READ STUDY GUIDE: Act V, scene i & Epilogue |
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Act V, Scene i:
Before the cell of PROSPERO.
Before the cell of PROSPERO.
| [Enter PROSPERO in his magic robes; and ARIEL.] |
| PROSPERO : |
| Now does my project gather to a head: |
| My charms crack not; my spirits obey, and time |
| Goes upright with his carriage. How's the day? |
| ARIEL : |
| On the sixth hour; at which time, my lord, |
| You said our work should cease. |
| PROSPERO : |
| I did say so, |
| When first I rais'd the tempest. Say, my spirit, |
| How fares the King and 's followers? |
| ARIEL : |
| Confin'd together |
| In the same fashion as you gave in charge; |
| Just as you left them: all prisoners, sir, |
| In the line-grove which weather-fends your cell; |
| They cannot budge till your release. The king, |
| His brother, and yours, abide all three distracted, |
| And the remainder mourning over them, |
| Brim full of sorrow and dismay; but chiefly |
| Him you term'd, sir, 'the good old lord, Gonzalo': |
| His tears run down his beard, like winter's drops |
| From eaves of reeds; your charm so strongly works them, |
| That if you now beheld them, your affections |
| Would become tender. |
| PROSPERO : |
| Dost thou think so, spirit? |
| ARIEL : |
| Mine would, sir, were I human. |
| PROSPERO : |
| And mine shall. |
| Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling |
| Of their afflictions, and shall not myself, |
| One of their kind, that relish all as sharply, |
| Passion as they, be kindlier mov'd than thou art? |
| Though with their high wrongs I am struck to the quick, |
| Yet with my nobler reason 'gainst my fury |
| Do I take part: the rarer action is |
| In virtue than in vengeance: they being penitent, |
| The sole drift of my purpose doth extend |
| Not a frown further. Go release them, Ariel. |
| My charms I'll break, their senses I'll restore, |
| And they shall be themselves. |
| ARIEL : |
| I'll fetch them, sir. |
| [Exit.] |
| PROSPERO : |
| Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes, and |
| groves; |
| And ye that on the sands with printless foot |
| Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly him |
| When he comes back; you demi-puppets that |
| By moonshine do the green sour ringlets make, |
| Whereof the ewe not bites; and you whose pastime |
| Is to make midnight mushrooms, that rejoice |
| To hear the solemn curfew; by whose aid,— |
| Weak masters though ye be,—I have bedimm'd |
| The noontide sun, call'd forth the mutinous winds, |
| And 'twixt the green sea and the azur'd vault |
| Set roaring war: to the dread rattling thunder |
| Have I given fire, and rifted Jove's stout oak |
| With his own bolt: the strong-bas'd promontory |
| Have I made shake; and by the spurs pluck'd up |
| The pine and cedar: graves at my command |
| Have wak'd their sleepers, op'd, and let them forth |
| By my so potent art. But this rough magic |
| I here abjure; and, when I have requir'd |
| Some heavenly music,—which even now I do,— |
| To work mine end upon their senses that |
| This airy charm is for, I'll break my staff, |
| Bury it certain fathoms in the earth, |
| And deeper than did ever plummet sound |
| I'll drown my book. |
| [Solem music] |
| [Re-enter ARIEL: after him, ALONSO, with frantic gesture, attended by GONZALO; SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO in like manner, attended by ADRIAN and FRANCISCO: they all enter the circle which PROSPERO had made, and there stand charmed: which PROSPERO observing, speaks.] |
| A solemn air, and the best comforter |
| To an unsettled fancy, cure thy brains, |
| Now useless, boil'd within thy skull! There stand, |
| For you are spell-stopp'd. |
| Holy Gonzalo, honourable man, |
| Mine eyes, even sociable to the show of thine, |
| Fall fellowly drops. The charm dissolves apace; |
| And as the morning steals upon the night, |
| Melting the darkness, so their rising senses |
| Begin to chase the ignorant fumes that mantle |
| Their clearer reason.—O good Gonzalo! |
| My true preserver, and a loyal sir |
| To him thou follow'st, I will pay thy graces |
| Home, both in word and deed.—Most cruelly |
| Didst thou, Alonso, use me and my daughter: |
| Thy brother was a furtherer in the act;— |
| Thou'rt pinch'd for't now, Sebastian.—Flesh and blood, |
| You, brother mine, that entertain'd ambition, |
| Expell'd remorse and nature, who, with Sebastian,— |
| Whose inward pinches therefore are most strong,— |
| Would here have kill'd your king; I do forgive thee, |
| Unnatural though thou art! Their understanding |
| Begins to swell, and the approaching tide |
| Will shortly fill the reasonable shores |
| That now lie foul and muddy. Not one of them |
