SCENE II.-The Island: before the cell of PROSPERO. Enter PROSPERO and MIRANDA. Mira. If by your art, my dearest father, you have Pro. Be collected: No more amazement. Tell your piteous heart, There's no harm done. 'Tis time Did never meddle with my thoughts. Pro. I should inform thee farther. Lend thy hand, [Lays down his robe. So safely order'd, that there is no soul No, not so much perdition as an hair, By foul play, as thou say'st, were we heav'd thence; Mira. O! my heart bleeds I pray thee, mark me,-that a brother should Pro. Being once perfected how to grant suits, Which thou heard'st cry, which thou saw'st sink. Sit To closeness, and the bettering of my mind Certainly, sir, I can. Pro. By what? by any other house, or person? Mira. Pro. Thou hadst, and more, Miranda. But how is it, If thou remember'st aught, ere thou cam'st here, But that I do not. With that, which but by being so retired : Like a good parent, did beget of him A falsehood, in its contrary as great As my trust was; which had, indeed, no limit, But what my power might else exact,-like one, To credit his own lie,-he did believe He was indeed the duke; out o' the substitution, Mira. Your tale, sir, would cure deafness. Mira. Pro. Now the condition. The gates of Milan; and, i̇' the dead of darkness, Mira. Alack, for pity! I, not rememb'ring how I cried out then, That wrings mine eyes to 't. Pro. Hear a little farther, And then I'll bring thee to the present business Which now's upon's; without the which this story Were most impertinent. Mira. That hour destroy us? Wherefore did they not Well demanded, wench: My tale provokes that question. Dear, they durst not, Bore us some leagues to sea, where they prepar'd Mira. Was I then to you! Pro. Alack! what trouble O! a cherubim Thou wast, that did preserve me. When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt, Mira. Pro. By Providence divine. How came we ashore? Perform'd to point the tempest that I bade thee? I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak, Pro. But are they, Ariel, safe? Not a hair perish'd; Ari. Safely in harbour Pro. Now I arise:- [Puts on his robe again. Is the king's ship; in the deep nook, where once Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow. Here in this island we arriv'd; and here Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit Thou call'dst me up at midnight to fetch dew Whom, with a charm joined to their suffer'd labour, Mira. Heavens thank you for 't! And now, I pray Which I dispers'd, they all have met again, And all upon the Mediterranean float, Pro. Thou dost; and think'st it much, to tread the ooze Yields us kind answer. Of the salt deep, To run upon the sharp wind of the north, Pro. This blue-eyed hag was hither brought with child, To act her earthy and abhorr'd commands, A dozen years; within which space she died, And left thee there, where thou didst vent thy groans A freckled whelp, hag-born) not honour'd with Mira. "Tis a villain, sir, I do not love to look on. Cal. [Within.] There's wood enough within. Re-enter ARIEL, like a water-nymph. Ari. Cal. As wicked dew, as e'er my mother brush'd Pro. For this, be sure, to-night thou shalt have cramps, As thick as honey-combs, each pinch more stinging Than bees that made 'em. Cal. I must eat my dinner. This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother, Which thou tak'st from me. When thou cam'st here first, Thou strok'dst me, and mad'st much of me; would'st give me Water with berries in't; and teach me how The fresh springs, brine pits, barren place, and fertile. Which first was mine own king: and here you sty me, Pro. Thou most lying slave, Whom stripes may move, not kindness, I have us'd thee, Which any print of goodness will not take, Took pains to make thee speak, taught thee each hour Who hadst deserv'd more than a prison. Cal. You taught me language; and my profit on't Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you, For learning me your language! Pro. Hag-seed, hence! Fetch us in fuel; and be quick, thou'rt best, To answer other business. Shrug'st thou, malice? If thou neglect'st, or dost unwillingly What I command, I'll rack thee with old cramps; Fill all thy bones with aches; make thee roar, That beasts shall tremble at thy din. [Aside. As my soul prompts it.-Spirit, fine spirit! I'll free thee Within two days for this. Fer. Most sure, the goddess [Seeing her. On whom these airs attend!-Vouchsafe, my prayer May know if you remain upon this island, [Kneels. And that you will some good instruction give, How I may bear me here: my prime request, Which I do last pronounce, is, Ŏ you wonder! If you be maid, or no? Mira. But, certainly a maid. Fer. No wonder, sir; My language! heavens!-[Rises. I am the best of them that speak this speech, Were I but where 'tis spoken. Pro. How! the best? What wert thou, if the king of Naples heard thee? Fer. A single thing, as I am now, that wonders To hear thee speak of Naples. He does hear me, And that he does I weep myself am Naples; Who with mine eyes, ne'er since at ebb, beheld The king, my father, wreck'd. Mira. Alack, for mercy! Fer. Yes, faith, and all his lords; the duke of Milan, And his brave son, being twain. Pro. I'll set thee free for this!—[To him.] A word, good sir; Fer. And your affection not The queen of Naples. Pro. O! if a virgin, Soft, sir: one word more. [Aside.] They are both in either's powers: but this swift business I must uneasy make, lest too light winning That thou attend me. Thou dost here usurp From me, the lord on't. Pro. Follow me. [To FERD. And they to him are angels. Speak not you for him; he's a traitor.-Come. Mira. So they are: My affections Are then most humble: I have no ambition To see a goodlier man. Pro. Come on; obey: [To FERD. Thy nerves are in their infancy again, And have no vigour in them. Fer. My spirits, as in a dream, are all bound up. My father's loss, the weakness which I feel, The wreck of all my friends, nor this man's threats, To whom I am subdued, are but light to me, Might I but through my prison once a day Behold this maid: all corners else o' th' earth Let liberty make use of; space enough Have I in such a prison. Pro. It works. Come on.Thou hast done well, fine Ariel !-Follow me.[To FERD. and MIR. [To ARIEL. Be of comfort. Hark, what thou else shalt do me. My father's of a better nature, sir, ACT II. SCENE I.-Another part of the Island. Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and Others. Gon. Beseech you, sir, be merry: you have cause (So have we all) of joy, for our escape Is much beyond our loss. Our hint of woe Can speak like us: then, wisely, good sir, weigh Adr. It must needs be of subtle, tender, and delicate temperance. Ant. Temperance was a delicate wench. Seb. Ay, and a subtle, as he most learnedly delivered. Adr. The air breathes upon us here most sweetly. Seb. As if it had lungs, and rotten ones. Ant. Or as 'twere perfumed by a fen. Gon. Here is every thing advantageous to life. Seb. Of that there's none, or little. Gon. How lush and lusty the grass looks! how green! Ant. The ground, indeed, is tawny. Seb. With an eye of green in't. Ant. He misses not much. Seb. No; he doth but mistake the truth totally. Gon. But the rarity of it is, which is indeed almost beyond credit Seb. As many vouch'd rarities are. Gon. That our garments, being, as they were, drenched in the sea, hold, notwithstanding, their freshness, and glosses; being rather new dyed, than stain'd with salt water. Ant. If but one of his pockets could speak, would it not say, he lies? Seb. Ay, or very falsely pocket up his report. |