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.
Some kinds of work are painful, and the effort makes the satisfaction worth it: some kinds of humiliation are nobly taken on; and the most worthless tasks lead to valuable rewards. This lowly work would be as heavy and unpleasant to me as anything could be, but the woman I serve makes what's lifeless come alive, and turns my labors into pleasure: she is ten times gentler than her father's bad-tempered way, and he's made entirely of harshness. I must move thousands of these logs, and stack them up, under strict orders: my sweet mistress cries when she sees me work, and says such low work was never done by anyone like her before. I forget my exhaustion: but these sweet thoughts actually refresh me while I work, most busy, least aware of the effort.
Some jobs are rough, but the reward makes it worthwhile. Some people take on humiliating work with dignity, and the most pointless tasks lead to amazing results. This crummy job would drive me crazy and I'd hate it, but the woman I serve brings everything to life and makes my work feel good. She's so much kinder than her father—he's basically pure cruelty. I have to move thousands of logs and pile them up because he told me to, and my sweet mistress cries when she watches me work and says nobody as good as her should ever have to do such lowly work. But honestly? Thinking about her makes me forget how exhausted I am. Those sweet thoughts actually keep me going, even though I'm working the whole time.
lowly work would kill me but she's worth it she's so much kinder than her father i move logs for her thinking of her makes it bearable forget my exhaustion thinking of her refreshes me
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.
Oh, I beg you now, don't work so hard: I wish lightning had burned up those logs that you're ordered to pile! Please, put it down and get some rest. When this fire burns, it will weep for having tired you out. My father is busy studying; please, rest now: he's occupied for the next three hours.
Please don't push yourself so hard. I wish lightning had just destroyed all those logs you're supposed to stack. Just put it down and take a break. When this fire burns later, it'll weep for wearing you out. My dad's doing his studies right now, and he's gonna be busy for like three more hours, so just rest.
don't work so hard wish lightning destroyed the logs rest while you can my dad's busy for three hours
O most dear mistress,
The sun will set, before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.
My most precious mistress, the sun will go down before I finish what I must work to complete.
My most wonderful mistress, the sun's gonna set before I get this whole pile done.
sun will set before i finish this work never ends
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 carry your logs for now. Please give me that; I'll take it to the pile.
If you'll sit down, I can carry them for you. Come on, give me that log; I'll add it to the pile.
sit down i'll carry the logs give me that
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 person; I would sooner tear my muscles, break my back, than let you suffer such shame, while I sit doing nothing.
No way, sweetheart. I'd rather rip my muscles and destroy my spine than watch you do degrading work while I just sit there.
no i'd rather break my back than watch you do this
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 suit me The same way it suits you: and I could do it much more easily; because I want to do it, and you're forced to do it against your will.
It would look just as good on me as it looks on you. And honestly, I'd do it way easier because I actually want to, whereas you clearly don't want to.
i could do it easier i actually want to you don't
[_Aside._] Poor worm! thou art infected.
This visitation shows it.
Poor creature, you're infected with love. This encounter shows it clearly.
Poor guy, you're infected with love. And this meeting proves it.
poor creature you're infected with love this meeting proves 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 tired
You look really tired
you seem exhausted
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; it's like fresh morning to me when you're here at night. I beg you— most importantly so I can include it in my prayers— what is your name?
No, you're not tired. Having you here makes even the dark night feel like a fresh morning. I need to ask you something—mainly so I can pray to you by name—what's your name?
you make it feel like morning what's your name so i can pray to it
Miranda—O my father!
I have broke your hest to say so.
Miranda—oh my father! I broke your command by telling him that.
Miranda. Oh no, Dad, I just broke your rule by telling him.
miranda oh dad i broke your rule
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.
Admired Miranda! Truly, the peak of admiration; worth everything precious in the world! I have gazed at many a lady with careful attention, and many times the beauty of their speech has captured my too eager ear: I have liked many women for various good qualities; yet never any with such complete appreciation that some flaw in her didn't argue against her finest quality and spoil it: but you, oh you, so flawless and so matchless, are made from the best of every creature.
Amazing Miranda! You're seriously the most admirable person I've ever seen, worth more than anything precious in the entire world. I've looked at tons of beautiful women with real admiration, and many of them really impressed me with how they talked. I've appreciated different qualities in different women, but every single one had some flaw that argued against her best qualities and ruined the whole package. But you? You're so perfect and have no equal. You're literally made from the very best parts of every living thing.
amazing miranda top of admiration worth everything i've seen tons of beautiful women but they all had flaws you're perfect
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 don't know any other woman; I can't remember any woman's face, except my own, from my mirror; and I haven't seen more people I could call men than you, my good friend, and my beloved father: I don't know how women look in other places; but, by my modesty, the treasure in my dowry, I would not want any companion in the entire world but you; and I can't imagine any form except yours, to care for. But I'm talking somewhat too wildly, and I'm forgetting my father's instructions.
