ANTONIO

That sort was well fished for.

GONZALO

When I wore it at your daughter's marriage?

ALONSO

You cram these words into mine ears against
The stomach of my sense. Would I had never
Married my daughter there! for, coming thence,
My son is lost, and, in my rate, she too,

Who is so far from Italy remov'd

I ne'er again shall see her.-O thou mine heir
Of Naples and of Milan, what strange fish
Hath made his meal on thee?

I saw him beat the surges under him,

And ride upon their backs; he trod the water,
Whose enmity he flung aside, and breasted

The surge most swoln that met him; his bold head 'Bove the contentious waves he kept, and oar'd Himself with his good arms in lusty stroke

To the shore, that o'er his wave-worn basis bow'd, As stooping to relieve him: I not doubt

He came alive to land.

ALONSO

No, no, he's gone.

SEBASTIAN

Sir, you may thank yourself for this great loss,

That would not bless our Europe with your daughter,
But rather, lose her to an African;

Where she, at least, is banish'd from your eye,

Who hath cause to wet the grief on 't.

ALONSO

Prithee, peace.

SEBASTIAN

You were kneel'd to, and importun'd otherwise,
By all of us; and the fair soul herself

Weigh'd between loathness and obedience, at
Which end o' the beam she 'ld bow.

We have lost your son,

I fear, for ever: Milan and Naples have
Mo widows in them of this business' making
Than we bring men to comfort them:

The fault's your own.

ALONSO

So is the dear'st o' the loss.

GONZALO

My lord Sebastian,

The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness
And time to speak it in: you rub the sore,
When you should bring the plaster.

SEBASTIAN

Very well.

ANTONIO

And most chirurgeonly.

And were the king on 't, what would I do?

SEBASTIAN

'Scape being drunk for want of wine.

GONZALO

I' the commonwealth I would by contraries
Execute all things; for no kind of traffic
Would I admit; no name of magistrate;
Letters should not be known; riches, poverty,
And use of service, none; contract, succession,
Bourn, bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none;

No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil;
No occupation; all men idle, all;

And women too, but innocent and pure;

No sovereignty; . . .

SEBASTIAN

Yet he would be king on 't.

ANTONIO

The latter end of his commonwealth forgets the beginning.

GONZALO

All things in common nature should produce
Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony,
Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine,
Would I not have; but nature should bring forth,
Of its own kind, all foison, all abundance,

To feed my innocent people.

SEBASTIAN

No marrying 'mong his subjects?

ANTONIO

None, man; all idle; whores and knaves.

GONZALO

I would with such perfection govern, sir,
To excel the golden age.

SEBASTIAN

'Save his majesty !

ANTONIO

Long live Gonzalo !

Prithee, no more: thou dost talk nothing to me.

GONZALO

I do well believe your highness; and did it to minister occasion to these gentlemen, who are of such sensible and nimble lungs that they always use to laugh at nothing.

'Twas you we laughed at.

ANTONIO

GONZALO

Who in this kind of merry fooling am nothing to you: so you may continue, and laugh at nothing still.

ANTONIO

What a blow was there given !

SEBASTIAN

An it had not fallen flat-long.

GONZALO

You are gentlemen of brave mettle; you would lift the moon out of her sphere, if she would continue in it five weeks without changing.

Enter ARIEL, invisible, playing solemn music

SEBASTIAN

We would so, and then go a bat-fowling.