Scene I

Before Prospero's cell.

[Enter Prospero, Ferdinand, and Miranda]

PROSP:

[to Ferdinand] If I have too austerely punished you,
Your compensation makes amends, for I
Have given you here a third of mine own life—
Or that for which I live—who once again
I tender to thy hand. All thy vexations(5)
Were but my trials of thy love, and thou
Hast strangely stood the test. Here, afore Heaven,
I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand,
Do not smile at me that I boast of her,
For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise,(10)
And make it halt behind her.

PROSP:

If I have punished you too harshly,
Your payment makes up for it, because I
Have given you here a third of my own life,
Or the part for which I live, who, once again,
I give to you. All your irritations
Were only my trials of your love, and you
Have strangely stood the test: here, before Heaven,
I certify this, my rich gift. Oh, Ferdinand!
Don’t smile at me that I boast about her,
Because you shall find she will outrun all praise
And make it stop behind her.

FERD:

I do believe it
Against an oracle.

FERD:

I would believe it
Against a fortuneteller.

PROSP:

Then, as my gift and thine own acquisition
Worthily purchased take my daughter. But(15)
If thou dost break her virgin-knot before
All sanctimonious ceremonies may
With full and holy rite be ministered,
No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall
To make this contract grow; but barren hate,(20)
Sour-eyed disdain and discord shall bestrew
The union of your bed with weeds so loathly
That you shall hate it both; therefore, take heed,
As Hymen's lamps shall light you.

PROSP:

Then, as my gift and your own item
Purchased worthily, take my daughter: but
If you take her virginity before
All holy ceremonies may
Ministered with full and holy rites,
The heavens will not let any sweet rain fall
To make this union grow; but barren hate,
Sour-eyed disdain, and disharmony, shall cover
The union of your bed with weeds so ugly
That you shall both hate it: therefore, be careful,
Since the god of marriage's lamps shall light you.

FERD:

As I hope(25)
For quiet days, fair issue and long life
With such love as ’tis now, the murkiest den,
The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion
Our worser genius can, shall never melt
Mine honour into lust to take away(30)
The edge of that day's celebration
When I shall think: or Phoebus’ steeds are foundered,
Or Night kept chained below.

FERD:

I hope
For quiet days, beautiful children, and a long life,
With love just as it is now. The darkest room,
The place with the most opportunity, or the strongest temptation
Our worse appetites can make, shall never change
My honorable thoughts into lust, to take away
The joy of our wedding day's celebration.
Then I shall think that the sun’s setting has been delayed,
Or that night is kept chained below the horizon, never coming.

PROSP:

Fairly spoke.
Sit then, and talk with her. She is thine own.(35)
What, Ariel! My industrious servant, Ariel!

PROSP:

Well said:
Sit, then, and talk with her, she is your own.
What, Ariel! My hard-working servant, Ariel!

[Enter Ariel]

ARIEL:

What would my potent master? Here I am.

ARIEL:

What would my powerful master like? Here I am.

PROSP:

Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service
Did worthily perform, and I must use you
In such another trick. Go bring the rabble,(40)
O'er whom I give thee power, here to this place.
Incite them to quick motions; for I must
Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple
Some vanity of mine art. It is my promise,
And they expect it from me.(45)

PROSP:

You and your meaner fellows performed your last jobs
Very well, and I must use you
In another similar trick. Go bring the group
I gave you power over here to this place;
Make them move quickly, because I must
Let this young couple see
Some worthless bit of my magic: it is my promise,
And they expect it from me.

ARIEL:

Presently?

ARIEL:

Right now?

PROSP:

Ay, with a twink.

PROSP:

Yes, with a twink.

ARIEL:

Before you can say ‘Come’ and ‘Go,’
And breathe twice and cry ‘So, so,’
Each one, tripping on his toe(50)
Will be here with mop and mow.
Do you love me, master? No?

ARIEL:

Before you can say, “Come” and “Go,”
And breathe twice, and cry “so, so,”
Each one, tripping on his toe,
Will be here with tricks and pranks.
Do you love me, master? No?

