The Tempest: Act 2, Scene 1
Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO,
GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and
others.
GONZALO
1
Beseech you, sir, be merry; you have cause, 2
So have we all, of joy; for our escape 3
Is much beyond our loss. Our hint of woe
3. Our hint of woe: the reason for our woe (being shipwrecked).
4
Is common; every day some sailor's wife, 5
The masters of some merchant and the merchant
5. The masters . . . merchant: the officers of some merchant vessel and the merchant who owns the cargo.
6
Have just our theme of woe; but for the miracle, 7
I mean our preservation, few in millions 8
Can speak like us: then wisely, good sir, weigh
8-9. weigh / Our sorrow with our comfort: balance our sorrow against our comfort.
9
Our sorrow with our comfort.
ALONSO
9
Prithee, peace.
9. Prithee, peace: please stop talking.
SEBASTIAN
10
He receives comfort like cold porridge.10. porridge: soup thickened with peas, beans, lentils, etc. Since "peas" and "peace" sound the same, perhaps Sebastian is punning.
ANTONIO
11
The visitor will not give him o'er so.
11. visitor: one bringing nourishment and comfort to the sick, as Gonzalo is doing. give him o'er so: abandon him.
SEBASTIAN
12
Look, he's winding up the watch of his wit;
12. watch: chiming clock.
13
by and by it will strike.
13. strike: chime, sound.
GONZALO
14
Sir,
SEBASTIAN
15
One: tell.15. tell: count. This is Sebastian's way of saying "I told you so."
GONZALO
16
When every grief is entertain'd that's offer'd,
16. When . . . offer'd: When every sorrow that comes is accepted without resistance.
17
Comes to the entertainer
17. the entertainer: i.e., the person who is grieving.
SEBASTIAN
18
A dollar.
18. dollar: a coin. Sebastian is sarcastically pretending that when Gonzalo said "entertainer," he meant "innkeeper."
GONZALO
19
Dolour comes to him, indeed: you
19. Dolour: sorrow. Here Gonzalo retorts to Sebastian's pun with one of his own.
20
have spoken truer than you purposed.
SEBASTIAN
Alan Cuming as Sebastian
21
You have taken it wiselier than I meant you 22
should.
GONZALO
23
Therefore, my lord,
ANTONIO
24
Fie, what a spendthrift is he of his tongue!
ALONSO
25
I prithee, spare.
25. I prithee, spare: please stop talking.
GONZALO
26
Well, I have done: but yet,
SEBASTIAN
27
He will be talking.
ANTONIO
28
Which, of he or Adrian, for a good 29
wager, first begins to crow?
28-29. Which, of he or Adrian, for a good wager, first begins to crow?: Which of the two, Gonzalo or Adrian, do you bet will speak ("crow") first?
SEBASTIAN
30
The old cock.
30. old cock: i.e., Gonzalo.
ANTONIO
31
The cock'rel.
31. cock'rel: i.e., Adrian.
SEBASTIAN
32
Done. The wager?
ANTONIO
33
A laughter.
33. laughter: (1) burst of laughter (2) clutch of eggs.
SEBASTIAN
34
A match!34. A match!: A bargain; agreed!
ADRIAN
35
Though this island seem to be desert,
35. desert: uninhabited.
SEBASTIAN
36
Ha, ha, ha!
36. Ha, ha, ha!: Sebastian loses the bet since Adrian speaks first, and so Sebastian pays Antonio with a laugh.
37
So, you're paid.
ADRIAN
38
Uninhabitable and almost inaccessible,
SEBASTIAN
39
Yet,
ADRIAN
40
Yet,
ANTONIO
41
He could not miss't.
41. miss't: (1) avoid saying "yet"; (2) miss the island.
ADRIAN
42
It must needs be of subtle, tender and delicate
42. must needs be: has to be. subtle: finely constructed. tender: fresh. delicate: charming, pleasant.
43
temperance.
43. temperance: climate.
ANTONIO
44
Temperance was a delicate wench.
SEBASTIAN
45
Ay, and a subtle; as he most learnedly
45. subtle: Here it means "sexually crafty."
46
delivered.
46. delivered: proclaimed.
ADRIAN
47
The air breathes upon us here most sweetly.
SEBASTIAN
48
As if it had lungs and rotten ones.
ANTONIO
49
Or as 'twere perfumed by a fen.
49. fen: evil-smelling marshland.
GONZALO
50
Here is everything advantageous to life.
ANTONIO
51
True; save means to live.
