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 gave you were only my tests of your love, and you have stood the test remarkably. Here, before Heaven, I confirm this rich gift of mine. Oh, Ferdinand, do not smile at me for praising her so highly, for you will find she outruns all praise and leaves it limping behind her.

I do believe it Against an oracle.

I believe it, even if an oracle told me otherwise.

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 your own prize, worthily earned. But if you break her virgin knot before all the holy ceremonies can be performed with full and sacred ritual, the heavens will let fall no sweet dew to make this marriage grow; instead barren hatred, sour-eyed contempt and discord will scatter the union of your bed with weeds so disgusting that you will both hate it. So be careful, as Hymen's lamps are to 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 as it is now, the darkest cave, the most convenient place, the strongest temptation our worse nature can offer, will never melt my honour into lust and take the keenness off that wedding day, when I will think either that Phoebus' horses have gone lame or that Night is kept chained below.

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

Well said. Sit down, then, and talk with her; she is your own. What, 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 in another trick like it. Go and bring the crowd, over whom I give you power, here to this place. Urge them to move quickly, because I must give the eyes of this young couple some showy display of my art. It is my promise, and they expect it from me.

Presently?

Right away?

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," each one of them, skipping 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 delicate Ariel. Do not 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!

See that you keep your word; do not give flirting too loose a rein. The strongest oaths are straw to the fire in the blood. Be more restrained, or else goodnight 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 liver.

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 extra rather than be short of a spirit. 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 mountains, where the sheep live and nibble, and the flat meadows covered with winter fodder to feed them; your riverbanks with their trenched and ridged edges, which soggy April decorates 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 trimmed poles; and your seashore, barren and rocky-hard, where you take the air yourself. The Queen of the sky, whose watery arch and messenger I am, tells you to leave all these, and to come and enjoy yourself with her royal grace here on this grassy plot, in this very place. Her peacocks are flying fast: 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 saffron wings sprinkle honey drops and refreshing showers on my flowers, and with each end of your blue bow crown my wooded acres and my bare open hills, a rich scarf for my proud earth. Why has your queen summoned me here to this short-grassed green?

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

To celebrate a contract of true love, and to bestow some gift freely 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, if Venus or her son, as far as you know, are now attending the queen. Ever since they plotted the way that dark Dis got my daughter, I have sworn off her company and her blind boy's disgraceful 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.

Do not be afraid of her company. I met her godly self cutting through the clouds towards Paphos, with her son drawn by doves beside her. They intended here to work some lustful spell on this man and this girl, who have vowed that no marriage bed will be enjoyed until Hymen's torch is lit; but it was useless. Mars's hot mistress has gone back again; her wasp-tempered son has broken his arrows, swears he will shoot no more but only play with sparrows and be an ordinary boy.

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

The highest queen of state, 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 prosper 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, the blessing of marriage, long life together and a growing family, joys every hour be always upon you! 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 crops increase, with abundant plenty, barns and granaries never empty; vines growing with bunches in clusters; plants bending under a fine load; may spring come to you at the latest at the very end of harvest! Scarcity and want 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 charmingly 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 from their own regions to act out my present fancies.

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

Let me live here for ever. Such a wonderful 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 one, be silent now! Juno and Ceres are whispering seriously; there is something else to be done. Hush, and be silent, or else 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 wandering brooks, with your crowns of reeds and your always harmless faces, leave your rippling streams and answer your summons here on this green land; Juno commands it. Come, gentle nymphs, and help celebrate a contract of true love. Do not be 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 sunburned harvesters, tired out by August, come here from the ploughed field and be merry. Take a holiday; put on your rye-straw hats, and each 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 conspiracy of the beast Caliban and his fellow plotters against my life. The moment set for their plot has almost come. [To the Spirits.] Well done! Be off; no more!

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

This is strange: your father is in some fit of feeling that shakes him powerfully.

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

Never until today have I seen him affected 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 entertainment is over now. These actors of ours, as I told you beforehand, were all spirits, and they 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 now 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. Do not be upset by my frailty. If you please, go into my cell and rest there. I will take a turn or two walking, to quiet my racing mind.

We wish your peace.

We wish you peace.

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

Come, as quick 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 was playing 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 those 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 drinking, so full of courage that they struck at the air for breathing in their faces and beat the ground for kissing their feet; yet they kept heading towards their plan all the time. Then I beat my drum; at which, like unbroken colts, they pricked up their ears, opened their eyelids 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 stuck 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 still. Go and bring the cheap finery in my house here, 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 born devil, whose nature no upbringing can ever stick to; on whom all my efforts, kindly undertaken, are all lost, completely lost. And as his body grows uglier with age, so his mind rots. I will torment them all, until they roar.

Come, hang them on this line.

Come, hang them on this line.

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

Please, walk quietly, so that the blind mole may not hear a footstep fall. We are near 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 entirely of horse urine; and my nose is highly outraged at 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 a dislike to you, look you—

Thou wert but a lost monster.

You would be nothing but a done-for 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, for the prize I will lead you to will blindfold this mishap. So speak quietly. Everything is still as hushed as midnight.

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 will 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 mouth of the cell. No noise, and go in. Do that good piece of mischief that can make this island your own for ever, and make me, your Caliban, your foot-licker for ever.

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

Give me your hand. I am beginning to have bloody 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 is nothing but rubbish.

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

Oh, ho, monster! We know a second-hand clothes shop when we see one. 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'm going to 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 junk like this? Leave it alone, and do the murder first. If he wakes up, he'll fill our skins with pinches from toe to head, and turn us into something strange.

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. Mistress 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 line and level, 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.

Thank you for that joke. Here's a piece of clothing for it. Wit won't go unrewarded while I'm King of this country. "Steal by line and level" is an excellent stroke 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.

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 barnacles, or into apes with horribly 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 dry convulsions, to shrink up their sinews with an old man's cramps, and to make them more spotted with pinches than a leopard or a mountain cat.

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 will have the air in freedom. Just for a little while longer, follow me and serve me.