CALIBANPROLOGUE
CALIBAN
The action begins in semi-darkness, out of which sound invisible choirs.The scene is the cave ofSETEBOS,whose stark-colored idol—half tiger and half toad—colossal and primitive—rises at centre above a stone altar.On the right, the cave leads inward to the abode ofSYCORAX;on the left, it leads outward to the sea, a blue-green glimpse of which is vaguely visible.High in the tiger-jaws of the idol, ARIEL—a slim, winged figure, half nude—is held fettered.In the dimness, he listens to deep-bellowing choirs from below, answered by a chorus of sweet shrill voices from within.
The action begins in semi-darkness, out of which sound invisible choirs.
The scene is the cave ofSETEBOS,whose stark-colored idol—half tiger and half toad—colossal and primitive—rises at centre above a stone altar.
On the right, the cave leads inward to the abode ofSYCORAX;on the left, it leads outward to the sea, a blue-green glimpse of which is vaguely visible.
High in the tiger-jaws of the idol, ARIEL—a slim, winged figure, half nude—is held fettered.
In the dimness, he listens to deep-bellowing choirs from below, answered by a chorus of sweet shrill voices from within.
THE VOICES FROM BELOW[Sing.]Setebos! Setebos!THE VOICES FROM WITHIN[Sing.]Ariel!ARIEL[Calls aloud.]O, my brave spirits!THE VOICES FROM BELOWSetebos! Setebos!Over us which art, and under:Fang of fireFrom mouth of thunder!Hungering goadFrom belly of mire!Tiger and toad—Setebos!Blood which art on the jungle bloom,Sloth and slumber and seed in the womb:Which art wondrousOver and under us,Setebos! Setebos! Thou art Setebos!THE VOICES FROM WITHINSealèd in a starless cell,We are shut from dawn and sky.Ariel!—Ariel!Why?ARIELSetebos knows, but his jawsFetter me fast: he is dumb—Answering never.THE VOICES FROM WITHINWe, who parch for dew and star—Ariel!—Ariel!—Must we perish where we are?Tell!ARIELSycorax knows, but she sitsThere in the cave with her son—Mocking us ever.THE VOICES FROM WITHINAriel!ARIELCall me no more,Lest they torment us. I hear themComing now.THE VOICE OF SYCORAXCaliban!ARIELHush![Gigantic, the twisted form ofSYCORAXlooms fromwithin the rock.]SYCORAX[Calling toward the sea.]Come, fish-fowl! Leave thy flapping in the mudAnd keep thy father’s temple. Call his priests.Thy father Toad’s a god, hath double teethIn his two heads. The Tiger loins of himBegot thee in my belly for a cubTo lick his paws and purr, else he may pinch theeBehind an eye-tooth, like yon flitter mouseThat hangs there wriggling.THE VOICE OF CALIBANSo, so Sycorax!—Coming!SYCORAXAye, so so: crawling still![Malformed and hissing, CALIBANenters on his bellyand arms.]CALIBANSyc-Syco-Sycorax! See!SYCORAXWhat hast thou got thee?CALIBAN[Laughs, half rising, and holds up a wriggling creature.]GotA little god—a little Caliban.Ha!—make him out of mud. See: Squeezed it roundAnd slipped him through my fist-hole. Am a god:[Rising.]See Sycorax—her grandchild!SYCORAX’Tis an eel-worm.Fling him to the white bat yonder.[Her form vanishes in the rock.]CALIBAN[Approaching the idol.]Ariel,Here’s food for thee: a wormling for thy beak.So, my trapped bird:—How sayst, ha?ARIEL[Sings.]“Where the bee sucks there suck I.”CALIBAN[Laughing.]Bee, sayst thou?Still buzzest of thy wings, and eatest—air!ARIEL[Sings.]“In a cowslip’s bell I lie.”CALIBANMy father’s gullet is no cowslip’s bell.Shalt lie in the belly of Setebos.[Tossing away the eel.]—What waitest for?ARIELI am waiting for one who will come.CALIBANAye?Whowill come?ARIELOne from the heart of the world; and he shall riseOn tempest of music and in thunder of song.CALIBAN[Gaping.]Thunder and tempest—so!ARIEL[With ecstasy.]I see him now.CALIBAN[Crouching back.]See him!Where, now?ARIELIn my dream:—He bearsA star-wrought staff and hooded cloak of blue,And on his right hand bums the sun, and onHis left, the moon; and these he makes his masksOf joy and sorrow.CALIBANWhere? Mine eye seeth naught.ARIELBefore him comes a maid—a child, all wonder—And leads, him to this blighted isle.CALIBANWhat for, here?ARIELTo set me free, and all my air-born spiritsWhom Setebos holds prisoned in this earth.CALIBANFree? What’s that—free?ARIELWhat thou canst never beWho never shalt dance with us by yellow sands.SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Sing within.]“Come unto these yellow sands,And then take hands:Courtsied when you have and kiss’dThe wild waves whist.Foot it featly here and there”—CALIBANHo, blast their noises! Stop thy spirits’ squealing.Their piping itcheth me like hornets’ stings.SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Sing on, within.]“And, sweet sprites, the burthen bear”—CALIBAN[Screaming.]Setebos! Squash ’em!POWERS OF SETEBOS[Sing below with strident roarings, drowning the songof Ariel’s Spirits.]Setebos!Setebos!Thou art Setebos!CALIBAN[Exulting grotesquely.]Who’ll dance by yellow sands?—Who’s free now, spirit?Ho, Caliban can squash their music. Free?Aren’t I a god, bitch-born, the son of SetebosCan howl all hell up? Worship me, thou wings!Praise my toad-father in his temple!ARIELThe priestsOf Setebos are Lust and Death and War.Not Ariel—nor Ariel’s Spirits ever—Shall do them honor. One shall come hereafterWhom we now worship, waiting.CALIBAN[Roaring.]Sycorax!SYCORAX[Reappearing.]Swallow thy croakings, bullfrog. Call the priests,And fill this spirit’s nostrils with the reekOf Setebos, his blood-rites.THE SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Cry out piercingly.]Ariel!ARIELPeace, my brave hearts! Be dumb—but still be dreaming!CALIBANPowers of Setebos!—Lust, Death, War,—ho, now!Hither, and do my father worship!ARIEL[Stifling a cry.]Ah![EnterLUST, DEATH,andWAR,arrayed as priestsof Setebos.]SYCORAX[To Caliban.]Come, toad-boy: watch with me, within.CALIBAN[Going within the cave, as Sycorax disappears.]Free, saith?Will dance by yellow sands?