ACT I. SCENE I.
The Stage darkened—repreſents a cloudy sky, a very rocky coaſt, and a ſhip on a tempeſtuous ſea.—ARIEL comes upon the ſtage.
AIR.
ARISE, ariſe, ye ſubterranean winds,
Ariſe ye deadly blighting fiends;
Riſe you, from whom devouring plagues have birth,
You that i' th' vaſt and hollow womb of earth
Engender earthquakes, make whole countries ſhake;
[2] Ye eager winds, whoſe rapid force can make
All, but the fix'd and ſolid centre, ſhake:
Come, drive you ſhip to that part of the iſle
Where nature never yet did ſmile.
Myſelf will fly on board, and on the beak,
In the waſte, the deck, in every cabin,
I'll flame amazement. Sometimes I'll divide,
And burn in many places. On the top-maſt,
The yards, and bowſprit will I flame diſtinctly,
Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precurſors
Of dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary
And ſight out-running, are the the fire and cracks
Of ſulph'rous roaring; the moſt mighty Neptune
Shall ſeem to ſiege, make his bold waves tremble,
Yea, his dread trident ſhake.
[Exit.
Repeated flaſhes of lightning, and claps of thunder.
SCENE II.
A part of the iſland near PROSPERO's cell.
Enter PROSPERO and MIRANDA.
MIRANDA.
If by your art (my deareſt father) you have
Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them.
O! I have ſuffer'd with thoſe I ſaw ſuffer.
Had I been any god of pow'r, I would
Have ſunk the ſea within the earth, or e'er
It ſhould the goodly ſhip have ſwallow'd, and
The freighting ſouls within her.
[3]
AIR.
Hark how the winds ruſh from their caves,
Hark how old ocean frets and raves,
From their deep roots the rocks he tears;
Whole deluges lets fly,
That daſh againſt the sky,
And ſeem to drown the ſtars.
PROSPERO.
Tell your piteous heart, there's no harm done;
I have done nothing, but in care of thee,
My child, who art ignorant of what thou art;
But I will now inform thee—pray attend:
'Tis twelve years ſince thy father was the duke
Of Milan—be not amaz'd, my daughter;
Thou art a princeſs of no leſs iſſue.
MIRANDA.
O the heav'ns, what foul play had we!
PROSPERO.
Mark me well.
I then neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated
To ſtudy, and the bettering of my mind,
Did caſt the government on my brother,
Call'd Anthonio.—He, from ſubſtitution,
And executing the outward face of
Royalty, with all prerogative, did
Believe he was indeed the duke; hence his
Ambition growing, he confederates
[4] With the king of Naples, my inveterate foe,
Who, for homage and certain tribute, agrees
To extirpate me from my dukedom, and
To confer fair Milan on my brother:
This ſettled, and an army levy'd; one night,
Fated to the purpoſe, did Anthonio open
The gates of Milan, and i' th' dead of darkneſs,
The miniſters for the purpoſe, hurry'd thence
Me, and thy crying ſelf; in fine, they forc'd us
Out to ſea, in a rotten unrigg'd boat,
Where they left us to the mercy of the winds.
AIR.
In pity, Neptune ſmooths the liquid way,
Obſequious Tritons on the ſurface play,
And ſportful dolphins with a nimble glance,
To the bright ſun their glitt'ring ſcales advance.
In oczy bed profound the billows ſleep,
No clamorous winds awake the ſilent deep;
With ſafety thro' the ſea our boat is bore.
In gentle gales we 're wafted to the ſhore.
Here in this iſland we arriv'd, and here
Have I, thy ſchool-maſter, made thee more profit
Than other princes can, who have more time
For vainer hours, and tutors not ſo careful.
MIRANDA.
Heav'n thank you for't!
PROSPERO.
[5]Know further, that fortune,
Now grown bountiful to this ſhore, hath brought
Mine enemies; and, by my preſcience,
I find my zenith doth depend upon
A moſt propitious ſtar, whoſe influence
If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes
Will ever after drop.—
Thou art inclin'd to ſleep; 'tis a good dulneſs,
And give it way; I know thou can'ſt not chuſe.
AIR.
MIRANDA.
Come, O ſleep, my eyelids cloſe,
Lull my ſoul to ſoft repoſe.
PROSPERO.
Approach, my Ariel.
SCENE III.
Enter ARIEL.
ARIEL.
All hail, great maſter! grave ſir, hail! I come
To anſwer thy beſt pleaſure; be't to fly,
To ſwim, to dive into the fire, to ride
[6] On curled clouds; to thy ſtrong bidding task
Ariel, and all his qualities.
