PROSPERO     Being once perfected how to grant suits, How to deny them, who t’advance and who To trash for overtopping, new created The creatures that were mine, I say, or changed ’em, Or else new formed ’em; having both the key Of officer and office, set all hearts i’th’ state To what tune pleased his […]

PROSPERO     My brother and thy uncle, called Antonio— I pray thee mark me, that a brother should Be so perfidious – he, whom next thyself Of all the world I loved, and to him put The manage of my state, as at that time Through all the signories it was the first, And Prospero the […]

MIRANDA                                          O, the heavens! What foul play had we that we came from thence? Or blessed wast we did? PROSPERO                                         Both, both, my girl. By foul play, as thou sayst, were we heaved thence, But blessedly holp hither. MIRANDA                                                      O, my heart bleeds To think o’th’ teen that I have turned you to, Which is […]

PROSPERO     Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since, Thy father was the Duke of Milan and A prince of power. MIRANDA                                          Sir, are not you my father? PROSPERO     Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and She said thou wast my daughter; and thy father Was Duke of Milan, and his only heir And princess, […]

PROSPERO     By what? By any other house or person? Of any thing the image, tell me, that Hath kept with thy remembrance. MIRANDA                                                      ’Tis far off, And rather like a dream than an assurance That my remembrance warrants. Had I not Four or five women once, that tended me? PROSPERO     Thou hadst, and more, Miranda. […]

MIRANDA                                          You have often Begun to tell me what I am, but stopped And left me to a bootless inquisition, Concluding, ‘Stay, not yet’. PROSPERO                                         The hour’s now come; The very minute bids thee ope thine ear. Obey and be attentive. Canst thou remember A time before we came unto this cell? I do not […]

PROSPERO                                         Lend thy hand And pluck my magic garment from me. So, Lie there my art. Wipe thou thine eyes, have comfort; The direful spectacle of the wreck which touched The very virtue of compassion in thee, I have with such provision in mine art So safely ordered, that there is no soul – […]

PROSPERO     I have done nothing but in care of thee, Of thee, my dear one, thee my daughter, who Art ignorant of what thou art, naught knowing Of whence I am, nor that I am more better Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell, And thy no greater father. MIRANDA                                                      More to know Did […]

PROSPERO                                         Be collected; No more amazement. Tell your piteous heart There’s no harm done. MIRANDA                                          O woe the day. PROSPERO                                                                 No harm! (1.2.13-15) Just a little fragment, this, Prospero’s first words in the play. The stichomythia, the line sharing, is important: yes, Prospero’s interrupting Miranda’s anguished response to the spectacle of the storm […]

MIRANDA                                          O, I have suffered With those that I saw suffer – a brave vessel (Who had no doubt some noble creature in her) Dashed all to pieces. O, the cry did knock Against my very heart! Poor souls, they perished. Had I been any god of power, I would Have sunk the sea […]