| That yet looks on me, or would know me.—Ariel, |
| Fetch me the hat and rapier in my cell:— |
| [Exit ARIEL] |
| I will discase me, and myself present, |
| As I was sometime Milan.—Quickly, spirit; |
| Thou shalt ere long be free. |
| [ARIEL re-enters, singing, and helps to attire PROSPERO.] |
| ARIEL |
| Where the bee sucks, there suck I: |
| In a cowslip's bell I lie; |
| There I couch when owls do cry. |
| On the bat's back I do fly |
| After summer merrily: |
| Merrily, merrily shall I live now |
| Under the blossom that hangs on the bough. |
| PROSPERO : |
| Why, that's my dainty Ariel! I shall miss thee; |
| But yet thou shalt have freedom;—so, so, so.— |
| To the king's ship, invisible as thou art: |
| There shalt thou find the mariners asleep |
| Under the hatches; the master and the boatswain |
| Being awake, enforce them to this place, |
| And presently, I prithee. |
| ARIEL : |
| I drink the air before me, and return |
| Or ere your pulse twice beat. |
| [Exit] |
| GONZALO : |
| All torment, trouble, wonder and amazement |
| Inhabits here. Some heavenly power guide us |
| Out of this fearful country! |
| PROSPERO : |
| Behold, sir king, |
| The wronged Duke of Milan, Prospero. |
| For more assurance that a living prince |
| Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body; |
| And to thee and thy company I bid |
| A hearty welcome. |
| ALONSO : |
| Whe'er thou be'st he or no, |
| Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me, |
| As late I have been, I not know: thy pulse |
| Beats, as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee, |
| Th' affliction of my mind amends, with which, |
| I fear, a madness held me: this must crave,— |
| An if this be at all—a most strange story. |
| Thy dukedom I resign, and do entreat |
| Thou pardon me my wrongs.—But how should Prospero |
| Be living and be here? |
| PROSPERO : |
| First, noble friend, |
| Let me embrace thine age; whose honour cannot |
| Be measur'd or confin'd. |
| GONZALO : |
| Whether this be |
| Or be not, I'll not swear. |
| PROSPERO : |
| You do yet taste |
| Some subtleties o' the isle, that will not let you |
| Believe things certain.—Welcome, my friends all:— |
| [Aside to SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO] But you, my brace of |
| lords, were I so minded, |
| I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you, |
| And justify you traitors: at this time |
| I will tell no tales. |
| SEBASTIAN : |
| [Aside] The devil speaks in him. |
| PROSPERO : |
| No. |
| For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother |
| Would even infect my mouth, I do forgive |
| Thy rankest fault; all of them; and require |
| My dukedom of thee, which, perforce, I know |
| Thou must restore. |
| ALONSO : |
| If thou beest Prospero, |
| Give us particulars of thy preservation; |
| How thou hast met us here, whom three hours since |
| Were wrack'd upon this shore; where I have lost,— |
| How sharp the point of this remembrance is!— |
| My dear son Ferdinand. |
| PROSPERO : |
| I am woe for't, sir. |
| ALONSO : |
| Irreparable is the loss, and patience |
| Says it is past her cure. |
| PROSPERO : |
| I rather think |
| You have not sought her help; of whose soft grace, |
| For the like loss I have her sovereign aid, |
| And rest myself content. |
| ALONSO : |
| You the like loss! |
| PROSPERO : |
| As great to me, as late; and, supportable |
| To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker |
| Than you may call to comfort you, for I |
| Have lost my daughter. |
| ALONSO : |
| A daughter? |
| O heavens! that they were living both in Naples, |
| The king and queen there! That they were, I wish |
| Myself were mudded in that oozy bed |
| Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter? |
| PROSPERO : |
| In this last tempest. I perceive, these lords |
| At this encounter do so much admire |
| That they devour their reason, and scarce think |
| Their eyes do offices of truth, their words |
| Are natural breath; but, howsoe'er you have |
| Been justled from your senses, know for certain |
| That I am Prospero, and that very duke |
| Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most strangely |
| Upon this shore, where you were wrack'd, was landed |
| To be the lord on't. No more yet of this; |
| For 'tis a chronicle of day by day, |
| Not a relation for a breakfast nor |
| Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir: |
| This cell's my court: here have I few attendants |
| And subjects none abroad: pray you, look in. |
| My dukedom since you have given me again, |
| I will requite you with as good a thing; |
| At least bring forth a wonder, to content ye |
| As much as me my dukedom. |
