for special mention : — (i) CaUban : The Missing Link: by Daniel Wilson :
(2)Renan's philosophical drama, entitled Caliban; (3) Browning's Caliban
upon Setebos ; or Natural Theology in the Island.
The Scene of Action. ' The Seme, an uninhabited Island^ ; the
claim of the Bermudas is now generally admitted as the original scene of
Prospero's magic. Shakespeare refers to ' the still-vexed Bermoothes,'
Preface THE TEMPEST
and the local colour and details seem to be derived from the tracts referred
to above, or perhaps (as Mr Rudyard Kipling has recently elaborated the
idea) from the description given by one of the mariners, ' with the wealth
of detail peculiar to sailors,' prepared to answer questions ' for un-
limited sacic.' ' Much, doubtless, he discarded, but so closely did he
keep to his original informations that those who go to-day to a certain
beach some two miles from Hamilton, will find the stage set for Act II.
scene 2 of The Tempest — a bare beach, with the wind singing through the
scrub at the land's edge, a gap in the reef,' dc*
Duration of Action. The ' Time-Analysis ' of The Tempest brings
out very clearly the fact that in this play Shaitespeare has adhered strictly
to the Unity of Time; the whole action of the play lasts from three to
four hours; cp. Act I., 2,239-240; Act V., i, 5; ibid. 1. 136-137, 186,
223.
It is alleged that a sailor's ' glass ' was a half-hour glass, and that
Shakespeare was guilty of a technical error in using it in the sense of 'an
hour glass.' The error was no doubt intentional.
The Music. There is good reason to believe that Wilsons Cheerful
Ai/res or Ballads, Oxford, 1660, has preserved for us the original music of
two of the songs of The Tempest — -viz., 'Full fathoms five,' and 'Where
the Bee sucks'; the composer was R. Johnson, who in 1610 wrote the
music for Middleton's IVitch, Z-nA in 161 1 was in the service of Prince
Henry (cp. Grove's Dictionary of Music, Variorum Tempest, pp. 352-353,
and Naylor's Shakespeare and Music, Dent, I 896).
Later Verses. in 1669 appeared Dryden and Davenant's version of
The Tempest; or the enchanted Isle. According to Dryden, Davenant de-
signed the ' Counterpart to Shakespeare's plot, namely that of a man who
had never seen a woman.' ' Than this version,' observes Mr Furness,
' there is, I think, in the realm of literature, no more flagrant existence
of lese-majesty' (cp. Variorum Tempest, pp. 389-449). In 1797 F. G.
Waldron published The Virgin Queen, ' attempted as a sequel to Shake-
speare's Tempest.'
* cp. Spectator, June 2, 1898. Mr Gosling, however, maintains that Mr Kipling's
'vivid imagination has led him astray when he thinks he has discovered the scene of
the shipwreck in a cove about two miles from Hamilton. . . . The actual scene of the
shipwreck and landfall of Sir George Somers are known beyond doubt. The rocks on
which Sir George Somers' ship, the Sea Venture, was wrecked, lie off St George's,
about twelve miles from Hamilton,' etc.
The Tempest
\ Lords.
[SCO, J
DRAMATIS PERSONJi.
AlonsO, King of Naples.
Sebastian, his brother.
Prospero, the right Duke of Milan.
Antonio, his brother, the usurping Duh cf Milan.
Ferdinand, son to the King of Naples,
GoNZALO, an honest old Counsellor.
Adrian,
Francisco,
Caliban, a savage and deformed Slave.
Trinculo, a Jester.
Stephano, a drunken Butler.
Master of a Ship.
Boatswain.
Mariners.
Miranda, daughter to Prospero.
Ariel, an airy Spirit.
Iris,
Ceres,
Juno, \ presented by Spirits,
Nymphs,
Reapers,
Other Spirits attending on Prospero.
The Tempest.
ACT FIRST.
Scene I.
On a ship at sea: a tempestuous noise of thunder and
lightning heard.
Enter a Ship-Master and a Boatswain.
Mast. Boatswain !
