The Tempest
Act 1
Narrator: Our story begins upon the sea, in the midst of a terrible storm that rocks a ship carrying Alonso: the King of Naples, Sebastian: Alonso’s brother, Gonzalo: their wise counselor, Antonio: the Duke of Milan, and Alonso’s son Ferdinand.
MASTER (1): Boatswain!
BOATSWAIN (2): Here, master. What cheer?
MASTER (3): Good, speak to th’ mariners! Fall to’t yarely, or we run ourselves aground!
Enter Alonso and Antonio
ALONSO (4): Good Boatswain, have care.
BOATSWAIN (5): You mar our labor. Keep your cabins; you do assist the storm.
ALONSO (6): Nay, good, be patient.
BOATSWAIN (7): When the sea is. To cabin! Trouble us not!
ANTONIO (8): We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art.
From offstage we hear cries of “Mercy on us!” “We split! We split!” “Farewell, brother!”
ANTONIO (9): Let’s all sink wi’ th’ king.
Exit All
Narrator: Meanwhile, on the nearby island, Prospero’s daughter Miranda cries that she fears for the souls lost on the nearby ship. Her father assures her that his magic created this storm, and his magic also protected the people aboard.
MIRANDA (10): O, I have suffered with those that I saw suffer! O, the cry did knock against my very heart! Poor souls, they perished!
PROSPERO (11): Be collected. Tell your piteous heart there’s no harm done.
MIRANDA (12): O, woe the day!
PROSPERO (13): No harm. I have done nothing but in care of thee, my daughter. ‘Tis time I should inform thee farther.
MIRANDA (14): You have often begun to tell me what I am; but stopped concluding, “Stay; not yet.”
Exit Prospero and Miranda
Narrator: Prospero then begins to tell Miranda how it is they came unto this island. You see, Prospero was once the Duke of Milan, but he began to wrap himself in study and so cast the governmental duties onto his brother, Antonio. His brother began to crave more and more power, and soon believed that he himself was the Duke of Milan. So, one night, Antonio opened the gates of Milan and a group of people forced Prospero and the infant Miranda out of the city. They threw them onto a boat that was not fit for sea-faring, and sent them off to survive the tides alone. However, dear Gonzalo assisted them in survival by sneaking onto the boat with them some food, fresh water, and clothes. Instead of being tossed to death on the sea, they landed at last on this island, where Prospero claimed himself ruler and called a fairy named Ariel to be his servant.
ARIEL (15): All hail, great master!
PROSPERO (16): Hast thou, performed, to point, the tempest that I bade thee?
ARIEL (17): To every article.
PROSPERO (18): But are they, Ariel, safe.
ARIEL (19): Not a hair perished. In troops I have dispersed them ‘bout the isle.
PROSPERO (20): Go make thyself like a nymph o’ th’ sea. Be subject to no sight but thine, invisible to every eyeball else.
Exit all
Narrator: Now Prospero decides it is time to make a visit to Caliban, who is the island’s monster. When they first arrived on the island, Caliban was a dear friend to Miranda, and Prospero would even let them all share the same cave. But as they grew older, Caliban became mean to Miranda, and Prospero threw him out and forced Caliban to be his servant.
PROSPERO (21): Come on, we’ll visit Caliban, who never yields us kind answer.
MIRANDA (22): ‘Tis a villain, sir, I do not love to look on.
Enter Caliban
CALIBAN (23): A southwest wind blow on ye and blister you all o’er!
PROSPERO (24): For this, be sure, tonight thou shalt have cramps.
MIRANDA (25): Abhorred slave, I pitied thee, took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour one thing or other.
CALIBAN (26): You taught me language, and my profit on’t is, I know how to curse.
PROSPERO (27): Hagseed, hence! Fetch us in fuel. And be quick.
Exit All
Narrator: Now, part of Prospero’s plan in marooning the ship on his island is to make Miranda and the King of Naples’ son, Ferdinand, meet and, if all goes well, fall in love. And they seem to fall in love at first sight! However, Prospero chooses to be hard on Ferdinand and make the courtship more difficult, so that he must prove himself to both Miranda and Prospero.
PROSPERO (28): What thou seest yond?
MIRANDA (29): A spirit? It carries a brave form. But ‘tis a spirit.
PROSPERO (30): A goodly person. He hath lost his fellows and strays about to find ‘em.
MIRANDA (31): I might call him a thing divine.
Enter Ferdinand
FERDINAND (32): Most sure, the goddess on whom these airs attend!
PROSPERO (33): One word more! I charge thee that thou attend me. Thou hast put thyself upon this island as a spy, to win it from me, the lord on’t.
