To make cold nymphs chafte crowns; and thy brown

groves,

Whofe fhadow the dismissed batchelor loves,
Being lafs-lorn; *thy pale-clipt vineyard,
And thy fea-marge fteril, and rocky-hard,
Where thou thyfelf doft air; the Queen o' th' sky,
Whofe wat'ry arch and meffenger am I,

Bids thee leave thefe; and with her Sov'reign Grace,
Here on this grass-plot, in this very place,
To come and fport; her peacocks fly amain:
Approach, rich Ceres, her to entertain.

Enter Ceres.

Cer. Hail, many colour'd meffenger, that ne'er
Doft difobey the wife of Jupiter:

Who, with thy faffron wings, upon my flowers
Diffufeft honey drops, refreshing showers;
And with each end of thy blue bow doft crown
My bofky acres, and my unfhrub'd down,

Rich fcarf to my proud earth; why hath thy Queen
Summon'd me hither to this fhort-grafs green?
Iris. A contract of true love to celebrate,
And fome donation freely to estate
On the bless'd lovers,

Cer. Tell me, heavenly bow,

If Venus or her fon, as thou doft know,
Do not attend the Queen: fince they did plot
The means, that dufky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's fcandal'd company
I have forfworn.

Iris. Of her fociety

Be not afraid; I met her deity

}

Cutting the clouds towards Paphos, and her fon Dove-drawn with her; here thought they to have done Some wanton charm upon this man and maid, Whofe vows are, that no bed-right shall be paid

Thy pale-clipt Vineyard. i. e. the Vineyard inclofed or fenced with Pales, in Opposition to the wide and open Sea-marge or Coaft.

'Till Hymen's torch be lighted; but in vain Mars's hot minion is return'd again;

Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows;

Swears, he will fhoot no more, but play with sparrows, And be a boy right-out.

Cer. High Queen of state,

Great Juno, comes; I know her by her gate.

[Juno defcends, and enters.

go

with me

Juno. How does bounteous fifter?
my
To blefs this twain, that they may profp'rous be,
And honour'd in their issue.

Jun. Honour, riches, marriage-bleffing,
Long continuance and encreasing,

Hourly joys be ftill upon you!

Juno fings her blessings on you.

Cer. Earth's increase, and foifon-plenty,
Barns and garners never empty,
Vines, with cluftring bunches growing,
Plants, with goodly burthen bowing,
Spring come to you, at the fartheft,
In the very end of harveft!
Scarcity and want fhall fhun you;
Ceres bleffing fo is on you.

Fer. This is a moft majestic vision, and
Harmonious charming Lays: may I be bold
To think these spirits?

Pro. Spirits, which by mine art

I have from their confines call'd to enact
My present fancies.

Fer. Let me live here ever;

So rare a wonder'd father, and a wife,

Make this place paradife.

Pro. Sweet now, filence:

Juno and Ceres whisper feriously;

D 5

There's

There's fomething else to do; hush, and be mute, Or else our spell is marr'd.

Juno and Ceres whisper, and fend Iris on employment. Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the winding brooks,

With your fedg'd crowns, and ever-harmless looks,
Leave your crifp channels, and on this green land
Answer your fummons, Juno does command:
Come, temperate nymphs, and help to celebrate
A contract of true love; be not too late.

Enter certain Nymphs.

You fun-burn'd ficklemen, of Auguft weary,
Come hither from the furrow, and be merry;
Make holy-day; your rye-ftraw hats put on,
And these fresh nymphs encounter every one
In country footing.

SCENE IV.

Enter certain reapers, properly habited, they join with the nymphs in a graceful dance; towards the end whereof, Profpero ftarts fuddenly, and fpeaks; after which, to a Strange, hollow and confufed noife, they vanish heavily. Had forgot that foul confpiracy

Pro.

I

Of the beaft Caliban, and his confed'rates, Against my life; the minute of their plot

Is almoft come. Well done, avoid; no more. Fer. This is moft ftrange; your father's in fome paffion

That works him ftrongly.

Mira. Never 'till this day

Saw I him touch'd with anger fo diftemper'd.
Pro. You look, my son, in a mov'd sort,
As if you were difmay'd; be chearful, Sir:
Our revels now are ended: "these our actors,
"As I foretold you, were all fpirits, and

"Are

"Are melted into air, into thin air;

And, like the bafelefs fabric of th' air-vifions "The cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces, "The folemn temples, the great globe itself,

66

Yea, all, which it inherit, fhall diffolve; "And, like this infubftantial pageant faded, "Leave not a rack behind! we are such stuff "As dreams are made on, and our little life

66

Is rounded with a fleep." Sir, I am vext; Bear with my weaknefs, my old brain is troubled: Be not disturb'd with my infirmity;

If thou be pleas'd, retire into my cell,

And there repose: a turn or two I'll walk,
To ftill my beating mind.

Fer. Mira. We wish your peace. Exit Fer. and Mira.
Pro. Come with a thought;
I thank you:-

Ariel, come.

Profpero comes forward from the Cell; enter Ariel to him.

Ari. Thy thoughts I cleave to; what's thy pleasure? Pro. Spirit,

We must prepare to meet with Caliban.

Ari. Ay, my commander; when I prefented Ceres, I thought to have told thee of it; but I fear'd,. Left I might anger thee.

[ing;

Pro. Say again, where didft thou leave these varlets? Ari. I told you, Sir, they were red hot with drinkSo full of valour, that they fmote the air For breathing in their faces; beat the ground For kiffing of their feet; yet always bending Towards their project. Then I beat my tabor, At which, like unbackt colts, they prickt their ears, Advanc'd their eye-lids, lifted up their nofes, As they smelt mufic; fo I charm'd their ears, That, calf-like, they my lowing follow'd through Tooth'd briars, fharp furzes, pricking gofs and thorns, Which enter'd their frail fhins: at laft I left them Ith filthy mantled pool beyond your cell,

D 6

There

There dancing up to th' chins, that the foul lake
O'er-ftunk their feet.

Pro. This was well done, my bird;
Thy fhape invisible retain thou ftill;

*The trumpery in my house, go bring it hither, For ftale to catch thefe thieves.

Ari. I go, I go.

[Exit.

Pro. A devil, a born devil; on whofe nature Nurture can never ftick; on whom my pains, Humanely taken, all, all loft, quite loft; And, as with age, his body uglier grows, So his mind cankers; I will plague them all, Even to roaring: come, hang them on this line. [Profpero remains invifible.

SCEN E. V.

Enter Ariel loaden with glistering apparel, &c. Enter Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo, all wet,

Cal.

PRAY you, tread foftly, that the blind mole

may not

Hear a foot fall; we now are near his cell.

Ste. Monfter, your Fairy, which you fay is a harmlefs Fairy, has done little better than plaid the Jack with us.

Trin. Monster, I do fmell all horse-pifs, at which my nofe is in great indignation.

Ste. So is mine: do you hear, monfter? if I fhould take a displeasure against you; look you

Trin. Thou wer't but a loft monster.

Cal. Good my lord, give me thy favour still :

The trumpery in my houfe, go bring it hither

For ftale to catch thefe thieves] If it be afked what Neceffity there was for this Apparatus, I answer that it was the superstitious Fancy of the People, in our Author's Time, that Witches, Conjurors, &c. had no Power over those against whom they would employ their Charms, till they had got them at this Advantage, committing fome Sin or other, as here of Theft.

Be