51. save: except.
SEBASTIAN
52
Of that there's none, or little.
GONZALO
53
How lush and lusty the grass looks! how
53. lusty: healthy.
54
green!
ANTONIO
55
The ground indeed is tawny.
55. tawny: parched tan or yellow.
SEBASTIAN
56
With an eye of green in't.
56. eye: tinge, or spot.
ANTONIO
57
He misses not much.
SEBASTIAN
58
No; he doth but mistake the truth totally.
58. he doth but mistake the truth totally: i.e., his only mistake is that he is 100% wrong.
GONZALO
59
But the rarity of it is,which is indeed almost 60
beyond credit,
SEBASTIAN
61
As many vouched rarities are.
61. vouched: guaranteed true. Sebastian is, of course, being sarcastic.
GONZALO
62
That our garments, being, as they were, drenched in 63
the sea, hold notwithstanding their freshness and 64
glosses, being rather new-dyed than stained with 65
salt water.
ANTONIO
66
If but one of his pockets could speak, would it not 67
say he lies?
66-67. If . . . lies: Antonio and Sebastian, the sarcastic realists, are wrong. See Ariel's report on the condition of the survivors of the ship wreck.
SEBASTIAN
68
Ay, or very falsely pocket up his report
68. pocket up: conceal, suppress.
GONZALO
69
Methinks our garments are now as fresh as when we 70
put them on first in Afric, at the marriage of 71
the king's fair daughter Claribel to the King of 72
Tunis.
SEBASTIAN
73
'Twas a sweet marriage, and we prosper well
74. we prosper well: Sebastian is being sarcastic again.
74
in our return.
ADRIAN
75
Tunis was never graced before with such a paragon to
75. to: for.
76
their queen.
GONZALO
77
Not since widow Dido's time.
77. widow Dido: This is an odd way to refer to Dido, legendary Queen of Carthage. >>>
ANTONIO
78
Widow! a pox o' that! How came that widow in? 79
widow Dido!
SEBASTIAN
80
What if he had said 'widower Æneas' too? Good Lord,80. widower Æneas: Æneas was a widower, but that is not significant in the story of his love affair with Dido.
81
how you take it!
81. take: understand, interpret.
ADRIAN
82
'Widow Dido' said you? you make me study of that:
82. study of: think about.
83
she was of Carthage, not of Tunis.
GONZALO
84
This Tunis, sir, was Carthage.
84. This Tunis, sir, was Carthage:Tunis and Carthage were separate cities, though not far apart. After the Muslim conquest of Northern Africa, Tunis displaced Carthage as the leading city of the area.
ADRIAN
85
Carthage?
GONZALO
86
I assure you, Carthage.
SEBASTIAN
87
His word is more than the miraculous harp; he hath
87. miraculous harp: the legendary harp of Amphion, which raised the walls of Thebes. Sebastian is saying that Gonzalo's error has created a whole new city.
88
raised the wall and houses too.
ANTONIO
89
What impossible matter will he make easy 90
next?
SEBASTIAN
91
I think he will carry this island home in his pocket 92
and give it his son for an apple.
ANTONIO
93
And, sowing the kernels of it in the sea, bring
93.kernels: seeds.
94
forth more islands.
GONZALO [To Adrian]
95
Ay.
ANTONIO
96
Why, in good time.
96.Why, in good time: i.e., and there it is, right on time! Antonio's point is that Gonzalo's "Ay" to Adrian is another example of Gonzalo's foolishness.
GONZALO [To Alonso]
97
Sir, we were talking that our garments seem now 98
as fresh as when we were at Tunis at the marriage 99
of your daughter, who is now queen.
ANTONIO
100
And the rarest that e'er came there.
100. rarest: most remarkable, beautiful.
SEBASTIAN
101
Bate, I beseech you, widow Dido.
101. Bate: except.
ANTONIO
102
O, widow Dido! ay, widow Dido.
GONZALO
103
Is not, sir, my doublet as fresh as the first day I
103. doublet: common type of close-fitting jacket.
104
wore it? I mean, in a sort.
104. in a sort: in a way. I don't think that Gonzalo means that his doublet is stained with sea water, but that's the way Antonio interprets it.
ANTONIO
105
That sort was well fished for.
GONZALO
106
When I wore it at your daughter's marriage?
ALONSO
107
You cram these words into mine ears against108
The stomach of my sense. Would I had never
108. stomach of my sense: my appetite for hearing them.
