For audition prep only
Prospero’s Magic Island
An adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest
Characters:
Prospero Miranda Caliban Ariel Stephano
Ferdinand Juno Ceres Iris Trinculo
SCENE I
Sounds and sights of a storm at sea. We see PROSPERO, perched atop a promontory, looking out and controlling the storm.
We now make out the silhouettes of a group of mariners on a tempest-tossed ship. A great sail rises up which catches gusts of wind to keep it full. The mariners wrestle with its lashings trying desperately to keep it in place.
More sounds of wind and thunder.
The great sail flies up and out as the boat splits.
SCENE II.
We see PROSPERO still seemingly in command of the storm
Enter MIRANDA
MIRANDA
If by your art, my dearest father, you have
Created this horrific storm, please stop!
There is a ship now caught up in its path
And surely all who sail her soon will die.
PROSPERO
Miranda, tell your too, too fragile heart
There's no harm done.
MIRANDA
But father, I …
PROSPERO
No harm.
All that I do, I do in care of thee.
And know that I, your father, Prospero
Am master of this island and the sea.
MIRANDA
But why do those aboard suffer your wrath?
PROSPERO
Lend thy hand, and take my magic garment
Lays down his mantle
Lie there, my art. Wipe thou thine eyes; have comfort.
Can you recall the time when first we came?
I do not think you can, for then you were
Not four years old.
MIRANDA
No father, I cannot.
PROSPERO
Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since,
Thy father was the true right Duke of Milan
MIRANDA
But sir, are not you still my father?
PROSPERO
I am Miranda, sure I tell you true.
MIRANDA
You were the Duke of Milan?
PROSPERO
Yes, I was.
MIRANDA
But Father, why are we no longer there?
PROSPERO
My dearest friend, who like a brother was
Turned traitor and usurped my rightful crown.
MIRANDA
No father!
PROSPERO
Indeed he did. And that same traitor now
Rides on that ship here caught up in my storm
MIRANDA
But how came we now unto this island?
PROSPERO
By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune,
Brought us to this shore. Where is my servant?
Come Ariel, come, I am ready now.
Enter ARIEL
ARIEL
All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come
To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly,
To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride
On the curl'd clouds, to thy strong bidding task
Ariel and all his quality.
PROSPERO
Hast thou, spirit,
Perform'd to point the tempest that I told thee?
ARIEL
I boarded the king's ship; and then divide,
And burn in many places; on the topmast,
The yards and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly,
Then meet and join. The most mighty Neptune
Seem to besiege and make his bold waves tremble,
Yea, his dread trident shake.
PROSPERO
My brave spirit!
But are they, Ariel, safe?
ARIEL
Not a hair perish'd;
PROSPERO
And of that ship, who swam unto the shore?
ARIEL
The King’s son Ferdinand now walks hereby
PROSPERO
The King’s son Ferdinand? He’s on our shore?
ARIEL
Just as you asked my master.
PROSPERO
‘Tis well done.
ARIEL
What will you do with him?
PROSPERO
I know not yet.
He will know of my anger soon enough.
ARIEL
Is there more toil master?
PROSPERO
Ariel,
What is't thou canst demand?
ARIEL
My liberty.
PROSPERO
Before the time be out? no more!
ARIEL
I prithee,
Remember I have done thee worthy service;
PROSPERO
Dost thou forget, from what a torment I did free thee?
ARIEL
No.
PROSPERO
The foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy
Was grown into a hoop? hast thou forgot her?
ARIEL
No, sir.
PROSPERO
Or Caliban, her monstrous son?
Who did confine thee Ariel like a slave?
ARIEL
Pardon, sir, I’ll do my spriting gently.
PROSPERO
Do so, my sprite and soon I will free thee.
ARIEL
That's my noble master! What shall I do?
PROSPERO
Bring Ferdinand to me at once, my Sprite.
Exit ARIEL
We'll visit Caliban my slave, who never
Yields us kind answer.
MIRANDA
'Tis a villain, sir,
I do not love to look on.
PROSPERO
Caliban!
Thou earth, thou! speak.
CALIBAN
[Within] There's wood enough within.
PROSPERO
Come forth, I say! there's other business for thee:
CALIBAN
[Entering} A south-west blow and blister you all o'er!
PROSPERO
For this, be sure, to-night thou shalt have cramps,
CALIBAN
This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother,
Which thou takest from me.
