The Tempest – Miranda

Act 1, Sc. 1: Miranda seats herself and Prospero looks out over the audience, as if viewing the tempest happening far out to sea. Act 1, Sc. 1: MIRANDA: If by your art, my dearest father, you have put the wild waters in this roar, allay them. O, I have suffered with those that I saw suffer.
Act 1, Sc. 1: PROSPERO: Tell your piteous heart there’s no harm done. I have done nothing but in care of thee, my daughter, who art ignorant of what thou art, nought knowing of whence I am. Act 1, Sc. 1: MIRANDA: More to know did never meddle with my thoughts.
Act 1, Sc. 1: PROSPERO: ‘Tis time I should inform thee farther. Pluck mymagic garment from me. Act 1, Sc. 1: MIRANDA: You have often begun to tell me what I am, but stopp’d.
Act 1, Sc. 1: PROSPERO: The hour’s now come. Obey and be attentive. Canstthou remember a time before we came unto this cell? Thou wast not out three years old. Act 1, Sc. 1: MIRANDA: (remembering) ‘Tis far off. Had I not four or fivewomen once that tended me?
Act 1, Sc. 1: PROSPERO: Thou hadst, and more, Miranda. Twelve year since,thy father was the Duke of Milan and thou his only heir. Act 1, Sc. 1: MIRANDA: O the heavens! What foul play had we, that we came from thence? Or blessed was’t we did?
Act 1, Sc. 1: PROSPERO: Both, both, my girl. By foul play, as thou say’st, were we heaved thence, but blessedly holp hither. Act 1, Sc. 1: MIRANDA: O, my heart bleeds. Please you, farther.
Act 1, Sc. 1: PROSPERO: My brother and thy uncle, call’d Antonio — he next thyself of all the world I loved. The government I cast upon my brother and to my state grew stranger, being transported and rapt in secret studies. Thy false uncle… (checking that she’s listening) Dost thou attend me? Act 1, Sc. 1: MIRANDA: Sir, most heedfully.
Act 1, Sc. 1: PROSPERO: I, thus neglecting worldly ends, in my false brother awaked an evil nature. Being thus lorded, he did believe he was indeed the duke. Hence– (checking again) Dost thou hear? Act 1, Sc. 1: MIRANDA: Your tale, sir, would cure deafness.
Act 1, Sc. 1: PROSPERO: Me, poor man, my library was dukedom largeenough: of temporal royalties he thinks me now incapable — confederates wi’ the King of Naples! Act 1, Sc. 1: MIRANDA: O the heavens!
Act 1, Sc. 1: PROSPERO: (to Miranda) Awake, dear heart, awake! Act 1, Sc. 1: MIRANDA: The strangeness of your story put heaviness in me.
Act 1, Sc. 1: FERDINAND: (upset) This is no mortal business, nor no sound that the earth owes. Act 1, Sc. 1: MIRANDA: (to Prospero) What is’t? A spirit? It carries a brave form.
Act 1, Sc. 1: PROSPERO: No, wench; it eats and sleeps and hath such senses as we have. This gallant which thou seest was in the wreck. Act 1, Sc. 1: MIRANDA: I might call him a thing divine, for nothing natural I ever saw so noble.
Act 1, Sc. 1: FERDINAND: Most sure, the goddess on whom these airs attend! O you wonder! Be you maid or no? Act 1, Sc. 1: MIRANDA: No wonder, sir, but certainly a maid.
Act 1, Sc. 1: FERDINAND: (sad) Myself am Naples, who with mine eyes beheld the king my father wreck’d. Act 1, Sc. 1: MIRANDA: Alack, for mercy!he, having seen but him and Caliban.MIRANDA: I have no ambition to see a goodlier man.
Enter MIRANDA. PROSPERO enters upstage at the cell entrance, unseen by the other two MIRANDA: Alas, now, pray you, work not so hard. My father is at study. 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. MIRANDA: If you’ll sit down, I’ll bear your logs the while.
FERDINAND: No, precious creature. I had rather break my back, than you should such dishonour undergo while I sit lazy by. I do beseech you– What is your name? MIRANDA: Miranda.
FERDINAND: Admired Miranda! For several virtues have I liked several women, 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, nor have I seen more that I may call men than you, good friend, and my dear father.
FERDINAND: Hear my soul speak: the very instant that I saw you, did my heart fly to your service. For your sake am I this patient log- man. MIRANDA: Do you love me?
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. I am your wife, if you will marry me
FERDINAND: My mistress, dearest; and I thus humble ever. MIRANDA: My husband, then?
Act 5, Sc. 1: ALONSO: (to Ferdinand) Arise, and say how thou camest here MIRANDA: (to Prospero) O, wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, that has such people in’t
July 24, 2019