—Now, Spirit, dance![As Caliban goes within, the powers of Setebos come forth.At the altar beneath Ariel, the three Priests leadthem in ceremonial rites of primeval pageantry anddance—the sacrificial worship of Setebos. Abovethem Ariel suffers, with closed eyes. In theirrites, Lust pours his libation, and lights thealtar fire, which—when War has made there hisliving sacrifice—Death extinguishes in darkness.Through the dark, which gradually changes to a glowingdusky Ariel speaks aloud.]ARIELO Spirits, I have dreamed, but Death has closedMy sight in darkness. Spirits, I have begottenSweet Joy, but Lust hath drowned her in his wine.Yea, I have wove Love wings, but War hath robbed themAnd riven his lovely body all aliveTo feed the hungering flames of Setebos.My Spirits, I your master am unmastered.Speak to me! Comfort me! Is there no joy,No love, no dream, that shall survive this dark?Hath this our isle no king but Caliban?Are there no yellow sands where we shall danceTo greet the master of a timeless dawn?Or must there break no morning?—Ah, you are dumbStill to my doubtings. Yet the dark grows pale,And, paling, pulses now with rosier shadows;And now the shadows tremble, and draw backTheir trailing glories: hark! All little birdsWake in the gloaming: look! What young AuroraWalks in the dusk below, and like a childTurns her quick face to listen?—Ah![Below, against the light from the sea, has enteredthe dim Figure he descries.]THE FIGUREWho calls?ARIELSpirits, ’tis she! O, we have dreamed her trueAt last—Miranda!SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Call, in echoing song.]Miranda!MIRANDA[Searching with her eyes.]Earth and airEcho my name. Who calls me?ARIELAriel.SPIRITS OF ARIEL[As before.]Ariel!MIRANDALight and dark spin webs around me.What art thou, voice—and where?ARIELHere—and your servant.MIRANDA[Beholding him.]O me!—poor Spirit!—What mouth so terribleUtters a voice so tender?ARIELSetebos,God of this isle, holds me in ’s fangs.MIRANDABut why?ARIELI will not serve him.MIRANDA[Naïvely, drawing nearer to the huge idol.]Setebos, be kind.Release this Spirit.ARIELHe hath nor ears, nor eyes,Nor any sense to know thee by, but onlyThese tusks and claws and his toad-belly.MIRANDADostThou suffer, so?ARIELNot now.MIRANDAAnd hath he held theeLong captive?ARIELSince old ocean’s slime first spawnedUnder the moon, I have awaited theeAnd him thou bringest here.MIRANDAYou mean my father,Prospero.ARIEL[Exultingly.]Hail him, Spirits!SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Sing.]Prospero!MIRANDAYea, many a starry journey we have madeSearching this isle. At last to-day, at dawn,I saw its yellow sands, and heard thy voiceCalling for pity. Now my father is comeAnd shall release thee.ARIELWhere? Where is he?MIRANDAHere:His cloak is round us now: he holds us nowIn his great art, revealing each to eachThough he be all invisible.[Reëntering, Caliban comes forward, sniffing andpeering at Miranda.]CALIBANHath feetAnd hair: hath bright hair shineth like a fish’s tail;Hath mouth, and maketh small, sweet noises.ARIEL[Crying out.]Beast,Go back!MIRANDA[Staring, amazed.]What’s here?CALIBANCa—Caliban; cometh hereTo smell what ’tis.[He sniffs nearer; then howls strangely.]Spring in the air: Oho!MIRANDAAlas, poor creature! Who hath hurt thee?CALIBANHurt?Who hurteth God? Am seed of Setebos:Am Caliban: the world is all mine isle:Kill what I please, and play with what I please;So, yonder, play with him: pull out his wingsAnd put ’em back to grow.—Where bethywings,Spring-i’-the-air?MIRANDAO Ariel, is this sightA true thing, and speaks truly?ARIELWhat you hearAnd see—’tis my master.MIRANDA’Tis so wonderfulI know not how to be sad.CALIBAN[In puzzled fascination, staring at Miranda.]The moon hath a faceAnd smileth on the lily pools, but hathNo lily body withal: thy body isAll lilies and the smell of lily buds,And thy round face a pool of moonbeams!MIRANDA[With smile and laughter.]Nay,Then look not in, lest thou eclipse the moon.CALIBANSyc—Sycorax hath no such laughing: soundethLike little leaves i’ the rain! Hath no such mouthBright-lipp’d with berries ripe to suck i’ the sun—Sycorax.MIRANDAWho is Sycorax?ARIELAh, pain!CALIBANHo, she that hath calved Caliban to the bullSetebos, my blood-sire. [Pauses at a glowing thought,then cries with sudden exultance:] So shall us twainCaliban all this world![He crouches, then rolls over at her feet.]—Laugh, Spring-i’-the-air!Lift so thy lily-pad foot and rub his earWhere the fur tickleth, and let thy CalibanTongue-lick its palm.[He lies, dog-like, on his back, and laughs loud.]MIRANDAThis wonder grows too wild.ARIELGo, go! O flee away!CALIBAN[Leaping up.]Away?—Aye, so![He approaches Miranda, who recoils, half fearful.]Wist where salt water lappeth warm i’ the noonAnd shore-fish breed i’ the shoals.—Wist where the sea-bullFlap-flappeth his fin and walloweth there his cowAnd snoreth the rainbow from his nostrils.[He begins to dance grotesquely about her.]Ho,Spring-i’-the-air! shalt leap, shalt roll in the sun,Shalt dance with lily-warm limbs, shalt race wi’ the gulls!Shalt laugh, and call—Come, Come!Come, come, Caliban!Catcheth who catcheth can!Mateth mew, mateth man:Catch, come, Caliban!ARIELO Setebos, let me go free!MIRANDA[To Caliban.]Peace! Dance no more.Go hence, and leave me.CALIBAN[Staring.]Hence? Aye, both—us twain.MIRANDA[With simple command.]Nay, thou alone.CALIBAN[With narrowing eyes, draws nearer.]Saithwhat?MIRANDA[Unafraid.]Go from me.CALIBAN[Stops, with a hissing growl.]Syc-Syc-Sycorax! Sycorax!SYCORAX[Reappearing.]Mole in the mire, wilt squeakWhen thou art trod on?—Bite! Bite, Setebos’ son!Let the brave wonder breed of thee.CALIBANAye, mother.[With rising passion—to Miranda.]A child! Shalt bear me such as thou, with headOf Caliban: no eel-worm, nay—a wonder,With lily feet, that walk. Ho, Setebos!SYCORAXSetebos! Mate them at thine altar.MIRANDA[Fleeing from Caliban, pauses in terror of Sycorax.]Save me!POWERS OF SETEBOS[Sing within.]Setebos! Setebos!CALIBAN[Rushing toward Miranda.]Mine!MIRANDASave me, father!ARIEL[Calling shrilly.]Prospero!SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Sing within.]Prospero! Hail![A clap of thunder strikes, rolling, in sudden darkness.Lightnings burst from the idol of Setebos.From the flashing gloom, choruses of contendingspirits commingle the roar of their deep bass andhigh-pitched choirs.]SPIRITS OF ARIELProspero! Prospero!Out of our earth-painRaise and array usIn splendor of order!Pour on our chaos—Prospero! Prospero!