PROSPERO
Thou most lying slave,
I have cared for thee and gave thee shelter.
In mine own cell, till thou didst seek to hurt
My only daughter
CALIBAN
O! would't it been done!
PROSPERO
Abhorred slave, I taught thee how to speak!
CALIBAN
You taught me language; and my profit on't
Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you
For learning me your language!
PROSPERO
Hag-seed, hence!
Fetch us the fuel; and quickly do thy work.
CALIBAN
Aside
I must obey: his art is powerful.
PROSPERO
So, slave; hence!
Exit CALIBAN
Re-enter ARIEL, invisible, playing and singing; FERDINAND following
ARIEL'S song.
Come, swiftly moving run, come through yellow shifting sands,
If ever friendship counseled, take one-another’s hand
Follow me, then you shall see, sweet treasures hidden here
The water blue, the flowers new, the beauty draweth near
You, mortal forward, more to see
Come along, amend your wrong, follow me.
Run ‘ere your wandering’s done, I alone your burden bear
Run, run ‘ere your wandering’s done, I alone your burden bear
FERDINAND
following the music
Where should this music be? i' the air or the earth?
It sounds no more. But now it plays again!
And just like that tis gone. Now it returns!
Sweet music sound again! Where does it go?
Now it’s above me! Now it plays below.
[Prospero and Miranda watch in amusement]
MIRANDA
What is't sir? a spirit?
PROSPERO
It is not
MIRANDA
I might call him a thing divine, for I
Never saw a creature here so noble.
PROSPERO
[Aside]
And I will free thee Ariel soon for this.
FERDINAND
Seeing Miranda
The goddess on whom these sweet airs attend!
MIRANDA
A goddess? No, but certainly a maid.
FERDINAND
She speaks my language! heavens! And so fair!
PROSPERO
Now prithee, sir what is your parentage?
FERDINAND
My father is the Duke of Milan, sir.
MIRANDA
Alack, for mercy!
PROSPERO
The Duke of Milan?
FERDINAND
Yes, faith, and with his Lords, he’s Duke indeed.
PROSPERO
[Aside] The Duke of Milan [To Ferdinand] A word, good sir;
I fear you have done yourself some wrong: a word.
MIRANDA
Why speaks my father so ungently? This
Is the third man that e'er I saw, the first
That e'er I sigh'd for: pity move my father
To be inclined my way!
PROSPERO
[Aside] They are both in either's powers.
To FERDINAND
Do you come to this island as a spy, to win it
From me, the lord?
FERDINAND
No sir I am no spy.
MIRANDA
There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple:
PROSPERO
Speak not you for him; he's a traitor. Come;
I'll manacle thy neck and feet together:
Sea-water shalt thou drink; thy food shall be
wither'd roots and husks.
FERDINAND
No; I will resist such entertainment.
Draws, and is charmed from moving. Lighting helps suggest this spell
MIRANDA
O dear father!
PROSPERO
Put thy sword up, traitor; for I can here disarm
thee with this stick and make thy weapon drop.
The sword flies from Ferdinand’s hands
MIRANDA
Sir, have pity;
PROSPERO
Silence! one word more shall make me chide thee
[To Ferdinand} Follow me. There are labors you must perform
before you may speak to my daughter.
FERDINAND
To speak to such an angel, there’s nothing
I would not do.
PROSPERO [To Ariel} Thou shalt be freed for this,
PROSPERO
Come, follow me, I’ll give thee chores,
[To Miranda] Speak not for him.
Exeunt
SCENE III.
Enter CALIBAN from the mud with a burden of wood. A noise of thunder heard
CALIBAN
All the infections that the sun sucks up
From bogs, fens, flats, on Prosper fall and make him
By inch-meal a disease! His spirits hear me
And yet I needs must curse. But they'll nor pinch,
Fright me with urchin--shows, pitch me i' the mire,
Nor lead me, like a firebrand, in the dark
Out of my way, unless he bid 'em; but
For every trifle are they set upon me;
Sometime like apes that mow and chatter at me
And after bite me, then like hedgehogs which
Lie tumbling in my barefoot way and mount
Their pricks at my footfall; sometime am I
All wound with adders who with cloven tongues
Do hiss me into madness.
Enter TRINCULO
Lo, now, lo!
Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment me
For bringing wood in slowly. I'll fall flat;
Perchance he will not mind me.
