There be some sports are painful, and their labour
Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness
Are nobly undergone; and most poor matters
Point to rich ends. This my mean task
Would be as heavy to me as odious, but
The mistress which I serve quickens what’s dead,
And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is
Ten times more gentle than her father’s crabbed,
And he’s compos’d of harshness. I must remove
Some thousands of these logs, and pile them up,
Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress
Weeps when she sees me work, and says such baseness
Had never like executor. I forget:
But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours,
Most busy, least when I do it.
There be some sports are painful, and their labour Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness Are nobly undergone; and most poor matters Point to rich ends. This my mean task would be as heavy to me as odious, but The mistress which I serve quickens what’s dead, And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is Ten times more gentle than her father’s crabbed, And he’s compos’d of harshness. I must remove Some thousands of these logs, and pile them up, Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress Weeps when she sees me work, and says such baseness Had never like executor. I forget: But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours, Most busy, least when I do it.
There be some sports are painful, and their labour Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness Are nobly undergone; and most poor matters Point to rich ends. This my mean task would be as heavy to me as odious, but The mistress which I serve quickens what’s dead, And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is Ten times more gentle than her father’s crabbed, And he’s compos’d of harshness. I must remove Some thousands of these logs, and pile them up, Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress Weeps when she sees me work, and says such baseness Had never like executor. I forget: But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours, Most busy, least when I do it.
there be some sports are painful, and their labour delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness are nobly undergone;
Alas now, pray you,
Work not so hard: I would the lightning had
Burnt up those logs that you are enjoin’d to pile!
Pray, set it down and rest you. When this burns,
’Twill weep for having wearied you. My father
Is hard at study; pray, now, rest yourself:
He’s safe for these three hours.
Alas now, pray you, Work not so hard: I would the lightning had Burnt up those logs that you are enjoin’d to pile! Pray, set it down and rest you. When this burns, ’Twill weep for having wearied you. My father Is hard at study; pray, now, rest yourself: He’s safe for these three hours.
Alas now, pray you, Work not so hard: I would the lightning had Burnt up those logs that you are enjoin’d to pile! Pray, set it down and rest you. When this burns, ’Twill weep for having wearied you. My father Is hard at study; pray, now, rest yourself: He’s safe for these three hours.
alas now, pray you, work not so hard: i would the lightning had burnt up those logs that you are enjoin’d to pile! pray,
O most dear mistress,
The sun will set, before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.
O most dear mistress, The sun will set, before I will discharge What I must strive to do.
O most dear mistress, The sun will set, before I will discharge What I must strive to do.
o most dear mistress, the sun will set, before i shall discharge what i must strive to do.
If you’ll sit down,
I’ll bear your logs the while. Pray give me that;
I’ll carry it to the pile.
If you’ll sit down, I’ll bear your logs the while. Pray give me that; I’ll carry it to the pile.
If you’ll sit down, I’ll bear your logs the while. Pray give me that; I’ll carry it to the pile.
if you’ll sit down, i’ll bear your logs the while. pray give me that; i’ll carry it to the pile.
No, precious creature;
I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,
Than you should such dishonour undergo,
While I sit lazy by.
No, precious creature; I had rather crack my sinews, break my back, Than you should such dishonour undergo, While I sit lazy by.
No, precious creature; I had rather crack my sinews, break my back, Than you should such dishonour undergo, While I sit lazy by.
no, precious creature; i had rather crack my sinews, break my back, than you should such dishonour undergo, while i sit
It would become me
As well as it does you: and I should do it
With much more ease; for my good will is to it,
And yours it is against.
It would become me As well as it does you: and I should do it With much more ease; for my good will is to it, And yours it is against.
It would become me As well as it does you: and I should do it With much more ease; for my good will is to it, And yours it is against.
it would become me as well as it does you: and i should do it with much more ease; for my good will is to it, and yours
This visitation shows it.
This visitation shows it.
This visitation shows it.
this visitation shows it.
Miranda is completely sincere when she tells Ferdinand she loves him — and completely without the context that makes consent meaningful. She's seen two men in her life: her father, and Ferdinand. She has no framework for 'do I love this particular person' versus 'do I love the fact that this is a person.' Shakespeare is honest about this: she says plainly, 'I do not know one of my sex; no woman's face remember, save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen more men than you.' She's not naive — she's isolated. The romantic convention says this is charming. A harder reading says it raises questions about what Prospero has withheld from her by keeping her on this island, and whether the arranged romance is truly her free choice. The play doesn't resolve this; it simply presents both the love and the conditions that shaped it.
You look wearily.
