Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter Ferdinand bearing a log. FERDINAND
There be some sports are painful, and their labor
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 labors 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 labors, 15
Most busiest when I do it. | Near Prospero's cell, Ferdinand collects firewood, and philosophizes that it isn't so bad to do such terrible work, because he is refreshed by the thought of his young, virginal, sweet, would-be wife, Miranda. |
Enter Miranda; and Prospero at a distance, unobserved. MIRANDA Alas now, pray you,
Work not so hard. I would the lightning had
Burnt up those logs that you are enjoined 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. | Speak of the devil! Miranda enters, trailed by her overbearing dad, who eavesdrops from a safe distance. Miranda begs Ferdinand to take a break. She even offers to do his work for a while. |
FERDINAND No, precious creature, 30
I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,
Than you should such dishonor 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, aside Poor worm, thou art infected.
This visitation shows it. MIRANDA You look wearily. 40 FERDINAND
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? | Ferdinand refuses her offer, and takes the opportunity to ask a very important question, namely, what his promised wife's name is. Seriously. |
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
Th’ harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
Brought my too diligent ear. For several virtues
Have I liked several women, never any
With so full 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. | Moving briskly along, Miranda tells Ferdinand her name, which she promised her father she wouldn't do. The two briefly share their experiences: He's known lots of women (we're not sure if he's known all of them, or just has chatted them up a couple of times at the corner Starbucks), and still likes Miranda 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. 70 | Miranda has never seen another woman, and the only other man she's ever seen is her father. Still, she likes Ferdinand beyond all others and wouldn't wish for anyone else as a companion. |
FERDINAND 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? 80 FERDINAND
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’ th’ world, 85
Do love, prize, honor you. MIRANDA I am a fool
To weep at what I am glad of. | Ferdinand says his heart was Miranda's the moment he saw her, and when she asks if that means he loves her, he says absolutely, without a doubt, yes. Miranda's so happy she starts to cry. |
PROSPERO, aside 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 95
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,
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence.
I am your wife if you will marry me. 100
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. FERDINAND
My mistress, dearest, and I thus humble ever. MIRANDA
My husband, then? 105 FERDINAND Ay, with a heart as willing
As bondage e’er of freedom. Here’s my hand. MIRANDA, clasping his hand
And mine, with my heart in ’t. And now farewell
Till half an hour hence. FERDINAND A thousand thousand. 110 They exit. | Prospero likes what he's seeing, but Ferdinand is puzzled by Miranda's tears. She explains that she's a bit nervous to offer herself up as his wife because she's afraid she's not worthy of him. He is, after all, a prince—possibly even a king. Still, she says she'll be his wife if he'll have her, and if not, she'll still remain loyal to him for the rest of her life. Thankfully, Ferdinand jumps in and tells her he's psyched to get married, too. |
PROSPERO
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 suppertime must I perform
Much business appertaining. 115 He exits. | Prospero, watching all of this, rejoices, but says he has to get back to his magic book. He has a lot more to accomplish before dinner to make all his plans fall into place. |