TPTT The Tempest: ACT III
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
SCENE I. Before PROSPERO'S Cell.
SCENE II. Another part of the island.
SCENE III. Another part of the island.
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE I. Before PROSPERO'S Cell.
Enter FERDINAND, bearing a log
FERDINAND
      There be some sports are painful, and their labour
      Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness
      Are nobly undergone and most poor matters
      Point to rich ends. This my mean task
5     Would be as heavy to me as odious, but
      The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead
      And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is
      Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed,
      And he's composed of harshness. I must remove
10    Some thousands of these logs and pile them up,
      Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress
      Weeps when she sees me work, and says, such baseness
      Had never like executor. I forget:
      But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours,
15    Most busy lest, when I do it.
Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO at a distance, unseen
MIRANDA
      Alas, now, pray you,
      Work not so hard: I would the lightning had
      Burnt up those logs that you are enjoin'd to pile!
      Pray, set it down and rest you: when this burns,
20    'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father
      Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself;
      He's safe for these three hours.
FERDINAND
      O most dear mistress,
      The sun will set before I shall discharge
25    What I must strive to do.
MIRANDA
      If you'll sit down,
      I'll bear your logs the while: pray, give me that;
      I'll carry it to the pile.
FERDINAND
      No, precious creature;
30    I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,
      Than you should such dishonour undergo,
      While I sit lazy by.
MIRANDA
      It would become me
      As well as it does you: and I should do it
35    With much more ease; for my good will is to it,
      And yours it is against.
PROSPERO
      Poor worm, thou art infected!
      This visitation shows it.
MIRANDA
      You look wearily.
FERDINAND
40    No, noble mistress;'tis fresh morning with me
      When you are by at night. I do beseech you--
      Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers--
      What is your name?
MIRANDA
      Miranda.--O my father,
45    I have broke your hest to say so!
FERDINAND
      Admired Miranda!
      Indeed the top of admiration! worth
      What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady
      I have eyed with best regard and many a time
50    The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
      Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues
      Have I liked several women; never any
      With so fun soul, but some defect in her
      Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed
55    And put it to the foil: but you, O you,
      So perfect and so peerless, are created
      Of every creature's best!
MIRANDA
      I do not know
      One of my sex; no woman's face remember,
60    Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen
      More that I may call men than you, good friend,
      And my dear father: how features are abroad,
      I am skilless of; but, by my modesty,
      The jewel in my dower, I would not wish
65    Any companion in the world but you,
      Nor can imagination form a shape,
      Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle
      Something too wildly and my father's precepts
      I therein do forget.
FERDINAND
70    I am in my condition
      A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king;
      I would, not so!--and would no more endure
      This wooden slavery than to suffer
      The flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak:
75    The very instant that I saw you, did
      My heart fly to your service; there resides,
      To make me slave to it; and for your sake
      Am I this patient log--man.
MIRANDA
      Do you love me?
FERDINAND
80    O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound
      And crown what I profess with kind event
      If I speak true! if hollowly, invert
      What best is boded me to mischief! I
      Beyond all limit of what else i' the world
85    Do love, prize, honour you.
MIRANDA
      I am a fool
      To weep at what I am glad of.
PROSPERO
      Fair encounter
      Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace
90    On that which breeds between 'em!
FERDINAND
      Wherefore weep you?
MIRANDA
      At mine unworthiness that dare not offer
      What I desire to give, and much less take
      What I shall die to want. But this is trifling;
95    And all the more it seeks to hide itself,
      The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!
      And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!
      I am your wife, it you will marry me;
      If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow
100   You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,
      Whether you will or no.
FERDINAND
      My mistress, dearest;
      And I thus humble ever.
MIRANDA
      My husband, then?
FERDINAND
105   Ay, with a heart as willing
      As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.
MIRANDA
      And mine, with my heart in't; and now farewell
      Till half an hour hence.
FERDINAND
      A thousand thousand!
Exeunt FERDINAND and MIRANDA severally
PROSPERO
110   So glad of this as they I cannot be,
      Who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing
      At nothing can be more. I'll to my book,
      For yet ere supper-time must I perform
      Much business appertaining.
Exit
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