The Tempest

The Tempest by Edith Nesbit (1907)

Prospero, Duke of Milan, has given over his dukedom's governance to his brother Antonio while he immerses himself in books. Antonio, desiring the crown, conspires with Prospero's enemy Alonso, King of Naples, to seize the dukedom, and has Prospero and his infant daughter Miranda set adrift in a small boat without tackle, mast, or sail. The loyal courtier Gonzalo secretly supplies the boat with water, provisions, clothes, and Prospero's prized books. Father and daughter land safely on an enchanted island once ruled by the witch Sycorax, who had imprisoned its good spirits in trees before dying. Prospero, now a skilled magician, frees the spirits, chief among them Ariel, and rules them kindly, though he must treat Sycorax's hideous son Caliban with harshness. Years later, Miranda grown, a ship carrying Antonio, Alonso, Alonso's brother Sebastian, and Alonso's son Ferdinand passes near the island with faithful Gonzalo aboard. Prospero raises a storm; Ferdinand leaps overboard but is brought safely ashore by Ariel, and the rest of the crew land unharmed while the ship itself rests safe in harbor. Prospero tells Miranda their history and explains he means to save all aboard while delivering his enemies into his hands. He sends Ariel, singing, to lead Ferdinand to him. Miranda and Ferdinand fall instantly in love. Prospero feigns anger, accuses Ferdinand of spying, and sets him to carrying heavy logs, a trial Ferdinand bears gladly for Miranda's sake; Prospero then relents and consents to their marriage. Elsewhere, Antonio and Sebastian plot to murder the sleeping Alonso so Sebastian may inherit the throne, but Ariel wakes Alonso in time. Ariel also torments the conspirators by setting a banquet before them, then making it vanish amid thunder and lightning while appearing as a harpy to denounce their sins. Prospero draws them all, trembling and repentant, to the grove outside his cell. Resolving to use his magic one last time and then break his staff and drown his book, he appears before them in his true form as Duke of Milan, forgives the repentant lords, and reveals Ferdinand alive, playing chess with Miranda. Alonso rejoices and blesses the couple's betrothal. The company prepares to sail for Naples, where Ferdinand and Miranda will marry, with Ariel granting calm seas. Prospero returns to Milan, welcomed joyfully by his subjects, renounces magic, and finds happiness chiefly in having forgiven his enemies rather than taking vengeance. Ariel is set free to wander as he pleases, singing of his liberty.

By Edith Nesbit · First published 1907 · Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Adventure · 2,039 words

First lines

Prospero, the Duke of Milan, was a learned and studious man, who lived among his books, leaving the management of his dukedom to his brother Antonio, in whom indeed he had complete trust. But that trust was ill-rewarded, for Antonio wanted to wear the duke's crown himself, and, to gain his ends, would have killed his brother but for the love the people bore him. However, with the help of Prospero's great enemy, Alonso, King of Naples, he managed to get into his hands the dukedom with all its honor, power, and riches. For they took Prospero to sea, and when they were far away from land, forced him into a little boat with no tackle, mast, or sail. In their cruelty and hatred they put his little daughter, Miranda (not yet three years old), into the boat with him, and sailed away, leaving them to their fate.

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magic · forgiveness · betrayal · usurpation · exile · tempest · spirits · enchanted-island · love · reconciliation · supernatural · shipwreck

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The Tempest is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1907 CE.

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