The Tempest – Act 2 Scene 1

GONZALO

Beseech you, sir, be merry; you have cause,

I urge you, sir, be happy; you have reason,

So have we all, of joy; for our escape

As we all have, for happiness. Surviving

Is much beyond our loss. Our hint of woe

Is better than what we have lost. Our sadness

Is common; every day some sailor's wife,

Is common. Every day, some sailor’s wife,

The masters of some merchant and the merchant

The owners of a ship and all its produce,

Have just our theme of woe; but for the miracle,

Will suffer like us. But, miraculously –

I mean our preservation, few in millions

I mean that we survived – one in a million

Can speak like us: then wisely, good sir, weigh

Will live to tell the tale. And so, consider

Our sorrow with our comfort.

Our sadness with our fortune.

ALONSO

Prithee, peace.

Please, be quiet.

SEBASTIAN

He receives comfort like cold porridge.

He appreciates comforting words as much as cold porridge.

ANTONIO

The visitor will not give him o'er so.

The visitor will not give up on him.

SEBASTIAN

Look he's winding up the watch of his wit;

He’s thinking, like he’s winding up a watch;

by and by it will strike.

it’s going to strike soon.

GONZALO

Sir, –

Sir…

SEBASTIAN

One: tell.

Strike one: I told you so.

GONZALO

When every grief is entertained that's offered,

If we are sad when every grief occurs,

Comes to the entertainer –

The griever gets…

SEBASTIAN

A dollar.

A coin.

GONZALO

Dolour comes to him, indeed: you

Indeed, he gets some sorrow; you

have spoken truer than you purposed.

have spoken words more truthful than intended.

SEBASTIAN

You have taken it wiselier than I meant you should.

You’ve found it more profound than I intended.

GONZALO

Therefore, my lord, –

And so, my lord…

ANTONIO

Fie, what a spendthrift is he of his tongue!

Goodness, that man never stops talking!

ALONSO

I prithee, spare.

Please, shut up.

GONZALO

Well, I have done: but yet, –

Well, I’ve finished…but even so…

SEBASTIAN

He will be talking.

He’s always talking.

ANTONIO

Which, of he or Adrian, for a good

Which one of them, him or Adrian, for a decent

wager, first begins to crow?

bet, will start the crowing chitchat first?

SEBASTIAN

The old cock.

The old cockerel, Gonzalo.

ANTONIO

The cockerel.

The young rooster, Adrian.

SEBASTIAN

Done. The wager?

Done. The bet?

ANTONIO

A laughter.

Let’s do it for a laugh.

SEBASTIAN

A match!

A deal!

ADRIAN

Though this island seem to be desert, –

Although this island seems deserted…

SEBASTIAN

Ha, ha, ha! So, you're paid.

Ha, ha, ha! So, you’ve won the bet.

ADRIAN

Uninhabitable and almost inaccessible, –

…Uninhabitable and almost inaccessible…

SEBASTIAN

Yet, –

But…

ADRIAN

Yet, –

…But…

ANTONIO

He could not miss't.

He couldn’t not say ‘but’.

ADRIAN

It must needs be of subtle, tender and delicate

…It has to have a gentle, temperate

temperance.

climate.

ANTONIO

Temperance was a delicate wench.

That Temperance was a lovely girl.

SEBASTIAN

Ay, and a subtle; as he most learnedly delivered.

And good in bed, as he explained to us.

ADRIAN

The air breathes upon us here most sweetly.

The gentle wind that blows on us is lovely.

SEBASTIAN

As if it had lungs and rotten ones.

As if it had lungs, although they were rotten.

ANTONIO

Or as 'twere perfumed by a fen.

Or like it smelled of a boggy marsh.

GONZALO

Here is everything advantageous to life.

There’s everything here that is advantageous to life.

ANTONIO

True; save means to live.

That’s true; except for anything here to help us live.

SEBASTIAN

Of that there's none, or little.

There’s none of that here, or very little.

