La tempestad

La tempestad

The Tempest

Había una cierta isla en el mar, cuyos únicos habitantes eran un anciano, cuyo nombre era Próspero, y su hija Miranda, una joven muy hermosa.

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.

Llegó a esta isla siendo tan pequeña, que no tenía recuerdo de haber visto ningún otro rostro humano que el de su padre.

She came to this island so young, that she had no memory of having seen any other human face than her father’s.

Vivían en una cueva o celda, hecha de roca; estaba dividida en varias estancias, una de las cuales Próspero llamaba su estudio; allí guardaba sus libros, que trataban principalmente de magia, un estudio en aquel tiempo muy practicado por todos los hombres eruditos: y el conocimiento de este arte le resultó muy útil; pues, al ser arrojado por un extraño azar a esta isla, que había sido encantada por una bruja llamada Sycorax, quien murió allí poco antes de su llegada, Próspero, en virtud de su arte, liberó a muchos buenos espíritus que Sycorax había encarcelado en los troncos de grandes árboles, porque se habían negado a ejecutar sus malvados mandatos.

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.

Estos gentiles espíritus fueron desde entonces obedientes a la voluntad de Próspero. De ellos, Ariel era el jefe.

These gentle spirits were ever after obedient to the will of Prospero. Of these Ariel was the chief.

El vivaz y pequeño espíritu Ariel no tenía nada de malicioso en su naturaleza, excepto que sentía un placer excesivo en atormentar a un monstruo feo llamado Calibán, pues le guardaba rencor por ser hijo de su antigua enemiga Sycorax.

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 he owed him a grudge because he was the son of his old enemy Sycorax.

A este Calibán, Próspero lo encontró en el bosque, una cosa extraña y deforme, mucho menos humana en forma que un simio: lo llevó a su celda y le enseñó a hablar; y Próspero habría sido muy amable con él, pero la mala naturaleza que Calibán heredó de su madre Sycorax no le permitía aprender nada bueno o útil: por lo tanto, era empleado como un esclavo, para buscar leña y hacer los trabajos más laboriosos; y Ariel tenía el encargo de obligarlo a realizar estos servicios.

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.

Cuando Calibán era perezoso y descuidaba su trabajo, Ariel (que era invisible para todos los ojos excepto para los de Próspero) se acercaba sigilosamente y lo pellizcaba, y a veces lo hacía caer en el fango; y entonces Ariel, con la apariencia de un simio, le hacía muecas.

When Caliban was lazy and neglected his work, Ariel (who was invisible to all eyes but Prospero’s) would come slily 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.

Luego, cambiando rápidamente de forma, con la apariencia de un erizo, se ponía a rodar en el camino de Calibán, quien temía que las afiladas púas del erizo pincharan sus pies descalzos.

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.

Con una variedad de trucos molestos similares, Ariel solía atormentarlo a menudo, siempre que Calibán descuidaba el trabajo que Próspero le ordenaba hacer.

With a variety of suchlike vexatious tricks Ariel would often torment him, whenever Caliban neglected the work which Prospero commanded him to do.

Teniendo a estos poderosos espíritus obedientes a su voluntad, Próspero podía, mediante ellos, comandar los vientos y las olas del mar.

Having these powerful spirits obedient to his will, Prospero could by their means command the winds, and the waves of the sea.

Por sus órdenes levantaron una violenta tormenta, en medio de la cual, y luchando contra las salvajes olas del mar que cada momento amenazaban con engullirlo, mostró a su hija un hermoso y gran barco, que le dijo estaba lleno de seres vivos como ellos.

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.