Since I came to this ifle: And in the morn, To hear the ftory of your life, which muft Pro. I'll deliver all; And promife you calm feas, aufpicious gales, Afide. Be free, and fare thou well!-Pleafe you, draw near. EPILOGUE. SPOKEN BY PROSPERO. NOW my charms are all o’érthrown, Which 3 With the help, &c.] By your applaufe, by clapping hands. JOHNSON. Noife was fuppofed to diffolve a spell. So twice before in this play: "No tongue; all eyes; be filent." Again: " -hush! be mute, "Or else our spell is marr'd." STEEVENS. 4 And my ending is defpair, Unless I be reliev'd by prayer;] This alludes to the old stories told of the defpair of necromancers in their last moments, and of the efficacy of the prayers of their friends for them. WARBURTON. Which pierces fo, that it affaults As you from crimes would pardon'd be, It is obferved of The Tempeft, that its plan is regular; this the author of The Revifal thinks, what I think too, an accidental effect of the story, not intended or regarded by our author. But whatever might be Shakespeare's intention in forming or adopting the plot, he has made it inftrumental to the production of many characters, diverfified with boundless invention, and preferved with profound kill in nature, extenfive knowledge of opinions, and accurate obfervation of life. In a fingle drama are here exhibited princes, courtiers, and failors, all speaking in their real characters. There is the agency of airy fpirits, and of an earthly goblin. The operations of magick, the tumults of a storm, the adventures of a defart island, the native effufion of untaught affection, the punishment of guilt, and the final happiness of the pair for whom our paffions and reafon are equally interested. JOHNSON. |