109
Married my daughter there! for, coming thence,
109. Married: given in marriage.
110
My son is lost and, in my rate, she too,
110. rate: opinion.
111
Who is so far from Italy removed112
I ne'er again shall see her. O thou mine heir113
Of Naples and of Milan, what strange fish114-115. O thou . . . Milan: Alonso is speaking to his son, Ferdinand, who he believes is drowned. The phrase "heir / Of Naples and Milan" seems to indicate that Alonso, when he made his bargain to help Antonio oust Prospero from Milan, received in return the right to give the rule of Milan to his son.
114
Hath made his meal on thee?
FRANCISCO
114
Sir, he may live:115
I saw him beat the surges under him,
115. surges: waves.
116
And ride upon their backs; he trod the water,117
Whose enmity he flung aside, and breasted118
The surge most swoll'n that met him; his bold head119
'Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oar'd
119. oar'd: propelled as by an oar.
120
Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke
120. lusty: vigorous.
121
To the shore, that o'er his wave-worn basis bow'd,121. that o'er his wave-worn basis bow'd: that projected out over its surf-eroded base, bending down toward the sea.
122
As stooping to relieve him: I not doubt
122. As: as if.
123
He came alive to land.
ALONSO
123
No, no, he's gone.
SEBASTIAN
124
Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss,125
That would not bless our Europe with your daughter,
125. That: you who.
126
But rather lose her to an African;127
Where she at least is banish'd from your eye,
127-128. Where . . . on't: where at the very least she is out of the sight of your eye, which has good reason to weep for the grief of losing her.
128
Who hath cause to wet the grief on't.
ALONSO
128
Prithee, peace.
128. Prithee, peace: please stop talking.
SEBASTIAN
129
You were kneel'd to and importuned otherwise
129. importuned otherwise: implored to do otherwise.
130
By all of us, and the fair soul herself131
Weigh'd between loathness and obedience, at132
Which end o' the beam should bow. We have lost your son
130-132. the fair soul . . . should bow: Claribel herself was poised uncertainly, like a balance scale, between loathing the African she was to marry and wishing to obey her father.
133
I fear, for ever: Milan and Naples have134
More widows in them of this business' making
134. of this business' making: on account of this marriage and the subsequent shipwreck.
135
Than we bring men to comfort them:136
The fault's your own.
ALONSO
136
So is the dear'st o' the loss.
136. dear'st: heaviest, most costly.
GONZALO
137
My lord Sebastian,138
The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness139
And time to speak it in: you rub the sore,
139. time: appropriate occasion.
140
When you should bring the plaster.140. plaster: bandage.
SEBASTIAN
140
Very well.140. Very well: i.e., Nice speechnot!
ANTONIO
141
And most chirurgeonly.
141. chirurgeonly: like a skilled surgeon. Antonio is also being sarcastic.
GONZALO
142
It is foul weather in us all, good sir,143
When you are cloudy.
SEBASTIAN
143
Foul weather?
ANTONIO
143
Very foul.
GONZALO
144
Had I plantation of this isle, my lord,
144. Had I plantation of this isle: i.e. If I were in charge of establishing a settlement on this island.
ANTONIO
145
He'd sow't with nettle-seed.
145. sow't: sow it. Antonio pretends that Gonzalo used the word "plantation" to mean the action of sowing seeds in the ground.
SEBASTIAN
145
Or docks, or mallows.145. docks, or mallows: Both are, like nettles, noxious weeds.
GONZALO
146
And were the king on't, what would I do?
SEBASTIAN
147
'Scape being drunk for want of wine.
147. 'Scape: Escape. want: lack.
GONZALO
148
I' the commonwealth I would by contraries
148. contraries: The opposites of everything that is customary.
149
Execute all things; for no kind of traffic
149. traffic: business, trade.
150
Would I admit; no name of magistrate;151
Letters should not be known; riches, poverty,
151. Letters: reading, writing, learning.
152
And use of service, none; contract, succession,
152. use of service: custom of employing servants. succession: holding of property by right of inheritance.
153
Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none;153. Bourn: boundary; i.e., division of land among various owners. tilth: tillage, agriculture.
154. corn: grain, such as wheat, barley, and oats.
154. corn: grain, such as wheat, barley, and oats.
154
No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil;
155
No occupation; all men idle, all;156
And women too, but innocent and pure;157
No sovereignty;
157. sovereignty: rule of one person by another.
SEBASTIAN
157
Yet he would be king on't.
ANTONIO
158
The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the159
beginning.
