TEMPEST. Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, is cheated out of his dukedom by the intrigues of his brother Antonio, and is sent to sea with his infant daughter Miranda; in the frail boat in which they are embarked they reach an island, where, educated by her father, Miranda grows to womanhood. Prospero, who is a magician, with the help of Ariel, a familiar spirit, causes the king of Naples, with his son Ferdinand, and Antonio, the usurping brother, to be shipwrecked on the island. Ferdinand encounters Miranda, falls in love with her, and is accepted as her future husband. The play concludes with the resolution of Prospero to abandon magic and revisit his dukedom. The chief characters in the play are Prospero, the rightful Duke; Antonio, his usurping brother; Alonso, King of Naples; Ferdinand, his son; Ariel, an airy spirit; Caliban, a savage and deformed slave; Gonzalo, an honest old counsellor of Naples, and Miranda, daughter of Prospero. AcT I. Ariel's Description of Managing the Storm. I BOARDED the king's ship; now on the beak, B O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary Not a soul But felt a fever of the mad, and play'd Some tricks of desperation: all but mariners Caliban's Curses. CALIBAN. As wicked dew as e'er my mother brush'd With raven feather from unwholesome fen, Drop on you both! a south-west blow on ye, And blister you all o'er! PROSPERO. For this, be sure, to-night thou shalt have cramps, Side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up; urchins As thick as honeycombs, each pinch more stinging CALIBAN. I must eat my dinner. This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother, Which thou takest from me. When thou camest first Thou strokedst me, and madest 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, : Imps, fairies. And shew'd thee all the qualities o' the isle, The fresh springs, brine pits, barren place, and fertile ; Cursed be I that did so!-All the charms Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you' 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 of the island. Music. Where should this music be? i' the air, or the earth? It sounds no more: and sure it waits upon Ariel's Song. Full fathom five thy father lies; Hark! now I hear them,--ding-dong, bell. A Lover's Speech. My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up. To whom I am subdued, are but light to me, ACT II. Description of Ferdinand's Swimming ashore. The surge most swoln that met him: his bold head 'Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oar'd Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke To the shore, that o'er his wave-worn basis bow'd, Sleep. Do not omit the heavy offer of it: It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth, Fright me with urchin shows, pitch me i' the mire, Nor lead me like a fire-brand in the dark Out of my way, unless he bid them; but For every trifle are they set upon me: Sometimes like apes, that moe* and chatter at me, * To make faces |