# Tempest (1918) Yale/Text/Act IV

Notes originally placed at the bottom of each page appear below, following Act IV. Where these notes gloss a word in the text, the gloss can also be found by hovering over the text.
Where these notes refer to an end note (cf. n. = confer notam; "consult note"), a link to the accompanying end note is provided from the Footnotes section. The end notes accompanying Act IV begin on page 86 of the original volume.
Layout 2
ACT FOURTH
Scene One
[Before Prospero's Cell]
Enter Prospero, Ferdinand, and Miranda.
Pro. If I have too austerely punish'd 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 4 I tender to thy hand: all thy vexations 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! 8 Do not smile at me that I boast her off, For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise, And make it halt behind her.
Fer. I do believe it Against an oracle. 12
Pro. Then, as my gift and thine own acquisition Worthily purchas'd, take my daughter: but If thou dost break her virgin knot before All sanctimonious ceremonies may 16 With full and holy rite be minister'd, No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall To make this contract grow; but barren hate, Sour-ey'd disdain and discord shall bestrew 20 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.
Fer. As I hope For quiet days, fair issue and long life, 24 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 28 The edge of that day's celebration When I shall think, or Phœbus' steeds are founder'd, Or Night kept chain'd below.
Pro. Fairly spoke: Sit then, and talk with her, she is thine own. What, Ariel! my industrious servant Ariel! 33
Enter Ariel.
Ari. What would my potent master? here I am.
​Pro. Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service Did worthily perform; and I must use you 36 In such another trick. Go bring the rabble, O'er whom I give thee power, here to this place: Incite them to quick motion; for I must Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple 40 Some vanity of mine art: it is my promise, And they expect it from me.
Ari. Presently?
Pro. Ay, with a twink.
Ari. 'Before you can say, "Come," and "Go," 44 And breathe twice; and cry, "so, so," Each one, tripping on his toe, Will be here with mop and mow. Do you love me, master? no?' 48
Pro. Dearly, my delicate Ariel. Do not approach Till thou dost hear me call.
Ari. Well, I conceive. Exit.
Pro. Look, thou be true; do not give dalliance Too much the rein: the strongest oaths are straw 52 To the fire i' the blood: be more abstemious, Or else good night your vow!
Fer. I warrant you, sir; The white-cold virgin snow upon my heart Abates the ardour of my liver.
Pro. Well.— 56 Now come, my Ariel! bring a corollary, Rather than want a spirit: appear, and pertly, No tongue! all eyes! be silent. Soft music.
Enter Iris.
Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas 60 ​Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and peas; Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep, And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep; Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims, 64 Which spongy April at thy hest betrims, To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom groves, Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves, Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard; 68 And thy sea-marge, sterile and rocky-hard, Where thou thyself dost air: the queen o' the sky, Whose watery arch and messenger am I, Bids thee leave these; and with her sovereign grace, 72 Here on this grass-plot, in this very place, To come and sport; her peacocks fly amain: Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.
Enter Ceres.
Cer. Hail, many-colour'd messenger, that ne'er 76 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 unshrubb'd down, 81 Rich scarf to my proud earth; why hath thy queen Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass'd green?
Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate, 84 And some donation freely to estate On the bless'd lovers.
Cer. 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, 89 Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company I have forsworn.
Iris. Of her society
Be not afraid; I met her deity 92 Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her son Dove-drawn with her. Here thought they to have done Some wanton charm upon this man and maid, Whose vows are, that no bed-rite shall be paid Till Hymen's torch be lighted; but in vain: 97 Mars's hot minion is return'd again; Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows, Swears he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows, 100 And be a boy right out.
Cer. Highest queen of state, Great Juno comes; I know her by her gait.
[Enter Juno.]
Jun. How does my bounteous sister? Go with me To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be, 104 And honour'd in their issue.
They Sing:
Jun. 'Honour, riches, marriage-blessing, Long continuance, and increasing, Hourly joys be still upon you! 108 Juno sings her blessings on you.'