| [The entrance of the Cell opens, and discovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA playing at chess.] |
| MIRANDA : |
| Sweet lord, you play me false. |
| FERDINAND : |
| No, my dearest love, |
| I would not for the world. |
| MIRANDA : |
| Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle, |
| And I would call it fair play. |
| ALONSO : |
| If this prove |
| A vision of the island, one dear son |
| Shall I twice lose. |
| SEBASTIAN : |
| A most high miracle! |
| FERDINAND : |
| Though the seas threaten, they are merciful: |
| I have curs'd them without cause. |
| [Kneels to ALONSO.] |
| ALONSO : |
| Now all the blessings |
| Of a glad father compass thee about! |
| Arise, and say how thou cam'st here. |
| MIRANDA : |
| O, wonder! |
| How many goodly creatures are there here! |
| How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world |
| That has such people in't! |
| PROSPERO : |
| 'Tis new to thee. |
| ALONSO : |
| What is this maid, with whom thou wast at play? |
| Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours: |
| Is she the goddess that hath sever'd us, |
| And brought us thus together? |
| FERDINAND : |
| Sir, she is mortal; |
| But by immortal Providence she's mine. |
| I chose her when I could not ask my father |
| For his advice, nor thought I had one. She |
| Is daughter to this famous Duke of Milan, |
| Of whom so often I have heard renown, |
| But never saw before; of whom I have |
| Receiv'd a second life: and second father |
| This lady makes him to me. |
| ALONSO : |
| I am hers: |
| But, O! how oddly will it sound that I |
| Must ask my child forgiveness! |
| PROSPERO : |
| There, sir, stop: |
| Let us not burden our remembrances with |
| A heaviness that's gone. |
| GONZALO : |
| I have inly wept, |
| Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you gods, |
| And on this couple drop a blessed crown; |
| For it is you that have chalk'd forth the way |
| Which brought us hither. |
| ALONSO : |
| I say, Amen, Gonzalo! |
| GONZALO : |
| Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue |
| Should become kings of Naples? O, rejoice |
| Beyond a common joy, and set it down |
| With gold on lasting pillars. In one voyage |
| Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis, |
| And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife |
| Where he himself was lost; Prospero his dukedom |
| In a poor isle; and all of us ourselves, |
| When no man was his own. |
| ALONSO : |
| [To FERDINAND and MIRANDA] Give me your hands: |
| Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart |
| That doth not wish you joy! |
| GONZALO : |
| Be it so. Amen! |
| [Re-enter ARIEL, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following.] |
| O look, sir! look, sir! Here are more of us. |
| I prophesied, if a gallows were on land, |
| This fellow could not drown.—Now, blasphemy, |
| That swear'st grace o'erboard, not an oath on shore? |
| Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news? |
| BOATSWAIN : |
| The best news is that we have safely found |
| Our king and company: the next, our ship,— |
| Which but three glasses since we gave out split,— |
| Is tight and yare, and bravely rigg'd as when |
| We first put out to sea. |
| ARIEL : |
| [Aside to PROSPERO] Sir, all this service |
| Have I done since I went. |
| PROSPERO : |
| [Aside to ARIEL] My tricksy spirit! |
| ALONSO : |
| These are not natural events; they strengthen |
| From strange to stranger—Say, how came you hither? |
| BOATSWAIN : |
| If I did think, sir, I were well awake, |
| I'd strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep, |
| And,—how, we know not,—all clapp'd under hatches, |
| Where, but even now, with strange and several noises |
| Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains, |
| And mo diversity of sounds, all horrible, |
| We were awak'd; straightway, at liberty: |
| Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld |
| Our royal, good, and gallant ship; our master |
| Cap'ring to eye her: on a trice, so please you, |
| Even in a dream, were we divided from them, |
| And were brought moping hither. |
| ARIEL : |
| [Aside to PROSPERO] Was't well done? |
| PROSPERO : |
| [Aside to ARIEL] Bravely, my diligence. Thou |
| shalt be free. |
| ALONSO : |
| This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod; |
| And there is in this business more than nature |
| Was ever conduct of: some oracle |
| Must rectify our knowledge. |
| PROSPERO : |
| Sir, my liege, |
| Do not infest your mind with beating on |
| The strangeness of this business: at pick'd leisure, |
| Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you,— |
| Which to you shall seem probable—of every |
