
ACT III
[Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Adrian, Francisco]
GONZALO [To ALONSO]:By'r lakin, I can go no further, sir;
ALONSO:
My old bones ache: here's a maze trod indeed
Through forth-rights and meanders! By your patience,
I needs must rest me.
Old lord, I cannot blame thee,
ANTONIO [Aside to SEBASTIAN]:
Who am myself attach'd with weariness,
To the dulling of my spirits: sit down, and rest.
Even here I will put off my hope and keep it
No longer for my flatterer: he is drown'd
Whom thus we stray to find, and the sea mocks
Our frustrate search on land. Well, let him go.
I am right glad that he's so out of hope.
SEBASTIAN [Aside to ANTONIO]:
Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose
That you resolved to effect.
The next advantage Will we take throughly.
ANTONIO [Aside to SEBASTIAN]:
Let it be to-night;
SEBASTIAN [Aside to ANTONIO]:
For, now they are oppress'd with travail, they
Will not, nor cannot, use such vigilance
As when they are fresh.
I say, to-night: no more.
ALONSO:
Solemn and strange music
What harmony is this? My good friends, hark!
GONZALO:
Marvellous sweet music!
[Enter PROSPERO above, invisible. Enter several strange Shapes, bringing in a banquet;
ALONSO:
they dance about it with gentle actions of salutation; and, inviting the King and company
to eat, they depart]
Give us kind keepers, heavens! What were these?
SEBASTIAN:
A living drollery. Now I will believe
ANTONIO:
That there are unicorns, that in Arabia
There is one tree, the phoenix' throne, one phoenix
At this hour reigning there.
I'll believe both;
GONZALO:
And what does else want credit, come to me,
And I'll be sworn 'tis true: travellers ne'er did
lie,
Though fools at home condemn 'em.
If in Naples
PROSPERO [Aside]:
I should report this now, would they believe me?
If I should say, I saw such islanders--
For, certes, these are people of the island--
Who, though they are of monstrous shape, yet, note,
Their manners are more gentle-kind than of
Our human generation you shall find
Many, nay, almost any.
Honest lord,
Thou hast said well; for some of you there present
Are worse than devils.
If you have any comments on The Tempest please contact Steve Karls.
For more information about The Tempest or William Shakespeare see these additional web sites:
Wikipedia: The Tempest
sparknotes: The Tempest
The Literature Network: William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare: The Complete Works
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