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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'd,
And put it to the foil: but you, O you!
So perfect, and so peerless, are created
Of every creature's best.

Mira.

I do not know 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 Something too wildly, and my father's precepts I therein do forget.

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 to suffer

my

soul speak:

The flesh-fly blow my mouth.-Hear
The very instant that I saw you, did
My heart fly to your service; there resides,
To make me slave to it; and for your sake,
Am I this patient log-man.
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 aught else i' the world,
Do love, prize, honour you.
Mira.

To weep at what I am glad of.

I am a fool,

Fair encounter

Pro.
Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace
On that which breeds between them!

[Aside.
Fer.
Wherefore weep you?
Mira. At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer
What I desire to give; and much less take,
What I shall die to want. But this is trifling;
And all the more it seeks to hide itself,

The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning,
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!
I am your wife, if you will marry me;
If not, I'll die your maid: to be
You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,

Whether you will or no.

Fer.

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your

fellow

My mistress, dearest,

My husband then?

Fer. Ay, with a heart as willing

As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.

[Kneels.

[Rises.

Mira. And mine, with my heart in't: and now fare

well,

Till half an hour hence.

SCENE II.-Another part of the Island. Enter STEPHANO and TRINCULO; CALIBAN following with a bottle.

Ste. Tell not me: when the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and board 'em.-Servant-monster, drink to me.

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? he were a brave monster indeed, if they were set in his tail.

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; he's no standard.
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. Why, thou debauched fish thou, was there ever man a coward, that hath drunk so much sack as I to-day? 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!-that a monster should be such a natural!

Cal. Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I pr'ythee. Ste. Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head: if you prove a mutineer, the next tree-The poor monster's my subject, and he shall not suffer indignity.

Cal. I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleas'd to hearken once again to the suit I made to thee? Ste. Marry will I; kneel and repeat it : I will stand, and so shall Trinculo. [CALIBAN kneels.

Enter ARIEL, invisible. Cal. As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant; a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island.

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Fer. A thousand thousand! [Exeunt FER. and MIR. thou bring me to the party?

Pro. So glad of this as they, I cannot be,

Who are surpris'd with all; but my rejoicing

At nothing can be more.

I'll to my book;

For yet, ere supper time, must I perform

Much business appertaining.

Cal. Yea, yea, my lord: I'll yield him thee asleep,
Where thou may'st knock a nail into his head.
Ari. Thou liest; thou canst not.

Cal. What a pied ninny's this! Thou scurvy patch!—
[Exit. I do beseech thy greatness, give him blows,

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And take his bottle from him: when that's gone,
He shall drink nought but brine; for I'll not show him
Where the quick freshes are.

Ste. Trinculo, run into no farther danger: interrupt the monster one word farther, 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 farther off.

Ste. Didst thou not say, he lied?
Ari. Thou liest.

Ste. Do I so? take thou that. [Strikes him.] you like this, give me the lie another time.

As

Trin. I did not give the lie.-Out o' your wits, and hearing too? A pox o' your bottle! this can sack, and drinking do.-A murrain on your monster, and the devil take your fingers!

Cal. Ha, ha, ha!

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Cal Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometimes voices,
That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming,
The clouds, methought, would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me, that when I wak'd
I cry'd to dream again.

Ste. This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where
I shall have my music for nothing.
Cal. When Prospero is destroyed.

Ste. That shall be by and by: I remember the story.
Trin. The sound is going away: let's follow it, and

Ste. Now, forward with your tale.-Pr'ythee stand after do our work. farther off.

Cal. Beat him enough: after a little time,

I'll beat him too.

Ste. Stand farther.-Come, proceed.

Cal. Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with him

I' the afternoon to sleep: then thou may'st brain him,
Having first seiz'd his books; or with a log
Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake,
Or cut his wezand with thy knife. Remember,
First to possess his books; for without them
He's but a sot, as I am, nor hath not
One spirit to command: they all do hate him,
As rootedly as I. Burn but his books;
He has brave utensils, (for so he calls them)
Which, when he has a house, he'll deck withal:
And that most deeply to consider is
The beauty of his daughter; he himself
Calls her a nonpareil: I never saw a woman,
But only Sycorax my dam, and she;
But she as far surpasseth Sycorax,
As great'st does least.
Ste.
Cal. Ay, lord; she will become thy bed, I warrant,
And bring thee forth brave brood.

Is it so brave a lass?

Ste. Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter and I will be king and queen; (save our graces!) and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys.-Dost thou like the plot, Trinculo?

Trin. Excellent.

Ste. Give me thy hand: I am sorry I beat thee;
but, while thou livest, keep a good tongue in thy head.
Cal. Within this half hour will he be asleep;
Wilt thou destroy him then?
Ste.

Ay, on mine honour.
Ari. This will I tell my master.
Cal. Thou mak'st me merry: I am full of pleasure.
Let us be jocund: will you troll the catch
You taught me but while-ere?

Ste. At thy request, monster, I will do reason, any reason. Come on, Trinculo, let us sing.

[Sings.

Flout 'em, and scout 'em; and scout 'em, and
flout 'em ;

Thought is free.