AIR.
In the bright moonſhine, while winds whiſtle loud,
Tivy, tivy, tivy, we mount and we fly,
All racking along in a downy white cloud:
And leſt our leap from the sky ſhould prove too far,
We ſlide on the back of a new-falling ſtar.
Merry, merry, merry, we ſail from the eaſt,
Half tippled at a rainbow feaſt.
PROSPERO.
Spirit, thou haſt perform'd to point
The tempeſt that I bade thee, and diſpos'd
The ſhip and princes exactly to thy charge;
But there's more work: what is the time o' th' day?
ARIEL.
Paſt the mid-ſeaſon.
AIR.
PROSPERO.
We muſt work, we muſt haſte;
Noontide hour is long ſince paſt;
Sprights that glimmer in the ſun,
Into ſhades already run;
Naples will be here anon.
ARIEL.
[7]Let me remember thee what thou haſt promis'd.
PROSPERO.
What is't thou can'ſt demand?
ARIEL.
My liberty.
PROSPERO.
Before the time be out? No more.
Do'ſt thou forget
The foul witch Sycorax, the dam of Caliban,
Whom I now keep in ſervice?
ARIEL.
No.
PROSPERO.
Thou do'ſt, and think'ſt it much to tread the ooze
Of the ſalt deep;
To run againſt the ſharp wind of the north,
To do my buſineſs in the veins of the earth,
When it is bak'd with froſt!
ARIEL.
I do not, ſir.
PROSPERO.
Thou beſt know'ſt what torment I found thee in:
It was my art, when I arriv'd and heard thee,
That made the pine, within whoſe rift thou waſt
Impriſoned, to gape and let thee out;
[8] And, if thou murmureſt, I will rend an oak,
And peg thee in his knotty entrails, till thou
Haſt howl'd out twelve long winters.
ARIEL.
Pardon, maſter.
PROSPERO.
Go, make thyſelf like a nymph of the ſea;
Be ſubject to no mortal ſight but mine.
Hark thee in thine ear—
ARIEL.
My lord, it ſhall be done.
[Exit.
PROSPERO.
Awake, dear heart, awake! Thou haſt ſlept well,
Awake—
MIRANDA.
The ſtrangeneſs of your ſtory put
Heavineſs in me.
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV.
Enter FERDINAND—and ARIEL inviſible.
AIR.
ARIEL.
Come unto the yellow ſands,
And then take hands;
[9] Curt'ſy'd when you have, and kiſs'd,
The wild waves whiſt,
Foot it featly here and there,
And ſweet ſpirits the burthen bear.
FERDINAND.
Where ſhould this muſic be, i' th' air, or earth?
It ſounds no more, and ſure it waits upon
Some god of this iſland. Sitting on a bank,
Weeping againſt the king my father's wreck,
This muſic hover'd on the waters,
Allaying both their fury and my paſſion
With chearing airs: thence I follow'd it,
(Or it has drawn me rather) but 'tis gone;
No, it begins again!
AIR.
ARIEL.
Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made:
Thoſe are pearls that were his eyes;
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth ſuffer a ſea-change,
Into ſomething rich and ſtrange:
Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell;
Hark! now I hear them, ding, dong, bell.
FERDINAND.
[10]This is no mortal buſineſs, nor no ſound
That the earth owns: I hear it now above me.
It muſt mean good or ill, and here I am.
ARIEL.
Here I am.
FERDINAND.
Hah! art thou ſo? The ſpirit's turn'd an echo.
ARIEL.
An echo.
FERDINAND.
This might ſeem pleaſant, could the burthen of
My griefs accord with any thing but ſighs.
ARIEL.
Sighs.
FERDINAND.
And my laſt words, like thoſe of dying men,
Need no reply. Fain I would go to ſhades,
Where few would wiſh to follow me.
ARIEL.
Follow me.
FERDINAND.
I will diſcourſe no more with thee,
Nor follow one ſtep further.
ARIEL.
One ſtep further.
FERDINAND.
[11]This muſt have more importance than an echo.
ARIEL.
An echo.
FERDINAND.
I'll try if it will anſwer when I ſing
My ſorrows to the murmur of this brook.
ARIEL.
This brook.
DUETT.
FERDINAND.
Go thy way.
ARIEL.
Go thy way.
FERDINAND.
Why ſhould'ſt thou ſtay?
ARIEL.
Why ſhould'ſt thou ſtay?
FERDINAND.
Where the winds whiſtle, and where the ſtreams creep,
Under yon willow-tree fain would I ſleep:
Then let me alone,
For 'tis time to be gone.
