Brick Shakespeare: The Comedies—A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew (36 page)

FERDINAND

O, if a virgin,

And your affection not gone forth, I’ll make you

The queen of Naples.

PROSPERO

Soft, sir! one word more.

They are both in either’s powers; but this swift business

I must uneasy make, lest too light winning

Make the prize light.

PROSPERO (cont.)

One word more; I charge thee

That thou attend me: thou dost here usurp

The name thou owest not; and hast put thyself

Upon this island as a spy, to win it

From me, the lord on’t.

FERDINAND

No, as I am a man.

MIRANDA

There’s nothing ill can dwell in such a temple:

If the ill spirit have so fair a house,

Good things will strive to dwell with’t.

PROSPERO

Follow me.

Speak not you for him; he’s a traitor. Come;

I’ll manacle thy neck and feet together:

Sea-water shalt thou drink; thy food shall be

The fresh-brook muscles, wither’d roots and husks

Wherein the acorn cradled. Follow.

FERDINAND

No;

I will resist such entertainment till

Mine enemy has more power.

MIRANDA

O dear father,

Make not too rash a trial of him, for

He’s gentle and not fearful.

PROSPERO

What? I say,

My foot my tutor?

PROSPERO (cont.)

Put thy sword up, traitor;

Who makest a show but darest not strike, thy conscience

Is so possess’d with guilt: come from thy ward,

For I can here disarm thee with this stick

And make thy weapon drop.

MIRANDA

Beseech you, father.

PROSPERO

Hence! hang not on my garments.

MIRANDA

Sir, have pity;

I’ll be his surety.

PROSPERO

Silence! one word more

Shall make me chide thee, if not hate thee. What!

An advocate for an imposter! hush!

Thou think’st there is no more such shapes as he,

Having seen but him and Caliban: foolish wench!

To the most of men this is a Caliban

And they to him are angels.

MIRANDA

My affections

Are then most humble; I have no ambition

To see a goodlier man.