TRINCULO
Here's neither bush nor shrub, to save me from
the weather. I know not when the storm comes.
Trinculo sees Caliban
What have we here? a man or a fish? dead or alive? A fish:
he smells like a fish; a very ancient and fish-
like smell. A strange fish! Maybe not a fish?
Legged like a man and his fins like arms! Warm o' my troth!
I do now let loose my opinion; hold it no longer: this is no fish,
but an islander, that hath lately suffered by a
thunderbolt.
Thunder
Alas, the storm is come again! my best way is to
creep under his gaberdine; there is no other
shelter hereabouts: misery acquaints a man with
strange bed-fellows.
Enter STEPHANO, singing:
STEPHANO
I shall no more to sea, to sea,
Here shall I die ashore--
This is a very scurvy tune to sing at a man's
funeral.
Sings
The master, the swabber, the boatswain and I,
The gunner and his mate
Loved Mall, Meg and Marian and Margery,
But none of us cared for Kate;
For she had a tongue with a tang,
Would cry to a sailor, Go hang!
She loved not the savour of tar nor of pitch,
Yet a tailor might scratch her where'er she did itch:
Then to sea, boys, and let her go hang!
This is a scurvy tune too.
CALIBAN
Do not torment me: Oh!
STEPHANO
What's the matter? Have we devils here? I
have not landed on this island to be afraid
of your 1-2-3-4 4? 4 legs.
CALIBAN
The spirit torments me; Oh!
STEPHANO
This is some monster of the isle with four legs. Where the devil
should he learn my language?
.
CALIBAN
Do not torment me, prithee; I'll bring my wood home faster.
STEPHANO
He's in his fit now and does not talk after the
wisest. Perhaps he’s thirsty?
CALIBAN
Mercy!
STEPHANO
Come on your ways; open your mouth.
TRINCULO
I should know that voice, it sounds like Stephano! But
Stephano is drowned two weeks gone by
STEPHANO
Four legs and two voices! A strange monster,
His forward voice speaks kindly but his backward
voice is meant to make disgusting sounds. What
is this monster?
TRINCULO
Stephano!
STEPHANO
Stephano?
TRINCULO
Stephano?
STEPHANO
It knows my name!
TRINCULO
Stephano! I am Trinculo--be not afeard--thy
good friend Trinculo.
STEPHANO
Trinculo?
TRINCULO
Stephano?
STEPHANO
Trinculo?
TRINCULO
Stephano!
STEPHANO
If thou beest Trinculo, come forth: I'll pull thee
by the lesser legs: if any be Trinculo's legs,
these are they. Thou art very Trinculo indeed!
TRINCULO
But art thou not drowned, Stephano?
STEPHANO
Prithee, do not turn me about; my stomach is not constant.
CALIBAN
[Aside] These be fine things, an if they be
not sprites. They can save me from Prospero
STEPHANO
How didst thou 'scape? How camest thou hither?
TRINCULO
Swum ashore. man, like a duck: I can swim like a
duck, I'll be sworn.
CALIBAN
Hast thou not dropp'd from heaven?
STEPHANO
Out o' the moon, I do assure thee: I was the man i'
the moon when time was.
CALIBAN
I have seen thee in her and I do worship thee.
STEPHANO
Worship?
CALIBAN
Aye, worship.
TRINCULO
By this good light, this is a very shallow monster!
CALIBAN
I'll show thee every fertile inch o' th' island;
And I will worship thee.
TRINCULO and STEPHANO
Worship?
CALIBAN
Worship.
STEPHANO
Well come on then; down, and worship.
CALIBAN
I'll show thee the best springs; I'll pluck thee berries;
I'll fish for thee and get thee wood enough.
A plague upon the tyrant that I serve!
I'll bear him no more sticks, but follow thee,
And you will save me from this Prospero
STEPHANO
I prithee now, lead the way without any more
talking.
CALIBAN
[Sings drunkenly]
Farewell master; farewell, farewell!
TRINCULO
A howling monster: an idiot monster.
CALIBAN
Singing
No more dams I'll make for fish
Nor fetch in firing
At requiring;
Nor scrape trencher, nor wash dish
'Ban, 'Ban, Cacaliban
Has a new master: get a new man.
Freedom, hey-day! hey-day, freedom! freedom,
hey-day, freedom!
STEPHANO
O brave monster! Lead the way.
Exeunt
SCENE IV
Before PROSPERO'S Cell.
