University of Virginia Library

ACT THE FIFTH.

SCENE I.

A Grove behind the Cell of Prospero.
Enter Prospero and Miranda.
Pro.
You beg in vain; I cannot pardon him;
He has offended Heaven.

Mir.
Then let Heaven punish him.

Pro.
It will, by me.

Mir.
Grant him at least some respite, for my sake.

Pro.
I, by deferring justice, should incense
The Deity against myself and you.

Mir.
Yet I have heard you say, the powers above
Are slow in punishing,—and should not you
Resemble them?—
And can you be his judge and executioner?

Pro.
I cannot force Gonzalo, or my brother,
Much less the father, to destroy the son;
It must be then the monster Caliban;
And he's not here: but Ariel straight shall fetch him.

Enter Ariel, with a small Box of Unguent, and Ferdinand's Sword, wrapped up in a Scarf.
Ari.
My potent lord, before thou call'st, I come
To serve thy will.

Pro.
Then, spirit, fetch me hither
My savage slave.

Ari.
My lord, it does not need.

Pro.
Art thou then prone to mischief? Wilt thou be
Thyself the executioner?

Ari.
Think better of thy airy minister,
Who, for thy sake, unbidden, this night hath flown
O'er almost all the habitable world.

Pro.
But to what purpose was thy diligence?

Ari.
When I was chidden by my mighty lord,
For my neglect of young Hippolyto,
I search'd his wound with care, and found that life
Was but retir'd, not sally'd out: I gather'd
The best of simples underneath the moon,
The best of balms, and to the hurt apply'd
The healing juice of vulnerary herbs:
His only danger was his loss of blood,
Just at this hour he will awake, and now
He must be dress'd again: anoint this sword,
Which pierc'd him, with this salve, and wrap it close
From air, at once his cure will be complete.

Pro.
Give them to me: Be this your task, Miranda,
Because your sister is not present here;
[Gives her the Sword and Box.
While I go visit your dear Ferdinand.

Mir.
I do obey you with a double duty;
For now, sir, you have given me life twice over.
[Exit Miranda.

Pro.
Now does my project gather to a head:
My charms crack not; my spirits obey; and time
Goes upright with his carriage: at this hour
Lie at my mercy all mine enemies.
Tell me, my spirit, how fares Prince Ferdinand,
The King, and his followers?

Ari.
Confin'd together
In the same fashion as you gave in charge:
Your brother, and the King, abide distracted;
And young Prince Ferdinand mourning over them,
Brim-full of sorrow and dismay; but chiefly,
Him that you term'd “The good old Lord Gonzalo,—
His tears run down his beard, like winter drops
From eaves of reeds: Your charm so strongly works 'em
That, if you now beheld them, your affections
Would become tender.

Pro.
Dost thou think so, spirit?

Ari.
Mine would, sir, were I human.

Pro.
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
Will 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. Follow, gentle Ariel.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The Inside of the Cave of Hippolyto.
Hippolyto on a Couch, and Dorinda by him, discovered.
Dor.
How do you find yourself?

Hip.
I'm somewhat cold:
Can you not draw me nearer to the sun?
I am too weak to walk.

Dor.
My love, I'll try.
[She draws the Couch forward.
They told me, you had died, and were asleep,
Never to wake again:—What is't to die?

Hip.
Sure 'tis a dream, a kind of breathless swoon,
When once the soul's gone out.

Dor.
What is the soul?

Hip.
A small blue thing, that runs about within us.

Dor.
Then I have seen it in a frosty morning
Run smoking from my mouth.

Hip.
But, dear Dorinda,
What is become of him, who fought with me?

Dor.
O, I can tell you joyful news of him:
My father means to make him die to-day,
For what he did to you.

Hip.
That must not be:
My dear Dorinda, go, and beg your father
He may not die; it was my fault he hurt me;
I urg'd him to it first: he must forgive him.

Dor.
But then he'll ne'er leave killing you, perhaps.

Hip.
Nay, but run quickly, lest you come too late.

[Exit Dorinda.
Enter Miranda, with the Sword and Box.
Hip.
Who's this, who looks so fair and beautiful,
As nothing but Dorinda can surpass her?
O, I believe, it is that angel woman
Whom she calls sister.

Mir.
Sir, I am sent hither
To dress your wound:—How do you find your strength?

Hip.
Fair creature, I am faint with loss of blood.—
[She uncovers the Sword.
My wound shoots worse than ever.—

[She anoints the Sword.
Mir.
Do you find
No ease?

