The Tempest Translation Act 2, Scene 1
ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and others enter.
GONZALO
[to ALONSO] 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.
GONZALO
[To ALONSO] I beg you sir, be happy. You, like all of us, have good reasons to be joyful. The fact that we escaped the shipwreck with our lives far outweighs what we lost. Many people have also experienced what we have to feel sad about. Every day some sailor’s wife, the owner of some merchant ship, and the merchant who owns the cargo on that ship all experience the same sort of loss. But the miracle—the fact that we survived—has only been experienced by a few people out of millions. So, good sir, be wise, and weigh our sorrow against what should bring us happiness.
ALONSO
Prithee, peace.
ALONSO
Please, be quiet.
SEBASTIAN
[to ANTONIO] He receives comfort like cold porridge.
SEBASTIAN
[To ANTONIO] Alonso enjoys these comforting words about as much as he enjoys cold soup.
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[to SEBASTIAN] The visitor will not give him o'er so.
ANTONIO
[To SEBASTIAN] But the visitor trying to bring comfort to the sick won’t give up on him.
SEBASTIAN
Look he’s winding up the watch of his wit. By and by itwill strike.
SEBASTIAN
[To ANTONIO] Look. He’s trying to come up with some new idea for how to help Alonso, winding his brain up like some kind of clock. Soon it will strike...
GONZALO
[to ALONSO] Sir—
GONZALO
[To ALONSO] Sir—
SEBASTIAN
[to ANTONIO] One. Tell.
SEBASTIAN
[To ANTONIO] The clock strikes one. Count it.
GONZALO
When every grief is entertained that’s offered,Comes to th' entertainer—
GONZALO
If we allowed ourselves to think about, or entertain, every sad thing that happens, then the entertainer will end up with—
SEBASTIAN
A dollar.
SEBASTIAN
A dollar.
GONZALO
Dolor comes to him, indeed. You have spoken truer than you purposed.
GONZALO
Yes, dolor comes to him. Though you did not mean to, you have said the truth.
SEBASTIAN
You have taken it wiselier than I meant you should.
SEBASTIAN
You took what I said more seriously than I meant it.
GONZALO
[to ALONSO] Therefore, my lord—
GONZALO
[To ALONSO] Therefore, my lord—
ANTONIO
[to SEBASTIAN] Fie, what a spendthrift is he of his tongue!
ANTONIO
[To SEBASTIAN] Goodness, he just talks and talks and talks!
ALONSO
[to GONZALO] I prithee, spare.
ALONSO
[To GONZALO] Please, stop.
GONZALO
Well, I have done. But yet—
GONZALO
Well, I’m basically finished. But still—
SEBASTIAN
[to ANTONIO] He will be talking.
SEBASTIAN
[To ANTONIO] He insists on talking.
ANTONIO
Which, of he or Adrian, for a good wager, first begins to crow?
ANTONIO
Here’s a good bet. Which of the two, Gonzalo or Adrian, will speak first?
SEBASTIAN
The old cock.
SEBASTIAN
The old rooster, Gonzalo.
ANTONIO
The cockerel.
ANTONIO
I’ll take the young rooster, Adrian.
SEBASTIAN
Done. The wager?
SEBASTIAN
You’re on. What does the winner get?
ANTONIO
A laughter.
ANTONIO
A good laugh.
SEBASTIAN
A match!
SEBASTIAN
It’s a deal!
ADRIAN
Though this island seem to be desert—
ADRIAN
Though this island seems to deserted—
ANTONIO
[to SEBASTIAN] Ha, ha, ha!
ANTONIO
[To SEBASTIAN] Ha, ha, ha!
SEBASTIAN
So you’re paid.
SEBASTIAN
You got your prize.
ADRIAN
Uninhabitable and almost inaccessible—
ADRIAN
Uninhabited, and almost inaccessible—
SEBASTIAN
Yet—
SEBASTIAN
Next he’ll say “but”—
ADRIAN
Yet—
ADRIAN
But—
ANTONIO
He could not miss ’t.
ANTONIO
He couldn’t not say it.
