The Tempest: Act 3, Scene 1
Enter FERDINAND, bearing a log.
FERDINAND
1
There be some sports are painful, and their labor
1-2. There . . . sets off: Some sports require much effort, but the pleasure we get more than makes up for the effort.
2. baseness: lowly service, menial tasks.
2. baseness: lowly service, menial tasks.
2
Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness
3
Are nobly undergone and most poor matters
3. undergone: undertaken. most poor: poorest.
4
Point to rich ends. This my mean task
4. mean: lowly. 5. but: were it not that.
5
Would be as heavy to me as odious, but 6
The mistress which I serve quickens what's dead
6. quickens: brings to life.
7
And makes my labors pleasures: O, she is 8
Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed, 9
And he's composed of harshness. I must remove 10
Some thousands of these logs and pile them up, 11
Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress
11. sore injunction: harsh command.
12
Weeps when she sees me work, and says, such baseness 13
Had never like executor. I forget:
13. Had never like executor: was never before undertaken by so noble a being. I forget: i.e., I'm forgetting that I'm supposed to be working.
14
But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labors, 15
Most busy lest, when I do it.
Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO
[at a distance, unseen].
MIRANDA
15
Alas, now, pray you, 16
Work not so hard: I would the lightning had 17
Burnt up those logs that you are enjoin'd to pile!
17. enjoin'd: commanded.
18
Pray, set it down and rest you: when this burns,
18. this: i.e., the log.
19
'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father
19. weep: i.e., ooze pitch. Miranda is making a small joke.
20
Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself; 21
He's safe for these three hours.21. He's . . . hours. i.e., He is safely out of the way for the next three hours.
FERDINAND
21
O most dear mistress, 22
The sun will set before I shall discharge
22. discharge: complete.
23
What I must strive to do.
MIRANDA
Oregon Shakespeare Festival, 2007
23
If you'll sit down, 24
I'll bear your logs the while: pray, give me that; 25
I'll carry it to the pile.
FERDINAND
25
No, precious creature; 26
I had rather crack my sinews, break my back, 27
Than you should such dishonour undergo, 28
While I sit lazy by.
MIRANDA
28
It would become me 29
As well as it does you: and I should do it 30
With much more ease; for my good will is to it, 31
And yours it is against.
PROSPERO [Aside].
31
Poor worm, thou art infected!31. infected: i.e., love-sick.
32
This visitation shows it.32. visitation: comforting visit.
MIRANDA
32
You look wearily.
FERDINAND
33
No, noble mistress;'tis fresh morning with me 34
When you are by at night. I do beseech you
34. by: nearby.
35
Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers 36
What is your name?
MIRANDA
36
Miranda.O my father, 37
I have broke your hest to say so!
37. hest: command.
FERDINAND
37
Admired Miranda! Admired Miranda: Shakespeare invented the name "Miranda," and he probably derived it from the Latin word mirandus, meaning "admirable, wonderful."
38
Indeed the top of admiration! worth 39
What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady
39. dearest: most treasured.
40
I have eyed with best regard and many a time
40. best regard: highest approval.
41
The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage 42
Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues
42. diligent: attentive. several: various.
43
Have I liked several women; never any 44
With so full soul, but some defect in her 45
Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow'd
45. ow'd: owned.
46
And put it to the foil: but you, O you,
46. put it to the foil: i.e., overshadowed it.
47
So perfect and so peerless, are created 48
Of every creature's best!
48. Of: out of.
MIRANDA
48
I do not know 49
One of my sex; no woman's face remember, 50
Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen 51
More that I may call men than you, good friend, 52
And my dear father: how features are abroad,
52-53. how features . . . skilless of: I don't know what people in other places look like.
53
I am skilless of; but, by my modesty,
53. modesty: virginity.
54
The jewel in my dower, I would not wish
54. dower: the property a bride brings to her groom.
55
Any companion in the world but you, 56
Nor can imagination form a shape, 57
Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle
57. like of: to be pleased with, be fond of.
58
Something too wildly and my father's precepts
58. Something: Somewhat.
59
I therein do forget.
FERDINAND
59
I am in my condition
59. condition: rank.
60
A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king;60. I do think, a king: Ferdinand thinks he is a king because he thinks his father, who is king of Naples, is dead.
61
I would, not so!and would no more endure61. I would: I wish it were.
62
This wooden slavery than to suffer62. wooden slavery: being compelled to carry wood.
63
The flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak:
63. flesh-fly: a fly which deposits its eggs in dead flesh. blow my mouth: hatch in my mouth.
64
The very instant that I saw you, did 65
My heart fly to your service; there resides, 66
To make me slave to it; and for your sake 67
Am I this patient log-man.
MIRANDA
67
Do you love me?
FERDINAND
68
O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound 69
And crown what I profess with kind event
69. kind event: favorable outcome.
70
If I speak true! if hollowly, invert70. hollowly: insincerely. invert: turn.
71
What best is boded me to mischief! I
71. boded: in store for. mischief: harm.
72
Beyond all limit of what else i' the world
72. what: whatever.
73
Do love, prize, honor you.
MIRANDA
73
I am a fool 74
To weep at what I am glad of.
PROSPERO [Aside.]
74
Fair encounter 75
Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace 76
On that which breeds between 'em!
FERDINAND
76
Wherefore weep you?
MIRANDA
77
At mine unworthiness that dare not offer 78
What I desire to give, and much less take 79
What I shall die to want. But this is trifling;
79. to want: through lacking.
80
And all the more it seeks to hide itself, 81
The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!
81. bashful cunning: coyness.
82
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!
2. prompt me: give me guidance.
83
I am your wife, if you will marry me; 84
If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow
84. maid: handmaiden, servant. fellow: mate.
ß
85
You may deny me; but I'll be your servant, 86
Whether you will or no.
86. will: desire it.
FERDINAND
86
My mistress, dearest;
My mistress: i.e., You are the woman I adore and serve.
87
And I thus humble ever.
MIRANDA
87
My husband, then?
FERDINAND
88
Ay, with a heart as willing
89
As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.
88-89. a heart . . . freedom: a heart as desirous (of service to you) as slavery ever was desirous of freedom.
MIRANDA
90
And mine, with my heart in't; and now farewell 91
Till half an hour hence.
FERDINAND
91
A thousand thousand!
91. A thousand thousand: A thousand thousand farewells.
Exeunt [FERDINAND, MIRANDA].
PROSPERO
92
So glad of this as they I cannot be, 93
Who are surprised withal; but my rejoicing
93. withal: by it.
94
At nothing can be more. I'll to my book, 95
For yet ere supper-time must I perform 96
Much business appertaining.
96. appertaining: related to this.
Exit.