2. 298. The metre of this line, as well as of lines 301, 302, is defective, but as no mode of correction can be regarded as completely satisfactory we have in accordance with our custom left the lines as they are printed in the Folio. The defect, indeed, in the metre of line 298 has not been noticed except by Hanmer, who makes a line thus: ‘Do so, and after two days I’ll discharge thee.’ Possibly it ought to be printed thus: ‘Do so; and After two days I will discharge thee.’ There is a broken line, also of four syllables, 253 of the same scene, another of seven, 235. There is no reason to doubt that the words are as Shakespeare wrote them, for, although the action of the play terminates in less than four hours , yet Ariel’s ministry is not to end till the voyage to Naples shall be over. Prospero, too, repeats his promise, and marks his contentment by further shortening the time of servitude, ‘within two days,’ I. 2. 420. Possibly ‘Invisible’ should have a line to itself. Words thus occupying a broken line acquire a marked emphasis. But the truth is that in dialogue Shakespeare’s language passes so rapidly from verse to prose and from prose to verse, sometimes even hovering, as it were, over the confines, being rhythmical rather than metrical, that all attempts to give regularity to the metre must be made with diffidence and received with doubt.

Note Iv I Monologue from The Tempest

Rehearse Note Iv I's monologue