Boats. Here, master : what cheer ?
Mast. Good, speak to the mariners : fall to 't, yarely, or
we run ourselves aground : bestir, bestir. [^Exit.
Enter Mariners.
Boats. Heigh, my hearts ! cheerly, cheerly, my hearts !
yare, yare ! Take in the topsail. Tend to the
master's whistle. Blow, till thou burst thy wind,
if room enough !
Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Ferdinand, Gonzalo,
and others.
Alon. Good boatswain, have care. Where's the
master? Play the men. lo
Boats. I pray now, keep below.
Ant. Where is the master, boatswain ?
Boats. Do you not hear him ? You mar our labour :
keep your cabins : you do assist the storm.
Gon. Nay, good, be patient.
Boats. When the sea is. Hence ! What cares these
Act I. Sc. i. THE TEMPEST
roarers for the name of king ? To cabin : silence !
trouble us not.
Gon. Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard.
Boats. None that I more love than myself. You are 20
a counsellor ; if you can command these elements
to silence, and work the peace of the present,
we will not hand a rope more ; use your authority :
if you cannot, give thanks you have lived so long,
and make yourself ready in your cabin for the
mischance of the hour, if it so hap. Cheerly,
good hearts ! Out of our way, I say. \^Exit.
Goti. I have great comfort from this fellow : methinks
he hath no drowning mark upon him ; his com-
plexion is perfect gallows. Stand fast, good Fate, 30
to his hanging : make the rope of his destiny our
cable, for our own doth little advantage. If he
be not born to be hanged, our case is miserable.
[^Exeunt.
Re-enter Boatsivain.
Boats. Down with the topmast ! yare ! lower, lower !
Bring her to try with main-course. \_A cry
•within.'] A plague upon this howling ! they
are louder than the weather or our office.
Re-enter Sebastian, Antonio, afid Gonzalo.
Yet again ! what do you here .'' Shall we give
o'er, and drown ? Have you a mind to sink .''
Seb. A pox o' your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, 40
incharitable dog !
Boats. Work you, then.
Ant. Hang, cur ! hang, you whoreson, insolent noise-
THE TEMPEST Act I. Sc. i.
maker. We are less afraid to be drowned than
thou art.
Gon. I'll warrant him for drowning ; though the ship
were no stronger than a nutshell, and as leaky
as an unstanched wench.
Boats. Lay her a-hold, a-hold ! set her two courses ;
off to sea again j lay her off. ^o
Enter Mariners ivet.
Mariners. All lost! to prayers, to prayers! all lost!
Boats. What, must our mouths be cold ?
Gon. The king and prince at prayers ! let's assist them,
For our case is as theirs.
Seb. I'm out of patience.
Ant. We are merely cheated of our lives by drunkards :
This wide-chapp'd rascal, — would thou mightst
lie drowning
The washing of ten tides !
Gon. He'll be hanged yet,
Though every drop of water swear against it.
And gape at widest to glut him. 60
[A confused noise within : ' Mercy on us ! ' —
' We split, we split ! ' — * Farewell my wife and
children ! ' —
• Farewell, brother ! ' — * We split, we split, we split ! ']
Ant. Let's all sink with the king.
5^^. Let's take leave of him. [Exeunt Ant. and Sek
Gon. Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for
an acre of barren ground, long heath, brown
furze, any thing. The wills above be done ! but
I would fain die a dry death. [Exeunt. Jo
Act I. Sc. ii. THE TEMPEST
Scene II.
The island. Before Prosperous cell.
Enter Prospero and Miranda.
Mir. If by your art, my dearest father, you have
Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them.
The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch,
But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek,
Dashes the fire out. O, I have suffer'd
With those that I saw suffer ! a brave vessel.
Who had, no doubt, some noble creature in her,
Dash'd all to pieces. O, the cry did knock
Against my very heart ! Poor souls, they perish'd !
Had I been any god of power, I would lo
Have sunk the sea within the earth, or ere
It should the good ship so have swallow'd and
The fraughting souls within her.