ADRIAN
It must needs be of subtle, tender, and delicate temperance.
ADRIAN
It seems to be mild and gentle, and to have a temperate climate.
ANTONIO
Temperance was a delicate wench.
ANTONIO
Ah, Temperance—she was quite an alluring girl.
SEBASTIAN
Ay, and a subtle, as he most learnedly delivered.
SEBASTIAN
Yes, and, as Adrian described so smartly, she was a subtle one in bed, too.
ADRIAN
The air breathes upon us here most sweetly.
ADRIAN
The air here is like a fresh, sweet breath.
SEBASTIAN
As if it had lungs, and rotten ones.
SEBASTIAN
As if the island had lungs—rotten lungs.
ANTONIO
Or as ’twere perfumed by a fen.
ANTONIO
As if the air was perfumed by a swamp.
GONZALO
Here is everything advantageous to life.
GONZALO
This island contains everything that is good for life.
ANTONIO
True. Save means to live.
ANTONIO
True. Except anything you could actually use to live.
SEBASTIAN
Of that there’s none, or little.
SEBASTIAN
There’s none of that, or just a little.
GONZALO
How lush and lusty the grass looks! How green!
GONZALO
The grass looks so rich and healthy! It is so green!
ANTONIO
The ground indeed is tawny.
ANTONIO
The ground is actually brown.
SEBASTIAN
With an eye of green in ’t.
SEBASTIAN
With a tinge of green in it.
ANTONIO
He misses not much.
ANTONIO
He doesn’t miss a thing.
SEBASTIAN
No, he doth but mistake the truth totally.
SEBASTIAN
No, he just misses the actual truth entirely.
GONZALO
But the rarity of it is—which is indeed almost beyond credit—
GONZALO
But the unbelievable thing is—and this is really almost hard to imagine—
SEBASTIAN
As many vouched rarities are.
SEBASTIAN
As by definition most unbelievable things are.
GONZALO
That our garments, being, as they were, drenched in thesea, hold notwithstanding their freshness and glosses, being rather new-dyed than stained with salt water.
GONZALO
That our clothes—which were drenched in sea water—continue to be fresh and clean, and in fact seem almost new rather than stained by the salt water.
ANTONIO
If but one of his pockets could speak, would it not sayhe lies?
ANTONIO
If just one of the pockets on his clothes could speak, wouldn’t it say that he’s a liar?
SEBASTIAN
Ay, or very falsely pocket up his report.
SEBASTIAN
Yes, or just try to hide and suppress the lie.
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.
GONZALO
I think our clothes are as fresh now as they were when we put them on in Africa to attend the marriage of the king’s beautiful daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis.
SEBASTIAN
'Twas a sweet marriage, and we prosper well in our return.
SEBASTIAN
The wedding was wonderful, and we’re doing just great on our journey back home.
ADRIAN
Tunis was never graced before with such a paragon to their queen.
ADRIAN
Tunis has never before had such a perfect beauty for a queen.
GONZALO
Not since widow Dido’s time.
GONZALO
Not since the time of the widow Dido.
ANTONIO
Widow! A pox o' that! How came that “widow” in? Widow Dido!
ANTONIO
Widow! To hell with that! Why is he calling her a widow? Widow Dido—ha!
SEBASTIAN
What if he had said “widower Aeneas” too? Good Lord, how you take it!
SEBASTIAN
Next thing you know, he’ll be saying “widower Aeneas.” Good Lord, how can he interpret the story in that way?
ADRIAN
“Widow Dido” said you? You make me study of that. She was of Carthage, not of Tunis.
ADRIAN
“Widow Dido,” did you say? I'd have to look into that. Dido was from Carthage, not Tunis.
GONZALO
This Tunis, sir, was Carthage.
GONZALO
Tunis used to be Carthage, sir.
ADRIAN
Carthage?
ADRIAN
Carthage?
GONZALO
I assure you, Carthage.
GONZALO
I promise you, it was Carthage.
SEBASTIAN
His word is more than the miraculous harp. He hath raised the wall and houses too.