GONZALO

How lush and lusty the grass looks! How green!

How fresh and healthy the grass looks! It’s so green!

ANTONIO

The ground indeed is tawny.

The ground is actually brown.

SEBASTIAN

With an eye of green in't.

With a hint of green in it.

ANTONIO

He misses not much.

He doesn’t miss a trick.

SEBASTIAN

No; he doth but mistake the truth totally.

No, but he just misunderstands reality completely.

GONZALO

But the rarity of it is, – which is indeed almost

But the implausibility of it is – which is actually almost

beyond credit, –

unbelievable – …

SEBASTIAN

As many vouched rarities are.

As most implausible things are.

GONZALO

That our garments, being, as they were, drenched in

…that our clothes, seeing as they were soaked in

the sea, hold notwithstanding their freshness and

the sea, are not only fresh and

glosses, being rather new-dyed than stained with

clean, but appear new rather than stained by

salt water.

saltwater.

ANTONIO

If but one of his pockets could speak, would it not

If at least one of his pockets could speak, wouldn’t it

say he lies?

say that he’s lying?

SEBASTIAN

Ay, or very falsely pocket up his report.

Yes, or try to hide the lie in its pocket.

GONZALO

Methinks our garments are now as fresh as when we

I think our clothes are as fresh now as when we

put them on first in Afric, at the marriage of

first put them on in Africa, at the marriage of

the king's fair daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis.

the king’s beautiful daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis.

SEBASTIAN

'Twas a sweet marriage, and we prosper well in our return.

It was a sweet wedding, and our journey home was going well.

ADRIAN

Tunis was never graced before with such a paragon to

Tunis has never before had such a beautiful person for

their queen.

their queen.

GONZALO

Not since widow Dido's time.

Not since the time of widow Dido.

ANTONIO

Widow! O pox o' that! How came that widow in?

Widow! Oh, give over! How come she’s a widow?

Widow Dido!

Widow Dido!

SEBASTIAN

What if he had said 'widower Aeneas' too? Good Lord,

Next thing he’ll be saying ‘widower Aeneas’. Good gracious,

how you take it!

how could you interpret the story that way!

ADRIAN

'Widow Dido' said you? You make me study of that:

‘Widow Dido’, you said? You’re making me think about that:

she was of Carthage, not of Tunis.

she was from Carthage, not Tunis.

GONZALO

This Tunis, sir, was Carthage.

Tunis and Carthage are the same place.

ADRIAN

Carthage?

Carthage is Tunis?

GONZALO

I assure you, Carthage.

I assure you, Carthage is Tunis.

SEBASTIAN

His word is more than the miraculous harp; he hath

His words are like the magic harp of Amphion; it built a city,

raised the wall and houses too.

like he’s just done with Carthage.

ANTONIO

What impossible matter will he make easy next?

What impossible task will he do next?

SEBASTIAN

I think he will carry this island home in his pocket

I think he’ll put this island in his pocket and carry it home,

and give it his son for an apple.

giving it to his son like he might give him an apple.

ANTONIO

And, sowing the kernels of it in the sea, bring

And by throwing bits of the island in the sea, he’ll

forth more islands.

create more islands.

GONZALO

Ay.

Yes indeed.

ANTONIO

Why, in good time.

He sure will.

GONZALO

Sir, we were talking that our garments seem now

Sir, we were talking about how our clothes now seem

as fresh as when we were at Tunis at the marriage

as fresh as when we were in Tunis at the wedding

of your daughter, who is now queen.

of your daughter, who is now queen.

ANTONIO

And the rarest that e'er came there.

And that she was the most beautiful queen they ever had.

SEBASTIAN

Bate, I beseech you, widow Dido.

Except, I assure you, widow Dido.

ANTONIO

O, widow Dido! Ay, widow Dido.

Oh, widow Dido! Yes, except widow Dido.

