Infused with a fortitude from heaven,

When I have deck'd the sea with drops full salt,
Under my burthen groan'd; which rais'd in me
An undergoing stomach, to bear up

Against what should ensue.

MIRANDA

How came we ashore ?

By Providence divine,

PROSPERO

Some food we had and some fresh water, that
A noble Neapolitan, Gonzalo,

Out of his charity, (who being then appointed
Master of this design), did give us, with

Rich garments, linens, stuffs and necessaries,
Which since have steaded much ;

So, of his gentleness,

Knowing I lov'd my books, he furnish'd me
From mine own library with volumes that
I prize above my dukedom.

Sit still, and hear the last of our sea-sorrow.

Here in this island we arriv'd; and here

Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit

Than other princesses can, that have more time
For vainer hours, and tutors not so careful.

MIRANDA

Heavens thank for 't! And now, I pray you, sir,

you

For still 'tis beating in my mind, your reason

For raising this sea-storm?

PROSPERO

Know thus far forth.

By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune,
Now my dear lady, hath mine enemies
Brought to this shore; and by my prescience
I find my zenith doth depend upon
A most auspicious star, whose influence
If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes

Will ever after droop. Here cease more questions :
Thou art inclin'd to sleep; 'tis a good dulness,
And give it way: I know thou canst not choose.

Come away, servant, come. I am ready now.
Approach, my Ariel, come.

[MIRANDA sleeps.

Enter ARIEL

ARIEL

All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come
To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly,

To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride

On the curl'd clouds, to thy strong bidding, task
Ariel and all his quality.

Perform'd to point the tempest that I bad thee?

To every article.

ARIEL

I boarded the king's ship; now on the beak,
Now in the waist, the deck, in

every cabin,
I flam'd amazement: sometime I'ld divide,
And burn in many places; on the topmast,
The yards and bowsprit, would I flame distinctly,
Then meet and join. Jove's lightnings, the precursors
O' the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary
And sight-outrunning were not : the fire and cracks
Of sulphurous roaring the most mighty Neptune
Seem to besiege, and make his bold waves tremble,
Yea, his dread trident shake.

PROSPERO

My brave spirit!

Who was so firm, so constant, that this coil

Would not infect his reason?

ARIEL

Not a soul

But felt a fever of the mad, and play'd
Some tricks of desperation. All but mariners
Plung'd in the foaming brine, and quit the vessel,
Then all afire with me: the king's son, Ferdinand,
With hair up-staring,—then like reeds, not hair,—

THE YARDS AND BOWSPRIT, WOULD I FLAME DISTINCTLY "

ACT I. SC. II.