Is not, sir, my doublet as fresh as the first day I wore it?
Gonzalo, to Alonso
Is not, sir, my doublet as fresh as
the first day I wore it? I mean, in a sort.
Antonio
That “sort” was well fished for.
Gonzalo, to Alonso
When I wore it at your daughter’s marriage.
The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness
And time to speak it in. You rub the sore
When you should bring the plaster.
Alonso
You cram these words into mine ears against
The stomach of my sense. Would I had never
Married my daughter there, for coming thence
My son is lost, and, in my rate, she too,
Who is so far from Italy removed
I ne’er again shall see her.—O, thou mine heir
Of Naples and of Milan, what strange fish
Hath made his meal on thee?
Francisco
Sir, he may live.
I saw him beat the surges under him
And ride upon their backs. He trod the water,
Whose enmity he flung aside, and breasted
The surge most swoll’n that met him. His bold head
’Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oared
Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke
To th’ shore, that o’er his wave-worn basis bowed,
As stooping to relieve him. I not doubt
He came alive to land.
Alonso
No, no, he’s gone.
Sebastian
Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss,
That would not bless our Europe with your daughter,
But rather lose her to an African,
Where she at least is banished from your eye,
Who hath cause to wet the grief on ’t.
Alonso
Prithee, peace.
Sebastian
You were kneeled to and importuned otherwise
By all of us; and the fair soul herself
Weighed between loathness and obedience at
Which end o’ th’ beam should bow. We have lost your son,
I fear, forever. Milan and Naples have
More widows in them of this business’ making
Than we bring men to comfort them.
The fault’s your own.
Alonso
So is the dear’st o’ th’ loss.
Gonzalo
My lord Sebastian,
The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness
And time to speak it in. You rub the sore
When you should bring the plaster.
Sebastian
Very well.
Antonio
And most chirurgeonly.
Gonzalo, to Alonso
It is foul weather in us all, good sir,
When you are cloudy.
Sebastian
Foul weather?
Antonio
Very foul.
Gonzalo
Had I plantation of this isle, my lord—
Antonio
He’d sow ’t with nettle seed.
Sebastian
Or docks, or mallows.
Gonzalo
And were the king on ’t, what would I do?
Sebastian
Scape being drunk, for want of wine.
Gonzalo
I’ th’ commonwealth I would by contraries
Execute all things, for no kind of traffic
Would I admit; no name of magistrate;
Letters should not be known; riches, poverty,
And use of service, none; contract, succession,
Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none;
No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil;
No occupation; all men idle, all,
And women too, but innocent and pure;
No sovereignty—
Sebastian
Yet he would be king on ’t.
Antonio
The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the beginning.
Gonzalo
All things in common nature should produce
Without sweat or endeavor; treason, felony,
Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine
Would I not have; but nature should bring forth
Of its own kind all foison, all abundance,
To feed my innocent people.
Sebastian
No marrying ’mong his subjects?
Antonio
None, man, all idle: whores and knaves.
Gonzalo
I would with such perfection govern, sir,
T’ excel the Golden Age.
Sebastian
’Save his Majesty!
Antonio
Long live Gonzalo!
Gonzalo
And do you mark me, sir?
Alonso
Prithee, no more. Thou dost talk nothing to me.
Gonzalo
I do well believe your Highness, and did it to
minister occasion to these gentlemen, who are of
such sensible and nimble lungs that they always use
to laugh at nothing.
Antonio
’Twas you we laughed at.
Gonzalo
Who in this kind of merry fooling am
nothing to you. So you may continue, and laugh at
nothing still.
Antonio
What a blow was there given!
Sebastian
An it had not fallen flatlong.
Gonzalo
You are gentlemen of brave mettle. You
would lift the moon out of her sphere if she would
continue in it five weeks without changing.
Enter Ariel invisible, playing solemn music.
Sebastian
We would so, and then go a-batfowling.
Antonio, to Gonzalo
Nay, good my lord, be not angry.
Gonzalo
No, I warrant you, I will not adventure my
discretion so weakly. Will you laugh me asleep?
For I am very heavy.
Antonio
Go sleep, and hear us.
All sink down asleep except Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian.
Alonso
What, all so soon asleep? I wish mine eyes
Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts. I find
They are inclined to do so.
Sebastian
Please you, sir,
Do not omit the heavy offer of it.
It seldom visits sorrow; when it doth,
It is a comforter.
Antonio
We two, my lord,
Will guard your person while you take your rest,
And watch your safety.
Alonso
Thank you. Wondrous heavy.
Alonso sleeps. Ariel exits.