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 | The Tempest, or The Enchanted Island |  |
SCENE II.
In the midst of the Shower of Fire the Scene changes. The Cloudy Sky, Rocks, and Sea vanish; and when the Lights return, discover that Beautiful part of the Island, which was the habitation of Prospero; 'Tis compos'd of three Walks of Cypress-trees, each Side-walk leads to a Cave, in one of which Prospero keeps his Daughters, in the other Hippolito: The Middle-Walk is of a great depth, and leads to an open part of the Island.Enter Prospero and Miranda.
Prosp.
Miranda, where's your Sister?
Miran.
I left her looking from the pointed Rock, at the walks
end, on the huge beat of Waters.
Prosp.
It is a dreadful object.
Mir.
If by your Art, my dearest Father, you have put them
in this roar, allay 'em quickly.
Prosp.
I have so order'd, that not one creature in the ship is
lost:
You both are ignorant of what you are,
Not knowing whence I am, nor that I'm more
Than Prospero, Master of a narrow Cell,
And thy unhappy Father.
Mir.
I ne'r endeavour'd to know more then you were pleas'd
to tell me.
Prosp.
I should inform thee farther.
Mir.
You often, Sir, began to tell me what I am,
But then you stopt.
Prosp.
The hour's now come;
Obey, and be attentive. Canst thou remember a time before we
came into this Cell? I do not think thou canst, for then thou
wert not full three years old.
Mir.
Certainly I can, Sir.
Prosp.
Tell me the image then of any thing which thou dost
keep in thy remembrance still.
Mir.
Sir, had I not four or five Women once that tended me?
Prosp.
Thou hadst, and more, Miranda: what seest thou else
in the dark back-ward, and abyss of Time?
If thou remembrest ought e'r thou cam'st here, then how thou
cam st thou may'st remember too.
Mir.
Sir, that I do not.
Prosp.
Fifteen years since, Miranda, thy Father was the Duke
of Millan, and a Prince of power.
Mir.
Sir, are not you my Father?
Prosp.
Thy Mother was all virtue, and she said, Thou wast
my Daughter, and thy Sister too.
Mir.
O Heavens! what foul play had we, that we hither
came, or was't a blessing that we did?
Prosp.
Both, both, my Girl.
Mir.
But, Sir, I pray proceed.
Prosp.
My Brother, and thy Uncle, call'd Antonio, to whom
I trusted then the manage of my State, while I was wrap'd with
secret Studies: That false Uncle
Having attain'd the craft of granting suits, and of denying
them; whom to advance, or lop, for over-topping, soon
was grown the Ivy which did hide my Princely Trunk, and
Mir.
O good Sir, I do.
Prosp.
I thus neglecting worldly ends, and bent to closeness,
and the bettering of my mind, wak'd in my false Brother an
evil nature:
He was indeed the Duke, because he then did execute the outward
face of Sovereignty. Do'st thou still mark me?
Mir.
Your story would cure deafness.
Prosp.
This false Duke needs would be Absolute Millan, and
Confederates with Savoy's Duke, to give him Tribute, and to
do him Homage.
Mir.
False man!
Prosp.
This Duke of Savoy being an Enemy,
To me inveterate, strait grants my Brother's suit,
And on a night
Mated to his design, Antonio opened the gates of Millan, and
i'th' dead of darkness, hurri'd me thence with thy young Sister,
and thy crying self.
Mir.
But wherefore did they not that hour destroy us?
Prosp.
They durst not, Girl, in Millan, for the love my people
bore me; in short they hurri'd us away to Savoy, and thence
aboard a Bark at Nissa's Port: bore us some Leagues to Sea,
where they prepar'd a rotten carkass of a Boat, not rigg'd, no
Tackle, Sail, nor Mast; the very Rats instinctively had quit it.
Mir.
Alack! what trouble was I then to you?
Prosp.
Thou and thy Sister were two Cherubins, which did
preserve me: you both did smile, infus'd with fortitude from
Heaven.
Mir.
How came we ashoar?