GONZALO

Is not, sir, my doublet as fresh as the first day I

Sir, is my jacket not as fresh as the first day I

wore it? I mean, in a sort.

wore it? I mean, in a way.

ANTONIO

That sort was well fished for.

In a way it’s been fished out of the sea.

GONZALO

When I wore it at your daughter's marriage?

You know, when I wore it at your daughter’s wedding?

ALONSO

You cram these words into mine ears against

You’re forcing me to hear these words although

The stomach of my sense. Would I had never

I’ve no desire to hear them. I should never

Married my daughter there! For, coming thence,

Have had my daughter wed there! For, returning,

My son is lost and, in my rate, she too,

I’ve lost my son, and sort of lost my daughter,

Who is so far from Italy removed

For she is now so far from Italy

I ne'er again shall see her. O thou mine heir

I won’t see her again. Oh, son and heir

Of Naples and of Milan, what strange fish

Of Naples and Milan, what weird fish

Hath made his meal on thee?

Has eaten you?

FRANCISCO

Sir, he may live:

He may still be alive:

I saw him beat the surges under him,

I saw him fight the currents under him,

And ride upon their backs; he trod the water,

And surf upon the waves; then he trod water,

Whose enmity he flung aside, and breasted

Discarded angry seas, and swam above

The surge most swoln that met him; his bold head

The rolling swell that hit him; his strong head

'Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oared

He kept above the violent waves, and paddled

Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke

Himself using his arms with powerful strokes

To the shore, that o'er his wave-worn basis bowed,

That took him to the shore, where waves were breaking

As stooping to relieve him: I not doubt

To help him out. I really have no doubt

He came alive to land.

He got to land alive.

ALONSO

No, no, he's gone.

No, no, he died.

SEBASTIAN

Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss,

It’s your fault that this tragedy occurred,

That would not bless our Europe with your daughter,

Holding your daughter from a European,

But rather lose her to an African;

Wedding her to an African instead;

Where she at least is banished from your eye,

At least you cannot see her anymore,

Who hath cause to wet the grief on't.

Because the grief would make you cry.

ALONSO

Prithee, peace.

Be quiet.

SEBASTIAN

You were kneeled to and importuned otherwise

We begged and pleaded that you change your mind,

By all of us, and the fair soul herself

We all did, and the lovely girl herself

Weighed between loathness and obedience, at

Was torn between aversion and obedience,

Which end o' the beam should bow. We have lost your son,

Unsure of what to do. We’ve lost your son now,

I fear, for ever: Milan and Naples have

I fear, for ever. Milan and Naples have

More widows in them of this business' making

More widows from this marriage and this shipwreck

Than we bring men to comfort them:

Than we can bring survivors home to help them.

The fault's your own.

And that’s your fault.

ALONSO

So is the dear'st o' the loss.

And so is all the loss.

GONZALO

My lord Sebastian,

My lord Sebastian,

The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness

The truth you tell is lacking subtlety

And time to speak it in: you rub the sore,

And now is not the time: you rub the sore

When you should bring the plaster.

When you should bring a plaster.

SEBASTIAN

Very well.

Alright then.

ANTONIO

And most chirurgeonly.

And said just like a surgeon.

GONZALO

It is foul weather in us all, good sir,

It makes us all feel sad, like awful weather,

When you are cloudy.

When you are gloomy.

SEBASTIAN

Foul weather?

Awful weather?

ANTONIO

Very foul.

Awful.

GONZALO

Had I plantation of this isle, my lord, –

If I had a plantation on this island…

ANTONIO

He'ld sow't with nettle-seed.

He’d cover it with nettles.

SEBASTIAN

Or docks, or mallows.

Weeds and brambles.

GONZALO

And were the king on't, what would I do?

And were I king of it, what would I do?

SEBASTIAN

'Scape being drunk for want of wine.

You’d not get drunk for there’s no wine.