SEBASTIAN
Gonzalo's word is like the legendary harp of Amphion, which, when played, caused the walls of Thebes to rise. Now Gonzalo—just by saying so—has created a whole new city.
ANTONIO
What impossible matter will he make easy next?
ANTONIO
What incredible thing will he do next as if it was nothing?
SEBASTIAN
I think he will carry this island home in his pocket and give it his son for an apple.
SEBASTIAN
I think he’ll carry this island home in his pocket and give it to his son as an apple.
ANTONIO
And sowing the kernels of it in the sea, bring forth more islands.
ANTONIO
And throw its seeds in the sea to make more islands grow.
GONZALO
Ay.
GONZALO
Yes, that's exactly what I would do.
ANTONIO
Why, in good time.
ANTONIO
Well, sure it is.
GONZALO
[to ALONSO] Sir, we were talking that our garments seemnow as fresh as when we were at Tunis at the marriage of your daughter, who is now queen.
GONZALO
[To ALONSO] Sir, we were discussing that our clothes seem just as clean as they did when we were in Tunis at the wedding of your daughter, who’s now queen.
ANTONIO
And the rarest that e'er came there.
ANTONIO
The most remarkable queen that's ever been there.
SEBASTIAN
Bate, I beseech you, widow Dido.
SEBASTIAN
Except for the widow Dido, if I may say so.
ANTONIO
Oh, widow Dido? Ay, widow Dido.
ANTONIO
Oh, the widow Dido? Of course, the widow Dido.
GONZALO
Is not, sir, my doublet as fresh as the first day I wore it? I mean, in a sort.
GONZALO
Sir, isn’t my jacket as clean as the first time I wore it? I mean, in a way.
ANTONIO
That “sort” was well fished for.
ANTONIO
He did a good job of sticking that "in a way" in there.
GONZALO
When I wore it at your daughter’s marriage?
GONZALO
When I wore it at your daughter’s wedding.
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?
ALONSO
You keep pushing these words into my ears that I don’t have any desire to hear. If only I had never sent my daughter to Tunis to be married! I lost my son because of it. And, as far as I'm concerned, I lost my daughter too, since she is now living so far from Italy that I'll never see her again. Oh, my dear son and heir of Naples and Milan, what strange fish has eaten your dead body?
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 swoll'n that met him. His bold head 'Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oared Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke To th' shore, that o'er his wave-worn basis bowed, As stooping to relieve him. I not doubt He came alive to land.
FRANCISCO
Sir, he may still live. I saw him swim over the waves and ride upon their backs. He treaded water, withstanding all their rage, and fought through even the biggest waves that came at him. He bravely kept his head above the rough waves. And with his powerful arms and strong strokes he swam toward the shore, which seemed almost to lean forward to help him from the water. I have no doubt that he got to the shore alive.
ALONSO
No, no, he’s gone.
ALONSO
No, no, he’s dead.
SEBASTIAN
Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss, That would not bless our Europe with your daughter, But rather loose her to an African, Where she at least is banished from your eye, Who hath cause to wet the grief on ’t.
SEBASTIAN
Sir, you can thank yourself for this great loss, because rather than give your daughter to a husband in Europe you instead threw her to some African. It's a good thing you'll never see her again, since then she won't be around to remind you of this awful thing you've done to her.
ALONSO
Prithee, peace.
ALONSO
Please, be quiet.
SEBASTIAN
You were kneeled to and importuned otherwise By all of us, and the fair soul herself Weighed between loathness and obedience, at Which end o' th' beam should bow. We have lost your son, I fear, forever. Milan and Naples have More widows in them of this business' making Than we bring men to comfort them. The fault’s your own.
SEBASTIAN
All of us kneeled down in front of you and begged you not to do this, and the beautiful girl herself was forced to choose whether to follow her own disgust at the marriage or her duty to obey you. Now we’ve lost your son forever too, I fear. This marriage and subsequent shipwreck has created more widows in Milan and Naples than we have survivors to bring home to comfort them. All of this is your fault.
ALONSO
So is the dearest o' th' loss.
ALONSO
The heaviest loss is mine as well.
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.