Pros. Be collected ;
No more amazement : tell your piteous heart
There 's no harm done.
Mir. O, woe the day !
Pros. No harm.
I have done nothing but in care of thee.
Of thee, my dear one, thee, my daughter, who
Art ignorant of what thou art, nought knowing
Of whence I am, nor that I am more better
Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell, 20
And thy no greater father.
Mir. More to know
Did never meddle with my thoughts.
THE TEMPEST Act I. Sc. ii.
Pros. 'Tis time
I should inform thee farther. Lend thy hand,
And pluck my magic garment from me. — So :
[Lays doivn his mantle.
Lie there, my art. Wipe thou thine eyes; have comfort.
The direful spectacle of the wreck, which touch'd
The very virtue of compassion in thee,
I have with such provision in mine art
So safely ordered, that there is no soul.
No, not so much perdition as an hair go
Betid to any creature in the vessel
Which thou heard'st cry, which thou saw'st sink.
Sit down ;
For thou must now know farther.
Mir. You have often
Begun to tell me what I am ; but stopp'd.
And left me to a bootless inquisition.
Concluding ' Stay : not yet.'
Pros. The hour's now come ;
The very minute bids thee ope thine ear ;
Obey, and be attentive. Canst thou remember
A time before we came unto this cell ?
I do not think thou canst, for then thou wast not 40
Out three years old.
Mir. Certainly, sir, I can.
Pros. By what ? by any other house or person }
Of any thing the image tell me, that
Hath kept with thy remembrance.
Mir. 'Tis far off,
And rather like a dream than an assurance
That my remembrance warrants. Had I not
Four or five women once that tended me ?
Act I. Sc. ii. THE TEMPEST
Pros. Thou hadst, and more, Miranda. But how is it
That this lives in thy mind ? What seest thou else
In the dark backward and abysm of time ? ^o
If thou remembcr'st aught ere thou earnest here,
How thou earnest here thou mayst.
Alir. But that I do not.
Pros. Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since.
Thy father was the Duke of Milan, and
A prince of power.
Mir. Sir, are not you my father ?
Pros. Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and
She said thou wast my daughter ; and thy father
Was Duke of Milan ; and his only heir
A princess, no worse issued.
Mir. O the heavens !
What foul play had we, that we came from thence ? 60
Or blessed was't we did ?
Pros. Both, both, my girl :
By foul play, as thou say'st, were we heaved thence;
But blessedly holp hither.
Mir. O, my heart bleeds
To think o' the teen that I have turn'd you to.
Which is from my remembrance ! Please you, farther.
Pros. My brother, and thy uncle, call'd Antonio, —
I pray thee, mark me, — that a brother should
Be so perfidious ! — he whom, next thyself,
Of all the world I loved, and to him put
The manage of my state ; as at that time 70
Through all the signories it was the first.
And Prospero the prime duke, being so reputed
In dignity, and for the liberal arts
Without a parallel ; those being all my study,
THE TEMPEST Act I. Sc. ii.
The government I cast upon my brother,
And to my state grew stranger, being transported
And rapt in secret studies. Thy false uncle —
Dost thou attend me ?
Mir. Sir, most heedfully.
Pros. Being once perfected how to grant suits,
How to deny them, who to advance, and who 80
To trash for over-topping, new created
The creatures that were mine, I say, or changed 'em,
Or else new form'd 'em ; having both the key
Of officer and office, set all hearts i' the state
To what tune pleased his ear ; that now he was
The ivy which had hid' my princely trunk,
And suck'd my verdure out on't. Thou attend'st not.
Alir. O, good sir, I do.
Pros. I pray thee, mark me.
I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated
To closeness and the bettering of my mind 90
With that which, but by being so retired,
O'er-prized all popular rate, in my false brother
Awaked an evil nature; and my trust.
Like a good parent, did beget of him
A falsehood in its contrary, as great
As my trust was ; which had indeed no limit,
A confidence sans bound. He being thus lorded,
Not only with what my revenue yielded.