GONZALO

I' the commonwealth I would by contraries

I’d run my commonwealth quite opposite

Execute all things; for no kind of traffic

To every other place: no form of commerce

Would I admit; no name of magistrate;

Would I allow; there’d be no law or judges;

Letters should not be known; riches, poverty,

There’d be no books; no riches, poverty

And use of service, none; contract, succession,

Or servants; contracts, nor inheritance,

Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none;

No boundaries, rights to land, no farms nor vineyards;

No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil;

No metal work, grain-grinding, wine, nor oil;

No occupation; all men idle, all;

No one would work; all men would just be idle;

And women too, but innocent and pure;

All women too, except they’d all be virgins;

No sovereignty; –

There’d be no king…

SEBASTIAN

Yet he would be king on't.

Except he would be king.

ANTONIO

The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the

His commonwealth has soon forgotten how

beginning.

it got started.

GONZALO

All things in common nature should produce

Our Mother Nature will produce the produce

Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony,

Without us working for it; treason, crime,

Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine,

Swords, spears, knives, guns or any kind of weapon

Would I not have; but nature should bring forth,

I’d not allow; but nature will produce,

Of its own kind, all foison, all abundance,

All by itself, a rich and bumper harvest,

To feed my innocent people.

To feed my innocent people.

SEBASTIAN

No marrying 'mong his subjects?

Can anyone get married?

ANTONIO

None, man; all idle: whores and knaves.

None of them can, man; they’re all lazy whores and rascals.

GONZALO

I would with such perfection govern, sir,

I’d govern here with such perfection, sir,

To excel the golden age.

It would exceed the golden age.

SEBASTIAN

God save his majesty!

God save the king!

ANTONIO

Long live Gonzalo!

Long live Gonzalo!

GONZALO

And, – do you mark me, sir?

And…are you listening to me, sir?

ALONSO

Prithee, no more: thou dost talk nothing to me.

Oh please, be quiet: you’re saying nothing of value.

GONZALO

I do well believe your highness; and

I agree with your highness; and I only

did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen,

did it to entertain these gentlemen,

who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that

because they have such effective lungs that

they always use to laugh at nothing.

they always laugh at nothing.

ANTONIO

'Twas you we laughed at.

It was you we laughed at.

GONZALO

Who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing

And in your silly jokes, I’m nothing

to you: so you may continue and laugh at

to you: so you can carry on laughing at

nothing still.

nothing if you like.

ANTONIO

What a blow was there given!

He got you good and proper there!

SEBASTIAN

An it had not fallen flat-long.

If only it had not fallen so flat.

GONZALO

You are gentlemen of brave metal; you would lift

You gentlemen are brave: you’d push

the moon out of her sphere, if she would continue

the moon out of her orbit if it was held

in it five weeks without changing.

for five weeks in the same spot without moving.

SEBASTIAN

We would so, and then go a bat-fowling.

We would, then we’d go bird-hunting at night with a lantern.

ANTONIO

Nay, good my lord, be not angry.

Please, my good lord, do not be angry.

GONZALO

No, I warrant you; I will not adventure

No, I assure you I’m not; I will not risk

my discretion so weakly. Will you laugh

my reputation for discretion so easily. Will you laugh

me asleep, for I am very heavy?

me to sleep, for I am very tired?

ANTONIO

Go sleep, and hear us.

Go to sleep, and you’ll hear us laugh.

ALONSO

What, all so soon asleep! I wish mine eyes

How come they’ve all dozed off so quickly! I wish

Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts: I find

My eyes would shut and stop me thinking: I find

They are inclined to do so.

They want to close now.

SEBASTIAN

Please you, sir,

Go ahead then, sir,

Do not omit the heavy offer of it:

And don’t refuse a chance to get some sleep.

It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth,

For those who grieve are rarely sleepy, but when

It is a comforter.

They do, it’s comforting.

ANTONIO

We two, my lord,

The two of us, sir,

Will guard your person while you take your rest,

Will guard you as you take your restful sleep,

And watch your safety.

And keep you safe.

