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  • Title: The Tempest (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editors: Brent Whitted, Paul Yachnin

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-370-0

    Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editors: Brent Whitted, Paul Yachnin
    Peer Reviewed

    The Tempest (Folio 1, 1623)

    3
    The Tempest.
    220Good wombes haue borne bad sonnes.
    Pro. Now the Condition.
    This King of Naples being an Enemy
    To me inueterate, hearkens my Brothers suit,
    Which was, That he in lieu o'th' premises,
    225Of homage, and I know not how much Tribute,
    Should presently extirpate me and mine
    Out of the Dukedome, and confer faire Millaine
    With all the Honors, on my brother: Whereon
    A treacherous Armie leuied, one mid-night
    230Fated to th' purpose, did Anthonio open
    The gates of Millaine, and ith' dead of darkenesse
    The ministers for th' purpose hurried thence
    Me, and thy crying selfe.
    Mir. Alack, for pitty:
    235I not remembring how I cride out then
    Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint
    That wrings mine eyes too't.
    Pro. Heare a little further,
    And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse
    240Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story
    Were most impertinent.
    Mir. Wherefore did they not
    That howre destroy vs?
    Pro. Well demanded, wench:
    245My Tale prouokes that question: Deare, they durst not,
    So deare the loue my people bore me: nor set
    A marke so bloudy on the businesse; but
    With colours fairer, painted their foule ends.
    In few, they hurried vs a-boord a Barke,
    250Bore vs some Leagues to Sea, where they prepared
    A rotten carkasse of a Butt, not rigg'd,
    Nor tackle, sayle, nor mast, the very rats
    Instinctiuely haue quit it: There they hoyst vs
    To cry to th' Sea, that roard to vs; to sigh
    255To th' windes, whose pitty sighing backe againe
    Did vs but louing wrong.
    Mir. Alack, what trouble
    Was I then to you?
    Pro. O, a Cherubin
    260Thou was't that did preserue me; Thou didst smile,
    Infused with a fortitude from heauen,
    When I haue deck'd the sea with drops full salt,
    Vnder my burthen groan'd, which rais'd in me
    An vndergoing stomacke, to beare vp
    265Against what should ensue.
    Mir. How came we a shore?
    Pro. By prouidence diuine,
    Some food, we had, and some fresh water, that
    A noble Neopolitan Gonzalo
    270Out of his Charity, (who being then appointed
    Master of this designe) did giue vs, with
    Rich garments, linnens, stuffs, and necessaries
    Which since haue steeded much, so of his gentlenesse
    Knowing I lou'd my bookes, he furnishd me
    275From mine owne Library, with volumes, that
    I prize aboue my Dukedome.
    Mir. Would I might
    But euer see that man.
    Pro. Now I arise,
    280Sit still, and heare the last of our sea-sorrow:
    Heere in this Iland we arriu'd, and heere
    Haue I, thy Schoolemaster, made thee more profit
    Then other Princesse can, that haue more time
    For vainer howres; and Tutors, not so carefull.
    285Mir. Heuens thank you for't. And now I pray you Sir,

    For still 'tis beating in my minde; your reason
    For raysing this Sea-storme?
    Pro. Know thus far forth,
    By accident most strange, bountifull Fortune
    290(Now my deere Lady) hath mine enemies
    Brought to this shore: And by my prescience
    I finde my Zenith doth depend vpon
    A most auspitious starre, whose influence
    If now I court not, but omit; my fortunes
    295Will euer after droope: Heare cease more questions,
    Thou art inclinde to sleepe: 'tis a good dulnesse,
    And giue it way: I know thou canst not chuse:
    Come away, Seruant, come; I am ready now,
    Approach my Ariel. Come. Enter Ariel.
    300Ari. All haile, great Master, graue Sir, haile: I come
    To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly,
    To swim, to diue into the fire: to ride
    On the curld clowds: to thy strong bidding, taske
    Ariel, and all his Qualitie.
    305Pro. Hast thou, Spirit,
    Performd to point, the Tempest that I bad thee.
    Ar. To euery Article.
    I boorded the Kings ship: now on the Beake,
    Now in the Waste, the Decke, in euery Cabyn,
    310I flam'd amazement, sometime I'ld diuide
    And burne in many places; on the Top-mast,
    The Yards and Bore-spritt, would I flame distinctly,
    Then meete, and ioyne. Ioues Lightning, the precursers
    O'th dreadfull Thunder-claps more momentarie
    315And sight out-running were not; the fire, and cracks
    Of sulphurous roaring, the most mighty Neptune
    Seeme to besiege, and make his bold waues tremble,
    Yea, his dread Trident shake.
    Pro. My braue Spirit,
    320Who was so firme, so constant, that this coyle
    Would not infect his reason?
    Ar. Not a soule
    But felt a Feauer of the madde, and plaid
    Some tricks of desperation; all but Mariners
    325Plung'd in the foaming bryne, and quit the vessell;
    Then all a fire with me the Kings sonne Ferdinand
    With haire vp-staring (then like reeds, not haire)
    Was the first man that leapt; cride hell is empty,
    And all the Diuels are heere.
    330Pro. Why that's my spirit:
    But was not this nye shore?
    Ar. Close by, my Master.
    Pro. But are they ( Ariell) safe?
    Ar. Not a haire perishd:
    335On their sustaining garments not a blemish,
    But fresher then before: and as thou badst me,
    In troops I haue dispersd them 'bout the Isle:
    The Kings sonne haue I landed by himselfe,
    Whom I left cooling of the Ayre with sighes,
    340In an odde Angle of the Isle, and sitting
    His armes in this sad knot.
    Pro. Of the Kings ship,
    The Marriners, say how thou hast disposd,
    And all the rest o'th' Fleete?
    345Ar. Safely in harbour
    Is the Kings shippe, in the deepe Nooke, where once
    Thou calldst me vp at midnight to fetch dewe
    From the still-vext Bermoothes, there she's hid;
    The Marriners all vnder hatches stowed,
    350Who, with a Charme ioynd to their suffred labour
    I haue left asleep: and for the rest o'th' Fleet
    Which
    A 2
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