quotes, notes, timelines & more

Home » Quotes » The Tempest » Now come, my Ariel. Bring a corollary

Now come, my Ariel. Bring a corollary

Prospero
Now come, my Ariel. Bring a corollary
Rather than want a spirit. Appear, and pertly.
 Soft music.
No tongue. All eyes. Be silent.

Spirits, which by mine art
I have from their confines called to enact
My present fancies.

 Enter Iris.
Iris
Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas
Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and peas;
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep,
And flat meads thatched with stover, them to keep;
Thy banks with pionèd and twillèd brims,
Which spongy April at thy hest betrims
To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom groves,
Whose shadow the dismissèd bachelor loves,
Being lass-lorn; thy poll-clipped vineyard,
And thy sea marge, sterile and rocky hard,
Where thou thyself dost air—the Queen o’ th’ sky,
Whose wat’ry arch and messenger am I,
Bids thee leave these, and with her sovereign grace,
Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,
To come and sport. Her peacocks fly amain.
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.
 Enter Ceres.
Ceres
Hail, many-colored messenger, that ne’er
Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter;
Who with thy saffron wings upon my flowers
Diffusest honey drops, refreshing showers;
And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown
My bosky acres and my unshrubbed down,
Rich scarf to my proud Earth. Why hath thy queen
Summoned me hither to this short-grassed green?
Iris
A contract of true love to celebrate,
And some donation freely to estate
On the blest lovers.
Ceres
Tell me, heavenly bow,
If Venus or her son, as thou dost know,
Do now attend the Queen? Since they did plot
The means that dusky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy’s scandaled company
I have forsworn.
Iris
Of her society
Be not afraid. I met her deity
Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her son
Dove-drawn with her. Here thought they to have done
Some wanton charm upon this man and maid,
Whose vows are that no bed-right shall be paid
Till Hymen’s torch be lighted—but in vain.
Mars’s hot minion is returned again;
Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows,
Swears he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows,
And be a boy right out.
 Juno descends.
Ceres
Highest queen of state,
Great Juno, comes. I know her by her gait.
Juno
How does my bounteous sister? Go with me
To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be
And honored in their issue.
 They sing.
Juno

Honor, riches, marriage-blessing,
Long continuance and increasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you.
Juno sings her blessings on you.

Ceres

Earth’s increase, foison plenty,
Barns and garners never empty,
Vines with clust’ring bunches growing,
Plants with goodly burden bowing;
Spring come to you at the farthest
In the very end of harvest.
Scarcity and want shall shun you.
Ceres’ blessing so is on you.

Ferdinand
This is a most majestic vision, and
Harmonious charmingly. May I be bold
To think these spirits?
Prospero
Spirits, which by mine art
I have from their confines called to enact
My present fancies.
Ferdinand
Let me live here ever.
So rare a wondered father and a wise
Makes this place paradise.

Source:
Act 4
Scene 1
Line 64

Source Type:
,

Spoken by:
, , , ,