In a poor isle; and all of us, ourselves,
When no man was his own.

Alon.

hands:

[To FER. and MIRA.] Give me your

Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart,
That doth not wish you joy!

Gon.

Be it so: Amen.

Enter ARIEL, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following.

O look, sir! look, sir! here is more of us.

I prophesi'd, if a gallows were on land,

This fellow could not drown. Now, blasphemy,
That swear'st grace o'erboard, not an oath on shore?
Hast thou no mouth by land? What is the news?

Boats. The best news is, that we have safely found
Our King, and company: the next, our ship,
Which but three glasses since we gave out split,
Is tight, and yare, and bravely rigg'd, as when
We first put out to sea.

Ari.

Have I done since I went.

Pro.

Sir, all this service)

[Aside.

My tricksy spirit!

Alon. These are not natural events; they strengthen From strange to stranger. - Say, how came you hither?

Boats. If I did think, sir, I were well awake,
I'd strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep,
And (how we know not) all clapp'd under hatches,
Where, but even now, with strange and several noises
Of roaring, shrieking, howling, jingling chains,

And more diversity of sounds, all horrible,

214 still, always. (R)

223 glasses, hours (cf. l. 186),

220

230

though according to nautical usage, half-hours. (R)

226 tricksy, brisk. (R)

We were awak'd; straightway, at liberty:
Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld
Our royal, good, and gallant ship; our Master
Cap'ring to eye her. On a trice, so please you,
Even in a dream, were we divided from them,
And were brought moping hither.

Ari.

Was 't well done? [Aside. 240 Pro. Bravely, my diligence! Thou shalt be free.

[Aside.

Alon. This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod;
And there is in this business more than Nature
Was ever conduct of. Some oracle

Must rectify our knowledge.

Pro.

Sir, my liege,

Do not infest your mind with beating on

The strangeness of this business: at pick'd leisure,
Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you
(Which to you shall seem probable) of every
These happen'd accidents: till when, be cheerful,
And think of each thing well. — Come hither, spirit:

Set Caliban and his companions free:

[Aside.

Untie the spell. [Exit ARIEL.] How fares my gracious

sir?

There are yet missing of your company

Some few odd lads, that you remember not.

Enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel.

Ste. Every man shift for all the rest, and let no man take care for himself, for all is but fortune. Coragio, bully-monster, coragio!

236 her. The original has our, a

palpable error.

244 conduct, conductor. (R)

250

248 single probably refers to Alonso, but see Furness. resolve you, give you explanation. (R)

Trin. If these be true spies which I wear in my head, here's a goodly sight.

Cal. O Setebos! these be brave spirits, indeed. How fine my master is! I am afraid

What things are these, my lord Antonio?
Will money buy 'em?

Ant.

Very like: one of them

Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable.

Pro. Mark but the badges of these men, my lords,
Then say, if they be true. This mis-shapen knave,
His mother was a witch; and one so strong
That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs,
And deal in her command, without her power.
These three have robb'd me; and this demi-devil
(For he's a bastard one) had plotted with them
To take my life. Two of these fellows
you
Must know, and own; this thing of darkness I
Acknowledge mine.

Cal.

I shall be pinch'd to death. Alon. Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler? Seb. He is drunk now: where had he wine?

Alon. And Trinculo is reeling ripe: where should

they

Find this grand liquor that hath gilded 'em? —
How cam'st thou in this pickle?

Trin. I have been in such a pickle, since I saw you last, that, I fear me, will never out of my bones: I shall not fear fly-blowing.

Seb. Why, how now, Stephano!

267 badges, silver plates bearing the arms of the master. (R)

271 I. e. "exercise her influence

260

270

280

beyond her sphere" (Herford).

(R)

280 gilded, intoxicated (cant).

Ste. O touch me not: I am not Stephano, but a

cramp.

Pro. You'd be King o' the Isle, sirrah?

Ste. I should have been a sore one, then.
Alon. This is a strange thing as e'er I look'd on.
[Pointing to CALiban.

Pro. He is as disproportion'd in his manners,

As in his shape. Go, sirrah, to my cell;
Take with you your companions: as you look
To have my pardon, trim it handsomely.

Cal. Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter,
And seek for grace. What a thrice-double ass
Was I, to take this drunkard for a god,

And worship this dull fool?

Pro.

Go to; away!

Alon. Hence, and bestow your luggage where you

found it.

Seb. Or stole it, rather.

[Exeunt CAL, STE., and TRIN. Pro. Sir, I invite your highness, and your train, To my poor cell, where you shall take your rest For this one night; which, part of it, I'll waste With such discourse, as, I not doubt, shall make it Go quick away: the story of my life, And the particular accidents gone by, Since I came to this isle: and in the morn, I'll bring you to your ship, and so to Naples, Where I have hope to see the nuptial Of these our dear-belov'd solemnized; And thence retire me to my Milan, where Every third thought. shall be my grave.

802 waste, spend. (R)

809 solemnizèd was an accentuation in use in Shakespeare's day,

290

300

310

as appears from Love's Labour's Lost, II. i. 42 and Paradise Lost, VII. 448.

To hear the story of your life, which must Take the ear strangely.

I'll deliver all;

And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales,

And sail so expeditious, that shall catch

That is thy charge: then, to the elements;