Act 1, Scene 2 Translations and Questions

Two sentences I found hard to understand:
• Act 1, Scene 2 (Lines 186 – 188)
Prospero talking to Miranda:

“Under my burden groaned, which raised in me
An undergoing stomach to bear up
Against what should ensure.”

• Act 1, Scene 2 (Lines 592 – 600)
Ferdinand talking to Prospero:

“So they are.
My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up.
My father’s loss, the weakness which I feel,
The wrack 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’ th’ earth
Let liberty make use of. Space enough
Have I in such a prison.”

Two sentences I understood with my modern English translation:
• Act 1, Scene 2 (Lines 558 – 561)
Prospero talking to Ferdinand:

“I’ll manacle thy neck and feet together.
Sea water shalt thou drink. Thy food shall be
The fresh-brook mussels, withered roots, and husks
Wherein the acorn cradled. Follow.”

I’ll cuff your neck and feet together. You’ll drink sea water. Your food will be inedible fresh water mussels, dried roots, and the husks which held acorns. Follow.

• Act 1, Scene 2 (Lines 406 – 411)
Caliban talking to Prospero:

“Cursed be I that did so! All the charms
Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you,
For I am all the subjects that you have,
Which first was mine own king; and here you sty me
In this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me
The rest o’ th’ island.”

Curse myself! May Sycorax’s magic throw toads, beetles, and bats upon you. I am the only subject that you have and you were my first king. How could keep me in this cave while you keep me away from the rest of the island.

Two questions about the plot/discussion questions:
• If Prospero is a wizard and has slaves, why doesn’t he ask them to build him a boat to sail back to Milan? Additionally, why doesn’t he use his magic or Ariel’s to teleport himself back?

• Is Prospero or Ariel stronger in the art of magic? Both have done some magic in the play, but who is better? If Prospero is more talented, then why does he require Ariel’s service? Additionally, if Ariel made a mistake in destroying the ship and leaving the survivors on the island, then Prospero may never get another chance to work his plan. Finally, if Ariel is stronger, then why is he always tolerating Prospero and still working for him?