GONZALO
160
All things in common nature should produce161
Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony,162
Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine,
162. pike: spear. engine: instrument of war.
163
Would I not have; but nature should bring forth,164
Of its own kind, all foison, all abundance,
164. Of its own kind: by its own nature. foison: plenty.
165
To feed my innocent people.
SEBASTIAN
166
No marrying 'mong his subjects?
ANTONIO
167
None, man; all idle: whores and knaves.
GONZALO
168
I would with such perfection govern, sir,169
To excel the golden age.
SEBASTIAN
169
God save his majesty!
ANTONIO
170
Long live Gonzalo!
GONZALO
170
And,do you mark me, sir?
ALONSO
171
Prithee, no more: thou dost talk nothing to me.
GONZALO
172
I do well believe your highness; and173
did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen,
173. minister occasion: give opportunity.
174
who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that
174. sensible and nimble: sensitive and lively.
175
they always use to laugh at nothing.175. they always use to: they are accustomed to.
ANTONIO
176
'Twas you we laughed at.
GONZALO
177
Who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing178
to you: so you may continue and laugh at179
nothing still.
ANTONIO
180
What a blow was there given!
SEBASTIAN
181
An it had not fallen flat-long.181. An: if. flat-long: with the sword blade flat, not on edge; i.e., harmlessly.
GONZALO
182
You are gentlemen of brave metal; you would lift
182. brave metal: impudent temperament.
183
the moon out of her sphere, if she would continue
183. sphere: orbit. Gonzalo's point is that Antonio and Sebastian are punk know-it-alls.
184
in it five weeks without changing.
Enter ARIEL, [invisible], playing solemn.
music.
SEBASTIAN
185
We would so, and then go a bat-fowling.185. bat-fowling: hunting birds at night with lantern, net, and bat (a stick). "Bat-fowling" was also a slang term for misleading and mocking a stupid person.
ANTONIO [To Gonzalo.]
186
Nay, good my lord, be not angry.
GONZALO
187
No, I warrant you; I will not adventure
187-188. adventure my discretion so weakly: i.e., risk my reputation for discretion by getting angry at you, because you are not worth it.
188
my discretion so weakly. Will you laugh
189
me asleep, for I am very heavy?
189. heavy: drowsy.
ANTONIO
190
Go sleep, and hear us.
190. hear us: i.e., listen to our laughter.
[All sleep except Alonso, Sebastian, and
Antonio.]
ALONSO
191
What, all so soon asleep! I wish mine eyes
191-192. I wish . . . thoughts: I wish my eyes would close and shut off my sad thoughts.
192
Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts: I find
193
They are inclined to do so.
SEBASTIAN
193
Please you, sir,194
Do not omit the heavy offer of it:
194. Do not omit the heavy offer of it: do not decline the drowsy invitation to sleep.
195
It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth,196
It is a comforter.
ANTONIO
196
We two, my lord,197
Will guard your person while you take your rest,198
And watch your safety.
ALONSO
198
Thank you. Wondrous heavy.
[Alonso sleeps. Exit Ariel.]
SEBASTIAN
199
What a strange drowsiness possesses them!
ANTONIO
200
It is the quality o' the climate.
SEBASTIAN
200
Why201
Doth it not then our eyelids sink? I find not202
Myself disposed to sleep.
ANTONIO
202
Nor I; my spirits are nimble.203
They fell together all, as by consent;203. They fell together all, as by consent: The others all fell asleep simultaneously, as if by common agreement.
204
They dropp'd, as by a thunder-stroke. What might,205
Worthy Sebastian? O, what might?No more:206
And yet me thinks I see it in thy face,207
What thou shouldst be: the occasion speaks thee, and
207. the occasion speaks thee: the opportunity of the moment calls upon you.
208
My strong imagination sees a crown209
Dropping upon thy head.
SEBASTIAN
209
What, art thou waking?
ANTONIO
210
Do you not hear me speak?
SEBASTIAN
210
I do; and surely211
It is a sleepy language and thou speak'st
211. sleepy: dreamlike, fantastic.
212
Out of thy sleep. What is it thou didst say?
212. Out of thy sleep: while you are sleeping.
213
This is a strange repose, to be asleep214
With eyes wide open; standing, speaking, moving,215
And yet so fast asleep.
ANTONIO
215
Noble Sebastian,216
Thou let'st thy fortune sleepdie, rather; wink'st
216. wink'st: are keeping your eyes shut.
217
Whiles thou art waking.
