The Tempest, Act 4, Scene 1

If I have too austerely punish’d you, Your compensation makes amends: for I Have given you here a third of mine own life, Or that for which I live; who once again I tender to thy hand: all thy vexations Were but my trials of thy love, and thou Hast strangely stood the test: here, afore Heaven, I 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.

If I have punished you too harshly, your reward makes up for it, because I have given you here a third of my own life, or the thing I live for; and I hand her over to you once again. All the troubles I put you through were only my tests of your love, and you have stood the test remarkably. Here, before Heaven, I confirm this rich gift of mine. Ferdinand, don't laugh at me for praising her so highly, because you will find she outruns all praise and leaves it limping behind her.

I do believe it Against an oracle.

I believe that, even if an oracle denied it.

Then, as my gift and thine own acquisition Worthily purchas’d, take my daughter: but If thou dost break her virgin knot before All sanctimonious ceremonies may With full and holy rite be minister’d, No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall To make this contract grow; but barren hate, Sour-ey’d disdain, and discord shall bestrew The union of your bed with weeds so loathly That you shall hate it both: therefore take heed, As Hymen’s lamps shall light you.

Then take my daughter, as my gift and as what you have rightly earned for yourself. But if you break her virgin knot before all the holy ceremonies can be performed with their full and sacred rites, the heavens will let no sweet dew fall to make this marriage grow; instead barren hatred, sour-eyed contempt and quarrelling will scatter such disgusting weeds over the bed you share that you will both hate it. So be careful, as you hope the wedding lamps will light your way.

As I hope For quiet days, fair issue, and long life, With such love as ’tis now, the murkiest den, The most opportune place, the strong’st suggestion Our worser genius can, shall never melt Mine honour into lust, to take away The edge of that day’s celebration, When I shall think, or Phoebus’ steeds are founder’d, Or Night kept chain’d below.

As I hope for peaceful days, fine children and a long life with love like the love I feel now: the darkest cave, the most convenient place, the strongest temptation our worse nature can offer, will never melt my honour into lust, and so never dull the joy of that wedding day, when I shall think either that Phoebus' horses have gone lame or that Night is being kept chained below.

Fairly spoke: Sit, then, and talk with her, she is thine own. What, Ariel! my industrious servant, Ariel!

Well spoken. Sit down, then, and talk with her; she is your own. Ariel! My hard-working servant, Ariel!

What would my potent master? here I am.

What does my powerful master want? Here I am.

Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service Did worthily perform; and I must use you In such another trick. Go bring the rabble, O’er whom I give thee power, here to this place. Incite them to quick motion; for I must Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple Some vanity of mine art: it is my promise, And they expect it from me.

You and your lesser companions performed your last task admirably, and I must use you for another piece of the same kind. Go and bring the crowd of spirits I have given you authority over here to this place. Urge them to move quickly, because I must give the eyes of this young couple some trifling display of my art. It is my promise, and they expect it from me.

Presently?

At once?

Ay, with a twink.

Yes, in the blink of an eye.

Before you can say “Come” and “Go,” And breathe twice, and cry “so, so,” Each one, tripping on his toe, Will be here with mop and mow. Do you love me, master? no?

Before you can say "Come" and "Go," and take two breaths, and call out "that's it, that's it," every one of them, dancing on tiptoe, will be here making faces and grimaces. Do you love me, master? No?

Dearly, my delicate Ariel. Do not approach Till thou dost hear me call.

Dearly, my fine Ariel. Don't come near until you hear me call.

Well, I conceive.

Fine, I understand.

Look thou be true; do not give dalliance Too much the rein: the strongest oaths are straw To th’ fire i’ the blood: be more abstemious, Or else good night your vow!

Make sure you keep your word. Don't give flirting too loose a rein. The strongest promises are straw to the fire in the blood. Be more restrained, or else say goodbye to your vow!

I warrant you, sir; The white cold virgin snow upon my heart Abates the ardour of my liver.

I promise you, sir. The white cold virgin snow lying on my heart cools the heat of my passion.

Well. Now come, my Ariel! bring a corollary, Rather than want a spirit: appear, and pertly. No tongue! all eyes! be silent.

Good. Now come, my Ariel! Bring one spirit too many rather than be short of one. Appear, and briskly. No talking! All eyes! Be silent.

Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and peas; Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep, And flat meads thatch’d with stover, them to keep; Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims, Which spongy April at thy hest betrims, To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom groves, Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves, Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard; And thy sea-marge, sterile and rocky-hard, Where thou thyself dost air: the Queen o’ th’ sky, Whose wat’ry arch and messenger am I, Bids thee leave these; and with her sovereign grace, Here on this grass-plot, in this very place, To come and sport; her peacocks fly amain: Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

Ceres, most generous lady, leave your rich fields of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats and peas; your grassy hills, where the sheep graze, and the flat meadows covered with winter fodder to feed them; your riverbanks with their dug and ridged edges, which rainy April trims at your command to make chaste garlands for cold nymphs; and your groves of broom, whose shade the rejected bachelor loves, having lost his girl; your vineyard with its pruned poles; and your seashore, barren and rocky-hard, where you go to take the air. The Queen of the sky, whose watery rainbow and messenger I am, orders you to leave all these and come here, to this patch of grass, to this very place, to enjoy yourself with her royal presence. Her peacocks are flying at full speed. Come near, rich Ceres, to entertain her.

Hail, many-colour’d messenger, that ne’er Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter; Who with thy saffron wings upon my flowers Diffusest honey drops, refreshing showers; And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown My bosky acres and my unshrubb’d down, Rich scarf to my proud earth; why hath thy queen Summon’d me hither to this short-grass’d green?

Greetings, many-coloured messenger, who never disobeys the wife of Jupiter; you who with your yellow wings sprinkle honey drops and refreshing showers on my flowers, and with each end of your blue bow crown my wooded fields and my bare hills, a rich scarf for my proud earth. Why has your queen called me here to this close-cropped green?

A contract of true love to celebrate, And some donation freely to estate On the blest lovers.

To celebrate a true-love contract, and to freely bestow some gift on the blessed lovers.

Tell me, heavenly bow, If Venus or her son, as thou dost know, Do now attend the queen? Since they did plot The means that dusky Dis my daughter got, Her and her blind boy’s scandal’d company I have forsworn.

Tell me, heavenly rainbow, do you know whether Venus or her son are attending the queen now? Since they schemed the trick by which dark Dis got hold of my daughter, I have sworn off her and her blind boy's scandalous company.

Of her society Be not afraid. I met her deity Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her son Dove-drawn with her. Here thought they to have done Some wanton charm upon this man and maid, Whose vows are, that no bed-right shall be paid Till Hymen’s torch be lighted; but in vain. Mars’s hot minion is return’d again; Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows, Swears he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows, And be a boy right out.

Don't be afraid of her company. I met her divine self cutting through the clouds towards Paphos, and her son with her, drawn by doves. They meant to work some lustful spell here on this man and girl, who have vowed that no marriage bed shall be enjoyed until the wedding torch is lit; but it was no use. Mars's hot mistress has gone home again; her hot-tempered, stinging son has broken his arrows and swears he will shoot no more, but will play with sparrows and be an ordinary boy from now on.

Highest queen of State, Great Juno comes; I know her by her gait.

The highest queen of majesty, great Juno, is coming; I know her by the way she walks.

How does my bounteous sister? Go with me To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be, And honour’d in their issue.

How is my generous sister? Come with me to bless these two, so that they may thrive and be honoured in their children.

Honour, riches, marriage-blessing, Long continuance, and increasing, Hourly joys be still upon you! Juno sings her blessings on you.

Honour, riches, a blessed marriage, long life together and growing prosperity, may joys be on you every hour! Juno sings her blessings on you.

Earth’s increase, foison plenty, Barns and garners never empty; Vines with clust’ring bunches growing; Plants with goodly burden bowing; Spring come to you at the farthest In the very end of harvest! Scarcity and want shall shun you; Ceres’ blessing so is on you.

May the earth's produce be abundant, barns and granaries never empty, vines growing with clustered bunches, plants bending under a fine load; may spring come to you at the latest right at the end of harvest! Scarcity and lack will keep away from you; that is how Ceres' blessing rests on you.

This is a most majestic vision, and Harmonious charmingly. May I be bold To think these spirits?

This is a most majestic vision, and delightfully harmonious. May I be so bold as to think these are spirits?

Spirits, which by mine art I have from their confines call’d to enact My present fancies.

Spirits, which by my art I have called out of their regions to act out my present imaginings.

Let me live here ever. So rare a wonder’d father and a wise, Makes this place Paradise.

Let me live here forever. Such a wonderfully gifted and wise father makes this place Paradise.

Sweet now, silence! Juno and Ceres whisper seriously, There’s something else to do: hush, and be mute, Or else our spell is marr’d.

Sweet ones, silence now! Juno and Ceres are whispering seriously; there is something else to do. Be quiet and say nothing, or our spell is ruined.

You nymphs, call’d Naiads, of the windring brooks, With your sedg’d crowns and ever-harmless looks, Leave your crisp channels, and on this green land Answer your summons; Juno does command. Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate A contract of true love. Be not too late.

You nymphs, called Naiads, of the winding brooks, with your crowns of reeds and your ever-gentle looks, leave your rippling channels and answer your summons here on this green land; Juno commands it. Come, gentle nymphs, and help to celebrate a true-love contract. Don't be too late.

