  The action begins in semi-darkness, out of which sound invisible choirs. The scene is the cave of SETEBOS, whose stark-colored idol—half tiger and half toad—colossal and primitive—rises at centre above a stone altar. On the right, the cave leads inward to the abode of SYCORAX; on the left, it leads outward to the sea, a blue-green glimpse of which is vaguely visible. High in the tiger-jaws of the idol, ARIEL—a slim, winged figure, half nude—is held fettered. In the dimness, he listens to deep-bellowing choirs from below, answered by a chorus of sweet shrill voices from within. THE VOICES FROM BELOW [Sing.] Setebos! Setebos! THE VOICES FROM WITHIN [Sing.] Ariel! ARIEL [Calls aloud.] O, my brave spirits! THE VOICES FROM BELOW Setebos! Setebos! Over us which art, and under: Fang of fire From mouth of thunder! Hungering goad From belly of mire! Tiger and toad— Setebos! Blood which art on the jungle bloom, Sloth and slumber and seed in the womb: Which art wondrous Over and under us, Setebos! Setebos! Thou art Setebos! THE VOICES FROM WITHIN SealÈd in a starless cell, We are shut from dawn and sky. Ariel!—Ariel! Why? ARIEL Setebos knows, but his jaws Fetter me fast: he is dumb— Answering never. THE VOICES FROM WITHIN We, who parch for dew and star— Ariel!—Ariel!— Must we perish where we are? Tell! ARIEL Sycorax knows, but she sits There in the cave with her son— Mocking us ever. THE VOICES FROM WITHIN Ariel! ARIEL Call me no more, Lest they torment us. I hear them Coming now. THE VOICE OF SYCORAX Caliban! ARIEL Hush! [Gigantic, the twisted form of SYCORAX looms from within the rock.] SYCORAX [Calling toward the sea.] Come, fish-fowl! Leave thy flapping in the mud THE VOICE OF CALIBAN So, so Sycorax!— Coming! SYCORAX Aye, so so: crawling still! [Malformed and hissing, CALIBAN enters on his belly and arms.] CALIBAN Syc-Syco- Sycorax! See! SYCORAX What hast thou got thee? CALIBAN [Laughs, half rising, and holds up a wriggling creature.] Got A little god—a little Caliban. SYCORAX ’Tis an eel-worm. Fling him to the white bat yonder. [Her form vanishes in the rock.] CALIBAN [Approaching the idol.] Ariel, Here’s food for thee: a wormling for thy beak. So, my trapped bird:—How sayst, ha? ARIEL [Sings.] “Where the bee sucks there suck I.” CALIBAN [Laughing.] Bee, sayst thou? Still buzzest of thy wings, and eatest—air! ARIEL [Sings.] “In a cowslip’s bell I lie.” CALIBAN My father’s gullet is no cowslip’s bell. Shalt lie in the belly of Setebos. [Tossing away the eel.] —What waitest for? ARIEL I am waiting for one who will come. CALIBAN Aye? Who will come? ARIEL One from the heart of the world; and he shall rise On tempest of music and in thunder of song. CALIBAN [Gaping.] Thunder and tempest—so! ARIEL [With ecstasy.] I see him now. CALIBAN [Crouching back.] See him! Where, now? ARIEL In my dream:—He bears A star-wrought staff and hooded cloak of blue, And on his right hand bums the sun, and on His left, the moon; and these he makes his masks Of joy and sorrow. CALIBAN Where? Mine eye seeth naught. ARIEL Before him comes a maid—a child, all wonder— And leads, him to this blighted isle. CALIBAN What for, here? ARIEL To set me free, and all my air-born spirits Whom Setebos holds prisoned in this earth. CALIBAN Free? What’s that—free? ARIEL What thou canst never be Who never shalt dance with us by yellow sands. SPIRITS OF ARIEL [Sing within.] “Come unto these yellow sands, And then take hands: Courtsied when you have and kiss’d The wild waves whist. Foot it featly here and there”— CALIBAN Ho, blast their noises! Stop thy spirits’ squealing. Their piping itcheth me like hornets’ stings. SPIRITS OF ARIEL [Sing on, within.] “And, sweet sprites, the burthen bear”— CALIBAN [Screaming.] Setebos! Squash ’em! POWERS OF SETEBOS [Sing below with strident roarings, drowning the song of Ariel’s Spirits.] Setebos! Setebos! Thou art Setebos! CALIBAN [Exulting grotesquely.] Who’ll dance by yellow sands?