But what my power might else exact, like one
Who having into truth, by telling of it, loo
Made such a sinner of his memory,
To credit his own lie, he did believe
He was indeed the duke ; out o' the substitution,
And executing the outward face of royalty.
Act I. Sc. ii. THE TEMPEST
With all prerogative: — hence his ambition growing, —
Dost thou hear?
Mir. Your tale, sir, would cure deafness.
Pros. To have no screen between this part he play'd
And him he play'd it for, he needs will be
Absolute Milan. Me, poor man, my library
Was dukedom large enough : of temporal royalties
He thinks me now incapable ; confederates, ill
So dry he was for sway, wi' the King of Naples
To give him annual tribute, do him homage,
Subject his coronet to his crown, and bend
The dukedom, yet unbow'd, — alas, poor Milan! —
To most ignoble stooping.
Mir. O the heavens !
Pros. Mark his condition, and the event ; then tell me
If this might be a brother.
Mir. I should sin
To think but nobly of my grandmother :
Good wombs have borne bad sons.
Pros. Now the condition. 1 20
This King of Naples, being an enemy
To me inveterate, hearkens my brother's suit ;
Which was, that he, in lieu o' the premises,
Of homage and I know not how much tribute,
Should presently extirpate me and mine
Out of the dukedom, and confer fair Milan,
With all the honours, on my brother : whereon,
A treacherous army levied, one midnight
Fated to the purpose, did Antonio open
The gates of Milan ; and, i' the dead of darkness, 1 30
The ministers for the purpose hurried thence
Me and thy crying self.
THE TEMPEST ^^^ ^' ^^- "'
Mir. Alack, for pity !
I, not remembering how I cried out then,
Will cry it o'er again : it is a hint
That wrings mine eyes to't.
Pros. Hear a little further,
And then I'll bring thee to the present business
Which now's upon 's ; without the which, this story
Were most impertinent.
Mir. Wherefore did they not
That hour destroy us ?
Pros. Well demanded, wench :
My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst not.
So dear the love my people bore me ; nor set 141
A mark so bloody on the business ; but
With colours fairer painted their foul ends.
In few, they hurried us aboard a bark,
Bore us some leagues to sea ; where they prepared
A rotten carcass of a butt, not rigg'd,
Nor tackle, sail, nor mast ; the very rats
Instinctively have quit it : there they hoist us,
To cry to the sea that roar'd to us ; to sigh
To the winds, whose pity, sighing back again, 150
Did us but loving wrong.
Mir. Alack, what trouble
Was I then to you !
Pros. O, a cherubin
Thou wast that did preserve me. Thou didst smile,
Infused with a fortitude from heaven.
When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt,
Under my burthen groan'd ; which raised in me
An undergoing stomach, to bear up
Against what should ensue.
Act I. Sc. ii. THE TEMPEST
Aiir. How came we ashore ?
Pros. By Providence divine.
Some food we had, and some fresh water, that l6o
A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo,
Out of his charity, who being then appointed
Master of this design, did give us, with
Rich garments, linens, stuffs and necessaries,
Which since have steaded much ; so, of his gentleness,
Knowing I loved my books, he furnish'd me
From mine own library with volumes that
I prize above my dukedom.
Mir. Would I might
But ever see that man !
Pros. Now I arise : [Resumes his mantle.
Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow. 170
Here in this island we arrived ; and here
Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit
Than other princess' can, that have more time
For vainer hours, and tutors not so careful.
Alir. Heavens thank you for't ! And now, I pray you, sir,
For still 'tis beating in my mind, your reason
For raising this sea-storm .''
Pros. Know thus far forth.
By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune,
Now my dear lady, hath mine enemies
Brought to this shore ; and by my prescience 180
I find my zenith doth depend upon
A most auspicious star, whose influence
If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes
Will ever after droop. Here cease more questions :
Thou art inclined to sleep ; 'tis a good dulness.
And give it way : I know thou canst not choose.
[Aliranda sleeps.
THE TEMPEST Act I. Sc. ii.
Come away, servant, come. I am ready now.