Enter FERDINAND, bearing a log
FERDINAND
This my first task is. “Stack this heavy wood”
Says Prospero, the father of my love.
To see her once again I must obey.
And when the wood becomes too much to bear
My angel’s voice I hear and gives me strength.
Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO at a distance, unseen
MIRANDA
Alas, now, pray you, work not so hard,
Pray, set it down and rest you.
FERDINAND
No my love
The sun will set before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.
MIRANDA
If you'll sit down,
I'll bear your logs the while: pray, give me that;
I'll carry it to the pile.
FERDINAND
No, precious creature;
I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,
Than you should such dishonor undergo,
While I sit lazy by.
MIRANDA
It would become me
As well as it does you: and I should do it
With much more ease; for my good will is
to do it,
PROSPERO
Watching apart from them.
Poor worm, thou art infected!
This visitation shows it.
MIRANDA
You look wearily.
FERDINAND
No, noble mistress; 'tis fresh morning with me
When you are by at night.
MIRANDA
Do you love me?
FERDINAND
O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound
I love you, prize you, honor you.
MIRANDA
Oh sir,
FERDINAND
Why do you cry?
MIRANDA
Sir, these are tears of joy.
FERDINAND
Why call you me “sir”?
MIRANDA
Forgive me, for I
Know not your name. Tell me.
FERDINAND
It’s Ferdinand
MIRANDA
Ferdinand. And I am your Miranda
PROSPERO
How can they fall in love? They are strangers.
Ariel, come at once.
ARIEL
Entering quickly
Master, I am here.
PROSPERO
What has thou done? I did not mean that they
Should fall in love all at once.
ARIEL
You said but “bring him here”
And I did.
PROSPERO
But he’s the son of evil.
Ariel, his father took from me my kingdom.
And now with him my daughter is in love.
ARIEL
But sir, I
PROSPERO
No more words Ariel.
Thou shalt lose thy freedom for this bad deed.
I said, no words. But stand nearby and wait
For my next request.
FERDINAND
Miranda. I am your husband
MIRANDA
My husband?
FERDINAND
If you’ll have me.
MIRANDA
Yes, I will.
And will you have me for your only wife?
FERDINAND
With all my heart I’ll take you as my wife,
Exeunt FERDINAND and MIRANDA
PROSPERO
I cannot be quite as happy as they.
His father took my kingdom, and his son
Now comes to take my daughter? Ariel
Come with me.
ARIEL
Good sir, immediately.
Exeunt
SCENE 5 Another part of the island.
Enter CALIBAN and STEPHANO singing. TRINCULO lags behind
TRINCULO
We are lost, Monster!
STEPHANO
We are not lost Trinculo, the monster knows
the way,
TRINCULO
Servant-monster! the folly of this island! They
say there's but five upon this isle: we are three
of them; if th' other two be brained like us, the
state totters. This vile monster has lost his way
and we are lost too.
STEPHANO
Now Trinculo, surely we bear some fault in this?
TRINCULO
Our only fault was trusting this monster
STEPHANO
Say something monster.
TRINCULO
Aye, speak. Speak! Speak!
STEPHANO
He is no dog Trinculo, he is a Moon-Calf.
Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a
good moon-calf.
CALIBAN
How does thy honour? Let me rub your feet.
I'll not serve him; he's not valiant.
TRINCULO
Thou liest, most ignorant monster. Why, thou deboshed
fish thou. Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie,
being but half a fish and half a monster?
CALIBAN
Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?
TRINCULO
'Lord' quoth he! That a monster should be such a natural!
CALIBAN
Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I prithee.
STEPHANO
Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head.
The poor monster's my subject and he shall
not suffer indignity.
CALIBAN
I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleased to
hearken once again to the speech I made to thee?
STEPHANO
Marry, we will hear that speech
Enter ARIEL
ARIEL I’ll make myself invisible and overhear their conference.
A lighting and sound effect suggest that Ariel has made herself invisible
CALIBAN
As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant, a
sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island.
ARIEL
(Invisible) Thou liest.
CALIBAN
Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou.
STEPHANO
Trinculo, if you trouble him any more
I will supplant some of your teeth.
TRINCULO
Why, I said nothing.
STEPHANO
Mum, then, and no more. Proceed.
CALIBAN
I say, by sorcery did Prospero emerge.
From me he got this isle and all within.
Take your revenge on Prospero at once.