—Who’s free now, spirit? ARIEL The priests Of Setebos are Lust and Death and War. Not Ariel—nor Ariel’s Spirits ever— Shall do them honor. One shall come hereafter Whom we now worship, waiting. CALIBAN [Roaring.] Sycorax! SYCORAX [Reappearing.] Swallow thy croakings, bullfrog. Call the priests, And fill this spirit’s nostrils with the reek Of Setebos, his blood-rites. THE SPIRITS OF ARIEL [Cry out piercingly.] Ariel! ARIEL Peace, my brave hearts! Be dumb—but still be dreaming! CALIBAN Powers of Setebos!—Lust, Death, War,—ho, now! Hither, and do my father worship! ARIEL [Stifling a cry.] Ah! [Enter LUST, DEATH, and WAR, arrayed as priests of Setebos.] SYCORAX [To Caliban.] Come, toad-boy: watch with me, within. CALIBAN [Going within the cave, as Sycorax disappears.] Free, saith? Will dance by yellow sands?—Now, Spirit, dance! [As Caliban goes within, the powers of Setebos come forth. At the altar beneath Ariel, the three Priests lead them in ceremonial rites of primeval pageantry and dance—the sacrificial worship of Setebos. Above them Ariel suffers, with closed eyes. In their rites, Lust pours his libation, and lights the altar fire, which—when War has made there his living sacrifice—Death extinguishes in darkness. Through the dark, which gradually changes to a glowing dusky Ariel speaks aloud.] ARIEL O Spirits, I have dreamed, but Death has closed My sight in darkness. Spirits, I have begotten Sweet Joy, but Lust hath drowned her in his wine. Yea, I have wove Love wings, but War hath robbed them And riven his lovely body all alive To feed the hungering flames of Setebos. My Spirits, I your master am unmastered. Speak to me! Comfort me! Is there no joy, No love, no dream, that shall survive this dark? Hath this our isle no king but Caliban? Are there no yellow sands where we shall dance To greet the master of a timeless dawn? Or must there break no morning?—Ah, you are dumb Still to my doubtings. Yet the dark grows pale, And, paling, pulses now with rosier shadows; And now the shadows tremble, and draw back Their trailing glories: hark! All little birds Wake in the gloaming: look! What young Aurora Walks in the dusk below, and like a child Turns her quick face to listen?—Ah! [Below, against the light from the sea, has entered the dim Figure he descries.] THE FIGURE Who calls? ARIEL Spirits, ’tis she! O, we have dreamed her true At last—Miranda! SPIRITS OF ARIEL [Call, in echoing song.] Miranda! MIRANDA [Searching with her eyes.] Earth and air Echo my name. Who calls me? ARIEL Ariel. SPIRITS OF ARIEL [As before.] Ariel! MIRANDA Light and dark spin webs around me. What art thou, voice—and where? ARIEL Here—and your servant. MIRANDA [Beholding him.] O me!—poor Spirit!—What mouth so terrible Utters a voice so tender? ARIEL Setebos, God of this isle, holds me in ’s fangs. MIRANDA But why? ARIEL I will not serve him. MIRANDA [NaÏvely, drawing nearer to the huge idol.] Setebos, be kind. Release this Spirit. ARIEL He hath nor ears, nor eyes, Nor any sense to know thee by, but only These tusks and claws and his toad-belly. MIRANDA Dost Thou suffer, so? ARIEL Not now. MIRANDA And hath he held thee Long captive? ARIEL Since old ocean’s slime first spawned Under the moon, I have awaited thee And him thou bringest here. MIRANDA You mean my father, Prospero. ARIEL [Exultingly.] Hail him, Spirits! SPIRITS OF ARIEL [Sing.] Prospero! MIRANDA Yea, many a starry journey we have made Searching this isle. At last to-day, at dawn, I saw its yellow sands, and heard thy voice Calling for pity. Now my father is come And shall release thee. ARIEL Where? Where is he? MIRANDA Here: His cloak is round us now: he holds us now [ReËntering, Caliban comes forward, sniffing and peering at Miranda.] CALIBAN Hath feet And hair: hath bright hair shineth like a fish’s tail; Hath mouth, and maketh small, sweet noises. ARIEL [Crying out.] Beast, Go back! MIRANDA [Staring, amazed.] What’s here? CALIBAN Ca—Caliban; cometh here To smell what ’tis. [He sniffs nearer; then howls strangely.] Spring in the air: Oho! MIRANDA Alas, poor creature! Who hath hurt thee? CALIBAN Hurt? Who hurteth God? Am seed of Setebos: Am Caliban: the world is all mine isle: Kill what I please, and play with what I please; So, yonder, play with him: pull out his wings And put ’em back to grow.