As late I have been, I not know: thy pulse Prospero Be living, and be here? Pro. But how should First, noble friend, Let me embrace thine age; whose honour cannot Be measur'd, or confin'd. Gon. Or be not, I'll not swear. Pro. Whether this be, You do yet taste Some subtilties o' the isle, that will not let you Believe things certain :- Welcome, my friends all: But you, my brace of lords, were I so minded, [Aside to SEB. and ANT. I here could pluck his highness' frown upon you, And justify you traitors; at this time I'll tell no tales. Seb. The devil speaks in him. [Aside. No: Pro. Alon. If thou beest Prospero, Give us particulars of thy preservation: : How thou hast met us here, who three hours since Pro. I am woe2 for't, sir. 2 Sorry. Alon. Irreparable is the loss; and Patience Says, it is past her cure. Pro. I rather think, You have not sought her help; of whose soft grace, For the like loss, I have her sovereign aid, And rest myself content. Alon. You the like loss? Pro. As great to me, as late; and, portable To make the dear loss, have I means much weaker Than you may call to comfort you; for I Have lost my daughter. Alon. A daughter? O heavens! that they were living both in Naples, The king and queen there! that they were, I wish Myself were mudded in that oozy bed Where my son lies. When did you lose your daughter? Pro. In this last tempest. I perceive, these lords At this encounter do so much admire, That they devour their reason; and scarce think Which was thrust forth of Milan; who most strangely Upon this shore, where you were wreck'd, was landed, To be the lord on't. No more yet of this; Not a relation for a breakfast, nor Befitting this first meeting. Welcome, sir; The entrance of the Cell opens, and discovers FERDINAND and MIRANDA playing at chess. Mira. Sweet lord, you play me false. Fer. I would not for the world. No, my dearest love, Mira. Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle, And I would call it fair play. Alon. If this prove A vision of the island, one dear son Shall I twice lose. Seb. A most high miracle! Fer. Tho' the seas threaten, they are merciful; I have curs'd them without cause. [FERD. kneels to ALON. Now all the blessings Alon. Mira. Pro. 'Tis new to thee. Alon. What is this maid, with whom thou wast at play? Your eld'st acquaintance cannot be three hours: Fer. Alon. I am her's: But O, how oddly will it sound, that I Pro. There, sir, stop: Let us not burden our remembrances I have inly wept, Look down, you And on this couple drop a blessed crown; Alon. I say, Amen, Gonzalo ! Gon. Was Milan thrust from Milan, that his issue Should become kings of Naples? O, rejoice Beyond a common joy; and set it down With gold on lasting pillars: In one voyage Did Claribel her husband find at Tunis; And Ferdinand, her brother, found a wife, Where he himself was lost; Prospero his dukedom, In a poor isle; and all of us, ourselves, When no man was his own. Alon. Give me your hands: [To FER. and MIR. Let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart, That doth not wish you joy! Gon Be't so! Amen! Re-enter ARIEL, with the Master and Boatswain amazedly following. O look, sir, look, sir; here are more of us! This fellow could not drown:-Now, blasphemy, Boats. The best news is, that we have safely found Our king, and company: the next our ship, Which but three glasses since we gave out split, Is tight and yare3, and bravely rigg'd as when We first put out to sea. Ari. Sir, all this service Have I done since I went. Pro. My tricksy 4 spirit [Aside. Alon. These are not natural events; they strengthen, From strange to stranger; - Say, how came you hither? Boats. If I did think, sir, I were well awake, I'd strive to tell you. We were dead of sleep, And (how, we know not,) all clapp'd under hatches, Where but even now, with strange and several noises Of roaring, shrieking, howling, gingling chains, And more diversity of sounds, all horrible, We were awak'd; straitway, at liberty: Where we, in all her trim, freshly beheld Our royal, good, and gallant ship; our master Cap'ring to eye her: On a trice, so please you, Even in a dream, were we divided from them, And were brought moping hither. Ari. Was't well done? Pro. Bravely, my diligence. shalt be free. Thou [Aside. Alon. This is as strange a maze as e'er men trod : And there is in this business more than nature Was ever conduct 5 of: some oracle Must rectify our knowledge. Pro. Sir, my liege, Do not infest your mind with beating on The strangeness of this business; at pick'd leisure, Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you (Which to you shall seem probable,) of every These happen'd accidents; till when, be cheerful, And think of each thing well. Come hither, [Aside. 3 Ready. spirit; + Clever, adroit. 5 Conductor. |