SEBASTIAN

But one fiend at a time,

I'll fight their legions o'er.

ANTONIO

I'll be thy second.

[Exeunt SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO.

GONZALO

All three of them are desperate: their great guilt,
Like poison given to work a great time after,
Now 'gins to bite the spirits. I do beseech you,
That are of suppler joints, follow them swiftly,
And hinder them from what this ecstasy

May now provoke them to.

ACT THE FOURTH

SCENE I

Before PROSPERO's cell. Enter PROSPERO, FERDINAND, and MIRANDA

PROSPERO

If I have too austerely punish'd you,

Your compensation makes amends; for I

Have given you here a third of mine own life,
Or that for which I live; who once again

I tender to thy hand: all thy vexations
Were but my trials of thy love, and thou
Hast strangely stood the test:

Here, afore Heaven,

I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand,
Do not smile at me that I boast her off,
For thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise,
And make it halt behind her.

FERDINAND

I do believe it

Against an oracle.

PROSPERO

Then, as my gift, and thine own acquisition
Worthily purchas'd, take my daughter: but
If thou dost break her virgin-knot before
All sanctimonious ceremonies may
With full and holy rite be minister'd,
No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall
To make this contract grow; but barren hate,
Sour-ey'd disdain and discord shall bestrew
The union of your bed with weeds so loathly
That you shall hate it both: therefore take heed,
As Hymen's lamps shall light you.

FERDINAND

As I hope

For quiet days, fair issue and long life,

With such love as 'tis now, the murkiest den,

The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion

Our worser genius can, shall never melt

Mine honour into lust, to take away

The edge of that day's celebration

When I shall think, or Phœbus' steeds are founder'd, Or Night kept chain'd below.

PROSPERO

Fairly spoke.

Sit, then, and talk with her; she is thine own.—
What, Ariel! my industrious servant, Ariel!

Enter ARIEL

ARIEL

What would my potent master? here I am.

PROSPERO

Thou and thy meaner fellows your last service
Did worthily perform; and I must use you
In such another trick. Go bring the rabble,
O'er whom I give thee power, here to this place :
Incite them to quick motion; for I must
Bestow upon the eyes of this young couple
Some vanity of mine art: it is my promise,
And they expect it from me.

Dearly, my delicate Ariel.

PROSPERO

delicate Ariel. Do not approach

Till thou dost hear me call.

Look thou be true;

Too much the rein

PROSPERO

do not give dalliance

the strongest oaths are straw

To the fire i' the blood: be more abstemious,

Or else, good night your vow!

FERDINAND

I warrant you, sir ;

The white cold virgin snow upon my heart

Abates the ardour of my liver.

PROSPERO

Well.

Now come, my Ariel! bring a corollary,

Rather than want a spirit: appear, and pertly!
No tongue! all eyes! be silent.

Enter IRIS
IRIS

[Soft music.

Ceres, most bounteous lady, thy rich leas

Of wheat, rye, barley, vetches, oats, and pease;
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep,
And flat meads thatch'd with stover, them to keep;

Thy banks with pioned and twilled brims,

Which spongy April at thy hest betrims,

To make cold nymphs chaste crowns; and thy broom-groves, Whose shadow the dismissed bachelor loves,

Being lass-lorn; thy pole-clipt vineyard;

And thy sea-marge, sterile and rocky-hard,

Where thou thyself dost air ;-the queen o' the sky,
Whose watery arch and messenger am I,