Thou shalt be lord of all and you I’ll serve.
STEPHANO
How now shall this be done?
Canst thou bring me to the party?
CALIBAN
Yea, yea, my lord: I'll yield him thee asleep,
Where thou mayst knock a nail into his bead.
ARIEL
(Still invisible, remember?) Thou liest; thou canst not.
CALIBAN
What a pied ninny's this! Thou scurvy patch!
I do beseech thy greatness, give him blows.
STEPHANO
Trinculo, run into no further danger:
interrupt the monster one word further, and,
by this hand, I'll turn my mercy out o' doors
and make a stock-fish of thee.
TRINCULO
Why, what did I? I did nothing. I'll go farther
off.
STEPHANO
Didst thou not say he lied?
ARIEL
Thou liest.
STEPHANO
Do I so? take thou that.
Beats TRINCULO
As you like this, give me the lie another time.
TRINCULO
I did not give the lie. Out o' your
wits and hearing too?
CALIBAN
Ha, ha, ha!
STEPHANO
Now, forward with your tale. Prithee, stand farther
off.
CALIBAN
Beat him enough: after a little time
I'll beat him too.
STEPHANO
Stand farther. Come, proceed.
CALIBAN
Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with him,
I' th' afternoon to sleep: there thou mayst brain him,
Having first seized his books, or with a log
Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake.
But first remember to possess his books.
Without them he is but a sot as I.
STEPHANO
What will I receive if I do this foul deed?
CALIBAN
His kingdom, and his daughter for your wife.
STEPHANO
Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter and I
will be king and queen--save our graces!--and
Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys. Dost thou
like the plot, Trinculo?
TRINCULO
Excellent.
STEPHANO
Give me thy hand: I am sorry I beat thee; but,
while thou livest, keep a good tongue in thy head.
CALIBAN
Within this half hour will he be asleep:
Wilt thou destroy him then?
STEPHANO
Ay, on mine honour.
ARIEL
This will I tell my master.
CALIBAN
Thou makest me merry; I am full of pleasure.
STEPHANO
Lead the way monster, and while we walk let
us sing! Come Trinculo, let me hear you sing.
Sings
TRINCULO
Flout 'em and scout 'em
And scout 'em and flout 'em
Thought is free.
CALIBAN
That's not the tune.
Ariel – still invisible - sings the tune
STEPHANO
What is this same?
TRINCULO
This is the tune sung by nobody!
STEPHANO
If thou beest a man, show thyself in thy likeness:
if thou beest a devil, take't as thou list.
TRINCULO
O, forgive me my sins!
STEPHANO
Mercy upon us!
CALIBAN
Art thou afeard?
STEPHANO
No, monster, not I.
CALIBAN
Be not afeard; this land is full of noise,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight to us.
STEPHANO
This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where I shall
have my music for nothing.
CALIBAN
When Prospero is destroyed.
STEPHANO
That shall be by and by: I remember the story.
TRINCULO
The sound is going away; let's follow it, and
after do our work.
STEPHANO
Lead, monster; we'll follow. I wish I could see
this singer.
Exeunt
SCENE 6
A part of the Island
PROSPERO
Good Ariel, if thou wish’st to regain my favor, bring
Miranda to me at once. I will here tell her that she
cannot love this man, this boy, this cur whose father
stole from me my kingdom.
ARIEL
My noble master, what and if she will not hear these words?
PROSPERO
She will have no choice in this, Ariel. I am her father.
Bring her here to me.
ARIEL
I go, I go, but with a heavy heart knowing these words will not change her mind.
PROSPERO
What dids’t thou say Ariel?
ARIEL
Nothing, good sir.
Ariel exits
PROSPERO
There are things that a father knows better than a daughter.
Miranda will hear my words, and obey. I will not lose her
to the son of a traitor, and for this counsel she will thank me.
Or, if not now, she’ll some day thank me. Perhaps in a year.
Maybe two. But she’ll thank me.
ARIEL returns with MIRANDA
MIRANDA
I attend your worship. What would you father?
PROSPERO
Miranda.
MIRANDA
Father.
PROSPERO
Miranda?
MIRANDA
Father?
PROSPERO
Ariel?
ARIEL
Not I sir. Miranda.
MIRANDA
Me?
ARIEL Sir!
PROSPERO
Silence! The boy Ferdinand…
MIRANDA Whom I love?
PROSPERO
Who you think you love, (haltingly) is not fit for you.