ARIEL.
For 'tis time to be gone.
[12] There's yet in ſtore for thee
Some ſtrange felicity;
Follow me, follow me,
And thou ſhalt ſee.
[Exeunt.
SCENE V.
Changes to the wild part of the iſland.
Enter STEPHANO, VENTOSO, and MUSTACHO.
VENTOSO.
This will be a doleful day with Suky.
She gave me a gilt nutmeg at parting;
That's loſt too. O ſhe's a moſt charming wench.
MUSTACHO.
Beſhrew thy heart, for thus reminding me
Of my wife: I ſhould ne'er have thought of her;
But nature will ſhew itſelf; I muſt melt.
STEPHANO.
Look, look, poor Muſtacho weeps for grief.
VENTOSO.
In truth, he ſheds the brandy from his eyes.
STEPHANO.
Hang wives and miſtreſſes, let's drink about.
[13]
AIR.
Here's to thee, Tom, this whining love deſpiſe;
Pledge me, my friend, and drink till thou art wife.
It ſparkles brighter far than ſhe;
'Tis pure and right, without deceit;
And ſuch no woman e'er will be;
No, they are all ſophiſticate;
Follies they have ſo numberleſs in ſtore,
That only he who loves them can have more;
Neither their ſighs nor tears are true,
Thoſe idly blow, theſe idly fall;
Nothing like to ours at all,
But ſighs and tears have ſexes too.
Courage, my lads, this iſland is our own;
The king, the prince, and all their train are drown'd.
VENTOSO.
Then, my good friends, let's form a government.
STEPHANO.
I was the maſter at ſea, and will be
Duke at land: you, Muſtacho, was my mate,
And now I'm prince, ſhalt be my viceroy.
MUSTACHO.
Stephano, let me ſpeak for the people,
Becauſe they are but few, or rather none,
Within this iſland to ſpeak for themſelves:
Know that, to prevent the ſhedding Chriſtian blood,
[14] We're content Ventoſo ſhall be viceroy,
Provided I be viceroy over him.
Good people, ſay, are ye all ſatisfy'd?
What, none anſwer?—Their ſilence gives conſent.
SCENE VI.
Enter TRINCALO (with a Bottle) half drunk.
TRINCALO.
I ſhall no more to ſea;
Here I ſhall die on ſhore.
VENTOSO.
The ghoſt of Trincalo, our brave boatſwain!
Be not afraid, 'tis very Trincalo.
How got you on ſhore?
TRINCALO.
On a butt of ſack.
My cellar is a rock, by the ſea-ſide.
STEPHANO.
Welcome, ſubject, to our dominion.
TRINCALO.
What ſubject? what dominion? Here, boys,
Here's old ſack: I'll be old Simon the king.
But are you all alive?—for Trincalo
Will tipple with no ghoſts, till he be dead.
Stephano, thy Hand.—
VENTOSO.
[15]You muſt kiſs it then.
He is choſen duke, in full aſſembly.
TRINCALO.
A duke! where? what's he duke of?
MUSTACHO.
This iſland.
Oh, Trincalo, we are all made for ever,
The iſland's empty, and all is our own.
VENTOSO.
We two are viceroys o'er all the iſle.
TRINCALO.
What, were matters carried thus againſt me
In my abſence? but I oppoſe it all.
MUSTACHO.
Art thou mad, Trincalo? will you diſturb
A ſettled government? where you don't know
The laws of the country?
TRINCALO.
I'll have no laws.
MUSTACHO.
Then civil war begins.
[16]DUETT.
TRINCALO.
Whilſt blood does flow within theſe veins,
Or any ſpark of life remains,
My right I will maintain.
MUSTACHO.
Whilſt I this temper'd ſteel can weild,
I'll ne'er to thee, thou braggard, yield;
Thy threats are all in vain.
TRINCALO.
I defy thee.
MUSTACHO.
I'll not fly thee.
TRINCALO.
Braggard, come.
MUSTACHIO.
—Braggard?
Thy boaſted courage now I'll try;
I ſee thou art afraid to die.
TRINCALO.
Not I.
MUSTACHO.
That's a lye.
TRINCALO.
[17]Lye, Sir?
MUSTACHO.
Ay, Sir.
BOTH.
Behold, I conquer, or I die.
STEPHANO.
Hold, loving ſubjects, we'll have no civil
Wars in this our reign; I here appoint
Both you and him my viceroys o'er this iſle.
MUSTACHO and TRINCALO.
Agreed.
TRINCALO ſings.
