АСТ III. More that I may call men, than you, good friend, SCENE I-Before Prospero's cell. Enter Fer- ani skill-less of; but by my modesty dinand, bearing a log. Fer. There be some sports are painful; but their labour Delight in them sets off: some kinds of baseness Are nobly undergone; and most poor matters Point to rich ends. This my mean task would be As heavy to me, as 'tis odious; but The mistress, which I serve, quickens what's dead, And makes my labours pleasures: O, she is Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed; And he's compos'd of harshness. I must remove Some thousands of these logs, and pile them up, Upon a sore injunction: my sweet mistress Weeps when she sees me work; and says, such baseness Had ne'er like executor. I forget: But these sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours; Most busy-less, when I do it. Enter Miranda; and Prospero at a distance. Mira. Alas, now! pray you, Work not so hard: I would, the lightning had Burnt up those logs, that you are enjoin'd to pile! Pray set it down, and rest you: when this burns, 'Twill weep for having wearied you. My father' Is hard at study; pray now, rest yourself: He's safe for these three hours. Fer. O most dear mistress, The sun will set, before I shall discharge What I must strive to do. Mira. If you'll sit down, I'll bear your logs the while: pray give me that; I'll carry it to the pile. Fer. No, precious creature: I had rather crack my sinews, break my back, Than you should such dishonour undergo, While I sit lazy by. Mira. It would become me As well as it does you: and I should do it With much more ease; for my good will is to it, And yours against. Pro. Poor worm! thou art infected; Mira. me, When you are by at night. I do beseech you Mira. (1) Command. (2) Own'd. (3) Whatsoever. (The jewel in my dower,) I would not wish Fer. And crown what I profess with kind event, Mira. To weep at what I am glad of. Pro. I am a fool, Fair encounter Of two most rare affections! Heavens rain grace On that which breeds between them! Fer. Wherefore weep you? Mira. At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer What I desire to give; and much less take, What I shall die to want: But this is trifling; And all the more it seeks to hide itself, The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful curning' And prompt me, plain and holy innocence! I am your wife, if you will marry me; If not, I'll die your maid: to be your fellow You may deny me; but I'll be your servant, Whether you will or no. Fer. And I thus humble ever. Mira. My mistress, dearest, My husband then? Fer. Ay, with a heart as willing As bondage e'er of freedom: here's my hand. A thousand thousand! [Exit. SCENE II.-Another part of the Island. Ente" Stephano and Trinculo; Caliban following with a bottle. Ste. Tell not me;-when the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and board 'em: Servant-monster, drink to me. Trin. Servant-monster? the folly of this island! They say, there's but five upon this isle: we are three of them; if the other two be brained like us, the state totters. Ste. Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee; thy eyes are almost set in thy head. Trin. Where should they be set else? he were Ja brave monster indeed, if they were set in his tail. C Ste. My man-monster hath drowned his tongue! in sack for my part, the sea cannot drown me: I swam, ere I could recover the shore, five-and-thirty leagues, off and on, by this light.-Thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster, or my standard. Trin. Your lieutenant, if you list; he's no standard. Ste. We'll not run, monsieur monster. Trin, Nor go neither: but you lie, like dogs; and yet say nothing neither. Ste. Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a good moon-calf. Cal. How does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe; I'll not serve him, he is not valiant. Trin. Why, what did I? I did nothing; I'll go further off. Ste. Didst thou not say, he lied? Ste. Do I so? take thou that. [strikes him.] As you like this, give me the lie another time. Trin. I did not give the lie:-Out o' your wits, and hearing too?-A pox o' your bottle! this can sack and drinking do.-A murrain on your monster, and the devil take your fingers! Cal. Ha, ha, ha! Ste. Now, forward with your tale. Pr'ythee, stand further off. Cal. Beat him enough: after a little time, I'll beat him too. Ste. Stand further.-Come proceed. Cal. Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with him the afternoon to sleep: there thou may'st brain him, Trin. Thou liest, most ignorant monster; I am in case to justle a constable: Why, thou deboshed1 fish thou, was there ever man a coward, that hath I' drunk so much sack as I to-day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish, and half a monster? Cal. Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou: I would my valiant master would destroy thee; I do not lie. Ste. Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in his tale, by this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth. Trin. Why, I said nothing. Ste. Mum then, and no more.-[To Caliban.] Ca. I say, by sorcery he got this isle; Ste. That's most certain. Cal. Thou shalt be lord of it, and I'll serve thee. Ste. How now shall this be compassed? Canst thou bring me to the party? Cal. Yea, yea, my lord; I'll yield him thee asleep, Cal. What a pied ninny's this! Thou scurvy I do beseech thy greatness, give him blows, [him Ste. Trinculo, run into no further danger; interrupt the monster one word further, and, by this hand, I'll turn my mercy out of doors, and make a stock-fish of thee. Having first seiz'd his books; or with a log Ste. Ste. Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter and I will be king and queen; (save our graces!) and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys:-Dost thou like the plot, Trinculo? Trin. Excellent. Cal. Art thou afeard? Ste. No, monster, not I. Ready to drop upon me; that, when I wak'd, Ste. This will prove a brave kingdom to me, Ste. That shall be by and by: I remember the story. Trin. The sound is going away: let's follow it, and after, do our work. Ste. Lead, monster; we'll follow.