I don't know any other woman—I can't even remember what other women look like except my own face in a mirror. I've basically only ever seen two men besides you—my dad and no one else. I have no idea how women actually look out in the world. But I swear by my modesty, which is basically my most valuable possession, I wouldn't want anyone else in the whole world but you. I can't even imagine any other person I'd want to be with. But I'm talking too much and getting too emotional, and I'm definitely breaking my dad's rules about how I should act.
don't know other women only seen two men my dad and you wouldn't want anyone else don't even imagine it i'm breaking my dad's rules
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, by my rank, a prince, Miranda; I believe, a king; I don't want that!—and I wouldn't endure this hard labor for anyone else except to escape something as disgusting as maggots in a wound. Listen to my heart speak: the very moment I saw you, my heart flew to serve you; it lives there now, making me your servant; and for your sake I am this patient log-carrier.
I'm supposed to be a prince, Miranda, maybe even a king. But I don't care about that anymore! I wouldn't do this hard manual labor for anyone or anything else except maybe to escape something absolutely revolting. Let me tell you what's in my heart: the second I saw you, my heart completely committed to serving you. It lives there now, which makes me your slave, and I'm doing this boring log work for you.
i'm a prince maybe a king but i don't care wouldn't do this for anyone else second i saw you my heart was yours i'm your servant
Do you love me?
Are your feelings toward me genuine love?
Tell me—do you really love me?
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.
Oh heaven, oh earth, be witness to what I say, and make good what I declare, if I speak truly; if I'm lying, turn everything good that's promised for me into disaster! I, beyond all limits of anything else in the world, do love, value, and honor you.
Oh heaven and earth, hear what I'm saying and make it come true if I'm telling the truth. If I'm lying, ruin everything good that's supposed to happen to me. I love you, treasure you, and respect you more than anything else that exists.
heaven earth witness this if i'm lying ruin me i love you more than anything
I am a fool
To weep at what I am glad of.
I'm being foolish to cry over what makes me happy.
I'm being stupid, crying over something that makes me so happy.
why am i crying if i'm happy
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.
[_Aside._] Fair encounter
Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace
On that which breeds between ’em!
What a beautiful meeting of two most rare and special loves! May heaven shower blessings on what is growing between them!
What a beautiful meeting of two amazing loves! May the heavens bless what's developing between them!
beautiful meeting of two rare special loves may heaven bless what grows between them
Wherefore weep you?
Why are you weeping?
Why are you crying?
why are you crying
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.
Because I'm not worthy, I can't offer what I want to give; and much less can I accept what I would die to have. But this is just small talk; and the more it tries to hide, the bigger it becomes. So, false modesty! Give me real and honest truthfulness! I'm your wife if you want to marry me; if not, I'll die your maid: you might refuse to make me your equal; but I'll be your servant, whether you want that or not.
I feel like I'm not good enough, so I can't give you what I actually want to give you, and I definitely can't take what I desperately need from you. But listen, all this talk about being shy is just making it worse. Let me be real and honest instead: I'm your wife if you want to marry me. If not, I'll stay single my whole life for you. You might say no to making me your equal, but I'm gonna be your servant no matter what you decide.
i'm not worthy can't give what i want can't take what i need i'm your wife if you'll have me if not i'll be your servant forever
My mistress, dearest;
And I thus humble ever.
My beloved mistress; and I will remain humble and devoted forever.
You're my beloved mistress, and I'll always be humble for you.
you're my mistress i'm devoted forever
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.
Yes, with a heart as eager as a prisoner desiring freedom: here's my hand.
Yes, with all my heart, the way a prisoner wants freedom. Here's my hand.
yes with all my heart 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 it: and now goodbye until half an hour from now.
Here's my hand too, with my heart in it. See you in thirty minutes.
and mine with my heart see you in half an hour
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.
I can't be as happy as they are, who are overwhelmed by surprise; but my joy in nothing could be greater. I'll go to my study; because before dinner time, I must complete much business that needs doing.
I can't be as happy as they are because they're shocked by it all, but honestly I'm as happy as I could possibly be. I'm gonna go back to my books now because I've got a lot to finish before dinner.
can't be as happy as them but i'm overjoyed gotta go finish my work
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.