Prosp.
By Providence Divine,
Some food we had, and some fresh Water, which a Nobleman
of Savoy, called Gonzalo, appointed Master of that black design,
gave us; with rich Garments, and all necessaries, which
since have steaded much: and of his gentleness (knowing
I lov'd my Books he furnish'd me from mine own Library, with
Volumes which I prize above my Dukedom.
Mir.
Would I might see that man.
Here in this Island we arriv'd, and here have I your
Tutor been. But by my skill I find, that my Mid-heaven doth
depend on a most happy Star, whose influence if I now court
not, but omit, my Fortunes will ever after droop: here cease
more questions, thou art inclin'd to sleep: 'tis a good dulness,
and give it way; I know thou canst not chuse.
Come away, my Spirit: I am ready now, approach,
My Ariel, Come.
[Enter Ariel.
Ariel.
All hail, great Master, grave Sir, hail, I come to answer
thy best pleasure, be it to fly, to swim, to shoot into the fire, to
ride on the curl'd Clouds; to thy strong bidding, task Ariel
and all his Qualities.
Prosp.
Hast thou, Spirit, perform'd to point the Tempest that
I bad thee?
Ariel.
To every Article.
I boarded the Dukes Ship, now on the Beak, now in the Waste,
the Deck, in every Cabin; I flam'd amazement, and sometimes
I seem'd to burn in many places on the Top-mast, the
Yards, and Bore-sprit; I did flame distinctly. Nay once I rain'd
a shower of Fire upon 'em.
Prosp.
My brave Spirit!
Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil did not infect
his Reason?
Ariel.
Not a Soul
Put felt a Feaver of the mind, and plaid some tricks of desperation;
all, but Marriners, plung'd in the foaming brine, and
quit the Vessel: the Dukes Son, Ferdinand, with hair upstairing
(more like Reeds then Hair) was the first man that leap'd;
cry'd, Hell is empty, and all the Devils are here.
Prosp.
Why that's my Spirit;
But was not this nigh Shore?
Ariel.
Close by my Master.
Prosp.
But, Ariel, are they safe?
Ariel.
Not a hair perish'd.
In Troops I have dispers'd them round this Isle.
The Duke's son I have landed by himself, whom I have left
warming the Air with sighs, in an odd angle of the Isle, and
sitting, his arms he folded in this sad knot.
Say how thou hast dispos'd the Marriners of the Duke's
Ship, and all the rest of the Fleet?
Ariel.
Safely in harbour
Is the Dukes Ship, in the deep Nook, where once thou called'st
Me up at midnight to fetch Dew from the
Still vex'd Bermoothes, there she's hid,
The Marriners all under hatches stow'd,
Whom, with a charm, joyn'd to their suffer'd labour,
I have left asleep; and for the rest o'th' Fleet,
(Which I disperst) they all have met again,
And are upon the Mediterranean Float,
Bound sadly home for Italy;
Supposing that they saw the Duke's Ship wrack'd,
And his great person perish.
Prosp.
Ariel, thy charge
Exactly is perform'd, but there's more work:
What is the time o'th' day?
Ariel.
Past the mid-season.
Prosp.
At least two Glasses: the time 'tween six and now
must by us both be spent most preciously.
Ariel.
Is there more toyl? since thou dost give me pains, let
me remember thee what thou hast promis'd, which is not yet
perform'd me.
Prosp.
How now, Moodie?
What is't thou canst demand?
Ariel.
My liberty.
Prosp.
Before the time be out? no more.
Ariel.
I prethee!
Remember I have done thee faithful service,
Told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings,
Serv'd without or grudge, or grumblings:
Thou didst promise to bate me a full year.
Prosp.
Dost thou forget
From what a torment I did free thee?
Ariel.
No.
Prosp.
Thou dost, and think'st it much to tread the Ooze
Of the salt deep:
To run against the sharp wind of the North,
When it is bak'd with Frost.
Ariel.
I do not, Sir.
Prosp.