Then ſince no ſtate's completely bleſt,
Let's learn the bitter to allay,
Inſpir'd with this, let's dance and play [ſtriking the bottle.
Enjoy at leaſt the preſent day,
And leave to fate the reſt.
[18]ACT II. SCENE I.
Another part of the iſland. FERDINAND diſ⯑covered.
Enter PROSPERO, MIRANDA, and ARIEL.
PROSPERO.
THE fringed curtains of thine eyes advance,
And ſee what is yonder.
MIRANDA.
Is't a ſpirit?
Believe me, Sir, it carries a brave form;
But 'tis a ſpirit.
PROSPERO.
No; it eats, and ſleeps,
And hath ſuch ſenſes as we, were he not
Somewhat ſtain'd with grief (beauties worſt canker)
Thou might'ſt then call him a goodly perſon.
MIRANDA.
I might call him a thing divine;
Nothing natural I ever ſaw ſo noble.
[19]AIR.
FERDINAND.
What ſudden blaze of majeſty,
What awful innocence of mein,
Is that which I from hence deſcry?
Like nature's univerſal queen.
Sure the goddeſs, on whom theſe airs attend,
Such beauty cannot belong to human kind.
MIRANDA.
I am like you a mortal, if ſuch you are.
FERDINAND.
My language too! Oh heav'ns! I am the beſt
Of them, who ſpeak this language, were I but
In my own country. O! if a virgin,
And your affections not gone forth, I'll make you
Queen of Naples.
PROSPERO ſings.
In tender ſighs he ſilence breaks,
The fair his flame approves,
Conſenting bluſhes warm her cheeks,
She ſmiles, ſhe yields, ſhe loves.
Young Sir, a word; thou doſt here uſurp
The name thou ow'ſt not, and haſt put thyſelf
[20] Upon this iſland, as a ſpy to win it
From me, the Lord on't.
FERDINAND.
No, as I am a man.
MIRANDA.
There's nothing ill can dwell in ſuch a temple.
PROSPERO.
Speak not you for him; he's a traitor. Come,
I'll manacle thy neck and feet together;
Sea-water ſhalt thou drink; thy food ſhall be
The freſh-brook muſcles, wither'd roots, and husks
Wherein the acorn's cradled.—Follow.
FERDINAND.
No:
I will reſiſt ſuch entertainment, till
Mine enemy has more pow'r.
[He draws, and is charm'd from moving.
MIRANDA.
O! dear father,
Make not too raſh a trial of him; for
He's gentle, and not fearful.
AIR.
Sweetneſs, truth, and ev'ry grace,
Which time and uſe are wont to teach,
The eye may in a moment reach,
And read diſtinctly in his face.
FERDINAND.
[21]My ſpirits, as in a dream, are all bound up:
My father's loſs, the weakneſs which I feel,
The wreck of all my friends, and this man's threats,
To whom I am ſubdu'd, are but light to me,
Might I but thro' my priſon, once a day,
Behold this maid! all corners elſe o' th' earth,
Let liberty make uſe of—ſpace enough
Have I, in ſuch a priſon.
PROSPERO.
Hang not on my garment.
MIRANDA:
Have pity, ſir.
PROSPERO.
Speak not for him. Follow me, ſir:
This door ſhews you to your lodgings.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.
A wild part of the iſland.
Enter ALONZO, ANTHONIO, and GONZALO.
GONZALO.
Beſeech you, ſir, be merry; you have cauſe
(So have we all) for joy of our eſcape.
ALONZO.
Prithee, peace—My ſon is loſt.
ANTHONIO.
[22]Sir, he may live;
I ſaw him beat the billows under him,
And ride upon their backs:
I do not doubt, he came alive to land.
ALONZO.
No, no, he's drown'd.
Thou, Anthonio, and myſelf, were thoſe
Who caus'd his death.
ANTHONIO.
How cou'd we help it?
ALONZO.
Then, then we ſhould have help'd it,
When thou betray'd'ſt thy brother Proſpero,
And his infant daughter, to my power;
And I, too ambitious, took by force
Another's right—then loſt we Ferdinand;
Then brought we theſe ſore afflictions on us.
SCENE III. [A banquet riſes.
ARIEL ſings behind the ſcenes.
AIR.
Dry thoſe eyes, which are o'erflowing,
All your ſtorms are over blowing:
While you in this iſle are biding,
You ſhall feaſt, without providing;
[23] Ev'ry dainty you can think of,
Ev'ry wine which you would drink of,
Shall be your's. All want ſhall ſhun you,
Ceres' bleſſing ſo is on you.
