Mir. Then let heaven punish him. Prosp. It will, by me. Mir. Grant him, at least, some respite for my sake. Prosp. I, by deferring justice, should incense The deity against myself and you. Mir. Yet I have heard you say, the powers above Are slow in punishing; and should not you Resemble them? Prosp. The argument is weak. But I want time to let you see your errors; [He's going. Mir. And can you be his judge and executioner? Prosp. I cannot force Gonzalo or my brother, Much less the father to destroy the son; It must be then the monster Caliban, And he's not here; but Ariel strait shall fetch him. Enter ARIEL. Ariel. My potent lord, before thou callest I come, To serve thy will. Prosp. Then, spirit, fetch me here my savage slave. Ariel. My lord, it does not need. Prosp. Art thou then prone to mischief, wilt thou be Thyself the executioner? Ariel. Think better of thy airy minister, Who, for thy sake, unbidden, this night has flown O'er almost all the habitable world. Prosp. But to what purpose was all thy diligence? Ariel. When I was chidden by my mighty lord, For my neglect of young Hippolito, I went to view his body, and soon found Then I collected The best of simples underneath the moon, His only danger was his loss of blood, But now he's waked, my lord, and just this hour He must be dressed again, as I have done it. Anoint the sword which pierced him with this weapon-salve, and wrap it close from air, till I have time to visit him again. Prosp. Thou art my faithful servant; It shall be done: be it your task, Miranda, From whom I will a while conceal the news, Mir. I obey you, And with a double duty, sir: For now, You twice have given me life. Prosp. My Ariel, follow me. SCENE II. [Exeunt severally. HIPPOLITO discovered on a couch, DORINDA by him. Dor. How do you find yourself? Hip. I'm somewhat cold; Can you not draw me nearer to the sun? I am too weak to walk. Dor. My love, I'll try. [She draws the chair nearer to the audience. I thought you never would have walked again; They told me you were gone to heaven; Have you been there? Hip. I know not where I was. Dor. I will not leave you, till you promise me, You will not die again. Hip. Indeed, I will not. Dor. You must not go to heaven, unless we go Together; for I have heard my father say, Especially to those who are so young; But I much wonder what it is to die. Hip. Sure 'tis to dream, a kind of breathless sleep, When once the soul's gone out. Dor. What is the soul? Hip. A small blue thing, that runs about within us. Dor. Then I have seen it in a frosty morning, Run smoaking from my mouth. Hip. But, dear Dorinda, What is become of him who fought with me? Hip. That must not be, My dear Dorinda; go, and beg your father, Dor. But if he live, he'll never leave killing you. Hip. O no! I just remember when I fell asleep, I heard him calling me a great way off, And crying over me as you would do ; Dor. Pray, how began your difference first? Dor. That hurt you had, was justly sent from heaven, For wishing to have any more but ine. Hip. Indeed I think it was, but I repent it; Dor. In confidence of this, I'll beg my father Hip. My dear, go quickly, lest you come too late. [Exit DOR. Enter MIRANDA at the other door, with HIPPOLITo's sword wrapt up. Hip. Who's this, who looks so fair and beautiful, As nothing but Dorinda can surpass her? O! I believe it is that angel woman, Whom she calls sister. Mir. Sir, I am sent hither To dress your wound; how do you find your strength? Hip. Fair creature, I am faint with loss of blood. Mir. I am sorry for it. Hip. Indeed, and so am I, For if I had that blood, I then should find A great delight in loving you. Mir. But, sir, I am another's, and your love is given Already to my sister. Hip. Yet I find, That, if you please, I can love still a little. Mir. I cannot be inconstant, nor should you. Hip. O my wound pains me. Mir. I am come to ease you. Hip. Alas! I feel the cold air come to me; [She unwraps the sword. [She wipes, and anoints the sword. My wound shoots worse than ever. Mir. Does it still grieve you? Hip. Now, methinks, there's something Laid just upon it. Mir. Do you find no ease? Hip. Yes, yes, upon the sudden, all the pain Is leaving me: Sweet heaven, how I am eased! VOL. III. N Enter FERDINAND and DORINDA to them. Ferd. [to Dor.] Madam, I must confess my life is yours, I owe it to your generosity. Dor. I am overjoyed my father lets you live, And proud of my good fortune, that he gave Your life to me. Mir. How? gave his life to her! Hip. Alas! I think she said so, and he said, He owed it to her generosity. Ferd. But is not that your sister with Hippolito? Dor. So kind already? Ferd. I came to welcome life, and I have met The cruellest of deaths. Hip. My dear Dorinda with another man? Dor. You're very charitable to a stranger. Dor. Henceforward let your surgery alone, Mir. And I wish Ferdinand had died, before He owed his life to your entreaty. Ferd. to Hip. Sir, I am glad you are so well recovered. You keep your humour still to have all women? Hip. Not all, sir; you except one of the number, Your new love there, Dorinda. Mir. Ah, Ferdinand! can you become inconstant? If I must lose you, I had rather death Should take you from me, than you take yourself. Ferd. And if I might have chose, I would have wished |