—Peace to our earth-pain!POWERS OF SETEBOSSetebos! Setebos!Lord of our earth-bane,Loose on his wrath wayThe beast of thy jungle!Pour on our pathway—Setebos! Setebos!Blood for thine earth-bane![Amid the tempestuous song, darkness, and thunder,appears on the left a glowing, winged throne. Onthe throne sitsPROSPERO—in one hand, a scroll;in the other, a miraculous staff.]PROSPERO[Raising his staff.]Darkness, be light!—Tempest, be calm!—Miranda![The scene grows light, and is still.]MIRANDA[At the steps of the throne.]Father!PROSPEROCome to me, child.[As she mounts to him gladly.]Sit here beside me.[She sits at his feet, nestling in the folds of his greatgarment.]My cloak and staff protect thee.MIRANDA[Raising her eyes in dread.]But the wild thing?PROSPEROMust be transformed.—Caliban!CALIBAN[Crouching at the centre, howls terribly.]Setebos—sire!Sycorax—mother! Hast swallowed them. Lord Thunder,Strike us no more!PROSPEROI strike no more till timeHath need of thunder. Rise now and be tamed,Howler at Heaven.CALIBAN[Rising, bewildered.]Tamed, saith? What shall it be—That “tamed?”PROSPEROThat shalt thou learn of Ariel.Now—Ariel![He looks toward Ariel, still held in the mouth of Setebos.Sycorax lies heaped and still by the altar.]ARIEL[Joyously.]Master!PROSPEROSycorax, lo, ’tis dead.CALIBAN[With wailing cry.]Ah—yo!PROSPEROThe will of Setebos is matched with mineTo rule our world. Time shall award the prize—Mine own Miranda—to his power or mine.His might is awful, but mine art is deepTo foil his power and exalt mine own.Ariel, thy spirits shall help me.ARIELMaster, how?PROSPEROThou, long time artless, now shalt learn mine artTo win my goal—Miranda’s freedom. NeverTill this immortal Caliban shall riseTo lordly reason, can Miranda holdHer maiden gladness undismayed. For thatI will release thee from those fangsOf Setebos.ARIELFor that, dear master, I have waitedLong ages, dreaming.PROSPEROSo, wilt give thy promiseTo learn of me, and teach this monster here?ARIELO set me free to be thy servant ever.Master, I promise!PROSPEROFly! Run free!—Unfang him,Setebos![Prospero raises his staff.Slowly the tiger-jaws of the Idol open their fangs.Ariel, with a joyous cry, slips into the air, and—ashe floats fluttering to the earth—his unseenchoir of Spirits sing with shrilly gladness:]SPIRITS OF ARIELProspero! Prospero! Hail!ARIEL[Dancing on the earth.]Free! Free!MIRANDA[Eagerly.]O, now his fettered Spirits: Free them too!PROSPEROWell urged, my own Miranda.—Setebos,Disgorge these long-embowelled choirs!—Spirits,Come forth![Again Prospero raises his staff.Yawning enormous, the toad-mouth of the Idol, fittedwith green and blue light, widens to a lurid apertureout of which come forth—dancing—the star-brightSpirits of Ariel.As they come, Ariel—springing toward Caliban—criesexultingly:]ARIELNow, Caliban, we dance by yellow sands![Singing as they rush forth, the Spirits dart with Arielswiftly about the grovelling Caliban and chase him,dodging and whining, down the steps to the ground-circle,mottled with its shadowy continents of theworld, and rimmed with its long, yellow wave-lines.]SPIRITS OF ARIEL“Come unto these yellow sands,And then take hands:Courtsied when you have and kiss’dThe wild waves whist.Foot it featly here and thereAnd, sweet sprites, the burthen bear:Hark, hark!Bow-wow!The watch-dogs bark:Bow-wow!Hark, hark! I hearThe strain of strutting chanticleerCry: cock-o-diddle-dow!”[Encircling Caliban in their dance, and pelting him withbright handfuls of the yellow sands, they tease anddrive him howling into his cave cell, where his dark,monstrous shape silhouettes for a moment on theorange-red glow, then vanishes within.As he disappears, to their last “Bow-wow!”and “"Cock-a-diddle-dow!”, they hasten back aboveto Ariel, who leads them before Prospero.]ARIELThe beast is routed, Master. Was’t well done?PROSPEROThe routed beast—returns. I charge thee, Spirit,Not to torment, but teach him—for which taskThou wilt require mine art. So by its powerWe will transform this cave of SetebosTo be a temple to Miranda. NowLet these thy Spirits lead her to her shrineYonder, where all her maiden Muses waitTo make her welcome.[Prospero points to where, on the right, appears Miranda’sshrine. From its portals come forth the Nine Muses, bearinglutes and pipes. Prospero, turning to Miranda, rises andgives her into Ariel’s care.]Child, go with them nowAnd tarry till I summon.MIRANDASir, I will.I thank you and these Spirits, and may we allBe saved from Setebos.ARIELSweet Mistress, follow![To a melodious tiding and piping played by the Muses,Ariel and his Spirits escort Miranda to the centre,where the Muses meet and conduct her into the shrine,while Ariel’s Spirits—at a gesture from him—dartthrough the centre of the Cloudy Curtains and disappear.]PROSPERO[Calling.]Now hither, bird, and perch!ARIEL[Running to him, on the throne.]Beside you, Master!PROSPERO[Pointing to the ground-circle.]Seest yonder Yellow Sands? There sleep the shores,The cloudy capes and continents of time;There wane and wax eternal tides, that markThe ebb and flow of empires with their foam.There shalt thou see the million-colored skeinWhereof I weave mine art. Look well and learn!For this my art is of no only landOr age, but born of all—itself a worldSnatched from the womb of History, to surviveIts mortal mother in imagination.—Dost thou attend me?ARIELWord and will, dear Master![At the mouth of Caliban’s cell are now visible Lust,Death, and War, who in pantomime indicate to Calibantheir conspiracy against Prospero and Ariel.]PROSPERO’Tis well, for thou must prove my pupil. Look!Even now the priests of Setebos conspireWith Caliban against us. They will compassMy fall, Miranda’s ruin, and thy bondageUnless mine art can foil them. Therefore, nowThou shalt behold the pageant of mine artPace from antiquity. First, while yon glassLets flow its yellow sands, behold appearMy rites of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome,And, while they pass, I will instruct thee howTo use them.—Pageant, appear![A deep gong sounds.]Lo, Egypt comes!
