Act 2, Scene 1

Original Text

*Another part of the island. Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Adrian, Francisco, and others.* GONZALO. Beseech you, sir, be merry; you have cause, So have we all, of joy; for our escape Is much beyond our loss. Our hint of woe Is common; every day, some sailor's wife, The masters of some merchant, and the merchant, Have just our theme of woe; but for the miracle, I mean our preservation, few in millions Can speak like us: then wisely, good sir, weigh Our sorrow with our comfort. ALONSO. Prithee, peace.

Modern English

*Another part of the island. King Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Adrian, Francisco, and others enter.* GONZALO. Please, your majesty, try to be cheerful. You have reason -- we all do -- to be glad, because our survival far outweighs our losses. Our kind of grief is common enough. Every day some sailor's wife or some merchant's business partner has the same cause to mourn. But the miracle -- I mean our being alive at all -- is something few among millions can claim. So please, sir, wisely weigh our sorrow against our good fortune. ALONSO. Please, just be quiet.

Original Text

SEBASTIAN. He receives comfort like cold porridge. ANTONIO. The visitor will not give him o'er so. SEBASTIAN. Look, he's winding up the watch of his wit; by and by it will strike.

Modern English

SEBASTIAN. He takes comfort about as well as cold porridge. ANTONIO. The do-gooder won't leave him alone. SEBASTIAN. Look, he's winding up his wit like a clock -- any minute now it'll strike.

Original Text

GONZALO. Had I plantation of this isle, my lord,-- ANTONIO. He'ld sow't with nettle-seed. SEBASTIAN. Or docks, or mallows. GONZALO. And were the king on't, what would I do? SEBASTIAN. 'Scape being drunk for want of wine. GONZALO. I' the commonwealth I would by contraries Execute all things; for no kind of traffic Would I admit; no name of magistrate; Letters should not be known; riches, poverty, And use of service, none; contract, succession, Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none; No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil; No occupation; all men idle, all; And women too, but innocent and pure; No sovereignty;-- SEBASTIAN. Yet he would be king on't. ANTONIO. The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the beginning.

Modern English

GONZALO. If I were in charge of colonizing this island, my lord -- ANTONIO. He'd plant it with nettles. SEBASTIAN. Or weeds. Or swamp grass. GONZALO. And if I were king of it, what would I do? SEBASTIAN. Avoid getting drunk, since there's no wine. GONZALO. In my ideal society, I'd do everything the opposite way. I'd allow no trade of any kind. No judges or officials. No education. No wealth and no poverty. No servants. No contracts, no inheritance, no property lines, no farming, no vineyards. No use of metal, grain, wine, or oil. No jobs at all -- everyone idle, and the women too, but innocent and pure. No government -- SEBASTIAN. And yet he'd be king of the place. ANTONIO. The end of his ideal society forgets the beginning.

Original Text

*Enter Ariel (invisible) playing solemn music. All sleep except Alonso, Sebastian, and Antonio.* ANTONIO. What a strange drowsiness possesses them! SEBASTIAN. Why Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find not Myself disposed to sleep. ANTONIO. Nor I; my spirits are nimble. They fell together all, as by consent; They dropp'd, as by a thunder-stroke. What might, Worthy Sebastian?--O, what might?--No more:-- And yet methinks I see it in thy face, What thou shouldst be: the occasion speaks thee; and My strong imagination sees a crown Dropping upon thy head.

Modern English

*Ariel enters invisibly, playing solemn music. Everyone falls asleep except Alonso, Sebastian, and Antonio.* ANTONIO. What a strange sleepiness has come over them all! SEBASTIAN. Then why aren't our eyelids drooping? I don't feel the least bit tired. ANTONIO. Neither do I -- I'm wide awake. They all dropped off at once, as if by agreement -- collapsed like they were struck by lightning. What possibilities, noble Sebastian! Oh, what possibilities! No, I shouldn't say more -- and yet I think I can see it in your face, what you're meant to become. The moment itself speaks to you, and my vivid imagination sees a crown landing on your head.