Hip.
Yes:—on the sudden all the pain
Is leaving me.—
[She wraps the Sword up again.
Sweet Heaven, how I'm reliev'd!

[Rises.
Enter Ferdinand and Dorinda.
Fer.
Madam, I must confess, my life is yours,
I owe it to your goodness.

Mir.
Ha! her goodness?

Fer.
Look;—is not that your sister with Hippolyto?

Dor.
It is.

Hip.
Dorinda with another man!

Dor.
Sister, what business have you here?

Mir.
You see.
[Showing the Sword and Scarf.
I come to wait upon Hippolyto.

Dor.
You are very charitable to a stranger.

Mir.
And you, Dorinda, are not much behind
In charity, to beg a pardon for
A man whom you scarce ever saw before.

Dor.
Henceforward let your surgery alone;
I'd rather he should die, than you should cure
His wound.

Mir.
And I wish Ferdinand had died,
[Throws away the Sword, &c.
Before he ow'd his life to your entreaty.

Fer.
Sir, I am glad you are so well recover'd.
You keep your humour still, to have all women.

Hip.
Not all, sir; you except one of the number,
Your new love there, Dorinda.

Mir.
Ah, Ferdinand, can you become inconstant?

Dor.
Ay, now I find why I was sent away;
That you might have my sister's company.

Hip.
Dorinda, kill me not with your unkindness;
This is too much, first to be false yourself,
And then accuse me too.

Fer.
We all accuse
Each other, and each one denies the guilt:
I should be glad it were a mutual error;
And therefore, first to clear myself from fault,
I beg Dorinda's pardon, while I say,
I only love her sister.

Mir.
O bless'd word!
I'm sure, I love no man but Ferdinand.

Dor.
Nor I, Heaven knows, but my Hippolyto.

Hip.
I never knew how much I lov'd, before
I fear'd Dorinda's constancy; but now
I am convinc'd that I lov'd none but her,
Because none else can recompense her loss.—
Look, look,—what goodly creatures are there here!

Mir.
How beauteous mankind is!

Dor.
O brave new world,
That has such wonders in't!

Fer.
Our friends and fathers.

Enter Ariel, Prospero, Alonso, Gonzalo, and Antonio.
Alon.
I do entreat, it may no more be thought of:
Your purpose, though it was severe, was just:
In losing Ferdinand, I should have mourn'd,
But could not have complain'd.

Pro.
Sir, I rejoice,
Kind Heaven decreed it otherwise.—My spirit,
Set Caliban and his companions free;
Untie the spell; enforce them to this place,
And presently.

Ari.
I drink the air before me.
[Exit Ariel.

Pro.
[To Ferdinand.]
If I have too austerely punish'd you,
Your compensation makes amends; for I
Do give you here a third of my own life:
I tender her to thy hand, and afore Heaven
Do ratify this my rich gift: O Ferdinand,
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.

For.
I do believe it,
Against an oracle.

Alon.
Now all the blessings
Of a glad father compass thee about,
And make thee happy in thy beauteous choice!
But,—O,—how oddly will it sound, that I
Must ask my child forgiveness!

Pro.
There, sir, stop;
Let us not burden our remembrance with
A heaviness that's gone.

Gon.
I've inly wept,
Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you Heavens,
And on this couple drop a blessed crown:
For it is you, that have chalk'd forth the way
Which brought us hither!

Pro.
I say, amen to that.
Holy Gonzalo, honourable man,
My true preserver, I will pay thy graces
Home, both in word and deed.

Ant.
[Kneels.]
My brother, and my liege, though penitence,
Forc'd by necessity, be of little worth,
Yet let me hope my blood may somewhat plead
For mercy in your bosom:—I resign
Dominion, which 'tis true, I could not keep;
But Heaven knows too, I would not.

Pro.
[Raises him.]
All past griefs
I bury in the joy of this bless'd day.

[Embraces him.
Alon.
There is yet an act of justice due from me:
To you, young prince, I render back your own,
And as the Duke of Mantua thus salute you.

Hip.
What is it that you render back? Methinks,
You give me nothing.

Pro.
You are to be lord
Of a great people, and o'er towns and cities.

Hip.
And shall these people all be men and women?

Pro.
They shall, Hippolyto; and call you lord:
And that your happiness may be complete,
I give you my Dorinda for your wife;
She shall be yours for ever, when the priest
Has made you one.

Hip.
How can he make us one?

Pro.
By saying holy words, you shall be join'd
In marriage to each other.