Cal, That's not the tune.

[ARIEL plays the tune on a Tabor and Pipe. Ste. What is this same?

Trin. This is the tune of our catch, played by the picture of No-body.

Ste. If thou beest a man, show thyself in thy likeness: if thou beest a devil, take't as thou list. Trin. O, forgive me my sins!

Ste. Lead, monster; we'll follow.-I would, I 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, ADRIAN, FRANCISCO, and Others.

Gon. By'r la'kin, I can go no farther, sir; My old bones ake: 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, Who am myself attach'd with weariness, To the dulling of my spirits: sit down, and rest. Even here I will put off my hope, and keep it No longer for my flatterer: he is drown'd," Whom thus we stray to find; and the sea mocks Our frustrate search on land. Well, let him go. Ant. I am right glad that he's so out of hope.

[Aside to SEBASTIAN.

Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose
That you resolv'd to effect.
Seb.

The next advantage
Let it be to-night;
For, now they are oppress'd with travel, they
Will not, nor cannot, use such vigilance,
As when they are fresh.

Will we take thoroughly.
Ant.

Seb. I say, to-night: no more. [Solemn and strange music; and PROSPERO above, invisible. Enter several strange Shapes, bringing in a banquet: they dance about it with gentle actions of salutations; and, inviting the King, &c. to eat, they depart.] Alon. What harmony is this? my good friends, hark! Gon. Marvellous sweet music!

Alon. Give us kind keepers, heavens! What were these?

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. 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. If in Naples

Ant.

Gon.

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.

[Aside.] Honest lord, Thou hast said well; for some of you there present, Are worse than devils. Alon.

I cannot too much muse, Such shapes, such gestures, and such sounds, expressing (Although they want the use of tongue) a kind Of excellent dumb discourse. Pro.

[Aside.] Praise in departing. Fran. They vanish'd strangely. Seb. No matter, since They have left their viands behind, for we have stomachs.

Will't please you taste of what is here?
Alon.

Not I.

Gon. Faith, sir, you need not fear. When we were boys,

(For that's my business to you) that you three
From Milan did supplant good Prospero;
Expos'd unto the sea, (which hath requit it)
Him, and his innocent child: for which foul deed
The powers, delaying not forgetting, have
Incens'd the seas and shores, yea, all the creatures,
Against your peace. Thee, of thy son, Alonso,
They have bereft; and do pronounce by me,
Lingering perdition (worse than any death
Can be at once) shall step by step attend
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 music, enter the Shapes again, and dance with mocks and mowes, and carry out the table.

Pro. [Above.] Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou

Who would believe that there were mountaineers
Dew-lapp'd like bulls, whose throats had hanging at Perform'd, my Ariel; a grace it had, devouring.

them

Of my instruction hast thou nothing 'bated, In what thou hadst to say: so, with good life

Wallets of flesh? or that there were such men,
Whose heads stood in their breasts? which now, we find, And observation strange, my meaner ministers
Each putter-out of five for one will bring us
Good warrant of.

Alon.

I will stand to, and feed,

Although my last:
: no matter, since I feel
The best is past.-Brother, my lord the duke,
Stand to, and do as we.

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 (That hath to instrument this lower world, And what is in't) the never-surfeited sea Hath caused to belch up, and on this island Where man doth not inhabit; you 'mongst men Being most unfit to live. I have made you mad; 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,

[ALON., SEB., &c. draw their Swords. 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 One dowle that's in my plume: my fellow-ministers Are like invulnerable. If you could hurt, Your swords are now too massy for your strengths, And will not be uplifted. But, remember,

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 Í 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

Their several kinds have done. My high charms work,
And these, mine enemies, are all knit up

In their distractions: they now are in my power;
And in these fits I leave them, while I visit
Young Ferdinand, (whom they suppose is drown'd)
And his and my lov'd darling.
[Exit PROSPERO.
Gon. I' the name of something holy, sir, why stand you
In this strange stare?

Alon.

O, it is monstrous! monstrous!
Methought, the billows spoke, and told me of it;
The winds did sing it to me; and the thunder,
That deep and dreadful organ-pipe, pronounc'd
The name of Prosper: it did base my trespass.
Therefore my son i' the ooze is bedded; and
I'll seek him deeper than e'er plummet sounded,
And with him there lie mudded.

Seb.

I'll fight their legions o'er.

[Exit. But one fiend at a time,

Ant. I'll be thy second. [Exeunt SEB. and ANT.
Gon. All three of them are desperate: their great guilt,
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
May now provoke them to.
Adr. Follow, I pray you.

ACT IV.

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.

Fer.

Against an oracle.

I do believe it,

Pro. Then, as my gift, and thine own acquisition

[Exeunt.

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Pro. Ay, with a twink.

Presently?

Ari. Before you can say, "Come," and "go," And breathe twice; and 66 cry, so so;"

Each one, tripping on his toe,

Will be here with mop and mow.

Do you love me, master? no?

Pro. Dearly, my delicate Ariel. Do not approach, Till thou dost hear me call.

Ari. Well I conceive. [Exit. Pro. Look, thou be true. Do not give dalliance Too much the rein: the strongest oaths are straw To the fire i' the blood. Be more abstemious, Or else, good night, your vow. Fer.