Original Text

ANTONIO. Thus, sir: Although this lord of weak remembrance, this, Who shall be of as little memory When he is earth'd, hath here almost persuaded,-- For he's a spirit of persuasion, only Professes to persuade,--the king his son's alive, 'Tis as impossible that he's undrown'd As he that sleeps here swims. SEBASTIAN. I have no hope That he's undrown'd. ANTONIO. O, out of that 'no hope' What great hope have you! no hope that way is Another way so high a hope that even Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond, But doubt discovery there. Will you grant with me That Ferdinand is drown'd? SEBASTIAN. He's gone. ANTONIO. Then, tell me, Who's the next heir of Naples? SEBASTIAN. Claribel.

Modern English

ANTONIO. Here's the situation: This old lord with the bad memory, who'll be just as easily forgotten once he's in the ground, has practically convinced the king -- since persuading people is all he's good at -- that the prince is still alive. But it's as impossible that Ferdinand survived as it is that Gonzalo here, sleeping, is swimming. SEBASTIAN. I have no hope that Ferdinand is alive. ANTONIO. And out of that hopelessness comes enormous opportunity! No hope in that direction means hope in another -- hope so vast that even ambition can't see past it or guess what lies beyond. Will you agree with me that Ferdinand is drowned? SEBASTIAN. He's gone. ANTONIO. Then tell me -- who's next in line for the throne of Naples? SEBASTIAN. Claribel.

Original Text

SEBASTIAN. Thy case, dear friend, Shall be my precedent; as thou got'st Milan, I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest; And I the king shall love thee. ANTONIO. Draw together; And when I rear my hand, do you the like, To fall it on Gonzalo. SEBASTIAN. O, but one word. *[They talk apart.]*

Modern English

SEBASTIAN. Your situation, dear friend, will be my model. Just as you took Milan, I'll take Naples. Draw your sword -- one stroke will free you from the tribute you've been paying, and I, as king, will repay you with my loyalty. ANTONIO. Let's draw together. When I raise my hand, you do the same -- and bring yours down on Gonzalo. SEBASTIAN. Wait -- one word first. *[They confer privately.]*

Original Text

*Re-enter Ariel invisible.* ARIEL. My master through his art foresees the danger That you, his friend, are in; and sends me forth,-- For else his project dies,--to keep them living. *[Sings in Gonzalo's ear.]* While you here do snoring lie, Open-eyed conspiracy His time doth take. If of life you keep a care, Shake off slumber, and beware: Awake, awake! *[They wake.]* GONZALO. Now, good angels Preserve the king! Why, how now? ho, awake!--Why are you drawn? Wherefore this ghastly looking? SEBASTIAN. Whiles we stood here securing your repose, Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing Like bulls, or rather lions: did't not wake you? ALONSO. I heard nothing. GONZALO. 'Tis best we stand upon our guard, Or that we quit this place: let's draw our weapons. ALONSO. Lead off this ground; and let's make further search For my poor son.

Modern English

*Ariel re-enters, invisible.* ARIEL. My master, through his magic, foresees the danger his friend Gonzalo is in, and sends me here -- otherwise his whole plan falls apart -- to keep them alive. *[Singing into Gonzalo's ear.]* While you lie here snoring away, a wide-awake conspiracy seizes its chance. If you value your life at all, shake off sleep and be on guard: Wake up, wake up! *[They wake.]* GONZALO. Good angels, protect the king! What's going on? Hey, wake up! Why are your swords drawn? Why do you look so terrified? SEBASTIAN. While we stood here guarding your sleep, just now we heard a deep, hollow bellowing -- like bulls, or more like lions. Didn't it wake you? ALONSO. I heard nothing. GONZALO. We'd better stay on guard or leave this place. Let's have our weapons ready. ALONSO. Lead us away from here, and let's keep searching for my poor son.

The Tempest

Act 2, Scene 1

Act 2, Scene 1