Dor.
O, I'll tell you;
I warrant you, these holy words are charms;
My father means to conjure us together.

Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban without.
Cal.
O! O! O!

Step.
Most villanous monster!

Trin.
Most monstrous monster!

Gon.
O, look, sir: here are more of us!
I prophesy'd, if a gallows were on land,
That fellow could not drown.

Enter Ariel, waving Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban, after him.
Step.
[Entering.]

Every man shift for all the rest,
and let no man take care for himself; for all is but
fortune.

Ant.

Is not this Stephano, our drunken master.

Trin.
[Entering with Caliban.]

Oh! a plague o'
your monsters!

Alon.

And Trinculo, our jester?

Gon.
Now, blasphemy,
That swear'st grace o'erboard, not an oath on shore?
Hast thou no mouth by land?

Cal.
O Setebos, these be brave spirits indeed!

Gon.
How came you in this pickle, Trinculo?

Trin.
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.

Gon.

Why, how now, Stephano?

Step.

O, touch me not; I am not Stephano, but a
cramp.

Pro.

You would be king of the isle, sirrah?

Step.

I should have been a sore one then.

Cal.

My master! O, I shall be pinch'd to death.

Alon.

This is as strange a sight as e'er I look'd on.

Pro.
This misshapen thing,—
His mother was a witch; and one so strong
That could controll the moon, make flows and ebbs,
And deal in her command without her power.
He is as disproportioned in his manners,
As in his shape.—
These three have robb'd me; and have plotted too
To take my life. Hence, malice, to my cell;
Take with you your companions; as you look
To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.

Cal.
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! Ho! ho! ho!
[Exit Caliban.

Step.

I would I had now our gallant ship again,
and were her master! I would willingly give all my
island for her.

Trin.

She and our bottle are past praying for.

Pro.
Follow that slave: be of good heart; your ship,
Which, but some few hours since, you gave out split,
Is tight and yare; and bravely rigg'd, as when
You first put out to sea.

Step.

Trinculo, if this news be true, I resign my
kingdom.

Trin.

And I my viceroyship over you.

Pro.

You'll find it verity:—away, be gone.

Step.

Huzza, Trinculo!

Trin.

Huzza, Stephano!

Step. and Trin.

Huzza! Huzza!

[Exeunt Trinculo and Stephano.
Ari.

Was this well done?

Pro.
Bravely, my Ariel.—I shall miss thee much;
Yet take thy liberty, my chick;—and now,
Away, and to the elements be free:—
Farewell!

Ari.
My ever gracious master, thanks.
SONG—BY ARIEL.
[Exit Ariel.

Pro.
Sir, I invite your highness, and your train
To my poor cell, where you shall take your rest
This night; and learn the story of my life,
Since I came to this isle; soon in the morn,
I'll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples;—
Where I have hope to see the nuptials
Of these our dear beloved solemnized;—
And thence retire me to my Milan, where
Every third thought shall be my grave.

Alon.
I long
To hear the story of your life, which must
Take the ear strangely.

Pro.
I'll deliver all:
And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales,
With sail so expeditious, that shall catch
Your royal fleet far off.—And when I have
Requir'd one airy vision of my spirits,—
Which even now I do,—I'll break my staff,
Bury it certain fathoms in the earth,
And deeper than did ever plummet sound,
I'll drown my book.
[Prospero waves his Wand,—the Scene vanishes, and discovers a View of a calm Sea, and the King's Ship riding at Anchor.
Where art thou, Ariel? Come;
For the last time obey.

Ari.
[From the Sky.]
Hail, Prospero, hail!

Pro.
Approach, descend; be visible to all.

[Ariel and other Spirits descend in bright Clouds.
Ari.
I come, best master;
And, for the freedom I enjoy in air,
I will be still your Ariel, and wait
On all the accidents that work for fate;
Whatever may your happiness concern
From your still faithful Ariel you shall learn.

Quartetto and Chorus, by Ariel and the Spirits.
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.

[Ariel and the Spirits reascend into the Sky.
Pro.
Farewell my much lov'd Ariel: thou shalt find
I will retain thee ever in my mind.—
You look in a mov'd sort,
[To Alonso.
As if you were dismay'd; be cheerful, sir:
Our revels are now ended: these our actors,
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-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve;
And, like this unsubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind.—My work is done.
[Breaks his Wand.
Henceforth this land to the afflicted be
A place of refuge, as it was to me:
On my retreat, let Heaven and nature smile,
And ever flourish the Enchanted Isle!

[Exeunt Omnes.