ACT II, SCENE I. Another part of the island.
[Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others]
GONZALO:
- Beseech you, sir, be merry; you have cause,
- So have we all, of joy; for our escape
- Is much beyond our loss. Our hint of woe
- Is common; every day some sailor's wife,
- The masters of some merchant and the merchant
- Have just our theme of woe; but for the miracle,
- I mean our preservation, few in millions
- Can speak like us: then wisely, good sir, weigh
- Our sorrow with our comfort.
SEBASTIAN:
- He receives comfort like cold porridge.
ANTONIO:
- The visitor will not give him o'er so.
SEBASTIAN:
- Look he's winding up the watch of his wit;
- by and by it will strike.
GONZALO:
- When every grief is entertain'd that's offer'd,
- Comes to the entertainer--
GONZALO:
- Dolour comes to him, indeed: you
- have spoken truer than you purposed.
SEBASTIAN:
- You have taken it wiselier than I meant you should.
GONZALO:
- Therefore, my lord,--
ANTONIO:
- Fie, what a spendthrift is he of his tongue!
ALONSO:
- I prithee, spare.
GONZALO:
- Well, I have done: but yet,--
SEBASTIAN:
- He will be talking.
ANTONIO:
- Which, of he or Adrian, for a good
- wager, first begins to crow?
SEBASTIAN:
- Done. The wager?
ADRIAN:
- Though this island seem to be desert,--
SEBASTIAN:
- Ha, ha, ha! So, you're paid.
ADRIAN:
- Uninhabitable and almost inaccessible,--
ANTONIO:
- He could not miss't.
ADRIAN:
- It must needs be of subtle, tender and delicate
- temperance.
ANTONIO:
- Temperance was a delicate wench.
SEBASTIAN:
- Ay, and a subtle; as he most learnedly delivered.
ADRIAN:
- The air breathes upon us here most sweetly.
SEBASTIAN:
- As if it had lungs and rotten ones.
ANTONIO:
- Or as 'twere perfumed by a fen.
GONZALO:
- Here is everything advantageous to life.
ANTONIO:
- True; save means to live.
SEBASTIAN:
- Of that there's none, or little.
GONZALO:
- How lush and lusty the grass looks! how green!
ANTONIO:
- The ground indeed is tawny.
SEBASTIAN:
- With an eye of green in't.
ANTONIO:
- He misses not much.
SEBASTIAN:
- No; he doth but mistake the truth totally.
GONZALO:
- But the rarity of it is,--which is indeed almost
- beyond credit,--
SEBASTIAN:
- As many vouched rarities are.
GONZALO:
- That our garments, being, as they were, drenched in
- the sea, hold notwithstanding their freshness and
- glosses, being rather new-dyed than stained with
- salt water.
ANTONIO:
- If but one of his pockets could speak, would it not
- say he lies?
SEBASTIAN:
- Ay, or very falsely pocket up his report
GONZALO:
- Methinks our garments are now as fresh as when we
- put them on first in Afric, at the marriage of
- the king's fair daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis.
SEBASTIAN:
- 'Twas a sweet marriage, and we prosper well in our return.
ADRIAN:
- Tunis was never graced before with such a paragon to
- their queen.
GONZALO:
- Not since widow Dido's time.
ANTONIO:
- Widow! a pox o' that! How came that widow in?
- widow Dido!
SEBASTIAN:
- What if he had said 'widower AEneas' too? Good Lord,
- how you take it!
ADRIAN:
- 'Widow Dido' said you? you make me study of that:
- she was of Carthage, not of Tunis.
GONZALO:
- This Tunis, sir, was Carthage.
GONZALO:
- I assure you, Carthage.
SEBASTIAN:
- His word is more than the miraculous harp; he hath
- raised the wall and houses too.
ANTONIO:
- What impossible matter will he make easy next?
SEBASTIAN:
- I think he will carry this island home in his pocket
- and give it his son for an apple.
ANTONIO:
- And, sowing the kernels of it in the sea, bring
- forth more islands.
ANTONIO:
- Why, in good time.
GONZALO:
- Sir, we were talking that our garments seem now
- as fresh as when we were at Tunis at the marriage
- of your daughter, who is now queen.
ANTONIO:
- And the rarest that e'er came there.
SEBASTIAN:
- Bate, I beseech you, widow Dido.
ANTONIO:
- O, widow Dido! ay, widow Dido.
GONZALO:
- Is not, sir, my doublet as fresh as the first day I
- wore it? I mean, in a sort.
ANTONIO:
- That sort was well fished for.
GONZALO:
- When I wore it at your daughter's marriage?
ALONSO:
- You cram these words into mine ears against
- The stomach of my sense. Would I had never
- Married my daughter there! for, coming thence,
- My son is lost and, in my rate, she too,
- Who is so far from Italy removed
- I ne'er again shall see her. O thou mine heir
- Of Naples and of Milan, what strange fish
- Hath made his meal on thee?
