The Tempest
The Interloper
(A deleted scene within a scene)
Act 4 Scene 1
[VENUS enters on side of stage, other goddesses do not see] 102
VENUS Of me these goddesses have always Jealous been, and now they leave me out of plays!
For all their snide whispers, glances they think unseen 105
Wherefore do they think that I have been
That merits such derisive thoughts?
Of course I know that I have lots
Of the litheness, sensuality they lack
And, of course, a bodacious rack, 110
But really, what have I done
That they have not already run?
They accuse me of disrupting lives-
Is lust equal to dangerous knives?
And I am not the only cynical 115
One to make mortal lives difficult.
What of Juno, oh dear heavenly queen!
Who was so arresting on the scene
Of the founding of a new Troy
Which grew up to be Rome! No small ploy. 120
Or that of Ceres, said to be
The Goddess of Bounty, what farce, you see
For this same goddess is also that
Of starvation, what a gloomy drat.
But who else plunged the whole Earth 125
Into 6 months of winter—no miraculous birth—
After losing her daughter? (And for this
I take no credit, for that dusky Dis
Takes no orders from me, I am myself
Surprised that Death could love beside himself.) 130
Of Iris, perhaps, I can speak no blame
But really, what could a rainbow (one and the same)
Get up to that would cause such strife?
Pretty light and air, is that life?
Are we not allowed to celebrate 135
Our bodies in their naked state?
Every course hair, and breath and nose
Is a smaller part of our grand repose.
If we do not accept those acts,
Deemed by jealous goddesses to lack 140
Propriety and accepted terms,
Then fear of self will well affirm.
Why can we not our own beauty see?
Our body is all we will ever be.
[Turns to FERDINAND and MIRANDA] 145
Poor, misguided, helpless souls!
You think you are but puerile foals
Who, when told what to do
Obey immediately, and follow through.
But, break free from horrid despots 150
Who your consent they have not sought!
Why would you not your bed-right pay
Until the end of your marriage day?
What sort of arcane social confines
On this bare island make you pine 155
And wait for your true love?
Act now, you doleful doves!
[Turns away scornfully.]
O, what should become of my domain
If the lust in love should be slain? 160
When did thought become vanmost
In relationships that used to host
Such fervent tributes to lovely me
Unless 17 you should not see?
As the end of lust comes to head 165
I will soon be slowly dead.
[VENUS exits]