THE VOICES FROM BELOW[Sing.]Setebos! Setebos!THE VOICES FROM WITHIN[Sing.]Ariel!ARIEL[Calls aloud.]O, my brave spirits!THE VOICES FROM BELOWSetebos! Setebos!Over us which art, and under:Fang of fireFrom mouth of thunder!Hungering goadFrom belly of mire!Tiger and toad—Setebos!Blood which art on the jungle bloom,Sloth and slumber and seed in the womb:Which art wondrousOver and under us,Setebos! Setebos! Thou art Setebos!THE VOICES FROM WITHINSealèd in a starless cell,We are shut from dawn and sky.Ariel!—Ariel!Why?ARIELSetebos knows, but his jawsFetter me fast: he is dumb—Answering never.THE VOICES FROM WITHINWe, who parch for dew and star—Ariel!—Ariel!—Must we perish where we are?Tell!ARIELSycorax knows, but she sitsThere in the cave with her son—Mocking us ever.THE VOICES FROM WITHINAriel!ARIELCall me no more,Lest they torment us. I hear themComing now.THE VOICE OF SYCORAXCaliban!ARIELHush![Gigantic, the twisted form ofSYCORAXlooms fromwithin the rock.]SYCORAX[Calling toward the sea.]Come, fish-fowl! Leave thy flapping in the mudAnd keep thy father’s temple. Call his priests.Thy father Toad’s a god, hath double teethIn his two heads. The Tiger loins of himBegot thee in my belly for a cubTo lick his paws and purr, else he may pinch theeBehind an eye-tooth, like yon flitter mouseThat hangs there wriggling.THE VOICE OF CALIBANSo, so Sycorax!—Coming!SYCORAXAye, so so: crawling still![Malformed and hissing, CALIBANenters on his bellyand arms.]CALIBANSyc-Syco-Sycorax! See!SYCORAXWhat hast thou got thee?CALIBAN[Laughs, half rising, and holds up a wriggling creature.]GotA little god—a little Caliban.Ha!—make him out of mud. See: Squeezed it roundAnd slipped him through my fist-hole. Am a god:[Rising.]See Sycorax—her grandchild!SYCORAX’Tis an eel-worm.Fling him to the white bat yonder.[Her form vanishes in the rock.]CALIBAN[Approaching the idol.]Ariel,Here’s food for thee: a wormling for thy beak.So, my trapped bird:—How sayst, ha?ARIEL[Sings.]“Where the bee sucks there suck I.”CALIBAN[Laughing.]Bee, sayst thou?Still buzzest of thy wings, and eatest—air!ARIEL[Sings.]“In a cowslip’s bell I lie.”CALIBANMy father’s gullet is no cowslip’s bell.Shalt lie in the belly of Setebos.[Tossing away the eel.]—What waitest for?ARIELI am waiting for one who will come.CALIBANAye?Whowill come?ARIELOne from the heart of the world; and he shall riseOn tempest of music and in thunder of song.CALIBAN[Gaping.]Thunder and tempest—so!ARIEL[With ecstasy.]I see him now.CALIBAN[Crouching back.]See him!Where, now?ARIELIn my dream:—He bearsA star-wrought staff and hooded cloak of blue,And on his right hand bums the sun, and onHis left, the moon; and these he makes his masksOf joy and sorrow.CALIBANWhere? Mine eye seeth naught.ARIELBefore him comes a maid—a child, all wonder—And leads, him to this blighted isle.CALIBANWhat for, here?ARIELTo set me free, and all my air-born spiritsWhom Setebos holds prisoned in this earth.CALIBANFree? What’s that—free?ARIELWhat thou canst never beWho never shalt dance with us by yellow sands.SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Sing within.]“Come unto these yellow sands,And then take hands:Courtsied when you have and kiss’dThe wild waves whist.Foot it featly here and there”—CALIBANHo, blast their noises! Stop thy spirits’ squealing.Their piping itcheth me like hornets’ stings.SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Sing on, within.]“And, sweet sprites, the burthen bear”—CALIBAN[Screaming.]Setebos! Squash ’em!POWERS OF SETEBOS[Sing below with strident roarings, drowning the songof Ariel’s Spirits.]Setebos!Setebos!Thou art Setebos!CALIBAN[Exulting grotesquely.]Who’ll dance by yellow sands?—Who’s free now, spirit?Ho, Caliban can squash their music. Free?Aren’t I a god, bitch-born, the son of SetebosCan howl all hell up? Worship me, thou wings!Praise my toad-father in his temple!ARIELThe priestsOf Setebos are Lust and Death and War.Not Ariel—nor Ariel’s Spirits ever—Shall do them honor. One shall come hereafterWhom we now worship, waiting.CALIBAN[Roaring.]Sycorax!SYCORAX[Reappearing.]Swallow thy croakings, bullfrog. Call the priests,And fill this spirit’s nostrils with the reekOf Setebos, his blood-rites.THE SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Cry out piercingly.]Ariel!ARIELPeace, my brave hearts! Be dumb—but still be dreaming!CALIBANPowers of Setebos!—Lust, Death, War,—ho, now!Hither, and do my father worship!ARIEL[Stifling a cry.]Ah![EnterLUST, DEATH,andWAR,arrayed as priestsof Setebos.]SYCORAX[To Caliban.]Come, toad-boy: watch with me, within.CALIBAN[Going within the cave, as Sycorax disappears.]Free, saith?Will dance by yellow sands?—Now, Spirit, dance![As Caliban goes within, the powers of Setebos come forth.At the altar beneath Ariel, the three Priests leadthem in ceremonial rites of primeval pageantry anddance—the sacrificial worship of Setebos. Abovethem Ariel suffers, with closed eyes. In theirrites, Lust pours his libation, and lights thealtar fire, which—when War has made there hisliving sacrifice—Death extinguishes in darkness.Through the dark, which gradually changes to a glowingdusky Ariel speaks aloud.]ARIELO Spirits, I have dreamed, but Death has closedMy sight in darkness. Spirits, I have begottenSweet Joy, but Lust hath drowned her in his wine.Yea, I have wove Love wings, but War hath robbed themAnd riven his lovely body all aliveTo feed the hungering flames of Setebos.My Spirits, I your master am unmastered.Speak to me! Comfort me! Is there no joy,No love, no dream, that shall survive this dark?Hath this our isle no king but Caliban?Are there no yellow sands where we shall danceTo greet the master of a timeless dawn?Or must there break no morning?—Ah, you are dumbStill to my doubtings. Yet the dark grows pale,And, paling, pulses now with rosier shadows;And now the shadows tremble, and draw backTheir trailing glories: hark! All little birdsWake in the gloaming: look! What young AuroraWalks in the dusk below, and like a childTurns her quick face to listen?—Ah![Below, against the light from the sea, has enteredthe dim Figure he descries.]THE FIGUREWho calls?ARIELSpirits, ’tis she! O, we have dreamed her trueAt last—Miranda!SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Call, in echoing song.]Miranda!MIRANDA[Searching with her eyes.]Earth and airEcho my name. Who calls me?ARIELAriel.SPIRITS OF ARIEL[As before.]Ariel!MIRANDALight and dark spin webs around me.What art thou, voice—and where?ARIELHere—and your servant.MIRANDA[Beholding him.]O me!—poor Spirit!—What mouth so terribleUtters a voice so tender?ARIELSetebos,God of this isle, holds me in ’s fangs.MIRANDABut why?ARIELI will not serve him.MIRANDA[Naïvely, drawing nearer to the huge idol.]Setebos, be kind.Release this Spirit.ARIELHe hath nor ears, nor eyes,Nor any sense to know thee by, but onlyThese tusks and claws and his toad-belly.MIRANDADostThou suffer, so?ARIELNot now.MIRANDAAnd hath he held theeLong captive?ARIELSince old ocean’s slime first spawnedUnder the moon, I have awaited theeAnd him thou bringest here.MIRANDAYou mean my father,Prospero.ARIEL[Exultingly.]Hail him, Spirits!SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Sing.]Prospero!MIRANDAYea, many a starry journey we have madeSearching this isle. At last to-day, at dawn,I saw its yellow sands, and heard thy voiceCalling for pity. Now my father is comeAnd shall release thee.ARIELWhere? Where is he?MIRANDAHere:His cloak is round us now: he holds us nowIn his great art, revealing each to eachThough he be all invisible.