FRANCISCO:
- Sir, he may live:
- I saw him beat the surges under him,
- And ride upon their backs; he trod the water,
- Whose enmity he flung aside, and breasted
- The surge most swoln that met him; his bold head
- 'Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oar'd
- Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke
- To the shore, that o'er his wave-worn basis bow'd,
- As stooping to relieve him: I not doubt
- He came alive to land.
ALONSO:
- No, no, he's gone.
SEBASTIAN:
- Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss,
- That would not bless our Europe with your daughter,
- But rather lose her to an African;
- Where she at least is banish'd from your eye,
- Who hath cause to wet the grief on't.
SEBASTIAN:
- You were kneel'd to and importuned otherwise
- By all of us, and the fair soul herself
- Weigh'd between loathness and obedience, at
- Which end o' the beam should bow. We have lost your
- son,
- I fear, for ever: Milan and Naples have
- More widows in them of this business' making
- Than we bring men to comfort them:
- The fault's your own.
ALONSO:
- So is the dear'st o' the loss.
GONZALO:
- My lord Sebastian,
- The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness
- And time to speak it in: you rub the sore,
- When you should bring the plaster.
ANTONIO:
- And most chirurgeonly.
GONZALO:
- It is foul weather in us all, good sir,
- When you are cloudy.
GONZALO:
- Had I plantation of this isle, my lord,--
ANTONIO:
- He'ld sow't with nettle-seed.
SEBASTIAN:
- Or docks, or mallows.
GONZALO:
- And were the king on't, what would I do?
SEBASTIAN:
- 'Scape being drunk for want of wine.
GONZALO:
- I' the commonwealth I would by contraries
- Execute all things; for no kind of traffic
- Would I admit; no name of magistrate;
- Letters should not be known; riches, poverty,
- And use of service, none; contract, succession,
- Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none;
- No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil;
- No occupation; all men idle, all;
- And women too, but innocent and pure;
- No sovereignty;--
SEBASTIAN:
- Yet he would be king on't.
ANTONIO:
- The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the
- beginning.
GONZALO:
- All things in common nature should produce
- Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony,
- Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine,
- Would I not have; but nature should bring forth,
- Of its own kind, all foison, all abundance,
- To feed my innocent people.
SEBASTIAN:
- No marrying 'mong his subjects?
ANTONIO:
- None, man; all idle: whores and knaves.
GONZALO:
- I would with such perfection govern, sir,
- To excel the golden age.
SEBASTIAN:
- God save his majesty!
ANTONIO:
- Long live Gonzalo!
GONZALO:
- And,--do you mark me, sir?
ALONSO:
- Prithee, no more: thou dost talk nothing to me.
GONZALO:
- I do well believe your highness; and
- did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen,
- who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that
- they always use to laugh at nothing.
ANTONIO:
- 'Twas you we laughed at.
GONZALO:
- Who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing
- to you: so you may continue and laugh at
- nothing still.
ANTONIO:
- What a blow was there given!
SEBASTIAN:
- An it had not fallen flat-long.
SEBASTIAN:
- We would so, and then go a bat-fowling.
ANTONIO:
- Nay, good my lord, be not angry.
GONZALO:
- No, I warrant you; I will not adventure
- my discretion so weakly. Will you laugh
- me asleep, for I am very heavy?
ALONSO:
- What, all so soon asleep! I wish mine eyes
- Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts: I find
- They are inclined to do so.
SEBASTIAN:
- Please you, sir,
- Do not omit the heavy offer of it:
- It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth,
- It is a comforter.
ANTONIO:
- We two, my lord,
- Will guard your person while you take your rest,
- And watch your safety.
SEBASTIAN:
- What a strange drowsiness possesses them!
ANTONIO:
- It is the quality o' the climate.
SEBASTIAN:
- Why
- Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find not
- Myself disposed to sleep.
ANTONIO:
- Nor I; my spirits are nimble.
- They fell together all, as by consent;
- They dropp'd, as by a thunder-stroke. What might,
- Worthy Sebastian? O, what might?--No more:--
- And yet me thinks I see it in thy face,
- What thou shouldst be: the occasion speaks thee, and
- My strong imagination sees a crown
- Dropping upon thy head.
SEBASTIAN:
- What, art thou waking?
ANTONIO:
- Do you not hear me speak?
SEBASTIAN:
- I do; and surely
- It is a sleepy language and thou speak'st
- Out of thy sleep. What is it thou didst say?
- This is a strange repose, to be asleep
- With eyes wide open; standing, speaking, moving,
- And yet so fast asleep.
ANTONIO:
- Noble Sebastian,
- Thou let'st thy fortune sleep--die, rather; wink'st
- Whiles thou art waking.
SEBASTIAN:
- Thou dost snore distinctly;
- There's meaning in thy snores.
ANTONIO:
- I am more serious than my custom: you
- Must be so too, if heed me; which to do
- Trebles thee o'er.
SEBASTIAN:
- Well, I am standing water.
ANTONIO:
- I'll teach you how to flow.
SEBASTIAN:
- Do so: to ebb
- Hereditary sloth instructs me.