You look wearily.
You look wearily.
you look wearily.
No, noble mistress; ’tis fresh morning with me
When you are by at night. I do beseech you—
Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers—
What is your name?
No, noble mistress; ’tis fresh morning with me When you are by at night. I do ask you— Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers— What is your name?
No, noble mistress; ’tis fresh morning with me When you are by at night. I do ask you— Chiefly that I might set it in my prayers— What is your name?
no, noble mistress; ’tis fresh morning with me when you are by at night. i do beseech you— chiefly that i might set it i
Miranda—O my father!
I have broke your hest to say so.
Miranda—O my father! I have broke your hest to say so.
Miranda—O my father! I have broke your hest to say so.
miranda—o my father! i have broke your hest to say so.
Admir’d Miranda!
Indeed, the top of admiration; worth
What’s dearest to the world! Full many a lady
I have ey’d with best regard, and many a time
Th’ harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues
Have I lik’d several women; never any
With so full soul but some defect in her
Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow’d,
And put it to the foil: but you, O you,
So perfect and so peerless, are created
Of every creature’s best.
Admir’d Miranda! Indeed, the top of admiration; worth What’s dearest to the world! Full many a lady I have ey’d with best regard, and many a time Th’ harmony of their tongues has into bondage Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues Have I lik’d several women; never any With so full soul but some defect in her Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow’d, And put it to the foil: but you, O you, So perfect and so peerless, are created Of every creature’s best.
Admir’d Miranda! Indeed, the top of admiration; worth What’s dearest to the world! Full many a lady I have ey’d with best regard, and many a time Th’ harmony of their tongues has into bondage Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues Have I lik’d several women; never any With so full soul but some defect in her Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow’d, And put it to the foil: but you, O you, So perfect and so peerless, are created Of every creature’s best.
admir’d miranda! indeed, the top of admiration; worth what’s dearest to the world! full many a lady i have ey’d with bes
I do not know
One of my sex; no woman’s face remember,
Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen
More that I may call men than you, good friend,
And my dear father: how features are abroad,
I am skilless of; but, by my modesty,
The jewel in my dower, I would not wish
Any companion in the world but you;
Nor can imagination form a shape,
Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle
Something too wildly, and my father’s precepts
I therein do forget.
I do not know One of my sex; no woman’s face remember, Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen More that I may call men than you, good friend, And my dear father: how features are abroad, I am skilless of; but, by my modesty, The jewel in my dower, I would not wish Any companion in the world but you; Nor can imagination form a shape, Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle Something too wildly, and my father’s precepts I therein do forget.
I do not know One of my sex; no woman’s face remember, Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen More that I may call men than you, good friend, And my dear father: how features are abroad, I am skilless of; but, by my modesty, The jewel in my dower, I would not wish Any companion in the world but you; Nor can imagination form a shape, Besides yourself, to like of. But I prattle Something too wildly, and my father’s precepts I therein do forget.
i do not know one of my sex; no woman’s face remember, save, from my glass, mine own; nor have i seen more that i may ca
I am, in my condition,
A prince, Miranda; I do think, a King;
I would not so!—and would no more endure
This wooden slavery than to suffer
The flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak:
The very instant that I saw you, did
My heart fly to your service; there resides,
To make me slave to it; and for your sake
Am I this patient log-man.
I am, in my condition, A prince, Miranda; I do think, a King; I would not so!—and would no more endure This wooden slavery than to suffer The flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak: The very instant that I saw you, did My heart fly to your service; there resides, To make me slave to it; and for your sake Am I this patient log-man.
I am, in my condition, A prince, Miranda; I do think, a King; I would not so!—and would no more endure This wooden slavery than to suffer The flesh-fly blow my mouth. Hear my soul speak: The very instant that I saw you, did My heart fly to your service; there resides, To make me slave to it; and for your sake Am I this patient log-man.
i am, in my condition, a prince, miranda; i do think, a king; i would not so!—and would no more endure this wooden slave
Do you love me?
Do you love me?
Do you love me?
do you love me?
O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound,
And crown what I profess with kind event,
If I speak true; if hollowly, invert
What best is boded me to mischief! I,
Beyond all limit of what else i’ the world,
Do love, prize, honour you.
O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound, And crown what I profess with kind event, If I speak true; if hollowly, invert What best is boded me to mischief! I, Beyond all limit of what else i’ the world, Do love, prize, honour you.
O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound, And crown what I profess with kind event, If I speak true; if hollowly, invert What best is boded me to mischief! I, Beyond all limit of what else i’ the world, Do love, prize, honour you.
o heaven, o earth, bear witness to this sound, and crown what i profess with kind event, if i speak true; if hollowly, i
I am a fool
To weep at what I am glad of.