Cer. 'Earth's increase, foison plenty, Barns and garners never empty: Vines, with clust'ring bunches growing; 112 ​Plants with goodly burden bowing; Spring come to you at the farthest In the very end of harvest! Scarcity and want shall shun you; 116 Ceres' blessing so is on you.'
Fer. This is a most majestic vision, and Harmonious charmingly: May I be bold To think these spirits?
Pro. Spirits, which by mine art 120 I have from their confines call'd to enact My present fancies.
Fer. Let me live here ever: So rare a wonder'd father and a wise, Makes this place Paradise.
Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on employment.
Pro. Sweet, now, silence! 124 Juno and Ceres whisper seriously, There's something else to do: hush, and be mute, Or else our spell is marr'd.
Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiades, of the windring brooks, 128 With your sedg'd crowns, and ever-harmless looks, Leave your crisp channels, and on this green land Answer your summons: Juno does command. Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate A contract of true love: be not too late. 133
Enter certain Nymphs.
You sun-burn'd sicklemen, of August weary, Come hither from the furrow, and be merry: Make holiday: your rye-straw hats put on, 136 ​And these fresh nymphs encounter every one In country footing.
Pro. I had forgot that foul conspiracy Of the beast Caliban, and his confederates 140 Against my life: the minute of their plot Is almost come.—[To the Spirits.] Well done! avoid; no more!
Fer. This is strange: your father's in some passion That works him strongly.
Mira. Never till this day 144 Saw I him touch'd with anger so distemper'd.
Pro. You do look, my son, in a mov'd sort, As if you were dismay'd: be cheerful, sir: Our revels now are ended. These our actors, 148 As I foretold you, were all spirits and Are melted into air, into thin air: And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, 153 Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff 156 As dreams are made on, and our little life Is rounded with a sleep.—Sir, I am vex'd: Bear with my weakness; my old brain is troubled. Be not disturb'd with my infirmity. 160 If you be pleas'd, retire into my cell ​And there repose: a turn or two I'll walk, To still my beating mind.
| Fer. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | We wish your peace. |
| Mira. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Exeunt. |
Pro. Come with a thought!—I thank thee, Ariel: come! 164
Enter Ariel.
Ari. Thy thoughts I cleave to. What's thy pleasure?
Pro. Spirit, We must prepare to meet with Caliban.
Ari. Ay, my commander; when I presented Ceres, I thought to have told thee of it; but I fear'd 168 Lest I might anger thee.
Pro. Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets?
Ari. I told you, sir, they were red-hot with drinking; So full of velour that they smote the air 172 For breathing in their faces; beat the ground For kissing of their feet; yet always bending Towards their project. Then I beat my tabor; At which, like unback'd colts, they prick'd their ears, 176 Advanc'd their eyelids, lifted up their noses As they smelt music: so I charm'd their ears That, calf-like, they my lowing follow'd through Tooth'd briers, sharp furzes, pricking goss and thorns, 180 Which enter'd their frail shins: at last I left them I' the filthy-mantled pool beyond your cell, There dancing up to the chins, that the foul lake ​O'erstunk their feet.
Pro. This was well done, my bird. 184 Thy shape invisible retain thou still: The trumpery in my house, go bring it hither, For stale to catch these thieves.
Ari. I go, I go. Exit.
Pro. A devil, a born devil, on whose nature Nurture can never stick; on whom my pains, 189 Humanely taken, all, all lost, quite lost; And as with age his body uglier grows, So his mind cankers. I will plague them all, 192 Even to roaring.
Enter Ariel, loaden with glistering apparel, &c.
Come, hang them on this line.
Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo, all wet. [Prospero and Ariel remain invisible.]
Cal. Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole may not Hear a foot fall: we now are near his cell. 195
Ste. Monster, your fairy, which you say is a harmless fairy, has done little better than played the Jack with us.
Trin. Monster, I do smell all horse-piss; at which my nose is in great indignation. 200
Ste. So is mine.—Do you hear, monster? If I should take a displeasure against you, look you,—
Trin. Thou wert but a lost monster.
Cal. Good my lord, give me thy favour still: Be patient, for the prize I'll bring thee to 205 Shall hoodwink this mischance: therefore speak softly; ​All's hush'd as midnight yet.