-I would, I could see this taborer: he lays it on. Trin. Wilt come? I'll follow, Stephano. [Exeunt. Will't please you taste of what is here? Not I. Gon. Faith, Sir, you need not fear: When we were boys, En-Who would believe that there were mountaineers, SCENE III-Another part of the Island. Gon. By'r lakin,' I can go no further, sir; 1 needs must rest me. Will we take thoroughly. Ant. The next advantage Let it be to-night; For, now they are oppress'd with travel, they I say, to-night: no more. Solemn and strange music; and Prospero above, invisible. Enter several strange Shapes, bringing in a banquet; they dance about it with gentle actions of salutation; and inviting the king, &c. to eat, they depart. at them Wallets of flesh? or that there were such men, Each putter-out on five for one, will bring us Alon. I will stand to, and feed, Thunder and lightning. Enter Ariel like a har- Ari. You are three men of sin, whom destiny Their proper selves. You fools! I and my fellows Alon. What harmony is this? my good friends, And will not be uplifted: But, remember hark! Seb. A living drollery:2 Now I will believe, Ant. If in Naples (1) Our lady. (2) Show. (3) Certainly. (For that's my business to you,) that you three from (Which here, in this most desolate isle, else falls Upon your heads,) is nothing, but heart's sorrow. (5) Down. (4) Wonder. And a clear' life ensuing. |Sour-ey'd disdain, and discord, shall bestrew The union of your bed with weeds so loathly, He vanishes in thunder: then, to soft music, enter That you shall hate it both: therefore, take need, the Shapes again, and dance with mops and As Hymen's lamps shall light you. mowes, and carry out the table. Pro. [Aside.] Bravely the figure of this harpy hast thou Perform'd, my Ariel; a grace it had, devouring: And these, mine enemies, are all knit up In their distractions: they now are in my power; And in these fits I leave them, whilst I visit Young Ferdinand (whom they suppose is drown'd,) And his and my lov'd darling. [Exit Prospero from above. Gon. I' the name of something holy, sir, why stand you In this strange stare? Alon. O, it is monstrous! monstrous! Methought, the billows spoke, and told me of it; The winds did sing it to me; and the thunder, That deep and dreadful organ-pipe, pronounc'd The name of Prosper; it did bass my trespass. Therefore my son i' the ooze is bedded; and I'll seek him deeper than e'er plummet sounded, And with him there lie mudded. Seb. I'll fight their legions o'er. Ant. [Exit. But one fiend at a time, I'll be thy second. [Exeunt Seb. and Ant. Gon. All three of them are desperate; their great guilt, Fer. As I hope For quiet days, fair issue, and long life, With such love as 'tis now; the murkiest den, Our worser Genius can, shall never melt The most opportune place, the strongest suggestion Mine honour into lust; to take away The edge of that day's celebration, Or night kept chair'd below. When I shall think, or Phoebus' steeds are founder'd Fairly spoke: What, Ariel: my industrious servant Ariel! Sit then, and talk with her, she is thine own. Pro. Pro. Ay, with a twink. Presently? Ari. Before you can say, Come, and go, Pro. Dearly, my delicate Ariel: Do not approach, Well I conceive. [Exit. Pro. Look, thou be true; do not give dalliance Too much the rein; the strongest oaths are straw To the fire i' the blood: be more abstemious, Or else, good night, your vow! Fer. I warrant you, sir; The white-cold virgin snow upon my heart Abates the ardour of my liver. Pro. Well. Now come, my Ariel; bring a corollary,* SCENE I-Before Prospero's cell. Enter Pros- Rather than want a spirit; appear, and pertly. pero, Ferdinand, and Miranda. Pro. If I have too austerely punish'd you, Your compensation makes amends; for I Have given you here a thread of mine own life, Or that for which I live; whom once again I tender to thy hand: all thy vexations Were but my trials of thy love, and thou Hast strangely stood the test: here, afore Heaven, I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand, Do not smile at me, that I boast her off, For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise, And make it halt behind her. Fer. Against an oracle. I do believe it, Pro. Then, as my gift, and thine own acquisition Worthily purchas'd, take my daughter: But If thou dost break her virgin knot before All sanctimonious ceremonies may With full and holy rite be minister'd, No sweet aspersion3 shall the heavens let fall To make this contract grow; but barren hate, (1) Pure, blameless. (2) Alienation of mind. No tongue; all eyes; be silent. [Soft music. A Masque. Enter Iris. Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves, Juno. How does my bounteous sister? Go with Cer SONG. Juno. Honour, riches, marriage-blessing, Fer. This is a most majestic vision, and 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 Paradise. [Juno and Ceres whisper, and send Iris on employment. (1) Woody. Sweet now, silence; (2) Pluto. (3) Abundance. There's something else to do: hush, and be mute, Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the wand'ring With your sedg'd crowns, and ever harmless looks, Enter certain Nymphs. You sun-burn'd sicklemen, of August weary, Enter certain Reapers, properly habited; they join with the Nymphs in a graceful dance; towards the end whereof Prospero starts suddenly, and speaks; after which, to a strange, hollow, and confused noise, they heavily vanish. Pro. [Aside.] I had forgot that foul conspiracy Of the beast Caliban, and his confederates, Against my life; the minute of their plot Is almost come.-[To the Spirits.] Well done ;avoid ;-no more. Fer. This is most strange: your father's in some passion That works him strongly. Mira. Never till this day, Saw I him touch'd with anger so distemper'd. Pro. You do look, my son, in a mov'd sort, As if you were dismay'd: be cheerful, sir: Our revels now are ended; these our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits, and Are melted into air, into thin air: And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve; And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Leave not a rack behind: We are such stuff As dreams are made of, and our little life Is rounded with a sleep.-Sir, I am vex'd; Bear with my weakness; my old brain is troubled. Be not disturb'd with my infirmity: If you be pleas'd, retire into my cell, And there repose; a turn or two I'll walk, To still my beating mind. Fer. Mira. We wish your peace. [Exeunt. Pro. Come with a thought:-I thank you :Ariel, come. (6) A body of clouds in motion; but it is most (4) Able to produce such wonders. (5) Vanished. probable that the author wrote track. |