I am a fool To weep at what I am glad of.
I am a fool To weep at what I am glad of.
i am a fool to weep at what i am glad of.
Scene 3-1 is almost absurdly efficient — two people who've met once declare undying love and betroth themselves in under thirty lines of exchange. It should feel rushed. It doesn't — and the reason is that Shakespeare has given each of them a specific honesty that earns the speed. Ferdinand doesn't flatter: he says he's known many women and none of them matched any particular standard until this one. Miranda doesn't perform modesty: she says she has nothing to compare him to but every measure she has says he's incomparable. Both of them acknowledge their own limitations and speak from inside them. The speed of the courtship is the speed of two people who have decided not to be evasive about what they feel. Compare it to Antonio's serpentine twenty-line pitch to Sebastian — the same duration, the opposite emotional temperature.
Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace
On that which breeds between ’em!
Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace On that which breeds between ’em!
Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace On that which breeds between ’em!
of two most rare affections! heavens rain grace on that which breeds between ’em!
Wherefore weep you?
Wherefore weep you?
Wherefore weep you?
wherefore weep you?
At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer
What I desire to give; and much less take
What I shall die to want. But this is trifling;
And all the more it seeks to hide itself,
The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning!
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!
I am your wife if you will marry me;
If not, I’ll die your maid: to be your fellow
You may deny me; but I’ll be your servant,
Whether you will or no.
At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer What I desire to give; and much less take What I will die to want. But this is trifling; And all the more it seeks to hide itself, The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning! And prompt me, plain and holy innocence! I am your wife if you will marry me; If not, I’ll die your maid: to be your fellow You may deny me; but I’ll be your servant, Whether you will or no.
At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer What I desire to give; and much less take What I will die to want. But this is trifling; And all the more it seeks to hide itself, The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning! And prompt me, plain and holy innocence! I am your wife if you will marry me; If not, I’ll die your maid: to be your fellow You may deny me; but I’ll be your servant, Whether you will or no.
at mine unworthiness, that dare not offer what i desire to give; and much less take what i shall die to want. but this i
My mistress, dearest;
And I thus humble ever.
My mistress, dearest; And I thus humble ever.
My mistress, dearest; And I thus humble ever.
my mistress, dearest; and i thus humble ever.
My husband, then?
My husband, then?
My husband, then?
my husband, then?
Ay, with a heart as willing
As bondage e’er of freedom: here’s my hand.
Ay, with a heart as willing As bondage e’er of freedom: here’s my hand.
Ay, with a heart as willing As bondage e’er of freedom: here’s my hand.
ay, with a heart as willing as bondage e’er of freedom: here’s my hand.
And mine, with my heart in ’t: and now farewell
Till half an hour hence.
And mine, with my heart in ’t: and now farewell Till half an hour hence.
And mine, with my heart in ’t: and now farewell Till half an hour hence.
and mine, with my heart in ’t: and now farewell till half an hour hence.
A thousand thousand!
A thousand thousand!
A thousand thousand!
a thousand thousand!
So glad of this as they, I cannot be,
Who are surpris’d withal; but my rejoicing
At nothing can be more. I’ll to my book;
For yet, ere supper time, must I perform
Much business appertaining.
So glad of this as they, I cannot be, Who are surpris’d withal; but my rejoicing At nothing can be more. I’ll to my book; For yet, before supper time, must I perform Much business appertaining.
So glad of this as they, I cannot be, Who are surpris’d withal; but my rejoicing At nothing can be more. I’ll to my book; For yet, before supper time, must I perform Much business appertaining.
so glad of this as they, i cannot be, who are surpris’d withal; but my rejoicing at nothing can be more. i’ll to my book
The Reckoning
The shortest romantic scene Shakespeare ever wrote — and one of the most precisely tuned. Both young people are painfully honest: Ferdinand knows he's a prince and this is menial work; Miranda knows she's never seen many men and this one is incomparable; both confess their feelings without calculation and betroth themselves in the space of thirty lines. The shadow over it is Prospero, watching from behind, manipulating every step and yet visibly moved. You can't quite decide whether to be charmed or unsettled.
If this happened today…
Two people from wildly different worlds meet at a corporate retreat where one has been assigned garbage duty as a team-building exercise. The other volunteers to take over. They fall into conversation, confess feelings neither expected, and are making quiet vows before the afternoon session ends — while the department head watches from behind a pillar, having engineered the encounter, fighting back tears.