149 upon a butt of sack, which the sailors heaved over-board, by this bottle which I made of the bark of a tree, with mine own hands, since I was cast a-shore. Cal. I'll swear, upon that bottle, to be thy True subject; for the liquor is not earthly. Ste. Here; swear then how thou escap'dst. Trin. Swam a-shore, man, like a duck; like a duck, I'll be sworn. I can swim Ste. Here, kiss the book: Though thou canst swim like a duck, thou art made like a goose. Trin. O Stephano, hast any more of this? Ste. The whole butt, man; my cellar is in a rock by the sea-side, where my wine is hid. calf? how does thine ague? How now, moon Cal. Hast thou not dropped from heaven? Ste. Out o' the moon, I do assure thee: I was the man in the moon, when time was. Cal. I have seen thee in her, and I do adore thee; My mistress shewed me thee, thy dog, and bush. Ste. Come, swear to that; kiss the book: I will furnish it anon with new contents: swear. Trin. By this good light, this is a very shallow monster:-I afeard of him?-a very weak monster :-The man i' the moon ?-a most poor credulous monster:Well drawn, monster, in good sooth. Cal. I'll shew thee every fertile inch o' th' island; And kiss thy foot: I pr'ythee, be my god. Trin. By this light, a most perfidious and drunken monster; when his god's asleep, he'll rob his bottle. Cal. I'll kiss thy foot: I'll swear myself thy subject. Trin. I shall laugh myself to death at this puppy. headed monster: A most scurvy monster! I could find in my heart to beat him,— Ste. Come, kiss. Trin -but that the poor monster's in drink: An abominable monster! Cal. I'll shew thee the best springs; I'll pluck thee berries; I'll fish for thee, and get thee wood enough. A plague upon the tyrant that I serve! I'll bear him no more sticks, but follow thee, Trin. A most ridiculous monster; to make a wonder of drunkard. a poor Cal. I pr'ythee, let me bring thee where crabs grow ; And I with my long nails will dig thee pig-nuts; Shew thee a jay's nest, and instruct thee how To snare the nimble marmozet; I'll bring thee To clust'ring filberds, and sometimes I'll get thee Young sea-mells from the rock: Wilt thou go with me? Ste. I pr'ythee now, lead the way, without any more talking. Trinculo, the king and all our company else being drowned, we will inherit here.-Here; bear my bottle. Fellow Trinculo, we'll fill him by and by again. Cal. Farewell, master; farewell, farewell. [Sings drunkenly, Trin. A howling monster; a drunken monster. Cal. No more dams I'll make for fish ; At requiring, Nor scrape trenchering, nor wash dish; Has a new master-Get a new man. Freedom, hey-day! hey-day, freedom! freedom, hey day, freedom! Ste. O brave monster! lead the way. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I.-Before PROSPERO's Cell. Enter FERDINAND, THERE be some sports are painful; but their labour The mistress, which I serve, quickens what's dead, Upon a sore injunction: My sweet mistress Weeps when she sees me work; and says, such baseness Had ne'er like éxecutor. I forget: But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours; Most busiless, when I do it. Enter MIRANDA; and PROSPERO at a distance. Work not so hard: I would, the lightning had Fer. O most dear mistress, The sun will set, before I shall discharge Mira. If you'll sit down, I'll bear your logs the while: Pray, give me that; Fer. No, precious creature : I had rather crack my sinews, break my back, While I sit lazy by. Mira. It would become me As well as it does you: and I should do it With much more ease; for my good will is to it, And yours against. Pro. Poor worm! thou art infected; This visitation shews it. Mira. You look wearily. Fer. No, noble mistress; 'tis fresh morning with me, When you are by at night. I do beseech you, (Chiefly, that I might set it in my prayers,) What is your name ? Mira. Miranda :-O my father, I have broke your hest to say so! Indeed, the top of admiration ; worth What's dearest to the world! Full many a lady With so full soul, but some defect in her So perfect, and so peerless, are created Mira. I do not know One of my sex; no woman's face remember, Besides yourself, to like of: But I prattle 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 I would suffer The flesh-fly blow my mouth.-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; 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' th' world, Do love, prize, honour you. Mira. I am a fool, To weep at what I am glad of.' Pro. Fair encounter Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace [1] This is one of those touches of nature that distinguish Shakespeare from all other writers. It was necessary, in support of the character of Miranda, to make her appear unconscious that excess of sorrow and excess of joy find alike their relief from tears; and as this is the first time that consummate pleasure had made any near approaches to her heart, she calls such seeming contradictory expression of it, folly. STEEVENS. 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 shews. Hence, bashful cunning! I am your wife, if you will marry me ; If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow Fer. My mistress, dearest, And thus humble ever. 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 now fare well, Till half an hour hence. Fer. A thousand! thousand !? : [Exe. Fer. and Mira. 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. SCENE II. [Exit. 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 brain'd like us, the state totters. [2] It is impertinent to be for ever pointing out beauties, which the reader of taste will of course distinguish for himself; and yet I cannot quit this scene without observing that it is superior in its kind to any of those that pass between Romeo and Juliet; and holds up the most captivating picture of juvenile affection that has been exhibited, even by Shakespeare himself. The prince behaves through the whole with a delicacy suitable to his birth and education and his inexperienced mistress pours forth her soul without reserve, without descending from the soft elevation of maiden dignity, and apparently derives her confidence from the purity of ber intentions. STEEVENS. VOL. I. G 2 |