MIRANDA
Oh father, no, he is the perfect match,
As am I for him. What means your worship?
PROSPERO
He is a traitor.
MIRANDA
No that cannot be!
Why speak you lies about him here, I pray?
Are you now so jealous and so cruel
That you would take from me the one thing that I love?
PROSPERO
Stay Miranda and listen.
MIRANDA
I will not.
PROSPERO
You will Miranda for this story now
You have already heard a time before.
Miranda,
Do you remember when I told you of
Our lives before we came unto this isle?
I was the Duke and you my only heir
Until a traitor stole my rightful crown?
MIRANDA
Remember I this story, but know not
What business of it here concerns my love.
My Ferdinand for whose dear love I pine
And would do anything to be his wife.
PROSPERO
Woulds’t thou for marriage still be resolute
If Ferdinand was kin to my traitor?
MIRANDA
I do not understand
PROSEPRO
Then listen more.
My traitor named Antonio, had a son
His child very close to mine in age.
And when his boy turned four, Antionio
Did raise an army to usurp my crown.
And sat upon my throne with his young son
Whom he named Ferdinand.
MIRANDA
Oh Father, no.
It cannot be. ARIEL
Your father now speaks true.
Miranda runs away in tears
PROSPERO
This sadness in my daughter hangs o’ my heart
Like an anchor that moors a mighty ship.
Come Ariel, let’s retire.
ARIEL I come along.
SCENE 7.
On another part of the island
MIRANDA enters to find FERDINAND
FERDINAND
What cheer Miranda? Why looks your face so sad?
MIRANDA
Not sadness but anger now here moves me.
FERDINAND
Anger? But why love?
MIRANDA
You are a traitor and your father too.
FERDINAND
Traitor? No my love, no such thing.
MIRANDA
You are
My father told me of your father’s crime.
That he, once a friend, stole my father’s crown
And now lives he as the Duke of Milan
While my dear father lives in exile here.
PROSPERO enters silently and watches from a distance
FERDINAND
Miranda, even were this to be true…
MIRANDA
Were to be true? Were to be true? Is true
And so leave me alone never to see thee more.
I’ll not look on the face of a traitor.
FERDINAND
Miranda, stay and listen now to me
Whiles I my heart to thee unfold. You know
I came unto this island by a storm
Which wrecked my ship and threw me to the sea.
This storm which came at once like magic
Allowing none on board, excepting me to live.
MIRANDA
I saw the blackened storm ensnare the boat
And watched in horror as the winds destroyed
The goodly ship and all who were on board.
I saw you jump into the rav’ging sea
And battle waves and wind against your life.
FERDINAND
And so I did. And as I jumped I saw
The final image of my father there.
Who, thrown into the sea, I could not save.
I saw him drown before my very eyes.
This man, whom you call traitor now is gone
His punishment for evil deeds was death.
MIRANDA
I wish not suffering for any man
I begged my father to allay the storm
Yet had he vengeance in his eyes and heart.
FERDINAND
So now you see that children cannot be
Guilty for the evil that parents do.
I am no more a traitor than are you
Responsible for all those sailor’s deaths.
MIRANDA, overwhelmed moves away to consider all this
PROSPERO approaches her
PROSPERO
My daughter
MIRANDA
Dearest father…
PROSPERO
Peace, be still.
Your duty to me fills my heart with love
But now my duty unto you requires
That I should now here set aside my hate.
For this young man here stands
As innocent of any crime as you.
He is no traitor, and his only fault
Is loving you too much, Miranda.
FERDINAND
Sir,
I am only guilty of that offense.
PROSPERO
Come both of you to me, there’s business yet.
MIRANDA and FERDINAND join PROSPERO
You have completed Ferdinand, each task
That I have here commanded you should do.
And in thy labors you have won the prize
That you have longed to have. My Ariel, come
ARIEL provides wedding sashes to the couple.
FERDINAND
Oh sir your daughter is indeed my joy.
And I will promise to attend on her
As fully as I did my labors do.
PROSPERO
Then do you take her as your wife?
FERDINAND
I do.
PROSPERO
And will you have him as your husband?
MIRANDA
Yes.
And will I keep him thus for all my life.
PROSPERO
Sit then and talk with her; she is thine own.
What, Ariel! my industrious servant, Ariel!
ARIEL
What would my potent master? here I am.
