Open Source Shakespeare

Speeches (Lines) for Ferdinand
in "Tempest"

Total: 31

# Act, Scene, Line
(Click to see in context)
Speech text

1

I,2,550

Where should this music be? i' the air or the earth?
It sounds no more: and sure, it waits upon
Some god o' the island. Sitting on a bank,
Weeping again the king my father's wreck,
This music crept by me upon the waters,
Allaying both their fury and my passion
With its sweet air: thence I have follow'd it,
Or it hath drawn me rather. But 'tis gone.
No, it begins again.
[ARIEL sings]
Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell
[Burthen Ding-dong]
Hark! now I hear them,—Ding-dong, bell.

2

I,2,569

The ditty does remember my drown'd father.
This is no mortal business, nor no sound
That the earth owes. I hear it now above me.

3

I,2,589

Most sure, the goddess
On whom these airs attend! Vouchsafe my prayer
May know if you remain upon this island;
And that you will some good instruction give
How I may bear me here: my prime request,
Which I do last pronounce, is, O you wonder!
If you be maid or no?

4

I,2,598

My language! heavens!
I am the best of them that speak this speech,
Were I but where 'tis spoken.

5

I,2,603

A single thing, as I am now, that wonders
To hear thee speak of Naples. He does hear me;
And that he does I weep: myself am Naples,
Who with mine eyes, never since at ebb, beheld
The king my father wreck'd.

6

I,2,609

Yes, faith, and all his lords; the Duke of Milan
And his brave son being twain.

7

I,2,623

O, if a virgin,
And your affection not gone forth, I'll make you
The queen of Naples.

8

I,2,637

No, as I am a man.

9

I,2,647

No;
I will resist such entertainment till
Mine enemy has more power.

10

I,2,677

So they are;
My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up.
My father's loss, the weakness which I feel,
The wreck of all my friends, nor this man's threats,
To whom I am subdued, are but light to me,
Might I but through my prison once a day
Behold this maid: all corners else o' the earth
Let liberty make use of; space enough
Have I in such a prison.

11

III,1,1278

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 composed 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 lest, when I do it.

12

III,1,1301

O most dear mistress,
The sun will set before I shall discharge
What I must strive to do.

13

III,1,1307

No, precious creature;
I had rather crack my sinews, break my back,
Than you should such dishonour undergo,
While I sit lazy by.

14

III,1,1318

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?

15

III,1,1324

Admired Miranda!
Indeed the top of admiration! worth
What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady
I have eyed with best regard and many a time
The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage
Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues
Have I liked several women; never any
With so fun soul, but some defect in her
Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owed
And put it to the foil: but you, O you,
So perfect and so peerless, are created
Of every creature's best!

16

III,1,1348

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.

17

III,1,1358

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.

18

III,1,1369

Wherefore weep you?

19

III,1,1380

My mistress, dearest;
And I thus humble ever.

20

III,1,1383

Ay, with a heart as willing
As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.

21

III,1,1387

A thousand thousand!

22

IV,1,1711

I do believe it
Against an oracle.

23

IV,1,1724

As I hope
For quiet days, fair issue and long life,
With such love as 'tis now, the murkiest den,
The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion.
Our worser genius can, shall never melt
Mine honour into lust, to take away
The edge of that day's celebration
When I shall think: or Phoebus' steeds are founder'd,
Or Night kept chain'd below.

24

IV,1,1761

I warrant you sir;
The white cold virgin snow upon my heart
Abates the ardour of my liver.

25

IV,1,1834

This is a most majestic vision, and
Harmoniously charmingly. May I be bold
To think these spirits?

26

IV,1,1840

Let me live here ever;
So rare a wonder'd father and a wife
Makes this place Paradise.
[Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on]
employment]

27

IV,1,1873

This is strange: your father's in some passion
That works him strongly.

28

IV,1,1895

[with Miranda] We wish your peace.

29

V,1,2219

No, my dear'st love,
I would not for the world.

30

V,1,2227

Though the seas threaten, they are merciful;
I have cursed them without cause.

31

V,1,2242

Sir, she is mortal;
But by immortal Providence she's mine:
I chose her when I could not ask my father
For his advice, nor thought I had one. She
Is daughter to this famous Duke of Milan,
Of whom so often I have heard renown,
But never saw before; of whom I have
Received a second life; and second father
This lady makes him to me.