Enter ARIEL, invisible. CALIBAN        As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant, A sorcerer, that by his cunning hath Cheated me of the island. ARIEL             [in Trinculo’s voice]   Thou liest. CALIBAN        Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou. I would my valiant master would destroy thee. I do not lie. STEPHANO    Trinculo, if […]

STEPHANO    Mooncalf, speak once in thy life, if thou be’st a good mooncalf. CALIBAN        How does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe. I’ll not serve him, he is not valiant. TRINCULO      Thou liest, most ignorant monster. I am in case to jostle a constable. Why thou deboshed fish, thou, was there ever man a […]

Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO and TRINCULO. STEPHANO    Tell not me. When the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before. Therefore bear up and board ’em. Servant monster, drink to me. TRINCULO      Servant monster? The folly of this island! They say there’s but five upon this isle; we are three of them. If th’other two […]

PROSPERO     So glad of this as they I cannot be, Who are surprised withal, but my rejoicing At nothing can be more. I’ll to my book, For yet ere suppertime must I perform Much business appertaining.           Exit. (3.1.92-96) A touch of the Yodas in the syntax here, perhaps, but Prospero’s point is a neat and […]

FERDINAND                                       Wherefore weep you? MIRANDA      At mine unworthiness that dare not offer What I desire to give, and much less take What I shall die to want. But this is trifling, And all the more it seeks to hide itself, The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning, And prompt me, plain and holy […]

MIRANDA                                                      Do you love me? FERDINAND   O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound, And crown what I profess with kind event If I speak true; if hollowly, invert What best is boded me to mischief! I, Beyond all limit of what else i’th’ world, Do love, prize, honour you. MIRANDA                                                      I am […]

FERDINAND                           I am, in my condition, A prince, Miranda; I do think a king (I would not so!) and would no more endure This wooden slavery than to suffer The flesh-fly blow my mouth! Hear my soul speak: The very instant that I saw you did My heart fly to your service, there resides To […]

MIRANDA                                          I do not know One of my sex, no woman’s face remember— Save, from my glass, mine own. Nor have I seen More that I may call men than you, good friend, And my dear father. How features are abroad I am skilless of, but by my modesty (The jewel in my dower), I […]

FERDINAND                                       Full many a lady I have eyed with best regard, and many a time Th’harmony of their tongues hath into bondage Brought my too diligent ear. For several virtues Have I liked several women; never any With so full soul but some defect in her Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed […]

PROSPERO     [aside]            Poor worm, thou art infected! This visitation shows it. MIRANDA                                          You look wearily. FERDINAND   No, noble mistress, ’tis fresh morning with me When you are by at night. I do beseech you – Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers – What is your name? MIRANDA                                          Miranda. – O my father, […]