GONZALO.
See yonder table, ſet out and furniſh'd
With all rarities of meats and fruits!
ALONZO.
But who dares taſte this feaſt?
ANTHONIO.
'Tis certain we muſt either eat or famiſh.
ALONZO.
If both reſolve, I will adventure too.
SCENE IV. [The banquet vaniſhes.
ARIEL and the ſtrange ſhapes appear again.
AIR.
ARIEL.
Around, around, we pace,
About this curſed place,
While thus we compaſs in
Theſe mortals and their ſin;
Your vile lives you ſhall diſcover,
Truly all your deeds declare,
For about you ſpirits hover,
That can tell you what they are.
[24] Spirits, take them, take them hence,
Make them grieve for each offence.
[The ſpirits dance, and then drive 'em off.
Enter PROSPERO.
My charms work; mine enemies, knit in their
Deſtruction, are now within my pow'r.
AIR.
Upon their broken peace of mind,
Deſpair, black ſon of guilt, now feeds;
Whilſt thou, brave youth, in love ſhalt find
The full reward of virtuous deeds.
No gloſs our guilt can e'er remove;
It taints the happieſt day:
But all the pangs of virtuous love,
Shall virtuous love o'er pay.
[Exit.
SCENE V.
Before PROSPERO's cell.
Enter FERDINAND.
To be a priſoner where I love,
Is but a double tie, a link of fortune,
Join'd to the chain of love; but not to ſee her,
And yet to be ſo near her, there's the hardſhip:
But her fair form lives always in my mind.
[25]
AIR.
To what my eyes admir'd before,
I add a thouſand graces more,
And fancy blows into a flame,
The ſpark that from her beauty came:
The object thus improv'd by thought,
By my own image I am caught;
Pygmalion ſo, with fatal art,
Poliſh'd the form that ſtung his heart.
SCENE VI.
Enter MIRANDA.—PROSPERO, at a diſtance, unſeen.
MIRANDA.
Sir, my lord; where are you?
FERDINAND.
Is it your voice, my love; or do I dream?
MIRANDA.
Speak ſoftly, it is I.
FERDINAND.
O heavenly creature!
Ten times more gentle than your father's cruel.
MIRANDA.
How do you bear your priſon?
FERDINAND.
[26]'Tis my palace,
Whilſt you are here.
Admir'd Miranda, many a lady
I've ey'd with beſt regard; but you, O you,
So perfect, and ſo peerleſs, are created
Of every creature beſt.
AIR.
In ſome defect each grace was loſt,
Which touch'd my heart: in thee are join'd
The nobleſt form the earth can boaſt,
With beavenly innocence of mind.
MIRANDA.
I do not know one of my ſex, nor have I
Seen more men than you, and my dear father;
How features are abroad, I'm skilleſs of:
I wiſh not any companion but you;
Nor can imagination form a ſhape,
Beſides yourſelf, to like of.
FERDINAND.
Hear my ſoul ſpeak:
The very inſtant that I ſaw you, did
My heart fly to your ſervice; there reſides,
To make me ſlave to it.
MIRANDA.
[27]Do you love me?
FERDINAND.
O heav'n! O earth! bear witneſs to this ſound,
And crown what I profeſs with kind event;
Beyond all limit of ought elſe i' th' world,
I do love you.
AIR.
MIRANDA.
How can I ſpeak my ſecret pain?
Yet how that ſecret pain conceal?
Alas! my ſilence is in vain!
My looks my inmoſt thoughts reveal.
O, mighty love! thy power is divine;
Town its force, and thus my heart reſign.
Then hence with baſhful cunning,
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence:
I am your wife, ſir, if you approve it.
FERDINAND.
Ay, with a heart ſo willing,
As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand.
MIRANDA.
And mine with my heart in't: now farewell.
[Exe.
SCENE VII.
[28]Changes to the wild part of the iſland.
Enter CALIBAN, with a log of wood upon his ſhoulders.
[A noiſe of thunder heard.
CALIBAN.
All th' infections that the ſun ſucks up
From bogs, fens, flats, on Proſper fall, and make him
By inch-meal a diſeaſe! His ſpirits hear me,
And yet I needs muſt curſe.
Enter TRINCALO.
TRINCALO.
In the name of wonder, what have we here?
A man, or fiſh? for it reſembles both:
'Tis ſome amphibious monſter of the iſle.
Were I in England, as of late I was,
And this monſter to expoſe to view,
It would make a man of me for ever:
In England any monſter makes a man.
Come hither, monſter.
CALIBAN.
O torment me not!
TRINCALO.