GONZALO
My lord Sebastian, despite the truth in your words, what you're saying is unkind and inappropriate at this time. You’re rubbing salt in his wounds when you should be bringing him bandages.
SEBASTIAN
Very well.
SEBASTIAN
All right.
ANTONIO
And most chirurgeonly.
ANTONIO
That Gonzalo is quite the doctor, isn't he?
GONZALO
[to ALONSO] It is foul weather in us all, good sir,When you are cloudy.
GONZALO
[To ALONSO] Noble sir, we all feel under the weather when you’re feeling gloomy.
SEBASTIAN
Foul weather?
SEBASTIAN
Under the weather?
ANTONIO
Very foul.
ANTONIO
Far under.
GONZALO
Had I plantation of this isle, my lord—
GONZALO
If I colonized this island, my lord—
ANTONIO
He’d sow ’t with nettle seed.
ANTONIO
He’d grow useless, stinging nettle plants all over it.
SEBASTIAN
Or docks, or mallows.
SEBASTIAN
Or weeds.
GONZALO
And were the king on ’t, what would I do?
GONZALO
And if I were the king of the colony, would you like to know what I’d do?
SEBASTIAN
'Scape being drunk for want of wine.
SEBASTIAN
He wouldn’t get drunk because there isn't any wine.
GONZALO
I' th' 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—
GONZALO
In my commonwealth I’d do everything in the opposite way from what's normal. I wouldn’t allow any business. There would be no judges. There would be no school or learning. No riches, poverty, or servants. None of that. No contracts, inheritance, privately owned land, farming, or vineyards. None of that. There’d be no metal-work, no grinding of corn, no wine-making, or making of olive oil. There'd be no work. Men would do nothing at all. Women too, except those things that are innocent and pure. There’d be no kingship—
SEBASTIAN
Yet he would be king on ’t.
SEBASTIAN
Though he'd be the king of this land with no kingship.
ANTONIO
The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the beginning.
ANTONIO
His colony is ending up a long way from where it began.
GONZALO
All things in common nature should produce Without sweat or endeavor. 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.
GONZALO
Nature would produce everything people needed, and all of it would be shared equally by all. There’d be no treason, crimes, swords, spears, knives, guns, or need for any other weapon. Without any human help, nature would grow bountiful harvests to feed my innocent people.
SEBASTIAN
No marrying ’mong his subjects?
SEBASTIAN
Would there be no marriage among those he ruled?
ANTONIO
None, man. All idle. Whores and knaves.
ANTONIO
None, my man. They'd do nothing. They’d all be whores and scoundrels.
GONZALO
I would with such perfection govern, sir,T' excel the Golden Age.
GONZALO
My leadership would be so perfect that my colony would be even better than the mythical ancient Golden Age.
SEBASTIAN
'Save his majesty!
SEBASTIAN
May God protect his Majesty!
ANTONIO
Long live Gonzalo!
ANTONIO
Long live Gonzalo!
GONZALO
[to ALONSO] And—do you mark me, sir?
GONZALO
[To ALONSO] And—are you listening to me, sir?
ALONSO
Prithee, no more. Thou dost talk nothing to me.
ALONSO
Please, no more. What you're saying to me is meaningless.
GONZALO
I do well believe your highness, and did it to ministeroccasion to these gentlemen, who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that they always use to laugh at nothing.
GONZALO
I agree with you completely, your Highness. I said those things to give these gentlemen a good time, since they have such strong lungs that they so often use to laugh at meaningless trivialities.
ANTONIO
'Twas you we laughed at.
ANTONIO
We were laughing at you.
GONZALO
Who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing to you. Soyou may continue and laugh at nothing still.
GONZALO
But in all of your silly little jokes, you see me as nothing. So go on, laugh at nothing.
ANTONIO
What a blow was there given!
ANTONIO
What an insult he just made!
SEBASTIAN
An it had not fallen flat-long.
SEBASTIAN
Too bad it fell so flat.
GONZALO
You are gentlemen of brave mettle. You would lift the moon out of her sphere if she would continue in it five weeks without changing.