ALONSO

Thank you. Wondrous heavy.

Well, thank you. Boy, I’m tired.

SEBASTIAN

What a strange drowsiness possesses them!

How strange they all fell drowsy at the same time!

ANTONIO

It is the quality o' the climate.

The weather is to blame for that.

SEBASTIAN

Why

But why

Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find not

Don’t we have drowsy eyelids? I do not feel

Myself disposed to sleep.

As though I want to fall asleep.

ANTONIO

Nor I; my spirits are nimble.

Nor me; I’m feeling spritely.

They fell together all, as by consent;

They fell asleep together, like they’d planned it;

They dropped, as by a thunder-stroke. What might,

They slept like lightning struck them. Why might that be,

Worthy Sebastian? O, what might? – No more: –

Sebastian? Oh, why might that be? Move on:

And yet me thinks I see it in thy face,

But now I think I see it in your face

What thou shouldst be: the occasion speaks thee, and

Who you’re destined to be. The moment calls you,

My strong imagination sees a crown

And in my mind, I see you with a crown

Dropping upon thy head.

Upon your head.

SEBASTIAN

What, art thou waking?

Are you awake or sleeping?

ANTONIO

Do you not hear me speak?

Do you not hear me speak?

SEBASTIAN

I do; and surely

I do; and I’m sure

It is a sleepy language and thou speak'st

You don’t make any sense, and you are speaking

Out of thy sleep. What is it thou didst say?

Whilst you’re asleep. What is it that you’re saying?

This is a strange repose, to be asleep

This is a weird rest, to be asleep

With eyes wide open; standing, speaking, moving,

With eyes wide open; standing, speaking, moving,

And yet so fast asleep.

And yet you’re fast asleep.

ANTONIO

Noble Sebastian,

Sebastian,

Thou let'st thy fortune sleep – die, rather; wink'st

You’re letting your good fortune sleep, or die,

Whiles thou art waking.

Whilst you’re awake.

SEBASTIAN

Thou dost snore distinctly;

Your snores have clarity,

There's meaning in thy snores.

Like there’s a meaning in your snoring.

ANTONIO

I am more serious than my custom: you

I’m being far more serious than usual,

Must be so too, if heed me; which to do

And so should you, and listen to me, by which

Trebles thee o'er.

Your power will treble.

SEBASTIAN

Well, I am standing water.

I’m still, much like a slack tide.

ANTONIO

I'll teach you how to flow.

I’ll teach you how to rise.

SEBASTIAN

Do so: to ebb

Do that: for falling

Hereditary sloth instructs me.

And laziness are my genetic traits.

ANTONIO

O,

Oh,

If you but knew how you the purpose cherish

If you just realised you are ambitious,

Whiles thus you mock it! How, in stripping it,

Although you mock ambition! Scorning it,

You more invest it! Ebbing men, indeed,

You make ambition grow! For falling men

Most often do so near the bottom run

Will end up at the bottom usually

By their own fear or sloth.

Through fear and laziness.

SEBASTIAN

Prithee, say on:

OK, speak on:

The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim

The glint within your eye and face suggest

A matter from thee, and a birth indeed

It’s something serious, like giving birth,

Which throes thee much to yield.

Which hurts to speak about.

ANTONIO

Thus, sir:

Well, it is this, sir:

Although this lord of weak remembrance, this,

Although this lord has awful memory,

Who shall be of as little memory

And no one will remember him at all

When he is earthed, hath here almost persuade, –

When he is dead, he almost did persuade –

For he's a spirit of persuasion, only

For he’s persuasive, all he ever does is

Professes to persuade, – the king his son's alive,

Persuade – the king his son was still alive,

'Tis as impossible that he's undrowned

Although it’s as unlikely he’s not drowned as

And he that sleeps here swims.

This sleeping man is swimming.

SEBASTIAN

I have no hope

I’ve no hope

That he's undrowned.

He hasn’t drowned.

