tut works
MIRANDA Never till this day
distempered. 145
Tbim touched with anger, so
PROSPERO
sort.
look, my son, in a moved
Vou do cheerful, sir.
dismayed. Be
As if vou were our actors.
ended. These
Our revels n0w are
all spirits, and
As I foretold you,air,were
into thin air;
150
Are oelted into this vi_icon.
And like the baseless fabric of
he cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,
the great globe itself,
The solemn temples, dissolve,
'a, all which it inherit, shall faded, 155
And, like this insubstantial pageant
such stuff
Leave not a rack behind. We are
our little life
As dreams are made on; and
ls rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vexed. troubled.
Bear with my weakness; my old brain is 160
Be not disturbed with my infirmity.
If you be pleased, retire into my cell
And there repose. A turn or two I'll walk,
To still my beating mind.
FERDINAND and MIRANDA
We wish your peace.
Fednand and Miranda off
PROSPER0
Come with athought. I thank thee. Ariel: come.
Eater Ariel
ARIEL
hy thoughts I cleave to. What's thy pleasure ?
PROSPERO 165
Spirit,
must prepare to meet with Caliban.

109