SCENE III.-Another part of the Island. Enter ALONSO, SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, GONZALO, Adrian, FRANCISCO, and others. Gon. By 'r lakin, I can go no further, Sir; My old bones ache: here's a maze trod, indeed, Through forth-rights, and meanders! by your patience, I needs must rest me. Alon. Old lord, I cannot blame thee, Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose Will we take thoroughly. Ant. Let it be to-night; For, now they are oppress'd with travel, they As when they are fresh. Seb. I say, to-night: no more. Alon. Not Ï. [stomachs.[boys, Gon. Faith, Sir, you need not fear. When we were Whose heads stood in their breasts? which now we find, Alon. I will stand to, and feed, Although my last: no matter, since I feel The best is past:-Brother, my lord the duke, Thunder and lightning. Enter ARIEL, like a harpy: claps his wings upon the table, and, with a quaint device, the banquet vanishes. Ari. You are three men of sin, whom destiny [Seeing ALON., SEB., &c., draw their swords, Of whom your swords are temper'd, may as well You, and your ways; whose wrath to guard you from He vanishes in thunder: then, to soft music, enter the Shapes again, and dance with mops and mores, and carry out the table. Pro. [Aside.] Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou In their distractions: they now are in my power; [Exit PROSPERO from above Gon. I' the name of something holy, Sir, why stand In this strange stare? Lyou Alon. O, it is monstrous! monstrous! Seb. But one fiend at a time, I'll fight their legions o'er. Ant. I'll be thy second. [Exit. [Exeunt SEB. and ANT. Gon. All three of them are desperate; their great guit, Like poison given to work a great time after, Now 'gins to bite the spirits :-I do beseech you, That are of suppler joints, follow them swiftly, And hinder them from what this ecstasy SCENE I.-Before PROSPERO'S Cell. I tender to thy hand: all thy vexations I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand, Do not smile at me, that I boast her off, And make it halt behind her. Fer. I do believe it, Against an oracle. Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and pease; Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep, And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep; Thy banks with peonied and lilied brims, Which spongy April at thy hest betrims, [groves, To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom Bids thee leave these; and with her sovereign grace, Cutting the clouds towards Paphos; and her son Some wanton charm upon this man and maid, Whose vows are, that no bed-rite shall be paid, Till Hymen's torch be lighted: but in vain; Mar's hot minion is return'd again; Her waspish-headed sou has broke his arrows, Cer. Highest queen of state, Great Juno comes; I know her by her gait. Or else our spell is marr'd. [brooks, Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the wand'rang You sun-burn'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 pas That works him strongly. Mira. Never till this day, Saw I him touch'd with anger so distemper'd, 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 pleased, retire into my cell, Ari. Thy thoughts I cleave to. What's thy pleasure? Pro. Spirit, We must prepare to meet with Caliban. Ari. Ay, my commander: when I presented Ceres, I thought to have told thee of it; but I fear'd, Lest I might anger thee. Pro. Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets? At which, like unback'd colts, they prick'd their ears, Pro. This was well done, my bird: Thy shape invisible retain thou still: Ari. I go, I go. [Exit. Pro. A devil, a born devil, on whose nature Nurture can never stick; on whom my pains, Humanely taken, all, all lost, quite lost; And as, with age, his body uglier grows, So his mind cankers: I will plague them all, Re-enter ARIEL loaden with glistering apparel, &c. Even to roaring :-Come, hang them on this line. PROSPERO and ARIEL remain invisible. Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, all wet. Cal. Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole may Hear a foot fall: we now are near his cell. [not Ste. Monster, your fairy, which, you say, is a harmless fairy, has done little better than played the Jack with us. Trin. Monster, I do smell all horse-piss; at which 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 All's hush'd as midnight yet. [softly, Trin. Ay, but to lose our bottles in the pool,-Ste. There is not only disgrace and dishonour in that, monster, but an infinite loss. Trin. That's more to me than my wetting: yet this is your harmless fairy, monster. Ste. I will fetch off my bottle, though I be o'er ears for my labour. Cal. Pr'ythee, my king, be quiet. Seest thou here, This is the mouth o' the cell: no noise, and enter: Do that good mischief, which may make this island Thine own for ever, and I, thy Caliban, For aye thy foot-licker. [thoughts. Ste. Give me thy hand: I do begin to have bloody Trin. Oking Stephano! O pcer! O worthy Stephano! look, what a wardrobe here is for thee! Cal. Let it alone, thou fool; it is but trash. Trin. O, ho, monster; we know what belongs to a frippery-O king Stephano! Sie. Put off that gown, Trinculo; by this hand, I'll have that gown. Trin. Thy grace shall have it. Cal. The dropsy drown this fool! what do you mean, From toe to crown he'll fill our skins with pinches ; Ste. Be you quiet, monster.-Mistress line, is not this my jerkin? Now is the jerkin under the line: now, jerkin, you are like to lose your hair, and prove a bald jerkin. Trin. Do, do we steal by line and level, an't like your grace. Ste. I thank thee for that jest; here's a garment for't: wit shall not go unrewarded, while I am king of this country: "Steal by line and level," is an excellent pass of pate; there's another garment for 't. Trin. Monster, come, put some lime upon your fingers, and away with the rest. Cal. I will have none on't: we shall lose our time, And all be turn'd to barnacles, or to apes With foreheads villanous low. Ste. Monster, lay-to your fingers; help to bear this away, where my hogshead of wine is, or I'll turn you out of my kingdom: go to, carry this. Pro. I did say so, When first I raised the tempest. Say, my spirit, In the same fashion as you gave in charge; Pro. Dost thou think so, spirit? Ari. Mine would, Sir, were I human. Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling [quick, In virtue than in vengeance: they being penitent, [Exit. Ari. I'll fetch them, Sir. Pro. Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes, and And ye, that on the sands with printless foot [groves; Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly him, When he comes back: you demi-puppets, that By moonshine do the green-sour ringlets make, Whereof the ewe not bites; and you, whose pastime Is to make midnight mushrooms; that rejoice To hear the solemn curfew; by whose aid (Weak masters though ye be) I have bedimm'd The noontide sun, call'd forth the mutinous winds, And 'twixt the green sea and the azured vault Set roaring war: to the dread rattling thunder Have I given fire, and rifted Jove's stout oak With his own bolt: the strong-based promontory Have I made shake; and by the spurs pluck'd up The pine and cedar: graves, at my command, Have waked their sleepers; oped, and let them forth By my so potent art. But this rough magic A solemn air, and the best comforter Now useless, boil'd within thy skull! There stand, Holy Gonzalo, honourable man, Mine eyes, even sociable to the show of thine, To him thou follow'st; I will pay thy graces That now lie foul and muddy. Not one of them, Fetch me the hat and rapier in my cell; [Exit ARIEL. ARIEL re-enters, singing, and helps to attire Prospero. There I couch when owls do cry. On the bat's back I do fly, After summer, merrily: .Merrily, merrily, shall I live now, Under the blossom that hangs on the bough." Pro. Why, that's my dainty Ariel: I shall miss thee; But yet thou shalt have freedom: so, so, s0. To the king's ship, invisible as thou art: Under the hatches; the master, and the boatswain, And presently, I pr'ythee. Ari. I drink the air before me, and return Or e'er your pulse twice beat. [Exit ARIEL. Gon. All torment, trouble, wonder, and amazement Inhabits here. Some heavenly power guide us Out of this fearful country! Pro. Behold, Sir King, The wronged duke of Milan, Prospero: For more assurance that a living prince Does now speak to thee, I embrace thy body; And to thee, and thy company, I bid A hearty welcome. Alon. Whe'r thou beest he, or no, Or some enchanted trifle to abuse me, As late I have been, I not know: thy pulse Beats, as of flesh and blood; and, since I saw thee, Th' affliction of my mind amends, with which, I fear, a madness held me: this must crave (An if this be at all) a most strange story. Thy dukedom I resign; and do entreat Thou pardon me my wrongs:-But how should Prospero Be living, and be here? Pro. First, noble friend, Let me embrace thine age; whose honour cannot Be measured or confined. O heavens! that they were living both in Naples, Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter? That they devour their reason, and scarce think Their eyes do offices of truth, their words Are natural breath: but, howsoe'er you have Been justled from your senses, know for certain, That I am Prospero, and that very duke Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most strangely For 'tis a chronicle of day by day, My dukedom since you have given me again, I will requite you with as good a thing; At least, bring forth a wonder, to content ye, The entrance of the Cell opens, and discovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA playing at chess. Mira. Sweet lord, you play me false. Fer. No, my dearest love, I would not for the world. Fer. Sir, she's mortal; But, by immortal Providence, she's mine; Alon. I am hers: But 0, how oddly will it sound, that I Must ask my child forgiveness! Pro. There, Sir, stop: Let us not burden our remembrances Gon. I have inly wept, Or should have spoke ere this. Look down, you gods, For it is you that have chalk'd forth the way Alon. I say, Amen, Gonzalo ! Gon. Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue Alon. Give me your hands: [To FER. and MIRA. Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart, Gon. Be't so! Amen! Re-enter ARIEL, with the Master and Boatswain O look, Sir, look, Sir; here are more of us! Ari. Sir, all this service Have I done since I went. Pro. My tricksy spirit! Pro. Mark but the badges of these men, my lords, Cal. I shall be pinch'd to death. Alon. Is not this Stephano, my drunken butler? Trin. I have been in such a pickle, since I saw you last, that, I fear me, will never out of my bones: I shal not fear fly-blowing. Seb. Why, how now, Stephano? Ste. O, touch me not; I am not Stephano, but a cramp. Ste. I should have been a sore one then. Cal. Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter, Seb. Or stole it, rather. [Aside. Alon. These are not natural events; they strengthen, Alon. Hence, and bestow your luggage where you Alon. I long To hear the story of your life, which must Pro. I'll deliver all; [Aside. Alon. This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod: And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales, Must rectify our knowledge. Pro. Sir, my liege, Do not infest your mind with beating on The strangeness of this business; at pick'd leisure, That is thy charge; then to the elements Be free, and fare thou well!-[Aside.] Please you draw [Exeun near. [Aside. Set Caliban and his companions free; Untie the spell. [Exit ARIEL.] How fares my gracious [Sir? Re-enter ARIEL, driving in CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, in their stolen apparel. Ste. Every man shift for all the rest, and let no man take care for himself; for all is but fortune:-Coragio, bully-monster, Coragio! Trin. If these be true spies which I wear in my head, here's a goodly sight. Cal. O Setebos, these be brave spirits, indeed! How fine my master is! I am afraid He will chastise me. Seb. Ha, ha; What things are these, my lord Antonio! Ant. Very like; one of them Is a plain fish, and, no doubt, marketable. EPILOGUE, SPOKEN BY PROSPERO. Now my charms are all o'erthrown, As you from crimes would pardon'd be, |