ACT THE FIFTH SCENE I Before the cell of PROSPERO Enter PROSPERO in his magic robes, and ARIEL PROSPERO Now does my project gather to a head: My charms crack not; my spirits obey; and time ARIEL On the sixth hour; at which time, my lord, PROSPERO I did say so, When first I rais'd the tempest. Say, my spirit, ARIEL Confin'd together In the same fashion as you gave in charge, cell; In the line-grove which weather-fends your Brimful of sorrow and dismay; but chiefly Him that you term'd, sir, "The good old lord, Gonzalo"; His tears run down his beard, like winter's drops From eaves of reeds. Your charm so strongly works 'em, That if you now beheld them, your affections Would become tender. PROSPERO Dost thou think so, spirit? ARIEL Mine would, sir, were I human. PROSPERO And mine shall. Hast thou, which art but air, a touch, a feeling Of their afflictions, and shall not myself, One of their kind, that relish all as sharply, Passion as they, be kindlier mov'd than thou art ? Though with their high wrongs I am struck to the quick, Yet with my nobler reason, 'gainst my fury Do I take part: the rarer action is In virtue than in vengeance: they being penitent, The sole drift of my purpose doth extend Not a frown further. Go release them, Ariel : Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes, and groves; [Solemn music. Re-enter ARIEL before: then ALONSO, with a frantic gesture, attended by GONZALO; SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO in like manner, attended by ADRIAN and FRANCISCO: they all enter the circle which PROSPERO had made, and there stand charmed; which PROSPERO observing, speaks: A solemn air, and the best comforter To an unsettled fancy, cure thy brains, Now useless, boil'd within thy skull! There stand, Holy Gonzalo, honourable man, Mine eyes, even sociable to the show of thine, Fall fellowy drops.-The charm dissolves apace; To him thou follow'st ! I will pay thy graces Thou art pinch'd for 't now, Sebastian.-Flesh and blood; That now lie foul and muddy. Not one of them That yet looks on me, or would know me :-Ariel, 1 |