The Tempest Commentary 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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