[Reëntering, Caliban comes forward, sniffing andpeering at Miranda.]CALIBANHath feetAnd hair: hath bright hair shineth like a fish’s tail;Hath mouth, and maketh small, sweet noises.ARIEL[Crying out.]Beast,Go back!MIRANDA[Staring, amazed.]What’s here?CALIBANCa—Caliban; cometh hereTo smell what ’tis.[He sniffs nearer; then howls strangely.]Spring in the air: Oho!MIRANDAAlas, poor creature! Who hath hurt thee?CALIBANHurt?Who hurteth God? Am seed of Setebos:Am Caliban: the world is all mine isle:Kill what I please, and play with what I please;So, yonder, play with him: pull out his wingsAnd put ’em back to grow.—Where bethywings,Spring-i’-the-air?MIRANDAO Ariel, is this sightA true thing, and speaks truly?ARIELWhat you hearAnd see—’tis my master.MIRANDA’Tis so wonderfulI know not how to be sad.CALIBAN[In puzzled fascination, staring at Miranda.]The moon hath a faceAnd smileth on the lily pools, but hathNo lily body withal: thy body isAll lilies and the smell of lily buds,And thy round face a pool of moonbeams!MIRANDA[With smile and laughter.]Nay,Then look not in, lest thou eclipse the moon.CALIBANSyc—Sycorax hath no such laughing: soundethLike little leaves i’ the rain! Hath no such mouthBright-lipp’d with berries ripe to suck i’ the sun—Sycorax.MIRANDAWho is Sycorax?ARIELAh, pain!CALIBANHo, she that hath calved Caliban to the bullSetebos, my blood-sire. [Pauses at a glowing thought,then cries with sudden exultance:] So shall us twainCaliban all this world![He crouches, then rolls over at her feet.]—Laugh, Spring-i’-the-air!Lift so thy lily-pad foot and rub his earWhere the fur tickleth, and let thy CalibanTongue-lick its palm.[He lies, dog-like, on his back, and laughs loud.]MIRANDAThis wonder grows too wild.ARIELGo, go! O flee away!CALIBAN[Leaping up.]Away?—Aye, so![He approaches Miranda, who recoils, half fearful.]Wist where salt water lappeth warm i’ the noonAnd shore-fish breed i’ the shoals.—Wist where the sea-bullFlap-flappeth his fin and walloweth there his cowAnd snoreth the rainbow from his nostrils.[He begins to dance grotesquely about her.]Ho,Spring-i’-the-air! shalt leap, shalt roll in the sun,Shalt dance with lily-warm limbs, shalt race wi’ the gulls!Shalt laugh, and call—Come, Come!Come, come, Caliban!Catcheth who catcheth can!Mateth mew, mateth man:Catch, come, Caliban!ARIELO Setebos, let me go free!MIRANDA[To Caliban.]Peace! Dance no more.Go hence, and leave me.CALIBAN[Staring.]Hence? Aye, both—us twain.MIRANDA[With simple command.]Nay, thou alone.CALIBAN[With narrowing eyes, draws nearer.]Saithwhat?MIRANDA[Unafraid.]Go from me.CALIBAN[Stops, with a hissing growl.]Syc-Syc-Sycorax! Sycorax!SYCORAX[Reappearing.]Mole in the mire, wilt squeakWhen thou art trod on?—Bite! Bite, Setebos’ son!Let the brave wonder breed of thee.CALIBANAye, mother.[With rising passion—to Miranda.]A child! Shalt bear me such as thou, with headOf Caliban: no eel-worm, nay—a wonder,With lily feet, that walk. Ho, Setebos!SYCORAXSetebos! Mate them at thine altar.MIRANDA[Fleeing from Caliban, pauses in terror of Sycorax.]Save me!POWERS OF SETEBOS[Sing within.]Setebos! Setebos!CALIBAN[Rushing toward Miranda.]Mine!MIRANDASave me, father!ARIEL[Calling shrilly.]Prospero!SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Sing within.]Prospero! Hail![A clap of thunder strikes, rolling, in sudden darkness.Lightnings burst from the idol of Setebos.From the flashing gloom, choruses of contendingspirits commingle the roar of their deep bass andhigh-pitched choirs.]SPIRITS OF ARIELProspero! Prospero!Out of our earth-painRaise and array usIn splendor of order!Pour on our chaos—Prospero! Prospero!—Peace to our earth-pain!POWERS OF SETEBOSSetebos! Setebos!Lord of our earth-bane,Loose on his wrath wayThe beast of thy jungle!Pour on our pathway—Setebos! Setebos!Blood for thine earth-bane![Amid the tempestuous song, darkness, and thunder,appears on the left a glowing, winged throne. Onthe throne sitsPROSPERO—in one hand, a scroll;in the other, a miraculous staff.]PROSPERO[Raising his staff.]Darkness, be light!—Tempest, be calm!—Miranda![The scene grows light, and is still.]MIRANDA[At the steps of the throne.]Father!PROSPEROCome to me, child.[As she mounts to him gladly.]Sit here beside me.[She sits at his feet, nestling in the folds of his greatgarment.]My cloak and staff protect thee.MIRANDA[Raising her eyes in dread.]But the wild thing?PROSPEROMust be transformed.—Caliban!CALIBAN[Crouching at the centre, howls terribly.]Setebos—sire!Sycorax—mother! Hast swallowed them. Lord Thunder,Strike us no more!PROSPEROI strike no more till timeHath need of thunder. Rise now and be tamed,Howler at Heaven.CALIBAN[Rising, bewildered.]Tamed, saith? What shall it be—That “tamed?”PROSPEROThat shalt thou learn of Ariel.Now—Ariel![He looks toward Ariel, still held in the mouth of Setebos.Sycorax lies heaped and still by the altar.]ARIEL[Joyously.]Master!PROSPEROSycorax, lo, ’tis dead.CALIBAN[With wailing cry.]Ah—yo!PROSPEROThe will of Setebos is matched with mineTo rule our world. Time shall award the prize—Mine own Miranda—to his power or mine.His might is awful, but mine art is deepTo foil his power and exalt mine own.Ariel, thy spirits shall help me.ARIELMaster, how?PROSPEROThou, long time artless, now shalt learn mine artTo win my goal—Miranda’s freedom. NeverTill this immortal Caliban shall riseTo lordly reason, can Miranda holdHer maiden gladness undismayed. For thatI will release thee from those fangsOf Setebos.ARIELFor that, dear master, I have waitedLong ages, dreaming.PROSPEROSo, wilt give thy promiseTo learn of me, and teach this monster here?ARIELO set me free to be thy servant ever.Master, I promise!PROSPEROFly! Run free!—Unfang him,Setebos![Prospero raises his staff.Slowly the tiger-jaws of the Idol open their fangs.Ariel, with a joyous cry, slips into the air, and—ashe floats fluttering to the earth—his unseenchoir of Spirits sing with shrilly gladness:]SPIRITS OF ARIELProspero! Prospero! Hail!ARIEL[Dancing on the earth.]Free! Free!MIRANDA[Eagerly.]O, now his fettered Spirits: Free them too!PROSPEROWell urged, my own Miranda.—Setebos,Disgorge these long-embowelled choirs!—Spirits,Come forth![Again Prospero raises his staff.Yawning enormous, the toad-mouth of the Idol, fittedwith green and blue light, widens to a lurid apertureout of which come forth—dancing—the star-brightSpirits of Ariel.As they come, Ariel—springing toward Caliban—criesexultingly:]ARIELNow, Caliban, we dance by yellow sands![Singing as they rush forth, the Spirits dart with Arielswiftly about the grovelling Caliban and chase him,dodging and whining, down the steps to the ground-circle,mottled with its shadowy continents of theworld, and rimmed with its long, yellow wave-lines.]SPIRITS OF ARIEL“Come unto these yellow sands,And then take hands:Courtsied when you have and kiss’dThe wild waves whist.Foot it featly here and thereAnd, sweet sprites, the burthen bear:Hark, hark!Bow-wow!The watch-dogs bark:Bow-wow!Hark, hark! I hearThe strain of strutting chanticleerCry: cock-o-diddle-dow!”