—Where be thy wings, Spring-i’-the-air? MIRANDA O Ariel, is this sight A true thing, and speaks truly? ARIEL What you hear And see—’tis my master. MIRANDA ’Tis so wonderful I know not how to be sad. CALIBAN [In puzzled fascination, staring at Miranda.] The moon hath a face And smileth on the lily pools, but hath No lily body withal: thy body is All lilies and the smell of lily buds, And thy round face a pool of moonbeams! MIRANDA [With smile and laughter.] Nay, Then look not in, lest thou eclipse the moon. CALIBAN Syc—Sycorax hath no such laughing: soundeth Like little leaves i’ the rain! Hath no such mouth Bright-lipp’d with berries ripe to suck i’ the sun— Sycorax. MIRANDA Who is Sycorax? ARIEL Ah, pain! CALIBAN Ho, she that hath calved Caliban to the bull Setebos, my blood-sire. [Pauses at a glowing thought, then cries with sudden exultance:] So shall us twain Caliban all this world! [He crouches, then rolls over at her feet.] —Laugh, Spring-i’-the-air! Lift so thy lily-pad foot and rub his ear Where the fur tickleth, and let thy Caliban Tongue-lick its palm. [He lies, dog-like, on his back, and laughs loud.] MIRANDA This wonder grows too wild. ARIEL Go, go! O flee away! CALIBAN [Leaping up.] Away?—Aye, so! [He approaches Miranda, who recoils, half fearful.] Wist where salt water lappeth warm i’ the noon And shore-fish breed i’ the shoals.—Wist where the sea-bull Flap-flappeth his fin and walloweth there his cow And snoreth the rainbow from his nostrils. [He begins to dance grotesquely about her.] Ho, Spring-i’-the-air! shalt leap, shalt roll in the sun, Shalt dance with lily-warm limbs, shalt race wi’ the gulls! Shalt laugh, and call—Come, Come! Come, come, Caliban! Catcheth who catcheth can! Mateth mew, mateth man: Catch, come, Caliban! ARIEL O Setebos, let me go free! MIRANDA [To Caliban.] Peace! Dance no more. Go hence, and leave me. CALIBAN [Staring.] Hence? Aye, both—us twain. MIRANDA [With simple command.] Nay, thou alone. CALIBAN [With narrowing eyes, draws nearer.] Saith what? MIRANDA [Unafraid.] Go from me. CALIBAN [Stops, with a hissing growl.] Syc- Syc-Sycorax! Sycorax! SYCORAX [Reappearing.] Mole in the mire, wilt squeak When thou art trod on?—Bite! Bite, Setebos’ son! Let the brave wonder breed of thee. CALIBAN Aye, mother. [With rising passion—to Miranda.] A child! Shalt bear me such as thou, with head Of Caliban: no eel-worm, nay—a wonder, With lily feet, that walk. Ho, Setebos! SYCORAX Setebos! Mate them at thine altar. MIRANDA [Fleeing from Caliban, pauses in terror of Sycorax.] Save me! POWERS OF SETEBOS [Sing within.] Setebos! Setebos! CALIBAN [Rushing toward Miranda.] Mine! MIRANDA Save me, father! ARIEL [Calling shrilly.] Prospero! SPIRITS OF ARIEL [Sing within.] Prospero! Hail! [A clap of thunder strikes, rolling, in sudden darkness. Lightnings burst from the idol of Setebos. From the flashing gloom, choruses of contending spirits commingle the roar of their deep bass and high-pitched choirs.] SPIRITS OF ARIEL Prospero! Prospero! Out of our earth-pain Raise and array us In splendor of order! Pour on our chaos— Prospero! Prospero!— Peace to our earth-pain! POWERS OF SETEBOS Setebos! Setebos! Lord of our earth-bane, Loose on his wrath way The beast of thy jungle! Pour on our pathway— Setebos! Setebos! Blood for thine earth-bane! [Amid the tempestuous song, darkness, and thunder, appears on the left a glowing, winged throne. On PROSPERO [Raising his staff.] Darkness, be light!—Tempest, be calm!—Miranda! [The scene grows light, and is still.] MIRANDA [At the steps of the throne.] Father! PROSPERO Come to me, child. [As she mounts to him gladly.] Sit here beside me. [She sits at his feet, nestling in the folds of his great garment.] My cloak and staff protect thee. MIRANDA [Raising her eyes in dread.] But the wild thing? PROSPERO Must be transformed.