PROSP:

Dearly, my delicate Ariel. Do not approach
Till thou dost hear me call.

PROSP:

Dearly, my delicate Ariel. Don’t come near
Until you hear me call.

ARIEL:

Well, I conceive.(55)

ARIEL:

Well, I understand.

[Exit]

PROSP:

[to Ferdinand] 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 abstemious,
Or else, good night your vow!(60)

PROSP:

Look, you be true; don’t give flirting
Too much freedom: the strongest oaths are straw
Compared to the fire in the blood: be more refraining,
Or else say good night to your vow!

FERD:

I warrant you, sir;
The white cold virgin snow upon my heart
Abates the ardour of my liver.

FERD:

I promise you, sir,
The cold, white, virgin snow on my heart
Holds back my passion.

PROSP:

Well.—
Now come, my Ariel! Bring a corollary,(65)
Rather than want a spirit. Appear and pertly!

[to Ferdinand and Miranda]

No tongue, all eyes! Be silent.

PROSP:

Well.— Now come, my Ariel! Bring a conclusion,
Rather than need a spirit: appear, and quickly.
No talking! All eyes! Be silent.

[Soft music]

[Enter Iris]

IRIS:

Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas
Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats and peas;
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep,(70)
And flat meads thatched with stover, them to keep;
Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims,
Which spongy April at thy hest betrims,
To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy
broom-groves,(75)
Whose shadow the dismissèd bachelor loves,
Being lass-lorn; thy pole clipped vineyard;
And thy sea-marge, sterile and rocky-hard,
Where thou thyself dost air—the Queen o'th’Sky,
Whose watery arch and messenger am I,(80)
Bids thee leave these, and with her sovereign grace,
[Juno appears] Here on this grass-plot, in this very place
To come and sport. Her peacocks fly amain.
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

IRIS:

Ceres, most plentiful lady, your rich fields
Of wheat, rye, barley, beans, oats, and peas;
Your grassy mountains, where nibbling sheep live,
And flat meadows covered with hay to keep them well,
Your banks with brims that have been dug out,
Which rainy April trims with flowers at your request,
To make simple crowns for cold nymphs, and your groves of shrubs,
Whose shadow the rejected bachelor loves,
Being without his lass: your vineyard mounted on poles,
And your seashores, barren and rocky-hard,
Where you yourself walk, the Queen of the Sky,
Whose watery rainbow and messenger I am,
Asks you to leave all these things, and with your royal grace,
Come and play here on this plot of grass,
In this very place; her peacocks, pulling her chariot, fly full speed.
Approach, rich Ceres, to entertain her.

[Enter Ariel as Ceres]

CERES:

Hail, many-coloured messenger, that ne'er(85)
Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter;
Who with thy saffron wings upon my flowers
Diffusest honey-drops, refreshing showers,
And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown
My bosky acres and my unshrubbed down,(90)
Rich scarf to my proud earth. Why hath thy queen
Summoned me hither to this short-grassed green?

CERES:

Hail, multi-colored messenger that never
Disobeys the wife of Jupiter;
Who spreads honey drops and refreshing showers
With your yellow wings on my flowers:
And who crowns my wooded acres and my shrubless hills
With each end of your blue bow,
A rich scarf to my proud earth; why has your queen
Summoned me here to this green place with short grass?

IRIS:

A contract of true love to celebrate;
And some donation freely to estate
On the blest lovers.(95)

IRIS:

To celebrate a contract of true love,
And to bestow some free gifts
On the blessed lovers.

CERES:

Tell me, heavenly bow,
If Venus or her son, as thou dost know,
Do now attend the queen. Since they did plot
The means that dusky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's scandaled company(100)
I have forsworn.

CERES:

Tell me, heavenly rainbow, if you know,
If Venus the goddess of love or Cupid, her son,
Now wait on the queen? Since they plotted
With the dark god of the underworld to kidnap my daughter,
I have sworn not to be in
Her and her blind boy's scandalous company.

