Synopsis:
Ferdinand is visited by Miranda. Prospero observes them unseen as they exchange marriage vows and clasp hands.
The TempestThe Tempest
Contents
Characters in the Play
Entire Play
A story of shipwreck and magic, The Tempest begins on a ship caught in a violent storm with Alonso, the king of…
Act 1, scene 1
On board a ship carrying King Alonso of Naples and his entourage, a boatswain directs the crew to fight a…
Act 1, scene 2
Prospero, the former duke of Milan, who has been stranded on a barren island for twelve years with his daughter,…
Act 2, scene 1
King Alonso and his entourage wander the island in search of Ferdinand. Gonzalo tries unsuccessfully to encourage hope in Alonso…
Act 2, scene 2
Having escaped the apparently sinking ship, Trinculo finds Caliban hiding under a cloak, under which Trinculo also crawls to take…
Act 3, scene 1
Ferdinand is visited by Miranda. Prospero observes them unseen as they exchange marriage vows and clasp hands.
Act 3, scene 2
Trinculo and Caliban quarrel, and Stephano takes Caliban’s part. Ariel, invisible, imitates Trinculo’s voice and accuses Caliban of lying, causing…
Act 3, scene 3
King Alonso and his party, weary with searching, are visited by “strange shapes” bringing in a banquet, while Prospero, unseen,…
Act 4, scene 1
Prospero releases Ferdinand and gives him Miranda as his bride-to-be. To celebrate the prospect of their union, Prospero instructs Ariel…
Act 5, scene 1
Prospero releases Alonso and the court party from their charmed state and renounces the further use of his magic. Alonso…
Act 5, epilogue
Scene 1
Enter Ferdinand bearing a log.FERDINAND
There be some sports are painful, and their labor
Delight in them ⌜sets⌝ off; some kinds of baseness
Are nobly undergone; and most poor matters
Point to rich ends. This my mean task
5 Would be as heavy to me as odious, but
The mistress which I serve quickens what’s dead
And makes my labors pleasures. O, she is
Ten times more gentle than her father’s crabbed,
And he’s composed of harshness. I must remove
10 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;
15 But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labors,
Most ⌜busiest⌝ when I do it.
Enter Miranda; and Prospero ⌜at a distance, unobserved.⌝
MIRANDA Alas now, pray you,
Work not so hard. I would the lightning had
Burnt up those logs that you are enjoined to pile.
20 Pray, set it down and rest you. When this burns
93
The Tempest
ACT 3. SC. 1
Is hard at study. Pray now, rest yourself.
He’s safe for these three hours.
FERDINAND O most dear mistress,
25 The sun will set before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.
MIRANDA If you’ll sit down,
I’ll bear your logs the while. Pray, give me that.
I’ll carry it to the pile.
FERDINAND 30 No, precious creature,
I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,
Than you should such dishonor undergo
While I sit lazy by.
MIRANDA It would become me
35 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.
PROSPERO, ⌜aside⌝ Poor worm, thou art infected.
This visitation shows it.
MIRANDA 40 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 45 Miranda.—O my father,
I have broke your hest to say so!
FERDINAND Admired Miranda!
Indeed the top of admiration, worth
What’s dearest to the world! Full many a lady
50 I have eyed with best regard, and many a time
Th’ 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
55 Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed,
95
The Tempest
ACT 3. SC. 1
So perfect and so peerless, are created
Of every creature’s best.
MIRANDA I do not know
60 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 skilless of, but by my modesty,
65 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
70 I therein do 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 to suffer
75 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.
MIRANDA 80 Do you love me?
FERDINAND
O heaven, O Earth, bear witness to this sound,
And crown what I profess with kind event
If I speak true; if hollowly, invert
What best is boded me to mischief. I,
85 Beyond all limit of what else i’ th’ world,
Do love, prize, honor you.
MIRANDA I am a fool
To weep at what I am glad of.
PROSPERO, ⌜aside⌝ Fair encounter
97
The Tempest
ACT 3. SC. 1
On that which breeds between ’em!
FERDINAND Wherefore
weep you?
MIRANDA
At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer
95 What I desire to give, and much less take
What I shall die to want. 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.
100 I am your wife if you will marry me.
If not, I’ll die your maid. To be your fellow
You may deny me, but I’ll be your servant
Whether you will or no.
FERDINAND
My mistress, dearest, and I thus humble ever.
MIRANDA
105 My husband, then?
FERDINAND Ay, with a heart as willing
As bondage e’er of freedom. Here’s my hand.
MIRANDA, ⌜clasping his hand⌝
And mine, with my heart in ’t. And now farewell
Till half an hour hence.
FERDINAND 110 A thousand thousand.
They exit.
PROSPERO
So glad of this as they I cannot be,
Who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing
At nothing can be more. I’ll to my book,
For yet ere suppertime must I perform
115 Much business appertaining.
He exits.