ANTONIO

O, out of that 'no hope'

Well, out of that ‘no hope’

What great hope have you! No hope that way is

You have a massive hope! No hope he’s lived

Another way so high a hope that even

Has made a hope so monumental even

Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond,

Ambition couldn’t dream of something greater,

But doubt discovery there. Will you grant with me

Or even think it possible. You’re sure

That Ferdinand is drowned?

That Ferdinand has drowned?

SEBASTIAN

He's gone.

He’s drowned.

ANTONIO

Then, tell me,

Then, tell me,

Who's the next heir of Naples?

Who’s the next heir of Naples?

SEBASTIAN

Claribel.

Claribel.

ANTONIO

She that is queen of Tunis; she that dwells

That’s her, the queen of Tunis; her that lives

Ten leagues beyond man's life; she that from Naples

More than a lifetime’s walk away; from Naples

Can have no note, unless the sun were post –

She can’t get mail, (unless the sun were postman;

The man i' the moon's too slow – till new-born chins

The man in the moon’s too slow) until a baby

Be rough and razorable; she that – from whom?

Is old enough to grow a beard; and for her

We all were sea-swallowed, though some cast again,

We ended in the sea, though some survived,

And by that destiny to perform an act

And as we lived, our destiny compels us

Whereof what's past is prologue, what to come

To make this the beginning, and the future

In yours and my discharge.

Is up to us to make.

SEBASTIAN

What stuff is this! How say you?

What is this nonsense! What are you suggesting?

'Tis true, my brother's daughter's queen of Tunis;

It’s true, my brother’s daughter’s queen of Tunis;

So is she heir of Naples; 'twixt which regions

And she’s the heir of Naples; and the distance

There is some space.

Between the two is vast.

ANTONIO

A space whose every cubit

So much that each foot

Seems to cry out, 'How shall that Claribel

Appears to shout, ‘How can that Claribel

Measure us back to Naples? Keep in Tunis,

Retrace us back to Naples? Stay in Tunis,

And let Sebastian wake.' Say, this were death

And let Sebastian prosper.’ Say that death

That now hath seized them; why, they were no worse

Had killed these men; well, then they’re no worse off

Than now they are. There be that can rule Naples

Than they are now. There’s men that can rule Naples

As well as he that sleeps; lords that can prate

As well as him who’s sleeping there; lords chatter

As amply and unnecessarily

As loudly and unnecessarily

As this Gonzalo; I myself could make

As does Gonzalo; I myself could teach

A chough of as deep chat. O, that you bore

A crow to chat as much. If you could only

The mind that I do! What a sleep were this

Think like I’m thinking! For their sleeping offers

For your advancement! Do you understand me?

Your chance to get ahead! Now, do you get me?

SEBASTIAN

Methinks I do.

I think I do.

ANTONIO

And how does your content

And what is it you think

Tender your own good fortune?

About your own good fortune?

SEBASTIAN

I remember

I remember

You did supplant your brother Prospero.

You overthrew your brother Prospero.

ANTONIO

True:

True:

And look how well my garments sit upon me;

And look how fine my clothes look on me now;

Much feater than before: my brother's servants

Much better than before. My brother’s servants

Were then my fellows; now they are my men.

Were once my equals; now they work for me.

SEBASTIAN

But, for your conscience?

But don’t you have a guilty conscience?

ANTONIO

Ay, sir; where lies that? If 'twere a kibe,

I do; where is it? If it were a chilblain,

'Twould put me to my slipper: but I feel not

I’d put my slippers on; but I don’t feel

This deity in my bosom: twenty consciences,

This conscience in my heart; twenty consciences

That stand 'twixt me and Milan, candied be they

Between me and the dukedom of Milan

And melt ere they molest! Here lies your brother,

Could melt before they stop me! Here’s your brother,

No better than the earth he lies upon,

Who’s worth no more than earth he lies upon,

If he were that which now he's like, that's dead;

If he were like he seems now, only dead;