PROSPERO
Your duty Ariel is almost done
And freedom soon shall once again be thine.
ARIEL
But master say what else you’d have me do
I’ve done exactly what you’ve asked and more.
PROSPERO
Your duty and your service has been full,
But now assist me in these wedding plans.
This day requires pomp and special song
To seal these lovers to each other now.
Bring to this place some gods to sing for us.
Let each their voices share until such time
As music fills the air like sweet perfume.
Go Ariel and bring the gods to us.
ARIEL
I hear good Master I will obey.
Ariel EXITS
PROSPERO
Now, daughter mine, the day I have always feared
has come at last. Your eyes no longer see me as they
did when you were a small girl. Your hand no longer fits
so completely inside mine. The band and bond that
held us so closely together is loose now, making necessary
room for someone else.
MIRANDA
But father
PROSPERO
No words Miranda, no words.
Let me this change accept as I would the
setting of the sun, a thing quite natural and
to be celebrated.
No tongue! all eyes! be silent.
Soft music. The goddesses come forward in a magical procession
They sing:
JUNO
Honour, riches, marriage-blessing,
Joys abound, and yet increasing,
Here is one, when first was two
Juno wishes blessings on you.
CERES
Earth's increase,providing plenty,
Grainfields lush and never empty,
Scarcity and want shall shun you;
Ceres' blessing so is on you.
More song, more dance
IRIS
Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate
A contract of true love; be not too late.
Enter certain Nymphs
All of whom the dark are weary,
Come hither now, and be you merry:
Make holiday, while shines the sun,
Iris blesses every one.
JUNO CERES IRIS
What we shall bind between your hearts
Shall no man strive to pull apart
Let everyday your love renew,
May you feel our blessing on you
Love’s blessing on you…
Love’s blessing on you…
PROSPERO
[Aside] I had forgot that foul conspiracy
Of the beast Caliban and his confederates
Against my life: the minute of their plot
Is almost come.
To the Spirits
Well done! avoid; no more!
FERDINAND
This is strange: your father's in some passion
That works him strongly.
MIRANDA
Never till this day
Saw I him touch'd with anger so distemper'd.
PROSPERO
You do look, my son, in a moved sort,
As if you were dismay'd: be cheerful, sir.
Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and
Our little life is rounded with a sleep.
To Miranda and Ferdinand
If you be pleased, retire into my cell
And leave me here to still my beating mind
FERDINAND MIRANDA
We wish your peace.
Exeunt
PROSPERO
Ariel: come.
Enter ARIEL
ARIEL
Thy thoughts I cleave to. What's thy pleasure?
PROSPERO
Spirit,
We must prepare to meet with Caliban.
ARIEL
Ay, sir. And yet, he still keeps company
With two such fools as ever I have seen.
I heard them making plans of treachery
Against you to usurp your kingdom here.
PROSPERO
Become invisible and bring them here
For I have business now with Caliban.
Yet for the other two I’ll punish them
For plotting to unseat me from my crown.
ARIEL
I go, I go. See how I go!
Exit
PROSPERO
A devil, a born devil, on whose nature
Nurture can never stick; on whom my pains,
Humanely taken, all, all lost, quite lost;
And as with age his body uglier grows,
So his mind cankers. I will plague them all,
Even to roaring.
Re-enter ARIEL, laden with glistering apparel,
Come, hang them on this line.
PROSPERO creates a clothesline which seemingly suspends in mid-air, as Ariel arranges the garments PROSPERO and ARIEL remain invisible. Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, all wet
CALIBAN
Pray you, tread softly, so that Prospero
May not hear a foot fall: I know he’s near.
STEPHANO
Monster, your fairy, which you say is
a harmless fairy, has done little better than
played the Jack with us.
TRINCULO
Monster, I am plagued with a smell
At which my nose is in great indignation.
STEPHANO
So is mine. Do you hear, monster? If I should take
a displeasure against you, look you,--
TRINCULO
Thou wert but a lost monster.
CALIBAN
Good my lord, give me thy favour still.
Be patient, for the prize I'll bring thee to
Shall hoodwink this mischance: therefore speak softly.
All's hush'd as midnight yet.
TRINCULO
Ay, but to lose our bottles in the pool,--
STEPHANO
There is not only disgrace and dishonour in that,
monster, but an infinite loss.
TRINCULO
That's more to me than my wetting…
CALIBAN
Prithee, my king, be quiet. Seest thou here,
This is the mouth o' the cell: no noise, and enter.