GONZALO
You are courageous gentlemen. You’d give the moon a helpful push if it got stuck in the same spot of its orbit for five weeks.
ARIEL enters, invisible, playing solemn music.
SEBASTIAN
We would so, and then go a-batfowling.
SEBASTIAN
We certainly would, then we’d go hunting birds at night by luring them to us with a lantern and smacking them out of the sky with a stick.
ANTONIO
[to GONZALO] Nay, good my lord, be not angry.
ANTONIO
[To GONZALO] My good lord, please don’t be angry.
GONZALO
No, I warrant you. I will not adventure my discretion so weakly. Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy?
GONZALO
I promise you, I’m not. I wouldn't risk my reputation for self-control for such a tiny thing. Will you laugh me to sleep? For I’m feeling very tired.
ANTONIO
Go sleep, and hear us.
ANTONIO
Go to sleep, and we'll laugh.
Everyone sleeps except ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, and ANTONIO.
ALONSO
What, all so soon asleep? I wish mine eyesWould with themselves shut up my thoughts. I findThey are inclined to do so.
ALONSO
What, is everyone asleep so quickly? I wish my eyes would close and I could sleep, so that I could stop thinking. In fact, my eyes are starting to close.
SEBASTIAN
Please you, sir, Do not omit the heavy offer of it. It seldom visits sorrow. When it doth, It is a comforter.
SEBASTIAN
Please, sir, don't refuse the opportunity to sleep. Sleep rarely comes to people who are grieving. When it does come, it gives comfort.
ANTONIO
We two, my lord,Will guard your person while you take your restAnd watch your safety.
ANTONIO
The two of us, my lord, will guard you while you rest and make sure that you're safe.
ALONSO
Thank you. Wondrous heavy. [falls asleep]
ALONSO
Thank you. I’m extremely tired. [He falls asleep]
ARIEL exits.
SEBASTIAN
What a strange drowsiness possesses them!
SEBASTIAN
It's so strange how all of them suddenly got so tired!
ANTONIO
It is the quality o' th' climate.
ANTONIO
There's something in the climate here.
SEBASTIAN
WhyDoth it not then our eyelids sink? I find notMyself disposed to sleep.
SEBASTIAN
Then why aren’t our eyelids closing? I’m not feeling tired at all.
ANTONIO
Nor I. My spirits are nimble. They fell together all, as by consent. They dropped, as by a thunderstroke. What might, Worthy Sebastian, O, what might—? No more.— And yet methinks I see it in thy face, What thou shouldst be. Th' occasion speaks thee, and My strong imagination sees a crown Dropping upon thy head.
ANTONIO
Me neither. I’m full of energy. They all fell asleep together, as if they’d all agreed on it earlier. They fell asleep as if they’d all been struck by lightning. What might happen, noble Sebastian, what might happen if—? No, I shouldn't say any more. And yet, I think I can see in your face what you have the potential to be. Opportunity is knocking on your door, and my imagination sees a crown coming to rest on your head.
SEBASTIAN
What, art thou waking?
SEBASTIAN
What, are you awake or asleep?
ANTONIO
Do you not hear me speak?
ANTONIO
Don’t you hear me speaking?
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.
SEBASTIAN
I do, and it certainly sounds like the language of dreams, like you're talking in your sleep. What is it that you said? This is a very strange sleep. How can you be standing, speaking, and moving, with your eyes wide open, and yet be fast asleep?
ANTONIO
Noble Sebastian,Thou let’st thy fortune sleep—die, rather—wink’stWhiles thou art waking.
ANTONIO
Noble Sebastian, by not seizing this opportunity you’re letting this chance sleep—no, die—even while you are wide awake.
SEBASTIAN
Thou dost snore distinctly.There’s meaning in thy snores.
SEBASTIAN
You have a strange way of snoring. It sounds like you're speaking actual words.
ANTONIO
I am more serious than my custom. You Must be so too if heed me, which to do Trebles thee o'er.
ANTONIO
I'm more serious right now than I usually am. You should be too, if you listen to me. If you follow my advice you will become three times as powerful as you are now.
SEBASTIAN
Well, I am standing water.