[Encircling Caliban in their dance, and pelting him withbright handfuls of the yellow sands, they tease anddrive him howling into his cave cell, where his dark,monstrous shape silhouettes for a moment on theorange-red glow, then vanishes within.As he disappears, to their last “Bow-wow!”and “"Cock-a-diddle-dow!”, they hasten back aboveto Ariel, who leads them before Prospero.]ARIELThe beast is routed, Master. Was’t well done?PROSPEROThe routed beast—returns. I charge thee, Spirit,Not to torment, but teach him—for which taskThou wilt require mine art. So by its powerWe will transform this cave of SetebosTo be a temple to Miranda. NowLet these thy Spirits lead her to her shrineYonder, where all her maiden Muses waitTo make her welcome.[Prospero points to where, on the right, appears Miranda’sshrine. From its portals come forth the Nine Muses, bearinglutes and pipes. Prospero, turning to Miranda, rises andgives her into Ariel’s care.]Child, go with them nowAnd tarry till I summon.MIRANDASir, I will.I thank you and these Spirits, and may we allBe saved from Setebos.ARIELSweet Mistress, follow![To a melodious tiding and piping played by the Muses,Ariel and his Spirits escort Miranda to the centre,where the Muses meet and conduct her into the shrine,while Ariel’s Spirits—at a gesture from him—dartthrough the centre of the Cloudy Curtains and disappear.]PROSPERO[Calling.]Now hither, bird, and perch!ARIEL[Running to him, on the throne.]Beside you, Master!PROSPERO[Pointing to the ground-circle.]Seest yonder Yellow Sands? There sleep the shores,The cloudy capes and continents of time;There wane and wax eternal tides, that markThe ebb and flow of empires with their foam.There shalt thou see the million-colored skeinWhereof I weave mine art. Look well and learn!For this my art is of no only landOr age, but born of all—itself a worldSnatched from the womb of History, to surviveIts mortal mother in imagination.—Dost thou attend me?ARIELWord and will, dear Master![At the mouth of Caliban’s cell are now visible Lust,Death, and War, who in pantomime indicate to Calibantheir conspiracy against Prospero and Ariel.]PROSPERO’Tis well, for thou must prove my pupil. Look!Even now the priests of Setebos conspireWith Caliban against us. They will compassMy fall, Miranda’s ruin, and thy bondageUnless mine art can foil them. Therefore, nowThou shalt behold the pageant of mine artPace from antiquity. First, while yon glassLets flow its yellow sands, behold appearMy rites of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome,And, while they pass, I will instruct thee howTo use them.—Pageant, appear![A deep gong sounds.]Lo, Egypt comes!
THE VOICES FROM BELOW[Sing.]Setebos! Setebos!
THE VOICES FROM WITHIN[Sing.]Ariel!
ARIEL[Calls aloud.]O, my brave spirits!
THE VOICES FROM BELOWSetebos! Setebos!Over us which art, and under:Fang of fireFrom mouth of thunder!Hungering goadFrom belly of mire!Tiger and toad—Setebos!Blood which art on the jungle bloom,Sloth and slumber and seed in the womb:Which art wondrousOver and under us,Setebos! Setebos! Thou art Setebos!
THE VOICES FROM WITHINSealèd in a starless cell,We are shut from dawn and sky.Ariel!—Ariel!Why?
ARIELSetebos knows, but his jawsFetter me fast: he is dumb—Answering never.
THE VOICES FROM WITHINWe, who parch for dew and star—Ariel!—Ariel!—Must we perish where we are?Tell!
ARIELSycorax knows, but she sitsThere in the cave with her son—Mocking us ever.
THE VOICES FROM WITHINAriel!
ARIELCall me no more,Lest they torment us. I hear themComing now.
THE VOICE OF SYCORAXCaliban!
ARIELHush!
[Gigantic, the twisted form ofSYCORAXlooms fromwithin the rock.]
SYCORAX[Calling toward the sea.]Come, fish-fowl! Leave thy flapping in the mudAnd keep thy father’s temple. Call his priests.Thy father Toad’s a god, hath double teethIn his two heads. The Tiger loins of himBegot thee in my belly for a cubTo lick his paws and purr, else he may pinch theeBehind an eye-tooth, like yon flitter mouseThat hangs there wriggling.
THE VOICE OF CALIBANSo, so Sycorax!—Coming!
SYCORAXAye, so so: crawling still!
[Malformed and hissing, CALIBANenters on his bellyand arms.]
CALIBANSyc-Syco-Sycorax! See!
SYCORAXWhat hast thou got thee?
CALIBAN[Laughs, half rising, and holds up a wriggling creature.]GotA little god—a little Caliban.Ha!—make him out of mud. See: Squeezed it roundAnd slipped him through my fist-hole. Am a god:[Rising.]See Sycorax—her grandchild!
SYCORAX’Tis an eel-worm.Fling him to the white bat yonder.
[Her form vanishes in the rock.]
CALIBAN[Approaching the idol.]Ariel,Here’s food for thee: a wormling for thy beak.So, my trapped bird:—How sayst, ha?
ARIEL[Sings.]“Where the bee sucks there suck I.”
CALIBAN[Laughing.]Bee, sayst thou?Still buzzest of thy wings, and eatest—air!
ARIEL[Sings.]“In a cowslip’s bell I lie.”
CALIBANMy father’s gullet is no cowslip’s bell.Shalt lie in the belly of Setebos.[Tossing away the eel.]—What waitest for?
ARIELI am waiting for one who will come.
CALIBANAye?Whowill come?
ARIELOne from the heart of the world; and he shall riseOn tempest of music and in thunder of song.
CALIBAN[Gaping.]Thunder and tempest—so!
ARIEL[With ecstasy.]I see him now.
CALIBAN[Crouching back.]See him!Where, now?
ARIELIn my dream:—He bearsA star-wrought staff and hooded cloak of blue,And on his right hand bums the sun, and onHis left, the moon; and these he makes his masksOf joy and sorrow.
CALIBANWhere? Mine eye seeth naught.
ARIELBefore him comes a maid—a child, all wonder—And leads, him to this blighted isle.
CALIBANWhat for, here?
ARIELTo set me free, and all my air-born spiritsWhom Setebos holds prisoned in this earth.
CALIBANFree? What’s that—free?
ARIELWhat thou canst never beWho never shalt dance with us by yellow sands.
SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Sing within.]“Come unto these yellow sands,And then take hands:Courtsied when you have and kiss’dThe wild waves whist.Foot it featly here and there”—
CALIBANHo, blast their noises! Stop thy spirits’ squealing.Their piping itcheth me like hornets’ stings.
SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Sing on, within.]“And, sweet sprites, the burthen bear”—
CALIBAN[Screaming.]Setebos! Squash ’em!
POWERS OF SETEBOS[Sing below with strident roarings, drowning the songof Ariel’s Spirits.]Setebos!Setebos!Thou art Setebos!
CALIBAN[Exulting grotesquely.]Who’ll dance by yellow sands?—Who’s free now, spirit?Ho, Caliban can squash their music. Free?Aren’t I a god, bitch-born, the son of SetebosCan howl all hell up? Worship me, thou wings!Praise my toad-father in his temple!
ARIELThe priestsOf Setebos are Lust and Death and War.Not Ariel—nor Ariel’s Spirits ever—Shall do them honor. One shall come hereafterWhom we now worship, waiting.
CALIBAN[Roaring.]Sycorax!