STEPHANO
Give me thy hand. I do begin to have bloody thoughts.
TRINCULO
O king Stephano! O peer! O worthy Stephano! look
what a wardrobe here is for thee!
Trinculo and Stephano begin to dress in the clothing from Ariel
CALIBAN
Let it alone, thou fool; it is but trash.
TRINCULO
O, ho, monster! we know what belongs to a frippery.
O king Stephano!
STEPHANO
Put off that gown, Trinculo; by this hand, I'll have
that gown.
TRINCULO
Thy grace shall have it.
CALIBAN
The dropsy drown this fool! What do you mean
To dote thus on such luggage?
STEPHANO
Be you quiet, monster. Mistress fine,
is not this my jerkin?
TRINCULO
Do, do: we steal by line and level, an't like your grace.
STEPHANO
I thank thee for that jest; here's a garment for't:
wit shall not go unrewarded while I am king of this
country.
TRINCULO
Monster, come, help us to these clothes.
CALIBAN
I will have none on't: we shall lose our time,
And all be turn'd to barnacles, or to apes
STEPHANO
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.
TRINCULO
And this.
STEPHANO
Ay, and this.
A noise of hunters heard. Enter diverse Spirits, in shape of dogs and hounds, and hunt them about, PROSPERO and ARIEL setting them on
CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, are driven out in terror
PROSPERO
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.
ARIEL
Hark, they roar!
PROSPERO
Let them be hunted soundly.
Shortly shall all my labours end, and thou
Shalt have the air at freedom: for a little
Listen, and do me service.
ARIEL
I attend.
PROSPERO
My days are like the setting sun, soon gone,
And I have little time to say goodbye.
My magic have I used for good and ill.
To grow the berry bush whose fruit thou took,
To guard Miranda as she softly slept,
To rage a storm against a helpless ship,
Enslave a noble servant such as you.
All this my potent art. But this rough magic
I here abjure, and, now I'll break my staff,
Bury it certain fathoms in the earth,
And deeper than did ever plummet sound
I'll drown my book. I tire now too soon
And cannot be the man I was when I
A youthful Prospero once ruled. I go
To live th’remainder of my days alone
Free from the magic that now weakens me.
Prospero breaks his staff which gives off some notice of electricity. He buries it A small tree grows from the place it was buried
Farewell my art, my power, and my youth. Let me now be remembered as I was.
Solemn music
Prospero sees MIRANDA and FERDINAND playfully chasing one another.
Aside to ARIEL
My Ariel, Come hither, spirit: come.
Bring Caliban and his companions here.
Exit ARIEL
I know my time is soon ending.
Miranda how I loved to see thee play
Among the trees and bushes of the isle
And sing sweet songs unto the Em’rald sea.
But now tis Ferdinand will hear these notes
As I retire now into my cel.
Re-enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO and TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel
STEPHANO
Every man shift for all the rest, and
let no man take care for himself; for all is
but fortune. Coragio, bully-monster, coragio!
TRINCULO
If these be true spies which I wear in my head,
here's a goodly sight.
CALIBAN
O Setebos, these be brave spirits indeed!
How fine my master is! I am afraid
He will chastise me. I shall be pinch'd to death.
PROSPERO
To Caliban
You are as disproportion'd in your manners
As in your shape. Go, sirrah, to my cell;
Take with you your companions; as you look
To have my pardon, clean it completely.
You’ll make it spotless, each and every inch.
And when you think it’s clean begin again.
This is less punishment than you deserve
For traitors are to be put to their death
But I in mercy spare you that ill end.
Unless I hear a murmur of complaint.
Go now into my home and clean it well
before I change my mind
CALIBAN
Ay, that I will;
I’ll seek your grace. What a thrice-double fool
Was I, to take this drunkard for a god
And worship this dull clown!
PROSPERO
Go to; away!
Exeunt CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO
Aside to ARIEL
My Ariel, chick,
Thy service here to me is now complete.
I thank you for your friendship. Now, be free.
Be free, and fare thou well!
Ariel’s exit is magic
Please you, draw near.
Exeunt
PROSPERO
Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own,
Which is most faint: now, 'tis true,
I must be here confined by you,
So, release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands:
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please. Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be relieved by prayer,
Which pierces so that it assaults
Mercy itself and frees all faults.
As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
Let your indulgence set me free.
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