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
The flesh-fly blow my mouth.-Hear my soul
The very instant that I saw you, did [speak:-
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 what else i' the world,
Do love, prize, honour you.

To weep at what I am glad of.
Pro. [Aside.]

Mira. I am a

SCENE II.-Another Part of the Island. Enter Caliban, with a bottle, Stephano, und Trinculo.

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.

[fool, Trin. Thou liest, most ignorant monster : Fair encounter I am in case to justle a constable: Why, thou Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain deboshed fish thou, was there ever a man a On that which breeds between them! [grace coward, that hath drunk so much sack as I toFer. Wherefore weep you? day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish, and half a monster?

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 your fellow
You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,
Whether you will or no.

Fer.

And I thus humble ever.
Mira.

My mistress, dearest,

My husband, then?
Fer. Ay, with a heart as willing
As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.
Mira. And mine, with my heart in 't: and
Till half-an-hour hence. [now farewell,
Fer.
A thousand thousand !
[Exeunt Fer. and Mira.
Pro. So glad of this as they, I cannot be,
Who are surpris'd with all; but my rejoicing

Cal. Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord!

Trin. Lord, quoth he!-that a monster should be such a natural! [pr'ythee.

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

Cal. I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be To hearken once again the suit I made thee? Ste. Marry, will I; kneel, and repeat it: I will stand, and so shall Trinculo. 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 this land.

Ari. Thou liest.

Cal. Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou; I would my valiant master would destroy thee: I do not lie.

Ste. Trinculo, if you trouble him any more

Cal. Ay, lord; she will become thy bed, I And bring thee forth brave brood. [warrant, 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 skout'em; and skout 'em,
Thought is free.
[and flout 'em ;

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 Nobody.

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. He that dies, pays all debts: I defy thee.-Mercy upon us!

Cal. Art thou afeard?
Ste. No, monster, not I.

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,

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.

Cal. Beat him enough: after a little time, That, if I then had wak'd after long sleep, I'll beat him too. Will make me sleep again: and then, in Stc. Stand further.-Come, proceed. dreaming, [riches Cal. Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom The clouds, methought, would open, and show with him [brain him, Ready to drop upon me; that, when I wak'd, I' the afternoon to sleep: there thou may'st I cried to dream again. 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.

Trin. The sound is going away let's follow it, and after do our work.

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 further, sir;

My old bones ache: here's a maze trod, indeed,

Though forth-rights, and meanders! by your

I needs must rest me.

Alon.

taineers

Not I. [we were boys,

[patience, Gon. Faith, sir, you need not fear. When Who would believe that there were moun[hanging at them Dew-lapp'd like bulls, whose throats had Wallets of flesh? or that there were such men, Whose heads stood in their breasts? which now we find,

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. [Aside to Seb.] I am right glad that
he's so out of hope.

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

Seb. [Aside to Ant.] The next advantage
Will we take thoroughly.

Ant. [Aside to Seb.] 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.

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

men

(That hath to instrument this lower world, And what is in't,) the never-surfeited sea [more. Hath caused to belch up; and on this island Seb. [Aside to Ant.] I say, to-night no Where man doth not inhabit; you 'mongst Solemn and strange music; and Prospero [mad; above, invisible. Enter several strange Being most unfit to live. I have made you Shapes, bringing in a banquet: they dance [Seeing Alon., Seb., &c., draw their swords. about it with gentle actions of salutation; And even with such like valour, men hang and, inviting the King, &c., to eat, they depart. Alon. What harmony is this? my good Gon. Marvellous sweet music! Alon. Give us kind keepers, heavens! What were these?

and drown

[fellows [friends, hark! Their proper selves. You fools! I and my Are ministers of fate: the elements

Of whom your swordsare 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

Seb. A living drollery. Now I will believe That there are unicorns; that in Arabia There is one tree, the phoenix' throne; one At this hour reigning there. [phoenix Are like invulnerable. If you could hurt, Ant. I'll believe both; Your swords are now too massy for your And what does else want credit, come to me, strengths, And I'll be sworn 'tis true: travellers ne'er did And will not be uplifted. But, remember, Though fools at home condemn them. [lie, (For that's my business to you,) that you three Gon. If in Naples From Milan did supplant good Prospero; I should report this now, would they believe Expos'd unto the sea, which hath requit it, If I should say, I saw such islanders, [me? Him, and his innocent child: for which foul (For, certes, these are people of the island,) Who, though they are of monstrons shape, yet, note,

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
And a clear life ensuing.
[sorrow,

He vanishes in thunder: then, to soft music,
enter the Shapes again, and dance with
mocks and mowes, and carry out the table.
Pro. [Aside.] Bravely the figure of this
harpy hast thou
[ing:
Perform'd, my Ariel; a grace it had, devour-
Of my instruction hast thou nothing 'bated,

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,
To come and sport; her peacocks fly amain:
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.
Enter Ceres.

Cer. Hail, many-coloured messenger, that
Dost disobey the wife of Jupiter; [ne'er
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

Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the winding brooks,

[looks, With your sedg'd crowns, and ever-harmless Leave your crisp channels, and on this green land

Answer your summons: Juno does command. [green? Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate A contract of true love: be not too late. Enter certain Nymphs.

Summon'd me hither, to this short-grass'd
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,
Do now attend the queen? since they did plot
The means that dusky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company
I have forsworn.
Iris. Of her society

Be not afraid; I met her deity
[son
Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her
Dove-drawn with her. Here thought they to
have done

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 :
Mars's hot minion is return'd again;
Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows,
Swears he will shoot no more, but play with
And be a boy right out.
[sparrows,
Cer.
Highest queen of state,
Great Juno comes; I know her by her gait.
Enter Juno.

Jun. How does my bounteous sister?

with me,

You sun-burn'd sicklemen, of August weary,
Come hither from the furrow, and be merry :
Make holiday: 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 whereof Prospero starts
suddenly, and speaks; after which, to a
strange, hollow, and confused noise, they
heavily vanish.
[spiracy

Pro. [Aside.] I had forgot that foul con-
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
That works him strongly.
[passion
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,
[be, As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air:

Go

To bless this twain, that they may prosperous
And honour'd in their issue.

SONG.

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

Barns and garners never empty :
Vines, with clust ring bunches growing;
Plants, with goodly burden bowing;
Spring 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 called to enact
My present fancies.
Fer.

Let me live here ever:

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 of, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.-Sir, I am vex'd:
Bear with my weakness; my old brain is
Be not disturb'd with my infirmity. [troubled.
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!-To them.] I
--Ariel, come !
[thank you.

Enter Ariel.