SYCORAX[Reappearing.]Swallow thy croakings, bullfrog. Call the priests,And fill this spirit’s nostrils with the reekOf Setebos, his blood-rites.
THE SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Cry out piercingly.]Ariel!
ARIELPeace, my brave hearts! Be dumb—but still be dreaming!
CALIBANPowers of Setebos!—Lust, Death, War,—ho, now!Hither, and do my father worship!
ARIEL[Stifling a cry.]Ah!
[EnterLUST, DEATH,andWAR,arrayed as priestsof Setebos.]
SYCORAX[To Caliban.]Come, toad-boy: watch with me, within.
CALIBAN[Going within the cave, as Sycorax disappears.]Free, saith?Will dance by yellow sands?—Now, Spirit, dance!
[As Caliban goes within, the powers of Setebos come forth.At the altar beneath Ariel, the three Priests leadthem in ceremonial rites of primeval pageantry anddance—the sacrificial worship of Setebos. Abovethem Ariel suffers, with closed eyes. In theirrites, Lust pours his libation, and lights thealtar fire, which—when War has made there hisliving sacrifice—Death extinguishes in darkness.Through the dark, which gradually changes to a glowingdusky Ariel speaks aloud.]
ARIELO Spirits, I have dreamed, but Death has closedMy sight in darkness. Spirits, I have begottenSweet Joy, but Lust hath drowned her in his wine.Yea, I have wove Love wings, but War hath robbed themAnd riven his lovely body all aliveTo feed the hungering flames of Setebos.My Spirits, I your master am unmastered.Speak to me! Comfort me! Is there no joy,No love, no dream, that shall survive this dark?Hath this our isle no king but Caliban?Are there no yellow sands where we shall danceTo greet the master of a timeless dawn?Or must there break no morning?—Ah, you are dumbStill to my doubtings. Yet the dark grows pale,And, paling, pulses now with rosier shadows;And now the shadows tremble, and draw backTheir trailing glories: hark! All little birdsWake in the gloaming: look! What young AuroraWalks in the dusk below, and like a childTurns her quick face to listen?—Ah!
[Below, against the light from the sea, has enteredthe dim Figure he descries.]
THE FIGUREWho calls?
ARIELSpirits, ’tis she! O, we have dreamed her trueAt last—Miranda!
SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Call, in echoing song.]Miranda!
MIRANDA[Searching with her eyes.]Earth and airEcho my name. Who calls me?
ARIELAriel.
SPIRITS OF ARIEL[As before.]Ariel!
MIRANDALight and dark spin webs around me.What art thou, voice—and where?
ARIELHere—and your servant.
MIRANDA[Beholding him.]O me!—poor Spirit!—What mouth so terribleUtters a voice so tender?
ARIELSetebos,God of this isle, holds me in ’s fangs.
MIRANDABut why?
ARIELI will not serve him.
MIRANDA[Naïvely, drawing nearer to the huge idol.]Setebos, be kind.Release this Spirit.
ARIELHe hath nor ears, nor eyes,Nor any sense to know thee by, but onlyThese tusks and claws and his toad-belly.
MIRANDADostThou suffer, so?
ARIELNot now.
MIRANDAAnd hath he held theeLong captive?
ARIELSince old ocean’s slime first spawnedUnder the moon, I have awaited theeAnd him thou bringest here.
MIRANDAYou mean my father,Prospero.
ARIEL[Exultingly.]Hail him, Spirits!
SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Sing.]Prospero!
MIRANDAYea, many a starry journey we have madeSearching this isle. At last to-day, at dawn,I saw its yellow sands, and heard thy voiceCalling for pity. Now my father is comeAnd shall release thee.
ARIELWhere? Where is he?
MIRANDAHere:His cloak is round us now: he holds us nowIn his great art, revealing each to eachThough he be all invisible.
[Reëntering, Caliban comes forward, sniffing andpeering at Miranda.]
CALIBANHath feetAnd hair: hath bright hair shineth like a fish’s tail;Hath mouth, and maketh small, sweet noises.
ARIEL[Crying out.]Beast,Go back!
MIRANDA[Staring, amazed.]What’s here?
CALIBANCa—Caliban; cometh hereTo smell what ’tis.[He sniffs nearer; then howls strangely.]Spring in the air: Oho!
MIRANDAAlas, poor creature! Who hath hurt thee?
CALIBANHurt?Who hurteth God? Am seed of Setebos:Am Caliban: the world is all mine isle:Kill what I please, and play with what I please;So, yonder, play with him: pull out his wingsAnd put ’em back to grow.—Where bethywings,Spring-i’-the-air?
MIRANDAO Ariel, is this sightA true thing, and speaks truly?
ARIELWhat you hearAnd see—’tis my master.
MIRANDA’Tis so wonderfulI know not how to be sad.
CALIBAN[In puzzled fascination, staring at Miranda.]
The moon hath a faceAnd smileth on the lily pools, but hathNo lily body withal: thy body isAll lilies and the smell of lily buds,And thy round face a pool of moonbeams!
MIRANDA[With smile and laughter.]Nay,Then look not in, lest thou eclipse the moon.
CALIBANSyc—Sycorax hath no such laughing: soundethLike little leaves i’ the rain! Hath no such mouthBright-lipp’d with berries ripe to suck i’ the sun—Sycorax.
MIRANDAWho is Sycorax?
ARIELAh, pain!
CALIBANHo, she that hath calved Caliban to the bullSetebos, my blood-sire. [Pauses at a glowing thought,then cries with sudden exultance:] So shall us twainCaliban all this world!
[He crouches, then rolls over at her feet.]
—Laugh, Spring-i’-the-air!Lift so thy lily-pad foot and rub his earWhere the fur tickleth, and let thy CalibanTongue-lick its palm.
[He lies, dog-like, on his back, and laughs loud.]
MIRANDAThis wonder grows too wild.
ARIELGo, go! O flee away!
CALIBAN[Leaping up.]Away?—Aye, so![He approaches Miranda, who recoils, half fearful.]Wist where salt water lappeth warm i’ the noonAnd shore-fish breed i’ the shoals.—Wist where the sea-bullFlap-flappeth his fin and walloweth there his cowAnd snoreth the rainbow from his nostrils.
[He begins to dance grotesquely about her.]
Ho,Spring-i’-the-air! shalt leap, shalt roll in the sun,Shalt dance with lily-warm limbs, shalt race wi’ the gulls!Shalt laugh, and call—Come, Come!
Come, come, Caliban!Catcheth who catcheth can!Mateth mew, mateth man:Catch, come, Caliban!
ARIELO Setebos, let me go free!
MIRANDA[To Caliban.]Peace! Dance no more.Go hence, and leave me.
CALIBAN[Staring.]Hence? Aye, both—us twain.
MIRANDA[With simple command.]Nay, thou alone.
CALIBAN[With narrowing eyes, draws nearer.]Saithwhat?
MIRANDA[Unafraid.]Go from me.
CALIBAN[Stops, with a hissing growl.]Syc-Syc-Sycorax! Sycorax!
SYCORAX[Reappearing.]Mole in the mire, wilt squeakWhen thou art trod on?—Bite! Bite, Setebos’ son!Let the brave wonder breed of thee.
CALIBANAye, mother.[With rising passion—to Miranda.]A child! Shalt bear me such as thou, with headOf Caliban: no eel-worm, nay—a wonder,With lily feet, that walk. Ho, Setebos!