IRIS:

Of her society
Be not afraid. I met her deity.
Cutting the clouds towards Pathos and her son
Dove-drawn with her. Here thought they to have done(105)
Some wanton charm upon this man and miad,
Whose vows are that no bed-right shall be paid
Till Hymen's torch be lighted—but in vain.
Mars's hot minion is returned again.
Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows,(110)
Swears he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows
And be a boy right out.

IRIS:

Don’t be afraid
Of her company. I met her while she was
Going through the clouds towards Cyprus, and
Her dove-drawn son was with her. They thought they would do
Some naughty charm on this man and maiden,
Who have vowed that they will not sleep together
Until the god of marriage's torch is lit, but they thought so in vain.
The god of war’s hot mistress came back again;
Her wasp-headed son has broken his arrows,
He swears he will shoot no more, only play with sparrows,
And just be a boy.

[Music is heard]

CERES:

High'st queen of state,
Great Juno, comes; I know her by her gait.

CERES:

Highest Queen of State,
Great Juno comes; I know her by her walk.

[Enter Juno]

JUNO:

How does my bounteous sister? Go with me(115)
To bless this twain, that they may Prospus be
And honoured in their issue.

JUNO:

How does my generous sister? Go with me
To bless these two, that they may be prosperous,
And honored in their children.

[They sing]

JUNO:

Honour, riches, marriage-blessing,
Long continuance, and increasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you!(120)
Juno sings her blessings upon you.

JUNO:

Honor, riches, marriage-blessing,
Long life, and many children,
Hourly joys be always yours!
Juno sings her blessings on you.

CERES:

Earth's increase, foison plenty,
Barns and garners never empty,
Vines and clust'ring bunches growing,
Plants and goodly burden bowing;(125)
Spring come to you at the farthest
In the very end of harvest!
Scarcity and want shall shun you,
Ceres’ blessing so is on you.

CERES:

Earth's increase, plenty of feasting,
Barns and storage for game never empty;
Vines growing with clustering bunches of grapes;
Plants bowing with heavy loads of fruit ;
Spring come to you as long as possible,
Even to the very end of harvest!
Scarcity and want shall ignore you;
Ceres' blessing so be on you.

FERD:

This is a most majestic vision, and(130)
Harmoniously charmingly. May I be bold
To think these spirits?

FERD:

This is a most majestic vision, and
Harmoniously charming; may I be so bold as
To think these spirits?

PROSP:

Spirits, which by mine art
I have from their confines call'd to enact
My present fancies.(135)

PROSP:

Spirits, which, by my magic,
I have called from their borders to enact
My present wishes.

FERD:

Let me live here ever!
So rare a wondered father and a wife
Makes this place paradise.

FERD:

Let me live here forever:
Such a rare, wise, wonderful father
Makes this place Paradise.

[Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on employment]

PROSP:

Sweet now, silence!
Juno and ceres whisper seriously;(140)
There's something else to do. Hush, and be mute,
Or else our spell is marred.

PROSP:

Sweet now, silence!
Juno and Ceres whisper seriously,
There's something else to do: hush, and be quiet,
Or else our spell is ruined.

IRIS:

Your nymphs, called naiads of the wandering brooks,
With your sedged crowns and over-harmless looks,
Leave your crisp channels and on this green land(145)
Answer your summons; Juno does command.
Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate
A contract of true love. Be not too late.

[Enter certain nymphs]

You sunburnt sicklemen, of August weary,
Come hither from the furrow and be merry;(150)
Make holiday, your rye-straw hats put on,
And these fresh nymphs encounter every one
In country footing.

IRIS:

You nymphs, called Water Nymphs, of the winding brooks,
With your oat-edged crowns and always harmless looks,
Leave your fresh waters, and answer your summons
To this green land: Juno commands you.
Come, moderate nymphs, and help us celebrate
A contract of true love: it is not too late.

You sun-burned reapers, tired of August,
Come here from the rows you have plowed and be happy:
Make it a holiday: put on your rye-straw hats,
And meet every one pf these fresh nymphs
In country dancing.

[Enter certain reapers, properly habited. They join with the nymphs in a graceful dance; towards the end whereof Prospero starts suddenly, and speaks.