[29]A ſenſible monſter, and ſpeaks my language.
Dear tortoiſe, if thou haſt the ſenſe of taſte,
Open thy mouth, and know me for thy friend.
[Pours the wine down his throat.
CALIBAN.
A brave god, and bears celeſtial liquor.
TRINCALO.
What ſay'ſt thou, monſter? will you, like me,
Live ſoberly, and become my ſubject?
CALIBAN.
I will ſwear to ſerve thee.
AIR.
No more dams I'll make for fiſh,
Nor fetch in firing, at requiring,
Nor ſcrape trencher, nor waſh diſh,
Ban, Ban, Cacaliban,
Has got a new maſter; get a new man.
TRINCALO.
Here, kiſs the book.
[Caliban drinks again.
CALIBAN.
By Settibos! this liquor's not earthly;
I pr'ythee, did'ſt thou not drop from heaven?
TRINCALO.
[30]Only from out the moon, I do aſſure thee;
I was the man in the moon, when time was.
CALIBAN.
I've ſeen thee in her, and do adore thee;
My mother ſhew'd me thee, thy dog, and buſh.
Pray be my god, and let me drink again.
[drinks again.
I'll ſhew thee ev'ry fertile inch i' th' iſle,
Where berries, nuts, and cluſter'd filberds grow.
TRINCALO.
Lead there.
CALIBAN.
The diſtance is too far to reach,
For ſee, my lord, the night approaches quick.
AIR.
The owl is abroad, the bat, and the toad,
And ſo is the cat-a-mountain;
The ant and the mole ſit both in a hole.
And frog peeps out of the fountain.
TRINCALO.
Kind monſter, ſtand firm; I ſee them coming.
CALIBAN.
Whom?
TRINCALO.
The ſtarv'd prince, and his brace of ſubjects.
[31] Enter STEPHANO, VENTOSO, and MUSTACHO.
CALIBAN.
Theſe ſprights ſha'n't touch our immortal liquor.
VENTOSO.
Surely he has rais'd the devil to his aid.
MUSTACHO.
Duke Trincalo, we have conſidered.
TRINCALO.
Say then, is't peace or war?
MUSTACHO.
Peace, and the butt.
STEPHANO.
I come a private perſon now, great duke,
To live content under your government.
TRINCALO.
You ſhall enjoy the benefits of peace,
And the firſt fruits, amongſt civil nations,
Is to get drunk for joy; which we'll obſerve.
Stephano, thou haſt been a falſe rebel;
Yet I forgive thee: in witneſs whereof
I'll drink ſoundly.
STEPHANO.
Your grace ſhall find, that I
Will do you juſtice, and drink as ſoundly.
TRINCALO.
[32]Drinking is the life of every thing;
Nothing in nature can ſubſiſt without it.
TERZETTO.
TRINCALO.
The thirſty earth ſoaks up the rain,
And drinks, and gapes for drink again.
STEPHANO.
The plants ſuck in the earth, and are,
With conſtant drinking, freſh and fair.
VENTOSO.
The ſea itſelf, which, one would think,
Should have but little need of drink,
Drinks ten thouſand rivers up,
So fill'd, that they o'erflow the cup.
TRINCALO.
The buſy ſun (and one would gueſs,
By's drunken fiery face, no leſs)
Drinks up the ſea, and when h' as done,
The moon and ſtars drink up the ſun.
ALL.
Earth, ſeas, ſun, moon, and ſtars do give
Examples how we ought to live.
[Trincalo ſtrikes the bottle after drinking.
[33]ACT III. SCENE I.
PROSPERO's cell.
Enter PROSPERO, FERDINAND, and MIRANDA.
PROSPERO.
IF I have too auſterely puniſh'd you,
Your compenſation makes amends; for I
Have giv'n you here a thread of mine own life,
Or that for which I live. O, Ferdinand,
Do not ſmile at me, that I boaſt her off;
For thou ſhalt find ſhe will out-ſtrip all praiſe.
FERDINAND.
I do believe it, againſt an oracle.
AIR.
Have you ſeen but a bright lilly grow,
Before rude hands have touch'd it?
Have you mark'd but the fall of the ſnow,
Before the ſoil hath ſmutch'd it?
[34] Have you felt the wool of the beaver?
Or ſwan's down ever?
Or have ſmelt o' the bud o' the briar?
Or the nard i' the fire?
Or have taſted the bag of the bee?
Oh, ſo white! Oh, ſo ſoft! Oh, ſo ſweet is ſhe!
PROSPERO.
