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.
15. Most busy lest, when I do it: when I am working hardest.
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.
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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.87. thus: I think this word indicates that he kneels to her.
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.