Tales from Shakespeare | Page 4

for them to understand: and when they
have helped them to get over the difficulties, then perhaps they will
read to them (carefully selecting what is proper for a young sister's ear)
some passage which has pleased them in one of these stories, in the
very words of the scene from which it is taken; and it is hoped they will
find that the beautiful extracts, the select passages, they may choose to
give their sisters in this way will be much better relished and
understood from their having some notion of the general story from one
of these imperfect abridgments;--which if they be fortunately so done
as to prove delight to any of the young readers, it is hoped that no
worse effect will result than to make them wish themselves a little older,
that they may be allowed to read the Plays at full length (such a wish
will be neither peevish nor irrational). When time and leave of
judicious friends shall put them into their hands, they will discover in
such of them as are here abridged (not to mention almost as many more,
which are left untouched) many surprising events and turns of fortune,
which for their infinite variety could not be contained in this little book,
besides a world of sprightly and cheerful characters, both men and
women, the humor of which it was feared would be lost if it were
attempted to reduce the length of them.
What these Tales shall have been to the YOUNG readers, that and

much more it is the writers' wish that the true Plays of Shakespeare
may prove to them in older years--enrichers of the fancy, strengtheners
of virtue, a withdrawing from all selfish and mercenary thoughts, a
lesson of all sweet and honorable thoughts d actions, to teach courtesy,
benignity, generosity, humanity: for of examples, teaching these virtues,
his pages are full.

THE TEMPEST
There was a certain island in the sea, the only inhabitants of which
were an old man, whose name was Prospero, and his daughter Miranda,
a very beautiful young lady. She came to this island so young that she
had no memory of having seen any other human face than her father's.
They lived in a cave or cell, made out of a rock; it was divided into
several apartments, one of which Prospero called his study; there he
kept his books, which chiefly treated of magic, a study at that time
much affected by all learned men: and the knowledge of this art he
found very useful to him; for being thrown by a strange chance upon
this island, which had been enchanted by a witch called Sycorax, who
died there a short time before his arrival, Prospero, by virtue of his art,
released many good spirits that Sycorax had imprisoned in the bodies
of large trees, because they had refused to execute her wicked
commands. These gentle spirits were ever after obedient to the will of
Prospero. Of these Ariel was the chief.
The lively little sprite Ariel had nothing mischievous in his nature,
except that he took rather too much pleasure in tormenting an ugly
monster called Caliban, for be owed him a grudge because he was the
son of his old enemy Sycorax. This Caliban, Prospero found in the
woods, a strange misshapen thing, far less human in form than an ape:
he took him home to his cell, and taught him to speak; and Prospero
would have been very kind to him, but the bad nature which Caliban
inherited from his mother, Sycorax, would not let him learn anything
good or useful: therefore he was employed like a slave, to fetch wood
and do the most laborious offices; and Ariel had the charge of
compelling him to these services.
When Caliban was lazy and neglected his work, Ariel (who was
invisible to all eyes but Prospero's) would come slyly and pinch him,
and sometimes tumble him down in the mire; and then Ariel, in the

likeness of an ape, would make mouths at him. Then swiftly changing
his shape, in the likeness of a hedgehog, he would lie tumbling in
Caliban's way, who feared the hedgehog's sharp quills would prick his
bare feet. With a variety of such-like vexatious tricks Ariel would often
torment him, whenever Caliban neglected the work which Prospero
commanded him to do.
Having these powerful spirits obedient to his will, Prospero could by
their means command the winds, and the waves of the sea. By his
orders they raised a violent storm, in the midst of which, and struggling
with the wild sea-waves that every moment,threatened to swallow it up,
he showed his daughter a fine large ship, which he told her was full of
living beings like themselves. "O my dear father," said she,