Whom I, with this obedient steel, three inches of it,

Whom I – with just three inches of my sword, –

Can lay to bed for ever; whiles you, doing thus,

Can put to bed forever; similarly,

To the perpetual wink for aye might put

You do the same to close the eyes forever

This ancient morsel, this Sir Prudence, who

Of this old man, Gonzalo, who we can’t let

Should not upbraid our course. For all the rest,

Get in our way. And everybody else will

They'll take suggestion as a cat laps milk;

Do as we say, like cats that lap up milk;

They'll tell the clock to any business that

They’ll set the clock to any time we tell them

We say befits the hour.

If we say it’s the truth.

SEBASTIAN

Thy case, dear friend,

What you have done, friend,

Shall be my precedent; as thou got'st Milan,

Will be my precedent; as you won Milan,

I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke

I’ll conquer Naples. Draw your sword: one stab

Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest;

Will free you from subservience to Naples;

And I the king shall love thee.

And I as king will love you.

ANTONIO

Draw together;

Draw together;

And when I rear my hand, do you the like,

And when I lift my hand up, do the same,

To fall it on Gonzalo.

And stab Gonzalo.

SEBASTIAN

O, but one word.

Hold on; one more word.

ARIEL

My master through his art foresees the danger

My master’s magic has foreseen this danger

That you, his friend, are in; and sends me forth –

That you, his friend, are in; and sent me here –

For else his project dies – to keep them living.

Or else his plan collapses – so that you live.

[Sings in GONZALO's ear]

While you here do snoring lie,

While you’re lying snoring here,

Open-eyed conspiracy

An evil plan did appear,

His time doth take.

About to start.

If of life you keep a care,

If about your life you care,

Shake off slumber, and beware:

Shake off slumber, and beware:

Awake, awake!

So, sleep depart!

ANTONIO

Then let us both be sudden.

Let’s both act rapidly then.

GONZALO

Now, good angels

Now, good angels,

Preserve the king.

Protect the king!

ALONSO

Why, how now? Ho, awake! Why are you drawn?

What’s going on? Wake up! What’s with the swords?

Wherefore this ghastly looking?

Why do you look so awful?

GONZALO

What's the matter?

What’s the matter?

SEBASTIAN

Whiles we stood here securing your repose,

Whilst we stood here protecting you all sleeping,

Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing

Just now, we heard a deep and booming roar

Like bulls, or rather lions: did't not wake you?

Like bulls, or rather lions. You slept through that?

It struck mine ear most terribly.

The noise was terrifying.

ALONSO

I heard nothing.

I heard nothing.

ANTONIO

O, 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear,

It was a noise to terrify a monster,

To make an earthquake! Sure, it was the roar

To cause an earthquake! Sure, it was the roar

Of a whole herd of lions.

Of a whole pack of lions.

ALONSO

Heard you this, Gonzalo?

You heard it, Gonzalo?

GONZALO

Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming,

To tell the truth, I heard a humming sound,

And that a strange one too, which did awake me:

It was a strange sound too, and woke me up.

I shaked you, sir, and cried: as mine eyes opened,

I shook you, sir, and yelled. As my eyes opened,

I saw their weapons drawn: there was a noise,

I saw they’d drawn their swords. There was a noise,

That's verily. 'Tis best we stand upon our guard,

I’m sure of that. It’s best we’re on our guard,

Or that we quit this place; let's draw our weapons.

Or we get out of here; let’s draw our weapons.

ALONSO

Lead off this ground; and let's make further search

We’ll leave this place, and recommence our search

For my poor son.

For my poor son.

GONZALO

Heavens keep him from these beasts!

God save him from the beasts!

For he is, sure, i' the island.

I’m sure he’s on the island.

ALONSO

Lead away.

Lead the way.

ARIEL

Prospero my lord shall know what I have done:

Prospero, my lord, shall know what I have done:

So, king, go safely on to seek thy son.

So, king, go safely on to seek your son.