SEBASTIAN
Like standing water, I'm not moving at all.
ANTONIO
I’ll teach you how to flow.
ANTONIO
I'll teach you how to move, to act.
SEBASTIAN
Do so. To ebbHereditary sloth instructs me.
SEBASTIAN
Do that. As a younger brother who cannot inherit the throne, I’m naturally lazy.
ANTONIO
Oh, 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.
ANTONIO
Oh, if you only knew how ambitious you truly are, even while you mock ambition! The more you make fun of it, the more obvious it is how much you care! Men who do nothing usually wind up at the bottom, controlled by their own fear and laziness.
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.
SEBASTIAN
Please, continue. There’s something in your face and eyes that indicates you're talking about something serious, and that—like giving birth—you're finding it hard to actually get it out.
ANTONIO
Thus, sir: Although this lord of weak remembrance—this, Who shall be of as little memory When he is earthed— 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 undrowned And he that sleeps here swims.
ANTONIO
Here it is, sir: [Points at GONZALO] Although this lord with the bad memory—and who won't be remembered by anyone when he’s dead and buried—almost persuaded the king (because his entire mind is focused only on persuading people) that the king's son is alive, it’s impossible that he didn't drown. Saying he survived is like saying that this man sleeping over here is actually swimming.
SEBASTIAN
I have no hopeThat he’s undrowned.
SEBASTIAN
I also hold no hope that he survived.
ANTONIO
Oh, 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 drowned?
ANTONIO
Oh, but from that “no hope” arise amazing hopes for you! No hope for Ferdinand's survival is, for you, so high a hope that not even ambition for greatness could imagine anything higher—or even entirely believe that this possibility exists. Do you agree with me that Ferdinand has drowned?
SEBASTIAN
He’s gone.
SEBASTIAN
He’s dead.
ANTONIO
Then, tell me,Who’s the next heir of Naples?
ANTONIO
Then, tell me, who is now the heir to the throne of Naples?
SEBASTIAN
Claribel.
SEBASTIAN
Claribel, Alonso's daughter.
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' th' moon’s too slow— till newborn chins Be rough and razorable; she that from whom We all were sea-swallowed, 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.
ANTONIO
Claribel, who is now Queen of Tunis, and who lives thirty miles farther than a lifetime's journey from Italy. She wouldn't even receive a letter from Italy (unless it could somehow be delivered by the light of the sun; the man in the moon's too slow to deliver it) in less than the time it takes a baby to grow old enough to shave. Claribel was the cause of our ship getting swallowed by the sea, though some of us survived—and our survival suggests that it is our destiny to perform an act that, in fact, reenacts the past.
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.
SEBASTIAN
What is this? What are you talking about? It's true that my brother's daughter is the Queen of Tunis as well as the heir to the throne of Naples, and that a great distance separates those two places.
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. Oh, that you bore The mind that I do, what a sleep were this For your advancement! Do you understand me?
ANTONIO
A distance whose every inch seems to scream, “How can Claribel ever follow us back to Naples? Stay in Tunis, and let Sebastian get his good fortune." Imagine that instead of these men sleeping here, they were dead. Well, they'd be just as badly off as they are now. There are many who can rule Naples just as well as this man who's sleeping. And there are lots of lords who can babble as much as Gonzalo. I could teach a crow to blabber such nonsense. Oh, I wish your thoughts were the same as mine—then you'd see how these sleeping men are an unparalleled opportunity for you. Do you understand what I'm saying?
SEBASTIAN
Methinks I do.
SEBASTIAN
I think I do.
ANTONIO
And how does your contentTender your own good fortune?
ANTONIO
And how do your feelings about what I've just said affect your chances at good fortune?
SEBASTIAN
I rememberYou did supplant your brother Prospero.
SEBASTIAN
I remember that you overthrew and replaced 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.
ANTONIO
True. And look how well that position suits me—far better than the one I had before. Back then, my brother’s servants were my equals. Now they work for me.
SEBASTIAN
But, for your conscience?
SEBASTIAN
But what about your guilty 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.