You sun-burn’d sicklemen, of August weary, Come hither from the furrow, and be merry: Make holiday: your rye-straw hats put on, And these fresh nymphs encounter every one In country footing.

You sunburnt harvesters, tired out by August, come here from the plough-furrow and be merry. Take a holiday; put on your rye-straw hats, and let every one of you meet these fresh nymphs in a country dance.

[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!

[Aside.] I had forgotten that filthy plot by the animal Caliban and his fellow conspirators against my life. The moment set for their plot has nearly come. [To the Spirits.] Well done! Away with you; no more!

This is strange: your father’s in some passion That works him strongly.

This is odd. Your father is in some strong emotion that is working on him powerfully.

Never till this day Saw I him touch’d with anger so distemper’d.

Never until today have I seen him stirred by such wild anger.

You do look, my son, in a mov’d 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: And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, The cloud-capp’d towers, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve, And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff As dreams are made on, and our little life Is rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vex’d: Bear with my weakness; my old brain is troubled. Be not disturb’d with my infirmity. If you be pleas’d, retire into my cell And there repose: a turn or two I’ll walk, To still my beating mind.

You look upset, my son, as if you were alarmed. Cheer up, sir. Our entertainments are over now. These actors of ours, as I told you beforehand, were all spirits, and have melted into air, into thin air. And like the groundless fabric of this vision, the cloud-topped towers, the magnificent palaces, the solemn temples, the great globe itself — yes, and everyone who lives on it — shall dissolve, and like this unsubstantial show that has faded, leave not a wisp of cloud behind. We are the stuff dreams are made of, and our little life is rounded off with a sleep. Sir, I am troubled. Put up with my weakness; my old brain is disturbed. Don't be worried by this frailty of mine. If you would, go into my cell and rest there. I'll take a walk, a turn or two, to quiet my racing mind.

We wish your peace.

We wish you peace.

Come, with a thought. I thank thee, Ariel. Come!

Come, as quickly as a thought. I thank you, Ariel. Come!

Thy thoughts I cleave to. What’s thy pleasure?

I stick close to your thoughts. What do you want?

Spirit, We must prepare to meet with Caliban.

Spirit, we must get ready to deal with Caliban.

Ay, my commander. When I presented Ceres, I thought to have told thee of it; but I fear’d Lest I might anger thee.

Yes, my commander. When I played Ceres, I meant to tell you about it, but I was afraid I might make you angry.

Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets?

Tell me again, where did you leave these scoundrels?

I told you, sir, they were red-hot with drinking; So full of valour that they smote the air For breathing in their faces; beat the ground For kissing of their feet; yet always bending Towards their project. Then I beat my tabor; At which, like unback’d colts, they prick’d their ears, Advanc’d their eyelids, lifted up their noses As they smelt music: so I charm’d their ears, That calf-like they my lowing follow’d through Tooth’d briers, sharp furzes, pricking goss, and thorns, Which enter’d their frail shins: at last I left them I’ th’ filthy-mantled pool beyond your cell, There dancing up to th’ chins, that the foul lake O’erstunk their feet.

I told you, sir, they were red-hot with drink, so full of courage that they hit the air for breathing in their faces and beat the ground for kissing their feet — yet always heading towards their plan. Then I beat my drum, and at that, like unbroken colts, they pricked up their ears, opened their eyes wide and lifted their noses as if they could smell music. So I charmed their ears, so that like calves they followed my lowing through toothed briars, sharp gorse, prickly furze and thorns, which cut into their tender shins. At last I left them in the scum-covered pool beyond your cell, dancing there up to their chins, so that the foul water stank worse than their feet.

This was well done, my bird. Thy shape invisible retain thou still: The trumpery in my house, go bring it hither For stale to catch these thieves.

This was well done, my bird. Keep your invisible shape on still. Go and bring the cheap finery in my house here, to serve as bait to catch these thieves.

I go, I go.

I'm going, I'm going.

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.

A devil, a devil by birth, whose nature no upbringing can ever fix; all the trouble I took over him, kindly meant, is all lost, completely lost. And as his body grows uglier with age, his mind rots more. I will torment them all until they roar.

Come, hang them on this line.

Come, hang them on this lime tree.

Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole may not Hear a foot fall: we now are near his cell.

Please, step quietly, so that even the blind mole can't hear a footstep. We are close to his cell now.

Monster, your fairy, which you say is a harmless fairy, has done little better than played the Jack with us.

Monster, your fairy, which you say is a harmless fairy, has done little better than play a dirty trick on us.

Monster, I do smell all horse-piss; at which my nose is in great indignation.

Monster, I smell of nothing but horse urine, and my nose is deeply offended by it.

