William Shakespeare: The Tempest

ACT 5 1. SCENE I. Before the cell of PROSPERO. (continued)

ARIEL.
[Aside to PROSPERO] Was't well done?

PROSPERO.
[Aside to ARIEL] Bravely, my diligence. Thou
shalt be free.

ALONSO.
This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod;
And there is in this business more than nature
Was ever conduct of: some oracle
Must rectify our knowledge.

PROSPERO.
Sir, my liege,
Do not infest your mind with beating on
The strangeness of this business: at pick'd leisure,
Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you,--
Which to you shall seem probable--of every
These happen'd accidents; till when, be cheerful
And think of each thing well.--[Aside to ARIEL] Come
hither, spirit;
Set Caliban and his companions free;
Untie the spell. [Exit ARIEL] How fares my gracious sir?
There are yet missing of your company
Some few odd lads that you remember not.

[Re-enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and
TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel.]

STEPHANO.
Every man shift for all the rest, and let no man
take care for himself, for all is but fortune.--Coragio!
bully-monster, Coragio!

TRINCULO.
If these be true spies which I wear in my head,
here's a goodly sight.

CALIBAN.
O Setebos, these be brave spirits indeed.
How fine my master is! I am afraid
He will chastise me.

SEBASTIAN.
Ha, ha!
What things are these, my lord Antonio?
Will money buy them?

ANTONIO.
Very like; one of them
Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable.

PROSPERO.
Mark but the badges of these men, my lords,
Then say if they be true.--This mis-shapen knave--
His mother was a witch; and one so strong
That could control the moon, make flows and ebbs,
And deal in her command without her power.
These three have robb'd me; and this demi-devil,--
For he's a bastard one,--had plotted with them
To take my life: two of these fellows you
Must know and own; this thing of darkness I
Acknowledge mine.