Thou ly'st, malignant thing! hast thou forgot the
foul Witch Sycorax, who with age and envy was grown into a
Hoop? hast thou forgot her?
Ariel.
No, Sir.
Prosp.
Thou hast; where was she born? speak, tell me.
Ariel.
Sir, in Argier.
Prosp.
Oh, was she so! I must
Once every month recount what thou hast been, which thou
forgettest. This damn'd Witch Sycorax for mischiefs manifold,
and Sorceries too terrible to enter humane hearing, from
Argier thou know'st was banish'd: but for one thing she did,
they would not take her life: is not this true?
Ariel.
I, Sir.
Prosp.
This blew-ey'd Hag was hither brought with child,
And here was left by th'Sailers, thou, my slave,
As thou report'st thy self, wast then her servant,
And 'cause thou wast a spirit too delicate
To act her earthy and abhor'd commands;
Refusing her grand Hests, she did confine thee,
By help of her more potent Ministers,
(In her unmitigable rage) into a cloven Pine,
Within whose rift imprison'd, thou didst painfully
Remain a dozen years; within which space she dy'd,
And left thee there; where thou didst vent thy
Groans, as fast as Mill-wheels strike.
Then was this Isle (save for two Brats, which she did
Litter here, the brutish Caliban, and his twin-sister,
Two freckel'd hag-born Whelps) not honour'd with
A humane shape.
Ariel.
Yes! Caliban her son, and Sycorax his sister.
Prosp.
Dull thing, I say so; he, that Caliban, and she that
Sycorax, whom I now keep in service. Thou best know'st
what torment I did find thee in, thy groans did make Wolves
houl, and penetrate the breasts of ever angry Bears, it was a
torment to lay upon the damn'd, which Sycorax could ne'r
that made the Pine to gape, and let thee out.
Ariel.
I thank thee, Master.
Prosp.
If thou more murmurest, I will rend an Oak,
And peg thee in his knotty entrails, till thou
Hast houl'd away twelve Winters more.
Ariel.
Pardon, Master,
I will be correspondent to command, and be
A gentle spirit.
Prosp.
Do so, and after two days I'l discharge thee.
Ariel.
Thanks, my great Master. But I have yet one request.
Prosp.
What's that, my spirit.
Ariel.
I know that this days business is important, requiring
too much toyl for one alone. I have a gentle spirit for my Love,
who twice seven years has waited for my freedom: Let it appear,
it will assist me much, and we with mutual joy shall entertain
each other. This I beseech you grant me.
Prosp.
You shall have your desire.
Ariel.
That's my noble Master. Milcha!
[Milcha flies down to his assistance.
Milc.
I am here, my Love.
Ariel.
Thou art free! welcome, my dear! what shall we do?
say, say, what shall we do?
Prosp.
Be subject to no sight but mine, invisible to every Eyeball
else. Hence with diligence, anon thou shalt know more.
Thou hast slept well my child.
[To Mir.
Mir.
The sadness of your story put heaviness in me.
Prosp.
Shake it off; come on, I'l now call Caliban, my slave,
who never yields us a kind answer.
Mir.
'Tis a creature, Sir, I do not love to look on.
Prosp.
But as 'tis, we cannot miss him; he does make our
Fire, fetch in our Wood, and serve in Offices that profit us:
what hoa! Slave! Caliban! thou Earth thou, speak.
Calib.
within.
There's Wood enough within.
Prosp
Thou poisonous slave, got by the Devil himself upon
thy wicked Dam, come forth.
[Enter Caliban.
Calib.
As wicked Dew, as e'r my Mother brush'd with Raven's
blow on you, and blister you all o'r.
Prosp.
For this be sure, to night thou shalt have cramps, side-stiches,
that shall pen thy breath up; Urchins shall prick thee
till thou bleed'st: thou shalt be pinch'd as thick as Honey-combs,
each pinch more stinging than the Bees which made
'em.
Calib.
