THE TEMPEST 3.1

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

Would be as heavy to me as odious, but 5

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

Some thousands of these logs and pile them up, 10

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,

Most busy lest, when I do it. 15

[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,

'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father 20

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

What I must strive to do. 25

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;

I had rather crack my sinews, break my back, 30

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

With much more ease; for my good will is to it, 35

And yours it is against.

PROSPERO Poor worm, thou art infected!

This visitation shows it.

MIRANDA You look wearily.

FERDINAND No, noble mistress;'tis fresh morning with me 40

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,

I have broke your hest to say so!

FERDINAND Admired Miranda! 45

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

The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage

Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues 50

Have I liked several women; never any

With so fun soul, but some defect in her

Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed

And put it to the foil: but you, O you,

So perfect and so peerless, are created 55

Of every creature's best!

MIRANDA I do not know

One of my sex; no woman's face remember,

Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen

More that I may call men than you, good friend, 60

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

Any companion in the world but you,

Nor can imagination form a shape, 65

Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle

Something too wildly and my father's precepts

I therein do forget.

FERDINAND I am in my condition

A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king; 70

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:

The very instant that I saw you, did

My heart fly to your service; there resides, 75

To make me slave to it; and for your sake

Am I this patient log--man.

MIRANDA Do you love me?

FERDINAND O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound

And crown what I profess with kind event 80

If I speak true! if hollowly, invert

What best is boded me to mischief! I

Beyond all limit of what else i' the world

Do love, prize, honour you.

MIRANDA I am a fool 85

To weep at what I am glad of.

PROSPERO Fair encounter

Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace

On that which breeds between 'em!

FERDINAND Wherefore weep you? 90

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;

And all the more it seeks to hide itself,

The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning! 95

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

You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,

Whether you will or no. 100

FERDINAND My mistress, dearest;

And I thus humble ever.

MIRANDA My husband, then?

FERDINAND Ay, with a heart as willing

As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand. 105

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 So glad of this as they I cannot be,

Who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing 110

At nothing can be more. I'll to my book,

For yet ere supper-time must I perform

Much business appertaining.

[Exit]

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
	Would be as heavy to me as odious, but	5
	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
	Some thousands of these logs and pile them up,	10
	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,
	Most busy lest, when I do it.	15
	[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,
	'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father	20
	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
	What I must strive to do.	25

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;
	I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,	30
	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
	With much more ease; for my good will is to it,	35
	And yours it is against.

PROSPERO		Poor worm, thou art infected!
		This visitation shows it.

FERDINAND	No, noble mistress;'tis fresh morning with me	40
	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,
		I have broke your hest to say so!

FERDINAND	Admired Miranda!	45
	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
	The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
	Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues	50
	Have I liked several women; never any
	With so fun soul, but some defect in her
	Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed
	And put it to the foil: but you, O you,
	So perfect and so peerless, are created	55
	Of every creature's best!

MIRANDA	I do not know
	One of my sex; no woman's face remember,
	Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen
	More that I may call men than you, good friend,	60
	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
	Any companion in the world but you,
	Nor can imagination form a shape,	65
	Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle
	Something too wildly and my father's precepts
	I therein do forget.

FERDINAND	I am in my condition
	A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king;	70
	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:
	The very instant that I saw you, did
	My heart fly to your service; there resides,	75
	To make me slave to it; and for your sake
	Am I this patient log--man.

FERDINAND	O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound
	And crown what I profess with kind event	80
	If I speak true! if hollowly, invert
	What best is boded me to mischief! I
	Beyond all limit of what else i' the world
	Do love, prize, honour you.

PROSPERO		Fair encounter
		Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace
		On that which breeds between 'em!

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;
	And all the more it seeks to hide itself,
	The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!	95
	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
	You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,
	Whether you will or no.	100

FERDINAND		Ay, with a heart as willing
		As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.	105

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	So glad of this as they I cannot be,
	Who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing	110
	At nothing can be more. I'll to my book,
	For yet ere supper-time must I perform
	Much business appertaining.
	[Exit]