Pro. Fifteen years since, my child, but fifteen years, Thy father was the Duke of Milan, and A prince of power. Mir. Sir, are not you my father? Pro. Thy mother was a piece of virtue, and She said, you were my daughters; and your father Was Duke of Milan: thou, my girl, his heir, A princess, no worse issu❜d. Mir. O the Heavens ! What foul play had we, that we came from thence? Or blessed was't, we did? Pro, Both, both, my girl: By foul play, as thou say'st, were we heav'd thence; But blessedly holp hither. Mir. O, my heart bleeds To think o'the teen that I have turn'd you to, Which is from my remembrance !-Please you, further. Pro. My brother, and thy uncle, call'd Antonio,I pray thee, mark me, that a brother should Be so perfidious!—to him I put The manage of my government, And to my state grew stranger, being transported, Mir. Sir, most heedfully. Pro. Being once perfected how to grant suits, How to deny them, having both the key Of officer and office, set all hearts To what tune pleas'd his ear; that now he was The ivy, which had hid my princely trunk, And suck'd my verdure out on't.-Thou attend'st not. Mir. O, good sir, I do. Pro. Being thus lorded, Not only with what my revenue yielded, But what my power might else exact, Absolute Milan: Me, poor man!-my library Pro. Hear a little further, And then I'll bring thee to the present business Which now's upon us; without the which, this story Were most impertinent. Mir. Wherefore did they not - That hour destroy us? Pro. Girl, they durst not, So dear the love my people bore me, set A mark so bloody on the business; but With colours, fairer painted their foul ends. Nor tackle, sail, nor mast; the very rats Mir. Alack! what trouble Were we then to you! Ye Pro. O! two cherubim were, that did preserve me; ye did smile, Infused with a fortitude from Heaven; An undergoing stomach, to bear up Against what should ensue. Mir. How came we ashore ? Pro. By providence divine, Some food we had, and some fresh water, that Out of his charity, (he being then appointed Rich garments, linens, stuffs, and necessaries, Which since have steaded much: so, of his gentleness, Knowing I lov'd my books, he furnish'd me, Mir. 'Would I might But ever see that man! [Rises. Pro. Mark me,-and hear the last of our sea-sor row. Here in this island we arriv'd; and here Have I, your schoolmaster, made you (For still 'tis beating in my mind,) your reason Pro. Know thus far forth : By accident most strange, bountiful fortune, Brought on these seas; and by my prescience A most auspicious star; whose influence I pray [Takes up his Wand, and charms MIRANDA to Sleep. Here cease more questions; [MIRANDA sinks into her Seat. Thou art inclin'd to sleep; 'tis a good dulness, And give it way:-I know, thou canst not chuse.[MIRANDA sleeps.-PROSPERO puts on his Mantle. Come away, servant, come: I am ready now; Approach, my Ariel; come. Enter ARIEL. Ari. All hail, great master'! grave sir, hail! I come To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly, To swim, to dive into the sea, to ride On the curl'd clouds; to thy strong bidding, task Pro. Hast thou, spirit, Prepar'd to point the Tempest that I bade thee? Pro. What is the time o'the day? Ari. Past the mid season. Pro. At least two glasses: The time 'twixt six and now, Must by us both be spent most preciously. Ari. Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains, Let me remember thee what thou hast promis'd, Pro. How now,-moody? Ari. My liberty. Pro. Before the time be out! no more. Ari. I pray thee: Remember, I have done thee worthy service; Told thee no lies, made no mistakings, serv'd Without or grudge, or grumblings: thou didst promise To bate me a full year. Pro. Dost thou forget From what a torment I did free thee? Ari. No. Pro. Thou dost; and think'st it much, to tread the ooze Of the salt deep; To run upon the sharp wind of the north; To do me business in the veins o'the earth, Ari. I do not, sir. Pro. Thou ly'st, malignant thing! Hast thou forgot The foul witch Sycorax, who, with age, and envy, Was grown into a hoop? hast thou forgot her? Ari. No, sir. Pro. Thou hast: Where was she born? Speak; tell me. Ari. Sir, in Argier. Pro. O, was she so? I must, Once in a month, recount what thou hast been, Which thou forget'st. This damn'd witch Sy corax, For mischiefs manifold, and sorceries terrible Thou know'st, was banish'd; for one thing she did, Pro. This blue-ey'd hag was hither brought with child, And here was left by the sailors: Thou, my slave, C |