SEBASTIAN
217
Thou dost snore distinctly;218
There's meaning in thy snores.
ANTONIO
219
I am more serious than my custom: you220
Must be so too, if heed me; which to do
220. if heed me: if you heed me.
221
Trebles thee o'er.
221. Trebles thee o'er: makes you three time what you are now.
SEBASTIAN
221
Well, I am standing water.
221. standing water: slack tide, neither rising nor ebbing. Sebastian means that he's not ready to commit to anything, but he's listening.
ANTONIO
222
I'll teach you how to flow.
SEBASTIAN
222
Do so: to ebb
222. ebb: recede, decline.
223
Hereditary sloth instructs me.
223. Hereditary sloth: i.e., natural laziness.
ANTONIO
223
O,224
If you but knew how you the purpose cherish
224-225. If you . . . mock it!: If you only knew how much you secretly cherish ambition even while your words mock it!
225
Whiles thus you mock it! how, in stripping it,
225-226. how . . . invest it!: How the more you speak flippantly of ambition, the more you, in effect, affirm it, clothing what you have stripped!
227. the bottom: i.e., on which unadventurous men may go aground and miss the tide of fortune.
227. the bottom: i.e., on which unadventurous men may go aground and miss the tide of fortune.
226
You more invest it! Ebbing men, indeed,
227
Most often do so near the bottom run228
By their own fear or sloth.
SEBASTIAN
228
Prithee, say on:229
The setting of thine eye and cheek proclaim
229. setting: set expression (of earnestness).
230
A matter from thee, and a birth indeed
230. matter: matter of importance.
231
Which throes thee much to yield.
231. throes: causes labor pains. yield: give forth, speak about.
ANTONIO
231
Thus, sir:232
Although this lord of weak remembrance, this,
232-236. Although . . . alive: Although this owner of a weak memory, he who will be only weakly remembered when he is dead, has nearly persuaded - since he's a mind or soul devoted solely to persuasion - King Ansolo that Ferdinand lives.
233
Who shall be of as little memory234
When he is earth'd, hath here almost persuade,235
For he's a spirit of persuasion, only236
Professes to persuade,the king his son's alive,237
'Tis as impossible that he's undrown'd238
As he that sleeps here swims.
SEBASTIAN
238
I have no hope239
That he's undrown'd.
ANTONIO
239
O, out of that 'no hope'240
What great hope have you! no hope that way is
241
Another way so high a hope that even
241-243. that even / Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond, / But doubt discovery there: that even ambition cannot see anything higher, and even there it doubts the reality of what it sees (because the place is so supremely high).
242
Ambition cannot pierce a wink beyond,243
But doubt discovery there. Will you grant with me244
That Ferdinand is drown'd?
SEBASTIAN
244
He's gone.
ANTONIO
244
Then, tell me,245
Who's the next heir of Naples?
SEBASTIAN
245
Claribel.
ANTONIO
246
She that is queen of Tunis; she that dwells247
Ten leagues beyond man's life; she that from Naples
247. Ten leagues beyond man's life: thirty miles farther than a lifetime's journey.
248
Can have no note, unless the sun were post
248. note: news. post: messenger.
249
The man i' the moon's too slowtill new-born chins250
Be rough and razorable; she that from whom
250. razorable: ready for shaving. from: on our voyage from.
251
We all were sea-swallow'd, though some cast again,
251. cast: were disgorged. (With a pun on "casting" of parts for a play.)
252
And by that destiny to perform an act253
Whereof what's past is prologue, what to come254
In yours and my discharge.
254. discharge: part to play, duty to perform.
SEBASTIAN
254
What stuff is this! how say you?255
'Tis true, my brother's daughter's queen of Tunis;256
So is she heir of Naples; 'twixt which regions257
There is some space.
ANTONIO
257
A space whose every cubit
257. cubit: measure of about 20 inches.
258
Seems to cry out, 'How shall that Claribel259
Measure us back to Naples? Keep in Tunis,259. Measure us: retrace our journey. Keep: You, Claribel, stay.
260
And let Sebastian wake.' Say, this were death
260. wake: i.e., realize his good luck.
261
That now hath seized them; why, they were no worse262
Than now they are. There be that can rule Naples
262. There be: There are those.
263
As well as he that sleeps; lords that can prate
263. prate: babble on.
264
As amply and unnecessarily265
As this Gonzalo; I myself could make
265-266. I myself could make / A chough of as deep chat: I could teach a jackdaw to talk as wisely.
