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Calib. How does thy honour? pr'ythee, be not angry, and I will lick thy shoe.

Trinc. I could find in my heart to turn thee out of my dominions, for a liquorish monster.

Calib. O, my lord, I have found it out; this must be done by one of Prospero's spirits.

Trinc. There's nothing but malice in these devils; I would it had been holy-water for their sakes! Syc. 'Tis no matter, I will cleave to thee.

Trinc. Lovingly said, in troth: Now cannot I hold out against her. This wife-like virtue of her's has overcome me.

Syc. Shall I have thee in my arms?

Trinc. Thou shalt have Duke Trincalo in thy arms: But, pr'ythee, be not too boisterous with me at first; do not discourage a young beginner. [They embrace.] Stand to your arms, my spouse, and subject monster,

Enter STEPHANO, MUSTACHO, and VENTOSO. The enemy is come to surprise us in our quarters. You shall know, rebels, that I am married to a witch, and we have a thousand spirits of our party.

Steph. Hold! I ask a truce; I and my viceroys (finding no food, and but a small remainder of brandy,) are come to treat a peace betwixt us, which may be for the good of both armies; therefore, Trincalo, disband.

Trinc. Plain Trincalo! methinks I might have been a duke in your mouth; I'll not accept of your embassy without my title.

Steph. A title shall break no squares betwixt us: Viceroys, give him his style of duke, and treat with him whilst I walk by in state.

[VENTOSO and MUSTACHO bow, whilst TRINCALO puts on his Cap.

Must. Our lord and master, Duke Stephano, has

sent us, in the first place, to demand of you, upon what ground you make war against him; having no right to govern here, as being elected only by your own voice.

Trinc. To this I answer, That, having in the face of the world espoused the lawful inheretrix of this island, Queen Blouze the First, and having homage done me by this hectoring spark her brother; from these two I claim a lawful title to this island.

Must. Who, that monster? He a Hector?

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

Trinc. Viceroys! keep good tongues in your heads, I advise you, and proceed to your business. Must. First and foremost, as to your claim, that you have answered.

Vent. But, second and foremost, we demand of you, that if we make a peace, the butt also may be comprehended in the treaty.

Trine. I cannot treat with my honour, without your submission.

Steph. I understand, being present, from my ambassadors, what your resolution is, and ask an hour's time of deliberation, and so I take our leave; but first I desire to be entertained at your butt, as becomes a prince and his ambassadors.

Trinc. That I refuse, till acts of hostility be ceased. These rogues are rather spies than ambassadors. I must take heed of my butt. They come to pry into the secrets of my dukedom.

Vent. Trincalo, you are a barbarous prince, and so farewell. [Exeunt STEPH. MUST. and VENT. Trinc. Subject-monster! stand you sentry before my cellar; my queen and I will enter, and feast ourselves within. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

Enter FERDINAND, and ARIEL and Milcha invi

sible.

Ferd. How far will this invisible musician
Conduct my steps? he hovers still about me;
Whether for good or ill, I cannot tell,
Nor care I much; for I have been so long
A slave to chance, that I'm as weary of
Her flatteries as her frowns; but here I am-
Ariel. Here I am.

Ferd. Ha! art thou so? the spirit's turned an
echo:

This might seem pleasant, could the burden of
My griefs accord with any thing but sighs;
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.

Ferd. This evil spirit grows importunate, But I'll not take his counsel.

Ariel. Take his counsel.

Ferd. It may be the devil's counsel, I'll never

take it.

Ariel. Take it.

Ferd. I will discourse no more with thee,

Nor follow one step further.

Ariel. One step further.

Ferd. This must have more importance than an

echo;

Some spirit tempts me to a precipice.

I'll try if it will answer when I sing

My sorrows, to the murmur of this brook.

[blocks in formation]

Why shouldst thou stay?

Why shouldst thou stay?

Ferd. Where the winds whistle, and where the streams

[blocks in formation]

yon willow-tree fain would I sleep.
Then let me alone,

For 'tis time to be gone.

For 'tis time to be gone.

Ferd. What cares or pleasures can be in this isle?

Within this desart place,

There lives no human race;

Fate cannot frown here, nor kind fortune smile.

Ariel. Kind fortune smiles, and she

Has yet in store for thee

Some strange felicity.

Follow me, follow me,

And thou shalt see.

Ferd. I'll take thy word for once;

Lead on, musician.

[Exeunt and return.

SCENE V.-The Cypress-trees and Caves.

Scene changes, and discovers PROSPERO and MI

RANDA.

Prosp. Advance the fringed curtains of thine

eyes,

And say what thou seest yonder.

Mir. Is it a spirit?

Lord, how it looks about! Sir, I confess
It carries a brave form. But 'tis a spirit.

3

Prosp. No, girl, it eats, and sleeps, and has such

senses

As we have. This young gallant, whom thou see'st, Was in the wreck; were he not somewhat stained With grief, (beauty's worst canker) thou might'st

call him

A goodly person; he has lost his company,
And strays about to find them.

Mir. I might call him

A thing divine, for nothing natural
I ever saw so noble.

Prosp. It goes on,

As my soul prompts it: Spirit, fine spirit,

I'll free thee within two days for this.

[Aside.

Ferd. She's sure the mistress on whom these airs

attend.

Fair excellence! if, as your form declares,
You are divine, be pleased to instruct me how
You will be worshipped; so bright a beauty
Cannot sure belong to human kind.

Mir. I am, like you, a mortal, if such you are.
Ferd. My language, too! O heavens! I am the
best

Of them who speak this speech, when I'm in my Own country.

Prosp. How, the best? what wert thou, if The duke of Savoy heard thee?

Ferd. As I am now;

Who wonders to hear thee speak of Savoy;

He does hear me, and that he does, I weep. Myself am Savoy, whose fatal eyes (ne'er since at ebb) beheld

The duke, my father, wrecked.

Mir. Alack! for pity!

Prosp. At the first sight they have changed eyes. Dear Ariel, I'll set thee free for this.

[Aside,

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