ANTONIO:
- O,
- If you but knew how you the purpose cherish
- Whiles thus you mock it! how, in stripping it,
- You more invest it! Ebbing men, indeed,
- Most often do so near the bottom run
- By their own fear or sloth.
SEBASTIAN:
- Prithee, say on:
- The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim
- A matter from thee, and a birth indeed
- Which throes thee much to yield.
ANTONIO:
- Thus, sir:
- Although this lord of weak remembrance, this,
- Who shall be of as little memory
- When he is earth'd, hath here almost persuade,--
- For he's a spirit of persuasion, only
- Professes to persuade,--the king his son's alive,
- 'Tis as impossible that he's undrown'd
- And he that sleeps here swims.
SEBASTIAN:
- I have no hope
- That he's undrown'd.
ANTONIO:
- O, out of that 'no hope'
- What great hope have you! no hope that way is
- Another way so high a hope that even
- Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond,
- But doubt discovery there. Will you grant with me
- That Ferdinand is drown'd?
ANTONIO:
- Then, tell me,
- Who's the next heir of Naples?
ANTONIO:
- She that is queen of Tunis; she that dwells
- Ten leagues beyond man's life; she that from Naples
- Can have no note, unless the sun were post--
- The man i' the moon's too slow--till new-born chins
- Be rough and razorable; she that--from whom?
- We all were sea-swallow'd, though some cast again,
- And by that destiny to perform an act
- Whereof what's past is prologue, what to come
- In yours and my discharge.
SEBASTIAN:
- What stuff is this! how say you?
- 'Tis true, my brother's daughter's queen of Tunis;
- So is she heir of Naples; 'twixt which regions
- There is some space.
ANTONIO:
- A space whose every cubit
- Seems to cry out, 'How shall that Claribel
- Measure us back to Naples? Keep in Tunis,
- And let Sebastian wake.' Say, this were death
- That now hath seized them; why, they were no worse
- Than now they are. There be that can rule Naples
- As well as he that sleeps; lords that can prate
- As amply and unnecessarily
- As this Gonzalo; I myself could make
- A chough of as deep chat. O, that you bore
- The mind that I do! what a sleep were this
- For your advancement! Do you understand me?
SEBASTIAN:
- Methinks I do.
ANTONIO:
- And how does your content
- Tender your own good fortune?
SEBASTIAN:
- I remember
- You did supplant your brother Prospero.
ANTONIO:
- True:
- And look how well my garments sit upon me;
- Much feater than before: my brother's servants
- Were then my fellows; now they are my men.
SEBASTIAN:
- But, for your conscience?
ANTONIO:
- Ay, sir; where lies that? if 'twere a kibe,
- 'Twould put me to my slipper: but I feel not
- This deity in my bosom: twenty consciences,
- That stand 'twixt me and Milan, candied be they
- And melt ere they molest! Here lies your brother,
- No better than the earth he lies upon,
- If he were that which now he's like, that's dead;
- Whom I, with this obedient steel, three inches of it,
- Can lay to bed for ever; whiles you, doing thus,
- To the perpetual wink for aye might put
- This ancient morsel, this Sir Prudence, who
- Should not upbraid our course. For all the rest,
- They'll take suggestion as a cat laps milk;
- They'll tell the clock to any business that
- We say befits the hour.
SEBASTIAN:
- Thy case, dear friend,
- Shall be my precedent; as thou got'st Milan,
- I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke
- Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest;
- And I the king shall love thee.
ANTONIO:
- Draw together;
- And when I rear my hand, do you the like,
- To fall it on Gonzalo.
ARIEL:
- My master through his art foresees the danger
- That you, his friend, are in; and sends me forth--
- For else his project dies--to keep them living.
-
[Sings in GONZALO's ear]
- While you here do snoring lie,
- Open-eyed conspiracy
- His time doth take.
- If of life you keep a care,
- Shake off slumber, and beware:
- Awake, awake!
ANTONIO:
- Then let us both be sudden.
GONZALO:
- Now, good angels
- Preserve the king.
-
[They wake]
ALONSO:
- Why, how now? ho, awake! Why are you drawn?
- Wherefore this ghastly looking?
GONZALO:
- What's the matter?
SEBASTIAN:
- Whiles we stood here securing your repose,
- Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing
- Like bulls, or rather lions: did't not wake you?
- It struck mine ear most terribly.
ANTONIO:
- O, 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear,
- To make an earthquake! sure, it was the roar
- Of a whole herd of lions.
ALONSO:
- Heard you this, Gonzalo?
GONZALO:
- Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming,
- And that a strange one too, which did awake me:
- I shaked you, sir, and cried: as mine eyes open'd,
- I saw their weapons drawn: there was a noise,
- That's verily. 'Tis best we stand upon our guard,
- Or that we quit this place; let's draw our weapons.
ALONSO:
- Lead off this ground; and let's make further search
- For my poor son.
GONZALO:
- Heavens keep him from these beasts!
- For he is, sure, i' the island.
ARIEL:
- Prospero my lord shall know what I have done:
- So, king, go safely on to seek thy son.
-
[Exeunt]