If thou doſt break her virgin-knot before
All ſanctimonious ceremonies may
With full and holy rite be miniſter'd,
No ſweet aſperſions ſhall the heav'ns let fall,
To make this contract grow: therefore take heed,
As Hymen's lamps ſhall light you.
FERDINAND.
Nothing ſhall melt mine honour into luſt,
To ſpoil the edge of that day's celebration.
PROSPERO.
Fairly ſpoken; Miranda is thine own.
What Ariel; my induſtrious ſervant, Ariel—
SCENE II.
[35]Enter ARIEL.
ARIEL.
What would my potent maſter? here I am.
PROSPERO.
How fares the king and 's followers?
ARIEL.
Confin'd,
In the ſame faſhion as you gave in charge:
The king, his brother, and yours, are all three
Brimful of ſorrow and diſmay; but chiefly
Old Gonzalo, his tears run down his beard
Like winter's drops, like ears of reeds; if you
Saw them, your affections would become tender.
PROSPERO.
Haſt thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling
Of their afflictions, and ſhall not myſelf,
Paſſion'd as they, be kindlier mov'd than thou art?
They being penitent, the ſole driſt of
My purpoſe doth extend not a frown further;
Go, bring them, Ariel, hither; and let thy
Meaner fellows fetch the rabble, o'er whom
I gave them pow'r to do it preſently.
[36]AIR.
ARIEL.
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 mow.
Do you love me, maſter?—No.
So ready and quick is a ſpirit of air,
To pity the lover, and ſuccour the fair,
That, ſilent and ſwift, the little ſoft god
Is here with a wiſh, and is gone with a nod.—
[Exit Ariel.
SCENE III.
PROSPERO.
Look thou be true, and do not give dalliance
Too much the rein: the ſtrongeſt oaths are ſtraw
To th' fire i' th' blood: be more abſtemious,
Or elſe, good night, your vow.
FERDINAND.
I warrant you, Sir.
The white, cold virgin-ſnow upon my heart,
Abates the ardour of my paſſion.
[37]AIR.
MIRANDA.
Hope waits upon the flow'ry prime;
And ſummer, tho' it be leſs gay,
Yet is not look'd on as a time
Of declination, or decay;
For, with a full hand, that does bring
All that was promis'd by the ſpring.
[Exeunt Ferdinand and Miranda.
SCENE IV.
PROSPERO.
Now does my project gather to a head,
And little further uſe have I for charms.
Ye elves of hills, brooks, ſtanding lakes, and groves;
And ye that on the ſands, with printleſs foot,
Do chaſe the ebbing Neptune, and do fly him,
When he comes back; you demy-puppets, that,
By moon-ſhine, 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 tho' ye be) I have be-dimm'd
The noon-tide ſun, call'd forth the mutinous winds,
[38] And 'twixt the green ſea and the azur'd 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-bas'd promontory
Have I made ſhake, and by the ſpurs pluck'd up
The pine and cedar: graves, at my command,
Have wak'd their ſleepers, op'd, and let them forth,
By my ſo potent art. But this rough magic
I here abjure.
AIR.
Let magick ſounds affright no more,
While horrors ſhake the main;
Nor ſpell-bred ſtorms deface the ſhore,
Let ſacred nature reign!
Deep in the earth, where ſun ſhall never ſhine,
This cloud-compelling war I place;
This book th' unfathom'd ocean ſhall confine,
Beyond the reach of mortal race.
SCENE V.
[39]Enter ARIEL, followed by ALONZO, AN⯑THONIO and GONZALO.
ALONZO.
All torment, trouble, wonder, and amazement,
Inhabits here: ſome heav'nly powers guide us
Out of this fearful country—
PROSPERO.
Behold, ſir, king,
The wrong'd duke of Milan, Proſpero:
For more aſſurance that a living prince
Does now ſpeak to thee, I embrace thy body,
And bid thee welcome!
ALONZO.
Be'ſt thou he, or no,
Or ſome inchanted trifle to abuſe,
As late I have been, I know not. Thy pulſe
Beats as of fleſh and blood; and, ſince I ſaw thee,
Th' afflictions of my mind amends: this muſt crave
(And, if this be all, a moſt ſtrange ſtory)
Thy dukedom I reſign, and do intreat
Thou pardon me my wrongs. But how ſhould he
Be living, and be here?
PROSPERO.
[40]You all yet taſte
Some ſubtilties o' th' iſle, that will not let you
Believe things certain: welcome, my friends all.