ANTONIO
Ah, yes. Where is my conscience? If a conscience were a blister on my heel, I'd put my slippers on. But I don't feel this "conscience" in my chest. Even if there were twenty guilty consciences standing between me and the dukedom of Milan, I'd combine them like candies and melt them away before they'd bother me. Here lies your sleeping brother, who'd be of no more value than the ground he's lying on if he were in fact what he now looks like—dead, that is. And I, with just three inches of this sword, could put him to rest forever; while you, doing the same, could give ancient Gonzalo a permanent sleep to ensure that he wouldn't stand against us. As for everyone else, they'll accept whatever we say just as easily as a cat accepts milk. They'll chime in agreement when we instruct them to, just like a clock telling time.
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.
SEBASTIAN
I'll use your experience as a model, my friend. Just as you got Milan, I’ll get Naples. Take out your sword. With one thrust of your sword, you will be free from having to pay tribute money to Naples ever again. And I, as King of Naples, will be your great friend.
ANTONIO
Draw together.And when I rear my hand, do you the like,To fall it on Gonzalo.
ANTONIO
We'll both draw our swords. When I raise my sword, you do the same, and bring it down to kill Gonzalo.
ANTONIO and SEBASTIAN take out their swords.
SEBASTIAN
O, but one word. [speaks quietly to ANTONIO]
SEBASTIAN
Oh, just one more thing. [He speaks quietly to ANTONIO]
ARIEL enters, invisible, playing music and singing.
ARIEL
[to GONZALO] My master through his art foresees the danger That you, his friend, are, 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!
ARIEL
[To GONZALO] With his magic, my master could see the danger that you, his friend, are in. He sent me to keep you all alive—or else his plans would die along with you.
[Singing in GONZALO’s ear]
While you lie here snoring,
Cold-blooded conspirators
Are about to seize their chance.
If you want to live,
Wake up and beware!
Wake up! Wake up!
ANTONIO
Then let us both be sudden.
ANTONIO
Now let’s do this quickly.
GONZALO
[waking and seeing them] Now, good angels preserve the king!
GONZALO
[Waking up and seeing them] Angels above protect the king!
ALONSO
[waking] Why, how now? Ho, awake!
ALONSO
[Waking up] Why, what’s happening? Hey, wake up!
Everyone wakes up.
Why are you drawn?Wherefore this ghastly looking?
GONZALO
What’s the matter?
GONZALO
What’s going on here?
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.
SEBASTIAN
While we stood here on guard while you were asleep, we just now heard a tremendous thundering that sounded like bulls, or lions. Isn't that what woke you? It sounded awful to me.
ALONSO
I heard nothing.
ALONSO
I didn’t hear anything.
ANTONIO
Oh, ’twas a din to fright a monster’s ear, To make an earthquake! Sure, it was the roar Of a whole herd of lions.
ANTONIO
Oh, it was loud enough to frighten a monster, or to cause an earthquake! Surely, it must have been the roar of an entire herd of lions.
ALONSO
Heard you this, Gonzalo?
ALONSO
Did you hear it, Gonzalo?
GONZALO
Upon mine honor, sir, I heard a humming, And that a strange one too, which did awake me. I shaked you, sir, and cried. As mine eyes opened, 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.
GONZALO
Sir, I swear that I did hear a strange humming sound, which woke me up. I shook you, sir, and cried out. When I opened my eyes, I saw their raised swords. There was a noise, that’s true. It would be best if we either set a constant guard here, or left this place entirely. Let’s take out our own swords too.
ALONSO
Lead off this ground, and let’s make further searchFor my poor son.
ALONSO
Lead us away from this place, and let's go search some more for my poor son.
GONZALO
Heavens keep him from these beasts!For he is, sure, i' th' island.
GONZALO
May God protect Ferdinand from those lions. Because I’m sure he’s on the island.
ALONSO
Lead away.
ALONSO
Lead on.
ARIEL
[aside] Prospero my lord shall know what I have done.So, King, go safely on to seek thy son.
ARIEL
[To himself] My lord Prospero will know what I’ve done. So, King, continue on in safety and search for your son.
They exit.