FERDINAND (34): No, as I am a man!
MIRANDA (35): There’s nothing ill can dwell in such a temple.
Exit All
Act 2
Narrator: On the other side of the island, the rest of the men from the ship lay sleeping, all except Antonio and Sebastian. You see, Ariel had come to these men, being invisible to them, and played a song that put all but Antonio and Sebastian to sleep. Antonio and Sebastian resolve to keep watch over the other men, but in truth begin to plan their own dastardly plot.
ANTONIO (36): Worthy Sebastian, O what might? My strong imagination sees a crown dropping upon thy head.
SEBASTIAN (37): What? Art thou waking?
ANTONIO (38): O, that you bore the mind that I do! What a sleep were this for your advancement! Do you understand me?
SEBASTIAN (39): Methinks I do.
ANTONIO (40): Draw together; And when I rear my hand, do you the like, to fall it on Gonzalo.
SEBASTIAN (41): O, but one word!
Exit All
Narrator: As Sebastian, too afraid to do the deed, talks to Antonio, Ariel re-emerges and sings a song to wake Gonzalo so as to save their lives. Upon waking, Gonzalo sees Antonio and Sebastian with their swords drawn, but the two lie and say that they heard an animal in the night, and their swords were drawn to protect those sleeping from the beast.
Meanwhile, two drunken servants to the king find themselves lost and alone on the island while Caliban curses Prospero for making him his servant.
CALIBAN (42): Here comes a spirit of his, and to torment me for bringing wood in slowly. I’ll fall flat. Perchance he will not mind me. Caliban lays down covered in his cape
Enter Trinculo
TRINCULO (43): Alas, the storm is come again! I will here shroud till the dregs of the storm be past. Trinculo also lays down, hiding under Caliban’s cape
Enter Stephano
STEPHANO (44): This is some monster of the isle with four legs, who hath got, I take it, an ague.
CALIBAN (45): Do not torment me, prithee; I’ll bring my wood home faster.
TRINCULO (46): I should know that voice. It should be- but he is drowned!
STEPHANO (47): Four legs and two voices- a most delicate monster!
TRINCULO (48): If thou beest Stephano, touch me and speak to me; for I am thy good friend Trinculo!
STEPHANO (49): I’ll pull thee by thy lesser legs. If any be Trinculo’s legs, these are they. Stephano pulls Trinculo from under the cape
CALIBAN (50): These be fine things, and if they be not sprites. That’s a brave god. I will kneel to him.
Exit All
Narrator: Thinking that Stephano and Trinculo must be gods of some kind, Caliban vows to show them the best of the island and serve them instead of Prospero. Speaking of serving Prospero! Ferdinand has also become a servant to Prospero, and Miranda feels terribly about it. She wishes to do his work for him so that he can rest. However, he refuses to take her help, saying that someone as fair as her does not deserve to do his tiresome work. Also, he has found some joy in his work, knowing that it is also done to serve her.
MIRANDA (51): You look wearily.
FERDINAND (52): No, noble mistress, ‘tis fresh morning for me when you are by at night.
MIRANDA (53): Do you love me?
FERDINAND (54): Beyond all limit of what else i’ th’ world, do love, prize, and honor you.
MIRANDA (55): My husband then?
FERDINAND (56): Ay, with a heart as willing. Here’s my hand.
MIRANDA (57): And mine, with my heart in’t.
Exit All
Narrator: Caliban, leading Trinculo and Stephano around the island, begins to recount to them the tale of Prospero taking the island from him and making him do his will. He is unaware, however, that Ariel has appeared and is playing tricks on the three of them. They determine that Stephano will help to rid Caliban of Prospero, and then he will inherit the island.
CALIBAN (58): I say by sorcery he got this isle; from me he got it. If thy greatness will revenge it on him- for I know thou dar’st. Thou shalt be lord of it, and I will serve thee.
ARIEL (59): Thou liest.
CALIBAN (60): I do not lie.
TRINCULO (61): Why, I said nothing.
STEPHANO (62): How now shall this be compassed?
CALIBAN (63): I’ll yield him thee asleep, where thou mayst knock a nail into his head.
ARIEL (64): Thou liest; thou canst not.
STEPHANO (65): Trinculo, run into no further danger! Interrupt the monster one word further and, by this hand, I’ll turn my mercy out o’ doors.
TRINCULO (66): Why, what did I? I did nothing.
STEPHANO (67): Didst thou not say he lies?
ARIEL (68): Thou liest.
TRINCULO (69): I did not give the lie.
CALIBAN (70): ‘Tis a custom with him i’ th’ afternoon to sleep. There thou mayst brain him.
