ARIEL                                     Then I beat my tabor, At which like unbacked colts they pricked their ears, Advanced their eyelids, lifted up their noses As they smelt music; so I charmed their ears That calf-like they my lowing followed, through Toothed briars, sharp furzes, pricking gorse and thorns, Which entered their frail shins. At last I […]

Enter ARIEL. ARIEL             Thy thoughts I cleave to. What’s thy pleasure? PROSPERO     Spirit, we must prepare to meet with Caliban. ARIEL             Ay, my commander. When I presented Ceres, I thought to have told thee of it, but I feared Lest I might anger thee. PROSPERO     Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets? ARIEL             I […]

PROSPERO                             Sir, I am vexed; Bear with my weakness; my old brain is troubled. Be not disturbed with my infirmity. If you be pleased, retired into my cell And there repose. A turn or two I’ll walk To still my beating mind. FERDINAND, MIRANDA                   We wish your peace.            Exeunt. PROSPERO     Come with a thought, I […]

PROSPERO     You do look, my son, in a moved sort, As if you were dismayed. 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-capped towers, the […]

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! [Spirits depart.] FERDINAND   [to Miranda] This is strange. Your father’s in some passion That works him strongly. MIRANDA                                                      Never till this […]

IRIS                 You nymphs, called naiads, of the windring brooks, With your sedged 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.                           Enter certain Nymphs.   You sunburned […]

FERDINAND   This is a most majestic vision, and Harmonious charmingly. May I be bold To think these spirits? PROSPERO                                         Spirits, which by mine art I have from their confines called to enact My present fancies. FERDINAND                                       Let me live here ever! So rare a wondered father and a wise Makes this place paradise. Juno and […]

CERES                                     Highest queen of state, Great Juno comes; I know her by her gait. JUNO               How does my bounteous sister? Go with me To bless this twain that they may prosperous be, And honoured in their issue.                                     […]

CERES                                     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 scandaled company I have forsworn. IRIS                                         Of her society Be not afraid. I met her deity Cutting the clouds […]

Enter CERES. CERES             Hail, many-coloured 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 unshrubbed down, Rich scarf to my proud earth. Why hast thy queen Summoned me hither […]