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“Our revels now are ended. These our actors, / As I foretold you, were all spirits and / Are melted into air, into thin air” (ll. 161–171). He tells Ferdinand and Miranda to retire to his cell.
    Lines 178–269: Ariel describes how he has led Caliban and his companions into a foul pool. Prospero praises him and orders him to fetch fine clothing. Meanwhile, Prospero complains of Caliban’s inherent wickedness and threatens further punishment. Ariel returns with the clothes. Caliban warns Stephano and Trinculo to be wary but they are disgruntled by their recent drubbing. As soon as they see the finery, they want to put it on, despite Caliban’s efforts to concentrate their minds on murder. He is disgusted by their frivolity but Stephano threatens banishment from the island, which he regardsas his kingdom, if Caliban refuses to carry the clothes back to his wine store.
    Lines 270–282: A noise is heard and spirits enter as dogs and hounds who chase the three, while Prospero threatens further punishments. Now all his enemies are at his mercy and his labors nearly ended. Ariel is promised his freedom very soon.
ACT 5 SCENE 1
    Again, one long scene in which all the characters finally assemble and many of the confusions and issues are resolved.
    Lines 1–37: Prospero sees his project “gather to a head.” Ariel tells him that Alonso, Alonso’s brother Sebastian, and Prospero’s brother Antonio are all prisoners, paralyzed by enchantment until he releases them. The others, meanwhile, weep over their fate. Ariel though tells Prospero that he believes if he were to see them for himself, he too would feel pity for them, as he would himself if he were human. Prospero is struck by the irony of the nonhuman Ariel feeling human sympathy for these creatures. The lesson in humanity chastens him and he vows that he will indeed take pity on them. He tells Ariel to release them and he will restore them to their senses.
    Lines 38–108: As Ariel departs Prospero conjures for the last time, resolving to give up all his charms and spells: “But this rough magic / I here abjure” (ll. 55–56), to break his staff and drown his book. Ariel returns with the courtiers, who enter Prospero’s magic circle. He addresses each in turn: quieting Alonso’s distress, blessing Gonzalo’s kindness, and even forgiving his brother, Antonio. They don’t recognize him dressed as he is, so he sends Ariel for his hat and rapier, and then sends him to rouse the mariners, safe asleep on the ship.
    Lines 109–245: Prospero, now in his courtly garments, turns to the nobles again and tells them who he is. Alonso, at first incredulous, begs forgiveness for past wrongdoing. Prospero embraces Gonzalo and forgives Antonio, who, on a disturbing note in the general atmosphere of harmony and reconciliation, fails to respond. Alonsoasks for particulars of his story and how he arrived on this shore where he fears his son has been lost. Prospero explains that he too has lost a daughter, which leads Alonso to exclaim that he wishes they were both alive and King and Queen of Naples. Prospero says that his story will have to be told another day, but leads Alonso to his cell, where he reveals Ferdinand and Miranda together playing chess. Miranda accuses Ferdinand of cheating. He exclaims that he would not do such a thing, but with a surprising touch of realpolitik, Miranda suggests that “for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle, / And I would call it fair play” (ll. 192–193). Alonso and Ferdinand are reunited, even Sebastian is touched and Miranda amazed by the sight of so many new faces: “O brave new world, / That has such people in’t” (ll. 205–206). Ferdinand tells his father that Miranda is to be his wife. Alonso is immediately reconciled and questions whether the events might not record the workings of a providential design: “Was Milan thrust from Milan that his issue / Should become kings of Naples?” (ll. 233–234).
    Lines 246–289: Ariel