the Goodreads Team asked Margaret Atwood:

Can you a come up with a deleted scene from your favorite Shakespeare play?

Margaret Atwood My upcoming book Hag-Seed re-imagines Shakespeare’s The Tempest. In honor of Shakespeare Week, here’s a ‘deleted scene’ from Shakespeare’s play!

Before the tempest.

Prospero and Miranda, seated at a table with dishes and goblets, in front of the entrance to Prospero’s cave.

Prospero:
’Tis past the hour.

Miranda:
Well past! I faint for hunger!

Prospero (calls):
Thou toad! Thou fen! Thou cup of dung! Thou wart!
Laggard, bring forth the viands!

Caliban (within):
They’re not cooked through.

Prospero:
Wherefore not cooked! Thou freckled malice, out!
Thou’re pinched by goblins else! Produce our meal!

Caliban (comes forth, bearing a dish):
Here’s pig-nuts for you. May they choke your craw!

Miranda:
Pig-nuts! Once more? ’Tis the fourth time this week!
I hoped there might be berries, or a fish…

Caliban:
Dig other foods thyself, if thou be squeamish.
Talk sweeter, if thou wish for sweeter dinners!

Prospero (tasting):
Faugh, toadstool! Hast a mind to poison us?

Caliban:
Vapours bloat your bellies! May you rot!
Gladly I would have poisoned you full oft,
And danced with tenfold joy while you lay writhing,
Had not your imps prevented!

Prospero:
For this thou shall be twisted into knots,
Flung into mires, thy tendons twanged like strings…

Ariel appears, invisible.

Ariel:
Master, the ship approaches, as foretold.

Prospero (rising):
Bring me my magic garment! Here’s my luck!
Mine enemies, and sailed within my reach!
Thunder, I say, and darkest clouds boil forth,
The portrait of mine anger! Ariel, strike!

(Exit)

Caliban:
Oho! He’s left the wench all unattended!
And so this chance may prove my luck as well!

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