I warrant you, sir;

The white-cold virgin snow upon my heart Abates the ardour of my liver.

Pro.

Well.

Now come, my Ariel! bring a corollary,

Rather than want a spirit: appear, and pertly.

No tongue, all eyes; be silent.

[Soft music.

A Masque. Enter IRIS. Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and peas; Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep, And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep; Thy banks with pioned and tilled brims, Which spongy April at thy hest betrims,

To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy brown groves,

Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves,
Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard;
And thy sea-marge, steril, and rocky-hard,
Where thou thyself dost air; the queen o' the sky,
Whose watery arch and messenger am I,
Bids thee leave these, and with her sovereign grace,
Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,

The means that dusky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company
I have forsworn.
Iris.
Of her society

[Juno descends slowly. To come and sport. Her peacocks fly amain: Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain. 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 acres, and my unshrubb'd down, Rich scarf to my proud earth; why hath thy queen Summon'd me hither, to this short-graz'd green? Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate, And some donation freely to estate

On the bless'd lovers.

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Juno. Honour, riches, marriage, blessing,
Long continuance, and increasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you!
Juno sings her blessings on you.
Earth's increase, foison plenty,

Barns, and garners never empty;

Vines, with clust ring bunches growing;
Plants, with goodly burden bowing;
Rain come to you, at the farthest,
In 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.

Spirits, which by mine art

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,
Makes this place Paradise.

[JUNO and CERES whisper, and send IRIS on employment. Pro. 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 wandering brooks,

With your sedge crowns, and ever harmless looks,
Leave your crisp channels, and on this green land
Answer your summons: Juno does command.
Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate
A contract of true love: be not too late.

Enter certain Nymphs.

You sun-burn'd sicklemen, of August weary,
Come hither from the furrow, and be merry.
Make holy-day: your rye-straw hats put on,
And these fresh nymphs encounter every one
In country footing.

Enter certain Reapers, properly habited: they join with
the Nymphs in a graceful dance; towards the end where-
of PROS. 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 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 fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, 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 on, 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.
Pro. Come with a thought!—I thank thee.—Ariel,
come!

Enter ARIEL.

Ari. Thy thoughts I cleave to. What's thy pleasure?
Spirit,

Pro.

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?
Ari. I told you, sir, they were red-hot with drinking:
So full of valour, that they smote the air
For breathing in their faces; beat the ground
For kissing of their feet, yet always bending
Towards their project. Then I beat my tabor,
At which, like unback'd colts, they prick'd their ears,
Advanc'd their eye-lids, lifted up their noses,
As they smelt music: so I charm'd their ears,
That, calf-like, they my lowing follow'd, through
Tooth'd briers, sharp furzes, pricking gorse, and
thorns,

Which enter'd their frail skins: at last I left them
I' the filthy mantled pool beyond your cell,
There dancing up to the chins, that the foul lake
O'erstunk their feet.

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.

[Exit.

Ari.
I
Pro. A devil, a born devil, on whose nature
go, I go.
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.
ARIEL hangs them on the line, and with PROSPERO
remains unseen.

Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO, all wet.
Cal. Pray you, tread softly, that the blind mole 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 with us. Trin. Monster, I do smell all horse-piss, at which my nose is in great indignation.

If I

Ste. So is mine. should take a displeasure against you; look you,— Do you hear, monster?

Trin. Thou wert but a lost monster.

15

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.

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.

Ste. Give me thy hand. I do begin to have bloody thoughts.

Trin. O king Stephano! O peer! O worthy Stephano! look, what a wardrobe here is for thee!

Cal. Let it alone, thou fool: it is but trash. [Seeing the apparel. Trin. O, ho, monster! we know what belongs to a frippery.-O king Stephano!

Ste. 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,
To doat thus on such luggage? Let't alone,
From toe to crown he'll fill our skins with pinches ;
And do the murder first: if he awake,
Make us strange stuff.

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
a bald jerkin.
your hair, and prove

Trin. Do, do we steal by line and level, and't like your grace.

Ste. I thank thee for that jest; here's a garment
this country.
for't: wit shall not go unrewarded, while I am king of
"Steal by line and level," is an excel-
lent 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 villainous 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.

Trin. And this.

Ste. Ay, and this.

Enter divers Spirits, in

Silver!

[A noise of hunters heard.
shape of hounds, and hunt them about; PROSPERO
and ARIEL setting them on.]
Pro. Hey, Mountain, hey!
Ari. Silver! there it goes,
Pro. Fury, Fury! there, Tyrant, there! hark, hark!
[CAL., STE., and TRIN. are driven out.
Go, charge my goblins that they grind their joints
With aged cramps, and more pinch-spotted make them,
With dry convulsions; shorten up their sinews
Than pard, or cat o' mountain. [Cries and roaring.
Lie at my mercy all mine enemies:
Pro. Let them be hunted soundly. At this hour
Hark! they roar.
Shortly shall all my labours end, and thou
Shalt have the air at freedom: for a little,
Follow, and do me service.

Ari.

[Exeunt.

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