Fer. I'm loath to kill you: you're unskilful, sir. Hip. You beat aside my sword; but let it come As near as yours, and you shall see my skill. Fer. You faint for loss of blood; I see you stagger: 'Pray, sir, retire. Hip. No, I will ne'er go back, Methinks, the cave turns round,-I cannot find- Stand still, till I have made one thrust. Fer. O help! [Thrusts and falls. Help, help!-Unhappy man! what have I done? Hip. I'm going to a cold sleep; but, when I wake, I'll fight again:-'Pray stay for me. Fer. He's gone, [Swoons. He's gone! O stay, sweet, lovely youth! Help! help! Enter PROSPero. Pro. What dismal noise is that? Fer. O see, sir, see, What mischief my unlucky hand hath wrought. Pro. Alas, how much in vain doth feeble art Can thy excuses give me back his life ?— What, Ariel! sluggish spirit, where, where art thou? Enter ARIEL. Ari. Here, at thy beck, my lord. Pro. Ay, now thou com❜st, When fate is past, and not to be recall'd. Pro. Why didst thou not prevent, at least foretel, This fatal action then? Ari. Pardon, great sir, I meant to do it; but I was forbidden Who came and threaten'd me, if I disclos'd it, Pro. I'll chain thee in the north for thy neglect, Ari. Pardon, dread lord! Pro. No more of pardon than just Heaven intends thee, Shalt thou e'er find from me.-Hence; fly with speed; Unbind the charm which holds this murderer's father, And bring him with his followers straight before me. [Exit ARIEL. Fer. O Heavens! what words were those I heard, Yet cannot see who spoke them? Sure, the nymph I lov'd was, like to this, some airy vision. Pro. No, murderer, she's, like thee, of mortal mould; But much too pure to mix with thy black crimes. No more to fear, and nothing left to hope :- Enter MIRANDA and DORINDA. Mir. My love! is it permitted me to see You once again? Pro. You come to look your last; I will for ever take him from your eyes. Nay, on my blessing, speak not, nor approach him. Dor. 'Pray, father, is not this my sister's man? He has a noble form; but yet he's not So excellent as my Hippolyto. Pro. Alas, poor girl, thou hast no man! Look yonder, There's all of him that's left. Dor. Why, was there ever any more of him? He lies asleep, sir; shall I waken him? [She kneels by HIPPOLYTO, and tries to waken him. Fer. Alas, he's never to be wak'd again! Dor. My love, my love?—Will not you speak to I fear met you have displeas'd him, sir, and now He will not answer me :-he's dumb,-and cold too; But I'll run straight, and make a fire to warm him. [Exit DORINDA. Enter ARIEL, ALONZO, GONZALO, and ANTONIO. Alon. Never were beasts so hunted into toils, As we have been pursu'd by dreadful shapes.Speak, is not that my son? Fer. My honour'd father!— Alon. O Ferdinand! [Running to embrace him. Pro. There stand; for you are spell stopp'd. How now, sirs? You gaze upon me, as you ne'er had seen me : Gon. The good old Duke of Milan! That thou, Antonio, know'st me not, because Ant. Shame chokes my words. Alon. And wonder mine. Pro. For you, usurping prince, Know, by my art you were shipwreck'd on this isle; My vengeance would have ended; I design'd No marriages can prosper Which are with murderers made:-Look on that corse : This, while he liv'd, was Prince Hippolyto, Pro. To execute Heaven's laws:— Here I am plac'd by Heaven, here I am prince, Though you have dispossess'd me of my Milan:— Blood calls for blood; your Ferdinand shall die; And I, in bitterness, have sent for you, To have the joy of seeing him alive, And then the greater grief to see him die. Alon. And think'st thou I, or these, will tamely stand To view the execution? [Lays his Hand upon his Sword. Pro. Nay,-appear, My guards, - [He waves his Wand, and a Troop of FURIES enters. I thought, no more to use their aid; But they are now the ministers of Heaven, This night I will allow you, Ferdinand, To fit you for your death that cave's your prison. Alon. Ah, Prospero, hear me speak: You are a father: Feel for a father then, and spare my son. Pro. You implore in vain; I have no room for pity left within me.- [ARIEL and the FURIES force them into an inner Enter DORINDA. Dor. Sir, I have made a fire; shall he be warm'd? Pro. His soul has left his body. He must be laid in earth, and there consume. Dor. He shall not lie in earth: You do not know How well he loves me: indeed, he'll come again; He told me he would go a little while, But promis'd me he would not tarry long. Pro. He's murder'd by the man who lov'd your sister. Now both of you may learn what 'tis to break Must die for murdering him.-Get you to bed. |