I must eat my dinner: this Island's mine by Sycorax
my Mother, which thou took'st from me. When thou cam'st
first, thou stroak'st me, and mad'st 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 lov'd thee, and shew'd thee all the qualities of
the Isle, the Fresh-springs, Brine-pits, barren places and fertile.
Curs'd be I that I did so: All the Charms of Sycorax, Toads,
Beetles, Bats, light on thee, for I am all the Subjects that thou
hast. I first was mine own Lord; and here thou stay'st me in
this hard Rock, whiles thou does keep from me the rest o'th'
Island.
Prosp.
Thou most lying Slave, whom stripes may move, not
kindness: I have us'd thee (filth that thou art) with humane
care, and lodg'd thee in mine own Cell, till thou didst seek to
violate the honour of my Children.
Calib.
Oh ho, Oh ho, would't had been done: thou didst
prevent me, I had peopl'd else this Isle with Calibans.
Prosp.
Abhor'd Slave!
Who ne'r would any print of goodness take, being capable
of all ill: I pity'd thee, took pains to make thee speak, taught
thee each hour one thing or other; when thou didst not (Savage)
know thy own meaning, but wouldst gabble, like a thing
most brutish, I endow'd thy purposes with words, which made
them known: But thy wild race (though thou didst learn)
had that in't, which good Natures could not abide to be with:
therefore wast thou deservedly pent up into this Rock.
Calib.
You taught me language, and my profit by it is, that
I know to curse: the red botch rid you for learning me your
language.
Prosp.
Hag-seed hence!
To answer other business: shrugst thou (malice)
If thou neglectest, or dost unwillingly what I command,
I'l wrack thee with old Cramps, fill all thy bones with
Aches, make thee roar, that Beasts shall tremble
At thy Din.
Calib.
No prethee!
I must obey. His Art is of such power,
It would control my Dam's God, Setebos,
And make a Vassal of him.
Prosp.
So Slave, hence.
[Exeunt Prospero and Caliban severally.
Enter Dorinda.
Dor.
Oh, Sister! what have I beheld?
Mir.
What is it moves you so?
Dor.
From yonder Rock,
As I my eyes cast down upon the Seas,
The whistling winds blew rudely on my face,
And the waves roar'd; at first I thought the War
Had been between themselves, but strait I spy'd
A huge great Creature.
Mir.
O you mean the Ship.
Dor.
Is't not a Creature then? it seem'd alive.
Mir.
But what of it?
Dor.
This floating Ram did bear his Horns above,
All ty'd with Ribbands ruffling in the wind;
Sometimes he nodded down his head awhile,
And then the waves did heave him to the Moon;
He clamb'ring to the top of all the Billows,
And then again he curtsi'd down so low,
I could not see him: till, at last, all side-long
With a great crack his belly burst in pieces.
Mir.
There all had perish'd,
Had not my Father's Magick Art reliev'd them.
But, Sister, I have stranger news to tell you;
In this great Creature there were other Creatures,
And shortly we may chance to see that thing,
Dor.
But what is that? for yet he never told me.
Mir.
I know no more than you: but I have heard
My Father say, we Women were made for him.
Dor.
What, that he should eat us, Sister?
Mir.
No sure, you see my Father is a Man, and yet
He does us good. I would he were not old.
Dor.
Me thinks indeed it would be finer, if we two
Had two young Fathers.
Mir.
No, Sister, no, if they were young, my Father
Said, that we must call them Brothers.
Dor.
But pray how does it come, that we two are not Brothers
then, and have not Beards like him?
Mir.
Now I confess you pose me.
Dor.
How did he come to be our Father too?
Mir.
I think he found us when we both were little, and
grew within the ground.
Dor.
Why could he not find more of us? pray, Sister, let you
and I look up and down one day, to find some little ones for
us to play with.
Mir.
Agreed; but now we must go in. This is the hour
Wherein my Father's Charm will work,
Which seizes all who are in open air:
Th' effect of his great Art I long to see,
Which will perform as much as Magick can.
Dor.
And I, methinks, more long to see a Man.
| The Tempest, or The Enchanted Island | |