266
A chough of as deep chat. O, that you bore267
The mind that I do! what a sleep were this268
For your advancement! Do you understand me?
SEBASTIAN
269
Methinks I do.
ANTONIO
269
And how does your content
269-270. And how does your content / Tender your own good fortune?: And how does your contentment with what I've just said further your good fortune?
270
Tender your own good fortune?
SEBASTIAN
270
I remember271
You did supplant your brother Prospero.
ANTONIO
271
True:272
And look how well my garments sit upon me;273
Much feater than before: my brother's servants
273. feater: better fitting, more elegant.
274
Were then my fellows; now they are my men.
274. fellows: my equals. my men: my servants.
SEBASTIAN
275
But, for your conscience?
275. But, for your conscience?: But, what about your conscience?
ANTONIO
276
Ay, sir; where lies that? if 'twere a kibe,
276. kibe: a sore on the heel.
277
'Twould put me to my slipper: but I feel not
277. put me to: make me wear.
278
This deity in my bosom: twenty consciences,
278-280. twenty . . . molest!:
Even if there were twenty consciences between me and the dukedom of Milan, I'd have them lumped together, crystallized like candy, and then melted down before I'd let them interfere!
279
That stand 'twixt me and Milan, candied be they280
And melt ere they molest! Here lies your brother,281
No better than the earth he lies upon,282
If he were that which now he's like, that's dead;283
Whom I, with this obedient steel, three inches of it,284
Can lay to bed for ever; whiles you, doing thus,
284. thus: similarly.
285
To the perpetual wink for aye might put
285. wink: sleep, closing of eyes. for aye: forever.
286
This ancient morsel, this Sir Prudence, who
286. This ancient morsel: this old baby; i.e., Gonzalo.
287
Should not upbraid our course. For all the rest,
287. Should not: must not be allowed to.
288
They'll take suggestion as a cat laps milk;
288. take suggestion: believe what they're told.
289
They'll tell the clock to any business that
289. tell the clock: i.e., agree and chime in.
290
We say befits the hour.
SEBASTIAN
290
Thy case, dear friend,291
Shall be my precedent; as thou got'st Milan,292
I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke293
Shall free thee from the tribute which thou payest;294
And I the king shall love thee.
ANTONIO
294
Draw together;295
And when I rear my hand, do you the like,296
To fall it on Gonzalo.
296. fall it: let it fall.
SEBASTIAN
296
O, but one word.
[They talk apart.]
Enter ARIEL [invisible], with music and song.
ARIEL
297
My master through his art foresees the danger298
That you, his friend, are in; and sends me forth299
For else his project diesto keep them living.
Sings in Gonzalo's ear.
300
While you here do snoring lie,301
 Open-eyed conspiracy302
 His time doth take.
302. time: opportunity.
303
 If of life you keep a care,304
 Shake off slumber, and beware:305
 Awake, awake!
ANTONIO
306
Then let us both be sudden.
306. Then let us both be sudden: So let us both be quick about it. While Ariel has been speaking and singing, Antonio and Sebastian have been putting the finishing touches on their murderous plot.
GONZALO
[Waking.]
306
Now, good angels307
Preserve the king.
[Wakes Alonso.]
ALONSO
308
Why, how now? ho, awake! Why are you drawn?309
Wherefore this ghastly looking?
GONZALO
309
What's the matter?
SEBASTIAN
310
Whiles we stood here securing your repose,
310. securing: guarding.
311
Even now, we heard a hollow burst of bellowing312
Like bulls, or rather lions: did't not wake you?313
It struck mine ear most terribly.
ALONSO
313
I heard nothing.
ANTONIO
314
O, 'twas a din to fright a monster's ear,315
To make an earthquake! sure, it was the roar316
Of a whole herd of lions.
ALONSO
316
Heard you this, Gonzalo?
GONZALO
317
Upon mine honour, sir, I heard a humming,318
And that a strange one too, which did awake me:319
I shaked you, sir, and cried: as mine eyes open'd,
319. cried: called out.
320
I saw their weapons drawn: there was a noise,321
That's verily. 'Tis best we stand upon our guard,
321. verily: true.
322
Or that we quit this place; let's draw our weapons.
ALONSO
323
Lead off this ground; and let's make further search324
For my poor son.
GONZALO
324
Heavens keep him from these beasts!325
For he is, sure, i' the island.
ALONSO
325
Lead away.
ARIEL
326
Prospero my lord shall know what I have done:327
So, king, go safely on to seek thy son.
Exeunt.