So is mine. Do you hear, monster? If I should take a displeasure against you, look you,—

So does mine. Do you hear, monster? If I were to take offence at you, look here —

Thou wert but a lost monster.

You'd be nothing but a ruined monster.

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.

My good lord, keep giving me your favour. Be patient, because the prize I'll lead you to will make up for this mishap, so speak quietly. Everything is as hushed as midnight still.

Ay, but to lose our bottles in the pool!

Yes, but to lose our bottles in the pool!

There is not only disgrace and dishonour in that, monster, but an infinite loss.

There is not only shame and dishonour in that, monster, but an endless loss.

That’s more to me than my wetting: yet this is your harmless fairy, monster.

That matters more to me than my soaking; and yet this is your harmless fairy, monster.

I will fetch off my bottle, though I be o’er ears for my labour.

I'll go and get my bottle back, even if I'm in over my ears for my trouble.

Prithee, my King, be quiet. Seest thou here, This is the mouth o’ th’ cell: no noise, and enter. Do that good mischief which may make this island Thine own for ever, and I, thy Caliban, For aye thy foot-licker.

Please, my King, be quiet. Do you see here? This is the entrance to the cell. No noise, and go in. Do that good bit of villainy that will make this island yours forever, and me, your Caliban, your foot-licker for good.

Give me thy hand. I do begin to have bloody thoughts.

Give me your hand. I'm beginning to have murderous thoughts.

O King Stephano! O peer! O worthy Stephano! Look what a wardrobe here is for thee!

Oh King Stephano! Oh nobleman! Oh worthy Stephano! Look what a wardrobe of clothes there is here for you!

Let it alone, thou fool; it is but trash.

Leave it alone, you fool; it's only rubbish.

O, ho, monster! we know what belongs to a frippery. O King Stephano!

Oh, ho, monster! We know all about a second-hand clothes shop. Oh King Stephano!

Put off that gown, Trinculo; by this hand, I’ll have that gown.

Take off that gown, Trinculo; by this hand, I'll have that gown.

Thy Grace shall have it.

Your Grace shall have it.

The dropsy drown this fool! What do you mean To dote thus on such luggage? Let’t alone, And do the murder first. If he awake, From toe to crown he’ll fill our skins with pinches, Make us strange stuff.

May the dropsy drown this fool! What do you mean by fussing over such rubbish? Leave it alone, and do the murder first. If he wakes up, he'll fill our skins with pinches from toe to head, and make something monstrous of us.

Be you quiet, monster. Mistress line, is not this my jerkin? Now is the jerkin under the line: now, jerkin, you are like to lose your hair, and prove a bald jerkin.

You keep quiet, monster. Madam clothesline, isn't this my jacket? Now the jacket is under the line: now, jacket, you're likely to lose your hair and turn into a bald jacket.

Do, do: we steal by line and level, an’t like your Grace.

Go on, go on: we steal by rule and measure, if it please your Grace.

I thank thee for that jest. Here’s a garment for ’t: wit shall not go unrewarded while I am King of this country. “Steal by line and level,” is an excellent pass of pate. There’s another garment for ’t.

I thank you for that joke. Here's a piece of clothing for it: cleverness won't go unrewarded while I am King of this country. "Steal by line and level" is an excellent thrust of the brain. There's another piece of clothing for it.

Monster, come, put some lime upon your fingers, and away with the rest.

Monster, come on, put some birdlime on your fingers, and off with the rest of it.

I will have none on’t. We shall lose our time, And all be turn’d to barnacles, or to apes With foreheads villainous low.

I'll have nothing to do with it. We'll waste our chance, and all be turned into barnacle geese, or into apes with disgustingly low foreheads.

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.

Monster, put your fingers to work: help carry this away to where my barrel of wine is, or I'll throw you out of my kingdom. Come on, carry this.

And this.

And this.

Ay, and this.

Yes, and this.

Hey, Mountain, hey!

Hey, Mountain, hey!

Silver! there it goes, Silver!

Silver! There it goes, Silver!

Fury, Fury! There, Tyrant, there! hark, hark!

Fury, Fury! There, Tyrant, there! Listen, listen!

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.

Go, order my goblins to grind their joints with racking spasms, to shrivel up their muscles with an old man's cramps, and to make them more spotted with pinches than a leopard or a wildcat.

Hark, they roar.

Listen, they're roaring.

Let them be hunted soundly. At this hour Lies at my mercy all mine enemies. Shortly shall all my labours end, and thou Shalt have the air at freedom. For a little Follow, and do me service.

Let them be hunted thoroughly. At this moment all my enemies lie at my mercy. Soon all my labours will end, and you shall have the air in freedom. For a little while longer, follow me and do me service.