For you, moſt wicked ſir, whom to call brother,
Would ev'n infect my mouth, I do forgive
Thy rankeſt faults. Know for certain, my friends,
That I am Proſp'ro, and that very duke
Who was thruſt forth of Milan:
No more of this;
For 'tis a chronicle of day by day,
Not fitting our firſt meeting. Alonzo,
I'll ſhew thee a wonder to content thee
As much as me my dukedom: follow me.
[Exeunt.
SCENE VI.
Opens to the entrance of PROSPERO's cell, and diſcovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA playing at cheſs.
MIRANDA.
Sweet lord, you play me falſe.
FERDINAND.
No, my dear love,
I would not for the world.
MIRANDA.
[41]Yes, for a ſcore of kingdoms you ſhall wrangle,
And I would call it fair play.
AIR.
FERDINAND.
If on thoſe endleſs charms you lay
The value that's their due,
Kings are themſelves too poor to pay,
A thouſand worlds too few.
But if a paſſion without vice,
Without diſguiſe or art,
Miranda, if true love's your price,
Behold it in my heart.
SCENE VII.
Enter PROSPERO, ALONZO, ANTHO⯑NIO, GONZALO, and ARIEL.
ALONZO.
If this prove
A viſion of the iſland, our dear ſon
Shall I twice loſe.
FERDINAND.
[42]Though the ſeas threaten, they are merciful:
I've curſed them without cauſe.
[Ferdinand kneels.
ALONZO.
Now all the bleſſings of a glad father
Compaſs thee about!
MIRANDA.
How many goodly creatures are there here?
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has ſuch people in't.
PROSPERO.
'Tis new to thee.
ALONZO.
What is this maid with whom thou waſt at play?
Your eldeſt acquaintance cannot be three hours:
Is ſhe the goddeſs that hath bro't us hither?
FERDINAND.
Sir, ſhe's mortal;
And, O thanks to providence, ſhe's mine.
I choſe her when I could not ask my father
For his advice, nor thought I had one. She
[43] Is daughter to this famous duke of Milan,
Of whom I have receiv'd a ſecond life.
AIR.
Life reſembles April weather;
Bright the purple dawn appears;
Noon is ſhade and ſhine together,
Dark the eve deſcends in tears.
Follow then the voice of reaſon!
Uſe the moment as it flies!
Calm in ev'ry cloudy ſeaſon,
Gay beneath ſerener skies.
ALONZO.
I am her's;
But oh how oddly will it ſound, that I
Muſt ask my child forgiveneſs!
PROSPERO.
There, ſir, ſtop:
Let us not burthen our remembrance with
An heavineſs that's gone.
ALONZO.
Give me your hands;
Let grief and ſorrow ſtill embrace his heart
That doth not give you joy.
[44]AIR.
PROSPERO (to MIRANDA.)
With him thy joys ſhall be compleat,
Diſſolv'd in eaſe, thy hours ſhall flow:
With love alone thy heart ſhall beat,
And his be all th' alarms you know.
Cares to ſooth, and life befriend,
Pleaſures on your nod attend.
PROSPERO.
Sir, I invite your highneſs and your train
To my poor cell, where you ſhall take your reſt
For this one night, which (part of it) I'll waſte
With ſuch diſcourſes, as I doubt not, will make it
Quickly paſs away, and in the morning
I'll bring you to your ſhip, and ſo to Naples;
Where I hope to ſee the nuptials
Of theſe, our dear beloved, ſolemniz'd.
ALONZO.
I long to hear the ſtory of your life.
PROSPERO.
[45]In proper time, I will deliver all,
And promiſe you calm ſeas, auſpicious gales,
And ſail ſo expeditious, that ſhall catch
Your royal fleet far off: my Ariel, chick,
This is thy charge, then to the elements,
Be free, and fare you well.
DUETT.
FERDINAND.
Love, gentle love, now fill my breaſt,
The ſtorms of life are o'er;
In thee, my dear Miranda, bleſt,
What can I wiſh for more.
MIRANDA.
Love, gentle love, and chaſte deſire,
My breaſt ſhall ever move:
Let me thoſe heav'nly joys inſpire,
And all our life be love.
FERDINAND.
[46]Thus ever kind,
MIRANDA.
Thus ever true,
FERDINAND.
May I, my ſweet one, find,
MIRANDA.
May I be all in you,
BOTH.
And ſacred Hymen ſhall diſpenſe
The ſweets of love and innocence.
CHORUS.
Let ſacred Hymen now diſpenſe
The ſweets of love and innocence;
[47] Let him his choiceſt bleſſings ſhed,
And nobly fruitful be their bed;
Virtue and love ſhall deck their crown,
With happy days and high renown.
FINIS.