(Chiefly, that I might set it in my prayers,) What is your name? Mira. Miranda: :- O my father, I have broke your hest to say so! Fer. Admir'd Miranda! Indeed, the top of admiration; worth What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady I have ey'd with best regard; and many a time The harmony of their tongues hath into bondage Brought my too diligent ear: for several virtues Have I lik'd several women; never any With so full soul, but some defect in her Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow'd3, And put it to the foil: But you, O you, So perfect, and so peerless, are created Of every creature's best. I do not know Mira. One of my sex; no woman's face remember, Save, from my glass, mine own; nor have I seen More that I may call men, than you, good friend, And my dear father: how features are abroad, I am skill-less of; but, by my modesty, (The jewel in my dower,) I would not wish Any companion in the world but you; Nor can imagination form a shape, Besides yourself, to like of: but I prattle Fer. I am, in my condition, A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king; (I would, not so !) and would no more endure This wooden slavery, than I would suffer The flesh-fly blow my mouth. speak; ; Hear my soul The very instant that I saw you, did Mira. Do you love me? Fer. O heaven, O earth, bear witness to this sound, And crown what I profess with kind event, If I speak true! if hollowly, invert What best is boded me, to mischief! I, Beyond all limit of what else i' the world, To weep at what I am glad of. I am a fool, Fair encounter Pro. What I desire to give; and much less take, The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning! Fer. And I thus humble ever. My mistress, dearest, Trin. Servant-monster? the folly of this island! They say, there's but five upon this isle we are three of them; if the other two be brained like us, the state totters. Ste. Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee; thy eyes are almost set in thy head. Trin. Where should they be set else? Ste. My man-monster hath drowned his tongue in sack for my part, the sea cannot drown me: I swam, ere I could recover the shore, five-and-thirty leagues, off and on, by this light. Thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster, or my standard. Trin. Your lieutenant, if you list; standard. he's no Ste. We'll not run, monsieur monster. Trin. Nor go neither but you'll lie, like dogs; and yet say nothing neither. Ste. Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a good moon-calf. Cal. How does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe: I'll not serve him, he is not valiant. Trin. Thou liest, most ignorant monster; I am in case to justle a constable: Was there ever man a coward, that hath drunk so much sack as I today? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish, and half a monster? Cal. Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord? Trin. Lord, quoth he! be such a natural! Trin. Why, I said nothing. Ste. Give me thy hand; I am sorry I beat thee: Ste. Mum then, and no more. — [To CALIBAN.] but, while thou livest, keep a good tongue in thy Proceed. Ste. That's most certain. Cal. Yea, yea, my lord: I'll yield him thee asleep, Ari. Thou liest, thou canst not. Cal. What a pied ninny's this! 6 Thou scurvy I do beseech thy greatness, give him blows, Where the quick freshes 7 are. Ste. Trinculo, run into no further danger: interrupt the monster one word further, and, by this hand, I'll turn my mercy out of doors, and make a stock-fish of thee. Trin. Why, what did I? I did nothing; I'll go further off. Ste. Didst thou not say, he lied? Ari. Thou liest. Cal. Beat him enough: after a little time, I'll beat him too. Ste. Stand further. - Come, proceed. Having first seiz'd his books; or with a log Ste. Is it so brave a lass? head. Ste. Mercy upon us! Cul. Art thou afeard? Cal. Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises, Ste. This will prove a brave kingdom to me, Ste. That shall be by and by: I remember the story. Trin. The sound is going away let's follow it, and after, do our work. Ste. Lead, monster; we'll follow. could see this taborer: he lays it on. Trin. Wilt come? I'll follow, Stephano. [Exeunt. SCENE III. · Another part of the Island. Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, Gon. By'r lakin 9, I can go no further, sir; Alon. Cal. Ay, my lord; she will become thy bed, I To the dulling of my spirits: sit down, and rest. warrant, Even here I will put off my hope, and keep it Ant. I am right glad that he's so out of hope. 9 Our lady. Ariel. You are three men of sin, whom destiny (That hath to instrument this lower world, And what is in't,) the never-surfeited sea Hath caused to throw up; and on this island Where man doth not inhabit; you 'mongst men Being most unfit to live. I have made you mad ; [Seeing ALON. SEB. &c. draw their swords. And even with such like valour, men hang and drown Their proper selves. You fools! I and my fellows Are ministers of fate; the elements Of whom your swords are temper'd, may as well Wound the loud winds, or with bemock'd-at stabs Kill the still-closing waters, as diminish Alon. What harmony is this? my good friends, One dowle that's in my plume; my fellow-ministers hark! Seb. A living drollery: Now I will believe, That there are unicorns; that in Arabia There is one tree, the phoenix' throne; one phoenix At this hour reigning there. Ant. I'll believe both; And what does else want credit, come to me, And I'll be sworn 'tis true: Travellers ne'er did lie, Though fools at home condemn them. Gon. If in Naples I should report this now, would they believe me? If I should say I saw such islanders, (For, certes, these are people of the island,) Who, though they are of monstrous shape, yet, note, Their manners are more gentle-kind, than of Our human generation you shall find Many, nay, almost any. Pro. Honest lord, Are like invulnerable: if you could hurt, You, and your ways; whose wraths to guard you from (Which here, in this most desolate isle ; else falls Upon your heads,) is nothing, but heart's sorrow, And a clear life ensuing. He vanishes in thunder: then, to soft musick, enter the Shapes again, and dance with mops and mowes, and carry out the table. Pro. [Aside.] Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou Perform'd, my Ariel; a grace it had, devouring: And these, mine enemies, are all knit up [Exit PROSPERO from above. Gon. I' the name of something holy, sir, why stand you In this strange stare? Alon. I'll fight their legions o'er. I'll be thy second. [Exeunt SEB. and ANT. ACT IV. SCENE I. Before Prospero's Cell. Enter PROSPERO, FERDINAND, and MIRANDA. Pro. If I have too austerely punish'd you, Your compensation makes amends; for I Have given you here a thread of mine own life, Or that for which I live; whom once again I tender to thy hand: all thy vexations Were but my trials of thy love, and thou Hast strangely stood the test: here, afore Heaven, I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand, Do not smile at me, that I boast her off, For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise, And make it halt behind her. Fairly spoke: Sit then, and talk with her, she is thine own. — Ari. What would my potent master? here I am. Ari. Pro. Ay, with a twink. Presently? Ari. Before you can say, Come, and go, And breathe twice; and cry, so, so; Each one, tripping on his toe, Will be here with mop and mowe: Do you love me, master? no. Pro. Dearly, my delicate Ariel: Do not approach, Till thou dost hear me call. Ari. Pro. Look, thou be true. Fer. Pro. Well I conceive. [Exit. I warrant you, sir. Well. Now come, my Ariel; bring a corollary 4, Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and peas; 4 Surplus. Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep, Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves, Bids thee leave these; and with her sovereign grace, Enter CERES. Cer. Hail, many-colour'd messenger, that ne'er Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter; Who, with thy saffron wings, upon my flowers Diffusest honey-drops, refreshing showers; And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown My bosky 7 acres, and my unshrubb'd down, Rich scarf to my proud earth; Why hath thy queen Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass'd green? Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate; And some donation freely to estate On the bless'd lovers. Cer. Tell me, heavenly bow, If Venus, or her son, as thou dost know, Iris. Of her society Be not afraid: I met her deity Spring come to you, at the farthest, the very end of harvest! Scarcity and want shall shun you; Ceres' blessing so is on you. Fer. This is a most majestic vision, and Harmonious charmingly: May I be bold To think these spirits? Pro. Spirit, Spirits, which by mine art We must prepare to meet with Caliban. I have from their confines call'd to enact My present fancies. Fer. Let me live here ever; So rare a wonder'd' father, and a wife, Make this place paradise. Pro. [JUNO and CERES whisper, and send IRIS on employment. Sweet now, silence: Juno and Ceres whisper seriously; There's something else to do: hush, and be mute, Or else our spell is marr'd. Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the wand'ring brooks, With your sedg'd crowns, and ever harmless looks, Enter certain Nymphs. You sunburn'd sicklemen, of August weary, Enter certain Reapers, properly habited: they join with the Nymphs in a graceful dance; towards the end whereof PROSPERO starts suddenly, and speaks; after which, to a strange, hollow, and confused noise, they heavily vanish. Pro. [Aside.] I had forgot that foul conspiracy Of the beast Caliban, and his confederates, Against my life; the minute of their plot Is almost come. -[To the Spirits.] Well done; avoid; -no more. Fer. This is most strange: your father's in some passion That works him strongly. Mira. Never till this day, Saw I him touch'd with anger so distemper'd. Pro. You do look, my son, in a mov'd sort, As if you were dismay'd: be cheerful, sir: Our revels now are ended: these our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits, and Are melted into air, into thin air: And, like the baseless fabrick of this vision, he cloud-capp'd tow'rs, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve; And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Leave not a rack behind: We are such stuff As dreams are made of, and our little life Is rounded with a sleep. - Sir, I am vex'd; Bear with my weakness: my old brain is troubled. Be not disturb'd with my infirmity: If you be pleas'd, retire into my cell, And there repose; a turn or two I'll walk, To still my beating mind. Fer. Mira. We wish your peace. [Exeunt. 1 Able to produce such wonders. Ceres, I thought to have told thee of it; but I fear'd, Pro. Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets? Ari. I told you, sir, they were red-hot with So full of valour, that they smote the air thorns, Which enter'd their frail shins; at last I left them Pro. This was well done, my bird. Thy shape invisible retain thou still : The trumpery in my house, go, bring it hither, For stale to catch these thieves. Ari. I go, I go. [Exit. Nurture 3 can never stick; on whom my pains, Pro. A devil, a born devil, on whose nature Humanely taken, all, all lost, quite lost; And as, with age, his body uglier grows, So his mind cankers: I will plague them all, may not Hear a foot fall: we now are near his cell. Ste. Monster, your fairy, which, you say, is a harmless fairy, has done little better than played the Jack 4 with us. Trin. Monster, my nose is in great indignation. Ste. So is mine. Do you hear, monster? If I should take a displeasure against you; look you,— Trin. Thou wert but a lost monster. Cal. Good my lord, give me thy favour still: Be patient, for the prize I'll bring thee to Shall hood-wink this mischance: therefore, speak softly, All's hush'd as midnight yet. |