Till thou dost hear me call. Ari. 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 Pro. Well. Now come, my Ariel; bring a corollary, Rather than want a spirit; appear, and pertly. No tongue; all eyes; be silent. A Masque. Enter IRIS. [Soft music, Iris. Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and pease; Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep, And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep; Thy banks with peonied and lilied brims, Which spongy April at thy hest betrims, To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom groves, Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves, Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard; And thy sea-marge, steril, and rocky-hard, Where thou thyself dost air: The queen o' the sky, Whose watery arch, and messenger, am I, Bids thee leave these; and with her sovereign grace,. To come and sport: her peacocks fly amain; Enter CERES. Cer. Hail, many-colour'd messenger, that ne'er Who, with thy saffron wings, upon my flowers Cer. Tell me, heavenly bow, If Venus, or her son, as thou dost know, Iris. Of her society Be not afraid; I met her deity Cutting the clouds towards Paphos; and her son Some wanton charm upon this man and maid, Her waspish-headed son has broke his arrows, Cer. Highest queen of state, Great Juno comes; I know her by her gait, Enter JUNO. Jun. How does my bounteous sister? Go with me, To bless this twain, that they may prosperous be, And honour'd in their issue. SONG. Jun. Honour, riches, marriage-blessing, Cer. Earth's increase, and foison plenty, Scarcity, and want, shall shun you; Fer. This is a most majestic vision, and Harmonious charmingly: May I be bold To think these spirits? Pro. Spirits, which, by mine art, I have from their confines call'd to enact 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 em ployment. Pro. Sweet now, silence; Juno and Ceres whisper seriously; There's something else to do: hush, and be mute, Iris. You nymphs, call'd Naiads, of the wand'ring brooks, 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 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. 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. Enter ARIEL. 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 presented Ceres, I thought to have told thee of it; but I fear'd, Lest I might anger thee. Pro. Say again, where didst thou leave these varlets? |