—Caliban! CALIBAN [Crouching at the centre, howls terribly.] Setebos—sire! Sycorax—mother! Hast swallowed them. Lord Thunder, Strike us no more! PROSPERO I strike no more till time Hath need of thunder. Rise now and be tamed, Howler at Heaven. CALIBAN [Rising, bewildered.] Tamed, saith? What shall it be— That “tamed?” PROSPERO That shalt thou learn of Ariel. Now—Ariel! [He looks toward Ariel, still held in the mouth of Setebos. Sycorax lies heaped and still by the altar.] ARIEL [Joyously.] Master! PROSPERO Sycorax, lo, ’tis dead. CALIBAN [With wailing cry.] Ah—yo! PROSPERO The will of Setebos is matched with mine To rule our world. Time shall award the prize— Mine own Miranda—to his power or mine. His might is awful, but mine art is deep To foil his power and exalt mine own. Ariel, thy spirits shall help me. ARIEL Master, how? PROSPERO Thou, long time artless, now shalt learn mine art To win my goal—Miranda’s freedom. Never Till this immortal Caliban shall rise To lordly reason, can Miranda hold Her maiden gladness undismayed. For that I will release thee from those fangs Of Setebos. ARIEL For that, dear master, I have waited Long ages, dreaming. PROSPERO So, wilt give thy promise To learn of me, and teach this monster here? ARIEL O set me free to be thy servant ever. Master, I promise! PROSPERO Fly! Run free!—Unfang him, Setebos! [Prospero raises his staff. Slowly the tiger-jaws of the Idol open their fangs. Ariel, with a joyous cry, slips into the air, and—as he floats fluttering to the earth—his unseen choir of Spirits sing with shrilly gladness:] SPIRITS OF ARIEL Prospero! Prospero! Hail! ARIEL [Dancing on the earth.] Free! Free! MIRANDA [Eagerly.] O, now his fettered Spirits: Free them too! PROSPERO Well urged, my own Miranda.—Setebos, Disgorge these long-embowelled choirs!—Spirits, Come forth! [Again Prospero raises his staff. Yawning enormous, the toad-mouth of the Idol, fitted with green and blue light, widens to a lurid aperture As they come, Ariel—springing toward Caliban—cries exultingly:] ARIEL Now, Caliban, we dance by yellow sands! [Singing as they rush forth, the Spirits dart with Ariel swiftly about the grovelling Caliban and chase him, dodging and whining, down the steps to the ground-circle, mottled with its shadowy continents of the world, and rimmed with its long, yellow wave-lines.] SPIRITS OF ARIEL “Come unto these yellow sands, And then take hands: Courtsied when you have and kiss’d The wild waves whist. Foot it featly here and there And, sweet sprites, the burthen bear: Hark, hark! Bow-wow! The watch-dogs bark: Bow-wow! Hark, hark! I hear The strain of strutting chanticleer Cry: cock-o-diddle-dow!” [Encircling Caliban in their dance, and pelting him with bright handfuls of the yellow sands, they tease and As he disappears, to their last “Bow-wow!” and “"Cock-a-diddle-dow!”, they hasten back above to Ariel, who leads them before Prospero.] ARIEL The beast is routed, Master. Was’t well done? PROSPERO The routed beast—returns. I charge thee, Spirit, Not to torment, but teach him—for which task Thou wilt require mine art. So by its power We will transform this cave of Setebos To be a temple to Miranda. Now Let these thy Spirits lead her to her shrine Yonder, where all her maiden Muses wait To make her welcome. [Prospero points to where, on the right, appears Miranda’s shrine. From its portals come forth the Nine Muses, bearing lutes and pipes. Prospero, turning to Miranda, rises and gives her into Ariel’s care.] Child, go with them now And tarry till I summon. MIRANDA Sir, I will. I thank you and these Spirits, and may we all Be saved from Setebos. ARIEL Sweet Mistress, follow! [To a melodious tiding and piping played by the Muses, Ariel and his Spirits escort Miranda to the centre, where the Muses meet and conduct her into the shrine, while Ariel’s Spirits—at a gesture from him—dart through the centre of the Cloudy Curtains and disappear.] PROSPERO [Calling.] Now hither, bird, and perch! ARIEL [Running to him, on the throne.] Beside you, Master! PROSPERO [Pointing to the ground-circle.] Seest yonder Yellow Sands? There sleep the shores, The cloudy capes and continents of time; There wane and wax eternal tides, that mark The ebb and flow of empires with their foam. There shalt thou see the million-colored skein ARIEL Word and will, dear Master! [At the mouth of Caliban’s cell are now visible Lust, Death, and War, who in pantomime indicate to Caliban |
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