Approach, my Ariel, come.
Enter Ariel.
Art. All hail, great master ! grave sir, hail ! I come
To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly, 1 90
To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride
On the curl'd clouds, to thy strong bidding task
Ariel and all his quality.
Pros. Hast thou, spirit,
Perform'd to point the tempest that I bade thee .''
Art. To every article.
I boarded the king's ship ; now on the beak,
Now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin,
I flamed amazement : sometime I 'Id divide.
And burn in many places ; on the topmast,
The yards and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly, 200
Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precursors
O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary
And sight out-running were not : the fire and cracks
Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune
Seem to besiege, and make his bold waves tremble.
Yea, his dread trident shake.
Pros. My brave spirit !
"Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil
Would not infect his reason ?
Ari. Not a soul
But felt a fever of the mad, and play'd
Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners 2IO
Plunged in the foaming brine, and quit the vessel,
Then all afire with me : the king's son, Ferdinand,
With hair up-staring, — then like reeds, not hair, —
Act I. Sc. ii. THE TEMPEST
Was the first man that leap'd ; cried, ' Hell is empty,
And all the devils are here.'
Pros. Why, that's my spirit
But was not this nigh shore ?
Art. Close by, my master.
Pros. But are they, Ariel, safe?
Ari. Not a hair pcrish'd ;
On their sustaining garments not a blemish.
But fresher than before : and, as thou badest me,
In troops I have dispersed them 'bout the isle. 220
The king's son have I landed by himself;
Whom I left cooling of the air with sighs
In an odd angle of the isle, and sitting,
His arms in this sad knot.
Pros. Of the king's ship,
The mariners, say how thou hast disposed.
And all the rest o' the fleet.
Ari. Safely in harbour
Is the king's ship ; in the deep nook, where once
Thou call'dst me up at midnight to fetch dew
From the still-vex'd Bermoothes, there she's hid :
The mariners all under hatches stow'd •, 230
Who, with a charm join'd to their suffer'd labour,
I have left asleep : and for the rest o' the fleet.
Which I dispersed, they all have met again.
And are upon the Mediterranean flote.
Bound sadly home for Naples ;
Supposing that they saw the king's ship wreck'd,
And his great person perish.
Pros. Ariel, thy charge
Exactly is perform'd : but there's more work.
What is the time o' the day .''
THE TEMPEST Act I. Sc. ii.
Art. Past the mid season.
Pros. At least two glasses. The time 'twixt six and now
Must by us both be spent most preciously. 241
Ari. Is there more toil .'* Since thou dost give me pains,
Let me remember thee what thou hast promised,
Which is not yet perform'd me.
Pros. How now ? moody ?
What is't thou canst demand ?
Ari. My liberty.
Pros. Before the time be out ? no more !
Ari. I prithee,
Remember I have done thee worthy service ;
Told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings, served
Without or grudge or grumblings: thou didst promise
To bate me a full year.
Pros. Dost thou forget 250
From what a torment I did free thee ?
Ari. No.
Pros. Thou dost, and think'st it much to tread the ooze
Of the salt deep,
To run upon the sharp wind of the north.
To do me business in the veins o' the earth
When it is baked with frost.
Art. I do not, sir.
Pros. Thou liest, malignant thing ! Hast thou forgot
The foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy
Was grown into a hoop ? hast thou forgot her ?
Ari. No, sir.
Pros. Thou hast. Where was she born ? speak ;
tell me. 260
Ari. Sir, in Argier.
Pros. O, was she so ? I must
Act I. Sc. ii. THE TEMPEST
Once in a month recount what thou hast been,
Which thou forget'st. This damn'd witch Sycorax,
For mischiefs manifold, and sorceries terrible
To enter human hearing, from Argier,
Thou know'st, was banish'd : for one thing she did
They would not take her life. Is not this true ?
j4ri. Ay, sir.