SYCORAXSetebos! Mate them at thine altar.
MIRANDA[Fleeing from Caliban, pauses in terror of Sycorax.]Save me!
POWERS OF SETEBOS[Sing within.]Setebos! Setebos!
CALIBAN[Rushing toward Miranda.]Mine!
MIRANDASave me, father!
ARIEL[Calling shrilly.]Prospero!
SPIRITS OF ARIEL[Sing within.]Prospero! Hail!
[A clap of thunder strikes, rolling, in sudden darkness.Lightnings burst from the idol of Setebos.From the flashing gloom, choruses of contendingspirits commingle the roar of their deep bass andhigh-pitched choirs.]
SPIRITS OF ARIELProspero! Prospero!Out of our earth-painRaise and array usIn splendor of order!Pour on our chaos—Prospero! Prospero!—Peace to our earth-pain!
POWERS OF SETEBOS
Setebos! Setebos!Lord of our earth-bane,Loose on his wrath wayThe beast of thy jungle!Pour on our pathway—Setebos! Setebos!Blood for thine earth-bane!
[Amid the tempestuous song, darkness, and thunder,appears on the left a glowing, winged throne. Onthe throne sitsPROSPERO—in one hand, a scroll;in the other, a miraculous staff.]
PROSPERO[Raising his staff.]Darkness, be light!—Tempest, be calm!—Miranda![The scene grows light, and is still.]
MIRANDA[At the steps of the throne.]Father!
PROSPEROCome to me, child.[As she mounts to him gladly.]Sit here beside me.[She sits at his feet, nestling in the folds of his greatgarment.]My cloak and staff protect thee.
MIRANDA[Raising her eyes in dread.]But the wild thing?
PROSPEROMust be transformed.—Caliban!
CALIBAN[Crouching at the centre, howls terribly.]Setebos—sire!Sycorax—mother! Hast swallowed them. Lord Thunder,Strike us no more!
PROSPEROI strike no more till timeHath need of thunder. Rise now and be tamed,Howler at Heaven.
CALIBAN[Rising, bewildered.]Tamed, saith? What shall it be—That “tamed?”
PROSPEROThat shalt thou learn of Ariel.Now—Ariel!
[He looks toward Ariel, still held in the mouth of Setebos.Sycorax lies heaped and still by the altar.]
ARIEL[Joyously.]Master!
PROSPEROSycorax, lo, ’tis dead.
CALIBAN[With wailing cry.]Ah—yo!
PROSPEROThe will of Setebos is matched with mineTo rule our world. Time shall award the prize—Mine own Miranda—to his power or mine.His might is awful, but mine art is deepTo foil his power and exalt mine own.Ariel, thy spirits shall help me.
ARIELMaster, how?
PROSPEROThou, long time artless, now shalt learn mine artTo win my goal—Miranda’s freedom. NeverTill this immortal Caliban shall riseTo lordly reason, can Miranda holdHer maiden gladness undismayed. For thatI will release thee from those fangsOf Setebos.
ARIELFor that, dear master, I have waitedLong ages, dreaming.
PROSPEROSo, wilt give thy promiseTo learn of me, and teach this monster here?
ARIELO set me free to be thy servant ever.Master, I promise!
PROSPEROFly! Run free!—Unfang him,Setebos![Prospero raises his staff.Slowly the tiger-jaws of the Idol open their fangs.Ariel, with a joyous cry, slips into the air, and—ashe floats fluttering to the earth—his unseenchoir of Spirits sing with shrilly gladness:]
SPIRITS OF ARIELProspero! Prospero! Hail!
ARIEL[Dancing on the earth.]Free! Free!
MIRANDA[Eagerly.]O, now his fettered Spirits: Free them too!
PROSPEROWell urged, my own Miranda.—Setebos,Disgorge these long-embowelled choirs!—Spirits,Come forth!
[Again Prospero raises his staff.
Yawning enormous, the toad-mouth of the Idol, fittedwith green and blue light, widens to a lurid apertureout of which come forth—dancing—the star-brightSpirits of Ariel.
As they come, Ariel—springing toward Caliban—criesexultingly:]
ARIELNow, Caliban, we dance by yellow sands!
[Singing as they rush forth, the Spirits dart with Arielswiftly about the grovelling Caliban and chase him,dodging and whining, down the steps to the ground-circle,mottled with its shadowy continents of theworld, and rimmed with its long, yellow wave-lines.]
SPIRITS OF ARIEL“Come unto these yellow sands,And then take hands:Courtsied when you have and kiss’dThe wild waves whist.Foot it featly here and thereAnd, sweet sprites, the burthen bear:Hark, hark!Bow-wow!The watch-dogs bark:Bow-wow!Hark, hark! I hearThe strain of strutting chanticleerCry: cock-o-diddle-dow!”
[Encircling Caliban in their dance, and pelting him withbright handfuls of the yellow sands, they tease anddrive him howling into his cave cell, where his dark,monstrous shape silhouettes for a moment on theorange-red glow, then vanishes within.
As he disappears, to their last “Bow-wow!”and “"Cock-a-diddle-dow!”, they hasten back aboveto Ariel, who leads them before Prospero.]
ARIELThe beast is routed, Master. Was’t well done?
PROSPEROThe routed beast—returns. I charge thee, Spirit,Not to torment, but teach him—for which taskThou wilt require mine art. So by its powerWe will transform this cave of SetebosTo be a temple to Miranda. NowLet these thy Spirits lead her to her shrineYonder, where all her maiden Muses waitTo make her welcome.
[Prospero points to where, on the right, appears Miranda’sshrine. From its portals come forth the Nine Muses, bearinglutes and pipes. Prospero, turning to Miranda, rises andgives her into Ariel’s care.]
Child, go with them nowAnd tarry till I summon.
MIRANDASir, I will.I thank you and these Spirits, and may we allBe saved from Setebos.
ARIELSweet Mistress, follow!
[To a melodious tiding and piping played by the Muses,Ariel and his Spirits escort Miranda to the centre,where the Muses meet and conduct her into the shrine,while Ariel’s Spirits—at a gesture from him—dartthrough the centre of the Cloudy Curtains and disappear.]
PROSPERO[Calling.]Now hither, bird, and perch!
ARIEL[Running to him, on the throne.]Beside you, Master!
PROSPERO[Pointing to the ground-circle.]Seest yonder Yellow Sands? There sleep the shores,The cloudy capes and continents of time;There wane and wax eternal tides, that markThe ebb and flow of empires with their foam.There shalt thou see the million-colored skeinWhereof I weave mine art. Look well and learn!For this my art is of no only landOr age, but born of all—itself a worldSnatched from the womb of History, to surviveIts mortal mother in imagination.—Dost thou attend me?
ARIELWord and will, dear Master!
[At the mouth of Caliban’s cell are now visible Lust,Death, and War, who in pantomime indicate to Calibantheir conspiracy against Prospero and Ariel.]
PROSPERO’Tis well, for thou must prove my pupil. Look!Even now the priests of Setebos conspireWith Caliban against us. They will compassMy fall, Miranda’s ruin, and thy bondageUnless mine art can foil them. Therefore, nowThou shalt behold the pageant of mine artPace from antiquity. First, while yon glassLets flow its yellow sands, behold appearMy rites of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome,And, while they pass, I will instruct thee howTo use them.—Pageant, appear!
[A deep gong sounds.]Lo, Egypt comes!