The Tempest The Play Commentary The Cast

The Tempest

ACT III

SCENE 3

	[Enter Alonso, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Adrian, Francisco]
	
	GONZALO[To ALONSO]
	1	By'r lakin, I can go no further, sir;
		My old bones ache: here's a maze trod indeed
	3	Through forth-rights and meanders! By your patience,
		I needs must rest me.
	
	ALONSO
		Old lord, I cannot blame thee,
	5	Who am myself attach'd with weariness,
	6	To the dulling of my spirits: sit down, and rest.
	7	Even here I will put off my hope and keep it
	8	No longer for my flatterer: he is drown'd
		Whom thus we stray to find, and the sea mocks
	10	Our frustrate search on land. Well, let him go.

   	ANTONIO
	[Aside to SEBASTIAN]
		I am right glad that he's so out of hope.
	12	Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose
       		That you resolved to effect.

   	SEBASTIAN
       	[Aside to ANTONIO]
       		The next advantage Will we take throughly.

   	ANTONIO
       	[Aside to SEBASTIAN]
       		Let it be to-night;
	15     	For, now they are oppress'd with travail, they
       		Will not, nor cannot, use such vigilance
       		As when they are fresh.

   	SEBASTIAN
       	[Aside to ANTONIO]
       		I say, to-night: no more.
	       	
		Solemn and strange music

   	ALONSO
       		What harmony is this? My good friends, hark!

   	GONZALO 
       		Marvellous sweet music!

	[Enter PROSPERO above, invisible. Enter several strange Shapes, 
	bringing in a banquet; they dance about it with gentle actions of 
	salutation; and, inviting the King and company to eat, they depart]

   	ALONSO
	20     	Give us kind keepers, heavens! What were these?

   	SEBASTIAN
	21     	A living drollery. Now I will believe
       		That there are unicorns, that in Arabia
       		There is one tree, the phoenix' throne, one phoenix
       		At this hour reigning there.

   	ANTONIO
       		I'll believe both;
	25     	And what does else want credit, come to me,
	26     	And I'll be sworn 'tis true: travellers ne'er did lie,
       		Though fools at home condemn 'em.

   	GONZALO
       		If in Naples
       		I should report this now, would they believe me?
       		If I should say, I saw such islanders--
	30     	For, certes, these are people of the island--
       		Who, though they are of monstrous shape, yet, note,
	32     	Their manners are more gentle-kind than of
       		Our human generation you shall find
       		Many, nay, almost any.

   	PROSPERO 
       	[Aside] 
		Honest lord,
       		Thou hast said well; for some of you there present
       		Are worse than devils.

	
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