FERDINAND

The ditty does remember my drown'd father.
This is no mortal business, nor no sound
That the earth owes :-I hear it now above me.

PROSPERO

The fringed curtains of thine eye advance,

And say what thou seest yond.

No, wench; it eats and sleeps and hath such senses
As we have, such. This gallant which thou seest
Was in the wreck; and, but he's something stain'd
With grief, that's beauty's canker, thou mightst call him
A goodly person he hath lost his fellows,

And strays about to find 'em.

MIRANDA

I might call him

A thing divine; for nothing natural

I ever saw so noble.

As

PROSPERO

I see,

[Aside] It goes on,

my soul prompts it.-Spirit, fine spirit! I'll free thee Within two days for this.

FERDINAND

Most sure, the goddess

On whom these airs attend !-Vouchsafe my prayer

May know if you remain

upon

this island;

And that you will some good instruction give
How I may bear me here: my prime request,
Which I do last pronounce, is, O you wonder,
If you be maid or no?

MIRANDA

No wonder, sir;

But certainly a maid.

FERDINAND

My language! heavens !

I am the best of them that speak this speech,
Were I but where 'tis spoken.

PROSPERO

How the best?

What wert thou, if the King of Naples heard thee?

FERDINAND

A single thing, as I am now, that wonders

To hear thee speak of Naples. He does hear me ; And that he does I weep: myself am Naples, Who with mine eyes, never since at ebb, beheld The king my father wreck'd.

MIRANDA

Alack, for mercy!

FERDINAND

Yes, faith, and all his lords; the Duke of Milan

And his brave son being twain.

PROSPERO

[Aside] The Duke of Milan

And his more braver daughter could control thee,

If now 'twere fit to do 't.—At the first sight

They have chang'd eyes.-Delicate Ariel,

I'll set thee free for this. [To FERDINAND] A word, good sir; I fear you have done yourself some wrong: a word.

MIRANDA

Why speaks my father so ungently? This
Is the third man that e'er I saw; the first
That e'er I sigh'd for: pity move my father
To be inclin'd my way!

FERDINAND

Oh, if a virgin,

And your affection not gone forth, I'll make you
The queen of Naples.

PROSPERO

Soft, sir! one word more.

[Aside] They are both in either's powers: but this swift business

I must uneasy make, lest too light winning

Make the prize light. [To FERDINAND] One word more ; I charge thee

That thou attend me: thou dost here usurp
The name thou ow'st not; and hast put thyself
Upon this island as a spy, to win it

From me, the lord on 't.

FERDINAND

No, as I am a man.

MIRANDA

There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple :

If the ill spirit have so fair a house,

Good things will strive to dwell with 't.

PROSPERO

Follow me.

Speak not you for him; he's a traitor.-Come;
I'll manacle thy neck and feet together :

Sea-water shalt thou drink; thy food shall be
The fresh-brook mussels, wither'd roots, and husks
Wherein the acorn cradled. Follow.