Summary, Analysis, and Original Text by Scene

Act I: Scene 2

PROSPERO.
Being once perfected how to grant suits,
How to deny them, who t' advance, and who
To trash for over-topping; new created
The creatures that were mine, I say, or chang'd 'em,
Or else new form'd 'em: having both the key
Of officer and office, set all hearts i' th' state
To what tune pleas'd his ear: that now he was
The ivy which had hid my princely trunk,
And suck'd my verdure out on't. — Thou attend'st not.

MIRANDA.
O, good sir! I do.

PROSPERO.
I pray thee, mark me.
I thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated
To closeness and the bettering of my mind
With that, which, but by being so retir'd,
O'er-priz'd all popular rate, in my false brother
Awak'd an evil nature; and my trust,
Like a good parent, did beget of him
A falsehood, in its contrary as great
As my trust was; which had indeed no limit,
A confidence sans bound. He being thus lorded,
Not only with what my revenue yielded,
But what my power might else exact, — like one
Who having, into truth, by telling of it,
Made such a sinner of his memory,
To credit his own lie, — he did believe
He was indeed the Duke; out o' the substitution,
And executing th' outward face of royalty,
With all prerogative. — Hence his ambition growing —
Dost thou hear?


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