| These happen'd accidents; till when, be cheerful |
| And think of each thing well.—[Aside to ARIEL]Come |
| hither, spirit; |
| Set Caliban and his companions free; |
| Untie the spell.[Exit ARIEL]How fares my gracious sir? |
| There are yet missing of your company |
| Some few odd lads that you remember not. |
| [Re-enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel.] |
| STEPHANO : |
| Every man shift for all the rest, and let no man |
| take care for himself, for all is but fortune.—Coragio! |
| bully-monster, Coragio! |
| TRINCULO : |
| If these be true spies which I wear in my head, |
| here's a goodly sight. |
| CALIBAN : |
| O Setebos, these be brave spirits indeed. |
| How fine my master is! I am afraid |
| He will chastise me. |
| SEBASTIAN : |
| Ha, ha! |
| What things are these, my lord Antonio? |
| Will money buy them? |
| ANTONIO : |
| Very like; one of them |
| Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable. |
| PROSPERO : |
| Mark but the badges of these men, my lords, |
| Then say if they be true.—This mis-shapen knave— |
| His mother was a witch; and one so strong |
| That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs, |
| And deal in her command without her power. |
| These three have robb'd me; and this demi-devil,— |
| For he's a bastard one,—had plotted with them |
| To take my life: two of these fellows you |
| Must know and own; this thing of darkness I |
| Acknowledge mine. |
| CALIBAN : |
| I shall be pinch'd to death. |
| ALONSO : |
| Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler? |
| SEBASTIAN : |
| He is drunk now: where had he wine? |
| ALONSO : |
| And Trinculo is reeling-ripe: where should they |
| Find this grand liquor that hath gilded them? |
| How cam'st thou in this pickle? |
| TRINCULO : |
| I have been in such a pickle since I saw you |
| last that, I fear me, will never out of my bones. I |
| shall not fear fly-blowing. |
| SEBASTIAN : |
| Why, how now, Stephano! |
| STEPHANO : |
| O! touch me not: I am not Stephano, but a cramp. |
| PROSPERO : |
| You'd be king o' the isle, sirrah? |
| STEPHANO : |
| I should have been a sore one, then. |
| ALONSO : |
| This is as strange a thing as e'er I look'd on. |
| [Pointing to CALIBAN] |
| PROSPERO : |
| He is as disproportioned in his manners |
| As in his shape.—Go, sirrah, to my cell; |
| Take with you your companions: as you look |
| To have my pardon, trim it handsomely. |
| CALIBAN : |
| Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter, |
| And seek for grace. What a thrice-double ass |
| Was I, to take this drunkard for a god, |
| And worship this dull fool! |
| PROSPERO : |
| Go to; away! |
| ALONSO : |
| Hence, and bestow your luggage where you found it. |
| SEBASTIAN : |
| Or stole it, rather. |
| [Exeunt CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO.] |
| PROSPERO : |
| Sir, I invite your Highness and your train |
| To my poor cell, where you shall take your rest |
| For this one night; which—part of it—I'll waste |
| With such discourse as, I not doubt, shall make it |
| Go quick away; the story of my life |
| And the particular accidents gone by |
| Since I came to this isle: and in the morn |
| I'll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples, |
| Where I have hope to see the nuptial |
| Of these our dear-belov'd solemnized; |
| And thence retire me to my Milan, where |
| Every third thought shall be my grave. |
| ALONSO : |
| I long To hear the story of your life, which must |
| Take the ear strangely. |
| PROSPERO : |
| I'll deliver all; |
| And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales, |
| And sail so expeditious that shall catch |
| Your royal fleet far off.—[Aside to ARIEL]My Ariel, |
| chick, |
| That is thy charge: then to the elements |
| Be free, and fare thou well!—Please you, draw near. |
| [Exeunt] |
| EPILOGUE |
| [Spoken by PROSPERO] |
| Now my charms are all o'erthrown, |
| And what strength I have's mine own; |
| Which is most faint; now 'tis true, |
| I must be here confin'd by you, |
| Or sent to Naples. Let me not, |
| Since I have my dukedom got, |
| And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell |
| In this bare island by your spell: |
| But release me from my bands |
| With the help of your good hands. |
| Gentle breath of yours my sails |
| Must fill, or else my project fails, |
| Which was to please. Now I want |
| Spirits to enforce, art to enchant; |
| And my ending is despair, |
| Unless I be reliev'd by prayer, |
| Which pierces so that it assaults |
| Mercy itself, and frees all faults. |
| As you from crimes would pardon'd be, |
| Let your indulgence set me free. |
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