Pros. This blue-eyed hag was hither brought with child,
And here was left by the sailors. Thou, my slave, 270
As thou report'st thyself, wast then her servant \
And, for thou wast a spirit too delicate
To act her earthy and abhorr'd commands,
Refusing her grand bests, she did confine thee,
By help of her more potent ministers,
And in her most unmitigable rage.
Into a cloven pine ; within which rift
Imprison'd thou didst painfully remain
A dozen years ; within which space she died, 279
And left thee there; where thou didst vent thy
groans
As fast as mill-wheels strike. Then was this island —
Save for the son that she did litter here,
A freckled whelp hag-born — not honour'd with
A human shape.
Ari. Yes, Caliban her son.
Pros. Dull thing, I say so ; he, that Caliban,
Whom now I keep in service. Thou best know'st
What torment I did find thee in ; thy groans
Did make wolves howl, and penetrate the breasts
Of ever-angry bears : it was a torment
To lay upon the damn'd, which Sycorax 290
Could not again undo : it was mine art,
THE TEMPEST Act I. Sc. ii.
When I arrived and heard thee, that made gape
The pine, and let thee out.
Ari. I thank thee, master.
Pros. If thou more murmur'st, I will rend an oak,
And peg thee in his knotty entrails, till
Thou hast howl'd away twelve winters.
^ri. Pardon, master :
I will be correspondent to command,
And do my spiriting gently.
Pros. Do so ; and after two days
I will discharge thee.
Ari. That 's my noble master !
What shall I do ? say what ; what shall I do ? 300
Pros. Go make thyself like a nymph o' the sea: be subject
To no sight but thine and mine ; invisible
To every eyeball else. Go take this shape.
And hither come in 't : go, hence with diligence !
[Exit Ariel.
Awake, dear heart, awake ! thou hast slept well ;
Awake !
Mir. The strangeness of your story put
Heaviness in me.
Pros. Shake it off. Come on ;
We'll visit Caliban my slave, who never
Yields us kind answer.
Mir. 'Tis a villain, sir,
I do not love to look on.
Pros. But, as 'tis, 310
We cannot miss him : he does make our fire,
Fetch in our wood, and serves in offices
That profit us. What, ho ! slave ! Caliban !
Thou earth, thou ! speak.
Act I. Sc. ii. THE TEMPEST
Cell. \W"ith'in'\ There's wood enough within.
Pros. Come forth, I say! there's other business for thee:
Come, thou tortoise ! when ?
Re-enter Ariel like a ivater-nymph.
Fine apparition ! My quaint Ariel,
Hark in thine car.
Ari. My lord, it shall be done. \_Exit.
Pros. Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself
Upon thy wicked dam, come forth ! 320
Enter Caliban.
Cal. As wicked dew as e'er my mother brush'd
With raven's feather from unwholesome fen
Drop on you both ! a south-west blow on ye
And blister you all o'er !
Pros. For this, be sure, to-night thou shalt have cramps.
Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up •, urchins
Shall, for that vast of night that they may work.
All exercise on thee ; thou shalt be pinch'd
As thick as honeycomb, each pinch more stinging
Than bees that made 'em.
Cal. I must eat my dinner. 330
This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother.
Which thou takest from me. When thou earnest first.
Thou strokst me, and made much of me ; wouldst
give me
Water with berries in't ; and teach me how
To name the bigger light, and how the less.
That burn by day and night : and then I loved thee.
And show'd thee all the qualities o' th' isle.
The fresh springs, brine-pits, barren place and fertile :
THE TEMPEST Act I. Sc. ii.
Cursed be I that did so ! All the charms
Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you ! 340
For I am all the subjects that you have.
Which first was mine own king : and here you sty me
In this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me
The rest o' th' island.
Pros. Thou most lying slave,
Whom stripes may move, not kindness ! I have used thee,
Filth as thou art, with human care ; and lodged thee
In mine own cell, till thou didst seek to violate
The honour of my child.
Cal. O ho, O ho ! would't had been done !
Thou didst prevent me j I had peopled else 35°
This isle with Calibans.
Pros. Abhorred slave.
Which any print of goodness wilt not take,
Being capable of all ill ! I pitied thee.