Trin. Ay, but to lose our bottles in the pool,— 209
Ste. There is not only disgrace and dishonour in that, monster, but an infinite loss.
Trin. That's more to me than my wetting: yet this is your harmless fairy, monster. 213
Ste. I will fetch off my bottle, though I be o'er ears for my labour.
Cal. Prithee, my king, be quiet. Seest thou here, 216 This is the mouth o' the cell: no noise, and enter. Do that good mischief, which may make this island Thine own for ever, and I, thy Caliban, For aye thy foot-licker. 220
Ste. Give me thy hand: I do begin to have bloody thoughts.
Trin. O king Stephano! O peer! O worthy Stephano! look, what a wardrobe here is for thee! 225
Cal. Let it alone, thou fool; it is but trash.
Trin. O, ho, monster! we know what belongs to a frippery.—O king Stephano! 228
Ste. Put off that gown, Trinculo; by this hand, I'll have that gown.
Trin. Thy grace shall have it.
Cal. The dropsy drown this fool! what do you mean 232 To dote thus on such luggage? Let's along, And do the murder first: if he awake, From toe to crown he'll fill our skins with pinches; Make us strange stuff. 236
Ste. Be you quiet, monster.—Mistress line, is not this my jerkin? Now is the jerkin under the line: now, jerkin, you are like to lose your hair and prove a bald jerkin. 240
Trin. Do, do: we steal by line and level, an 't like your grace.
Ste. I thank thee for that jest; here's a gar- ment for 't: wit shall not go unrewarded while I am king of this country: 'Steal by line and level,' is an excellent pass of pate; there's an- other garment for 't. 247
Trin. Monster, come, put some lime upon your fingers, and away with the rest.
Cal. I will have none on 't: we shall lose our time, And all be turn'd to barnacles, or to apes With foreheads villainous low. 252
Ste. Monster, lay-to your fingers: help to bear this away where my hogshead of wine is, or I'll turn you out of my kingdom. Go to; carry this.
Trin. And this. 256
Ste. Ay, and this.
Pro. Hey, Mountain, hey!
Ari. Silver! there it goes, Silver!
Pro. Fury, Fury! there, Tyrant, there! hark, hark! 260 [Cal., Ste., and Trin. are driven out.] Go, charge my goblins that they grind their joints With dry convulsions; shorten up their sinews With aged cramps, and more pinch-spotted make them ​Than pard, or cat o' mountain.
Ari. Hark! they roar. 264
Pro. Let them be hunted soundly. At this hour Lie at my mercy all mine enemies: Shortly shall all my labours end, and thou Shalt have the air at freedom: for a little, 268 Follow, and do me service. Exeunt.
Footnotes to Act IV
Scene One
​3 third; cf. n. ​7 strangely: remarkably well 16 sanctimonious: sacred 18 aspersion: dew of blessing ​37 rabble: band [of 'meaner fellows'] 41 vanity: illusion 43 twink: twinkling 47 mop: grimace, mock (?) 56 liver: the supposed seat of the passions 57 corollary: surplus 58 pertly: briskly 59 S. d. Enter Iris; cf. n. ​63 stover: fodder 64 pioned and twilled; cf. n. 68 pole-clipt vineyard: one in which the vines cling to poles 71 watery arch: rainbow 74 amain: at full speed 81 bosky: bushy 85 freely: liberally estate: bestow ​89 Dis; cf. n. 98 minion: favorite 110 foison: harvest ​114, 115 Cf. n. 123 wonder'd: wonder-working 128 windring: winding (?) 130 crisp: rippling ​138 footing: dancing 142 avoid: away! 144 works: affects 145 distemper'd: abnormal 146 sort: way 156 rack: cloud ​164 with a thought: quick as thought 167 presented: impersonated 180 goss: gorse ​187 stale: decoy 193 line: lime-tree 198 Jack: knave 206 hoodwink: blind you to ​223 king Stephano; cf. n. 228 frippery: place for the sale of old clothing ​238 jerkin, etc.; cf. n. 246 pass of pate: sally of wit 248 lime: bird-lime 251 barnacles; cf. n.