STEPHANO (71): Monster, I will kill this man. Dost thou like the plot, Trinculo?
ARIEL (72): This will I tell my master.
Exit All
Narrator: The other men from the boat find themselves weary with travel and depressed with the idea that Ferdinand has drowned. They determine to rest awhile and Sebastian and Antonio are able to plot once more.
ANTONIO (73): I am right glad he is out of hope.
SEBASTIAN (74): The next advantage will we take thoroughly.
ANTONIO (75): Let it be tonight; for now they are oppressed with travel, they cannot use such vigilance as when they are fresh.
SEBASTIAN (76): I say tonight. No more.
Exit All
Narrator: Now it is time for Ariel to play a trick on Alonso and his men to scare them so that Prospero may control with more ease. Ariel and their fairy friends come and leave a feast for the men, and they are wide eyed with wonder. Enter transition room dressed as different kinds of food.
SEBASTIAN (77): Will’t please you taste of what is here?
ALONSO (78): Not I.
GONZALO (79): Faith, sir, you need not fear.
ALONSO (80): I will stand to, and feed; although my last, no matter, since I feel the best is past.
Enter Ariel with thunder and lightning
ARIEL (81): You are three men of sin. Remember that you three from Milan did supplant good Prospero, him and his innocent child; for which foul deed the pow’rs have incensed all the creatures against your peace.
Exit Ariel with food
GONZALO (82): I’ th’ name of something holy, sir, why stand you in this strange state?
ALONSO (83): O, it is monstrous, monstrous! Methought the billows spoke and told me of it; the winds did sing it to me; the name of Prosper.
SEBASTIAN (84): But one fiend at a time, I’ll fight their legions o’er!
Exit All
Act III
Narrator: Prospero decides to give Miranda to Ferdinand in marriage and blesses their union. He then calls for Ariel to bring other fairies and sprites of the island to entertain them on this wedding day.
Enter baby rooms dressed as fairies to dance across the stage
PROSPERO (85): I had forgot the foul conspiracy of the beast Caliban and his confederates against my life. The minute of their plot is almost come.
FERDINAND (86): This is strange. Your father’s in some passion that works him strongly.
MIRANDA (87): Never till this day saw I him touched with anger so distempered.
PROSPERO (88): You do look, my son, in a moved sort, as if you were dismayed. We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep. A turn or two I’ll walk to still my beating mind.
FERDINAND AND MIRANDA (89): We wish your peace.
Exit all
Narrator: Now it’s time for Prospero to go and take care of those rascals Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban. In order to foil their plan and save his life, he commands the fairies and the spirits of the island to appear as dogs and chase them from his cave. He then orders Ariel to bring Alonso and his men to him so that he may reveal his identity to them.
PROSPERO (90): Behold, sir king, the wronged Duke of Milan, Prospero.
SEBASTIAN (91): The devil speaks to him.
PROSPERO (92): No. For you, most wicked sir, whom to call brother would even infect my mouth, I do forgive thy rankest fault, and require my Dukedom of thee.
ALONSO (93): If thou beest Prospero, give us particulars of thy preservation; how thou has met us here, who three hours hence were wracked upon this shore; where I have lost my dear son Ferdinand.
Enter Miranda and Ferdinand
MIRANDA (94): Sweet lord, you play me false.
FERDINAND (95): No, dearest love, I would not for the world.
SEBASTIAN (96): A most high miracle!
FERDINAND (97): Though the seas threaten, they are merciful. I have cursed them without cause.
MIRANDA(98) : O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! O brave new world that has such people in’t!
Enter Stephano and Caliban
SEBASTIAN (99): What things are these? Will money buy ‘em?
ALONSO (100): Is this not Stephano, my drunken butler?
STEPHANO (101): O, touch me not! I am not Stephano, but a cramp.
CALIBAN(102): You’d be king o’ the isle, sirrah?
STEPHANO(103): I should have been a sore one then.
CALIBAN (104): I will be wise hereafter. What a fool was I to take this drunkard for a god!
ALONSO (105): I long to hear the story of your life, which must take the ear strangely.
PROSPERO (106): I’ll deliver all. Enter Ariel My Ariel, that is thy charge. Then to the elements be free, and fare thou well!
Exit All
Narrator: And so, Prospero told them all their story of survival, with magic restored their ship, and they all were bound for Naples the next morning, where Ferdinand and Miranda were to be wed and live happily forevermore.
ARIEL (107): In this bare island by your spell; but release me from my bands with the help of your good hands. As you from crimes would pardoned be, let your indulgence set me free.
Exit Ariel
END OF PLAY